The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-05-15
FIGHTING
WITH FIRE
BY RICHARD MARKLEY

in Rio de Janeiro.
eastern coast of South America from
Rio down to the strait of Magellan
pass through them and. moving north
ward, take in the coast of Chile. The
scheme was very good one. We had
| plenty of room for what scenery and
| property stores we needed on the ship
and transportation was therefore sim
pllfied. We did not require much of
| either scenery or property because our
list OF plays was small. After giving
our repertoire at town we would
pass ON and repeat 1t at the next.
Our most popular play was one call
ed "Mephistopheles," In which Satan
performed diverse stunts, more espe-
cially with fire, at last diving into the
bottomless burning pit. Indeed, most
OF our plays were such as to attract
the attention Of low grade people
Before we had finished our trip we
were called upon to perform before an
audience composed of the lowest peo-
pie in the world, people so low that
| they worship no deity and feed on
each other. I refer to the Terre del
Fuegans.
The strait Of Magellan should be
called the Devils canal. The wind
blows from every direction, and the
shores are lined with savages, who
will murder any luckless voyager who
falls into their hands. One evening
while passing through the strait we
struck dead calm and were obliged
to tie up for want of breeze to fill
our sails. We had scarcely made fast
to the trunk of tree on the shore
when down came lot of savages. The
rope was severed with an ak, and we
drifted some twenty feet out into the
center OF basin I'm which we had
taken refuge against change of
weather
Our manager had neglected to bring
arms with which to defend ourselves,
and we were at the mercy of these
cannibals.
Realizing the superstition of the saw
ages, 1t occurred to our manager that
we might save ourselves by playing OH
their credulity He told Murdock, the
man who took the part of Satan I'm our
play Of "Mephistopheles," to get on his
costume at once, and while he was do
ing so another member of the company
got ready his diabolical properties.
Meanwhile the twilight was deepen
ing, and before the savages put out
from the shore to attack us it was
nearly dark. AS they were showing
from the shore Murdoch, dressed as
Satan, went up to the highest part of
the deck and, drawing sword he
wore by his side, began to shake 1t at
the advancing enemy. They were
somewhat startled at seeing a man in
red and black tights, short velvet
cape and conlcal hat shaking sword
at them, and they recoiled. But their
leader gave his paddlers orders to pull
forward, and the rest were about to
follow when Murdock pressed his
thumb on a button in the hilt Of his
sword and it emitted fire. The circles,
figure eights and other geometrical
contrivances he described with the
pOiht "a Aiib p"piu NCiV wv MUM AOl
the Fuegans, and they all put back to
the shore.
One of them, more daring than the
rest, led the way back to the ship,
padding his canoe himself. When he
came within few yards Murdoch
leaned over the gunwale and spit fire
at him. This sent him back to the
shore with the others.
But we began to fear that the saw
ages would gradually get used to these
demonstrations. Familiarity breeds
contempt, and contempt is lncompat-
ible with fear. MurdOck felt this him
self and proposed that he should drive
the enemy away by more offensive
methods. Roman candles were used
in the play of Mephistopheles, and
some of them were brought on deck
When the savages had mustered up
their courage for another advance Muir
dock began to send fire balls at them.
Again there was n retreat. But some
of them were cool enough to discover
that the fire balls did no harm, and
this enabled them to regain their cour,
age and impart 1t to the rest, So they
began to rally once more,
Murdock called for what was called
his flaming club, which was filed with
phosphorus, and, getting into u boat
with n man to paddle 1t, he took posi-
tlon In the bow and was carried, spit
ting fire toward the shore.
Most of the savages climbed the
bank, but those who fingered were
beaten with Satan's flaming club, and
since the contents poured out ON them
was burning phosphorus they found II
very different substance from that
OF the roman candles. Murdoch went
ashore himself and followed them for
considerable distance, when he re
turned to the ship.
We remained on watch nearly all
night. but the savages did not come
back. About dawn breeze sprang w
anf hoisting sail, We passed slowly
out of the basin into portion OF the
strait so wide that we were In no dan
ger
Murdock for the rest of our voyage
was the hero of the party, especially