Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-11-22

spoke In jibbe-ing patois which
could speak pretty good English The
kids, averaging from seven to fifteen
years, were running around naked, or
diving off the dock for pennies which
we threw overheard.
About two hours before sailing from
st. Lucia, little fellow about fifteen
years of age came to the entrance of
the galley and In fair English told
Bill and me a pathetic story of in
human treatment which would have
melted hearts of stone. He wanted us
to stow him away on the ship. l was
agreeable, but Bill warned me that
this was very grave offense against
the English board of trade laws, the
maximum penalty being fourteen
years Imprisonment. I did not wish
to incur this risk, therefore would
not listen to the entreaties of the
young negro, explaining to him the
penalty of the board of trade laws
Upon hearing this, a cunning look,
which at the time did not appear sig
I nificant to me, came into his eyes, and
he told me that if would stow him
away, "see how easy it will be for
You" He. would do. all of my work,
and all 1 would have to do would be
to sit on the superstructure and let
my feet hang. I thought this was
worth risking fourteen years for, so
fell in with the plan, Bill objecting.
The ventilators had been unshipped
while the coaling was going on, and
were lying aft on the poop deck.
Watching our chance, we sneaked aft
and hid the little fellow in one of the
ventilators, warning him, upon pain
of death, not to make sound until the
ship was well under way. To say that
I was nervous is putting it mildly.
We cleared st. Lucia and were soon
at sea. The islands of Martinique, st.
Lucia and Barbados were. tiny gray
dots on the horizon when an italian
sailor, Louis Maranto, went aft to ship
the ventilators In a few minutes he
came rushing forward with terror in
his eyes. As he passed the galley
stopped him and asked what was the
matter. All he could gasp out was
MARY of God, a devil eest on da ship"
"One-eyed Gibson. seeing his terror,
went aft with him and soon we could 1
see him coming forward, leading our /
little stowaway by the ear. The little /
negro was bowling blue murder, and /
the curses of the mate snapped like a i
wireless message. Luckily for me the I
mate stopped at the galley and said,
keep your eye on this black skunk |
until I can take him before the old |
man." For five minutes l put all my |
power of entreaty into my voice and |
prayed the stowaway to stick by me I
to swear that he came aboard of his |
own volition. He promised to do So
Then the mate came after, him and
took him before the captain. During
this fifteen minutes of interview 1
lived in an agony of torment and sus-
pense. The little fellow came back
with a smile on his face and knew
things were all right. He told me that
the captain had shipped him at shill-
ing month for the passage. For two
days he was detailed to help me in
the galley, and 1 lived the life of a
prince. We nicknamed him Monday"
the day that he came on board. His
real name was Charles Tasima Benn.
On the fourth day. Monday, after
peeling a bucket of spuds. while 1 was
reading and smoking, threw down
his knife and, with a cunning leer, in
a commanding tone told me to get
busy and complete the task; that he
wished to rest. / started in to bull
ioze" him, but he simply held his
hand in my direction, fingers extended
and in majestic voice informed me: :
"From now on, work for the Ameri- ,
IAN l will not. 1 tell Meester Captain ,
American Monday slowed away. Mees- :
err American to preeson go fourteen 7
Tears British government" I nearly
ainted From that time Bill and / !
we're Mondays abject slaves. We 6
wen waited on him personally. Any !
lrticle in my possession that Monday
desired was his for the asking. The
toward wormed the secret out of \
fonday. and was also his slave. Bill :,
nd l spent a life of hell on board.
After getting into the tropics lime .
uice was issued daily to the crew to :,
eep away scurvy. The food was her- ii
~ b