Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-12-13

Monday, and was also his slave. Bill
and spent life of hell on board.
After getting into the tropics lime
Juice was issued daily to the crew to
keep away scurvy. The food was hor-
rible. The pork was rotten; in fact,
on the head Of one Of the salt pork
casks was stamped Inspected 1888"
The crew were on the verge of mutiny.
Then we reached the eastern en-
trance of the Straits and it was blus-
terry and cold. The captain attempted
to negotiate the Straits one bright
moonlight night. After about three
hours the moon disappeared and we
went on the rocks, knocking big hole
in the side of the ship, and only quick
and efficient work by the carpenter
and crew saved us from sinking. They
dropped huge sail over the side, COW
ering the hole. The boats were put
over the side and we expected the ship
every minute to founder. Next day we
were towed into Punta Arenas, and
after two weeks the ship was again
made seaworthy.
At Talcahuana we shipped % Span
iards, or "hombres,' as we called
them, to work the cargo. This doubled
my work, and prayed that l would
die. 1t was nothing but misery to me.
I must have peeled eleven million bar
relS of spudS; in fact, / never turned
in before six bells at night, and had
to turn out at six bells in the morning.
After touching at 10 ports on the
west coast, discharging our cargo, we
left for a little island called LobaS,
where we were to take on cargoEOf
guano. While working this cargo it
was misery for everyone on board; the
strong ammonia from the guano made
our eyes red and watery, and we could
only breathe by wrapping big handker-
chiefs around our noses and mouths.
The wind was constantly blowing, and
guano was even in our food.
Then, coming back, we touched at
Valparaiso, Chile. To me death seemed
easier than the homeward-bOund voy-
age, so one night Bill and l slid down
the anchor chain and swan to ''bum-
boat" lying near us. We gave the
Chileno 81 to row us ashore. He did
So. Dripping wet we crawled up onto
the stone quay and made tracks for
the town. We found that the dock was
enclosed by tall iron fence. At the
gate were two customs officers, who
Immediately put us under arrest. Bill
and / had $40 in gold between us,
and, as is usual in South America, 1t
was simple matter to bride the Gus
toms officials to let us through. This
cost us half Of our fortune, but we did
not care. Freedom was worth all Of it.
We were we'll into the town and feel
ing secure when we were held up by
a Chilean gendarme, who looked like
q walking arsenal. This cost us 81
more for our freedom. He left us in
hurry and went around the block.
We had walked about five minutes
when, bang! another gendarme. This
cost us 81. After leaving him we were
more cautious, hiding our remaining
money in my shoe. Again we were
arrested. We said we had no money
and were hailed into the presence of
the "cOmmandante of police" He
had one hundred and seventy-eight
medals on his chest and four thou
sand yards of gold braid on his collar
and cuffs. He had us searched, but
did not find the money. Very much
disappointed, in broken English he in
formed us that our ship was to sail
at four o'clock the next morning, and
that if he found us in Valparaiso we
would be sent to the mines.
Shivering and trembling we wendell
our way back to the dock and hunted
around for a boatman. Bribing him
with our remaining money he at last
brought us alongside, just before the
gangplank was lifted. The black
smoke was pouring from the single
funnel of the Cushko. Then we went |
before the captain, and he logged" us
ten pounds ($5O) each.
On our homeward-bound passage
we went around the Horn and ran
into a gale. The bos'n mutinied. Old
"One-eyed Gibson" came behind him |
and laid him low with a marlinspike. |
Then, carrying him amidships, he |
chained him to the iron steps leading |
to the bridge. He remained this way |
for day and half, exposed to cold |
and icy wind. Strict orders were |
passed through the ship that no one |
was to approach him. That night, |
under cover of darkness, Bill and l |
sneaked him a steaming pot of stew,
and some hot coffee. If he had lived, |
we would, through this one action, |
have gained a true friend for life.
From exposure he contracted pneu-
monia and died. He was buried at |
sea. The carpenter sewed him in a
sack, and tying an old iron wheel to
his feet, placed him on plank, and
while the captain read rough burial
service the plank was tilted, and the
body Of the bos'n went down to rest
in Davy Jones' locker.
The first port we. touched at, the
consul's flag was hoisted at the fore
mast, and bleary-eyed, half-drunken
little old man came on board and was