The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1918-12-13

urOppeu q huge SAIL over the size, Gov
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 T%alcahuana 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.
l 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 ID ports on the
west coast, disCharging our cargo, we
left for a little island called Lobas,
where we were to take on q cargo Of
guanO. While working this cargo 1t
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 / slid down
the anchor chain and swan to q 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 hat the dock was
enclosed by q tall iron fence. At the
gate were two customs officers, who
Immediately put us under arrest. Bill
and l had $50 ir gold between us,
and, as is usual in South America, it
was a 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 well into the town and feel
ing secure when we were held up by
a Chilean gendarme, who looked like
a walking arsenal. This cost us So
more for our freedom. He left us in
q 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
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 wended
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 ($50) 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 q marlinspike.
Then, carrying him amidships, he
chained him to the iron steps leading
to the bridge. He remained this way
for a day and a half, exposed to cold
and icy wind. Strict orders were
passed through the ship that no m
was to approach him. That night,
under cover Of darkness, Bill and I
sneaked him a steaming pot Of stew,
and some hot coffee. If he had lived,
we would, through this one action,
have gained q 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 a plank, and
while the captain read a 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 a b~leary-eyed, h~alf-drunken
little old man came On board and was
closeted with the captain for about an
hour. When he came out he was
staggering, and his eyes, if possible,
were more bleary. The captain lined
the crew up, and the consul, in a
thick and suffering voice, asked the
crew If the bos'n had died from natu-
raj causes. Ninety per cent Of the
men could not understand what he
said, and a silence prevailed. At sea
silence means consent. I butted in
and said "No." / was standing next
to the mate. I felt that gorilla-llke
hand of his pinching the back Of my
neck, and / n arly tainted. Then the
consul went over the side into his
boat, and was soon pulling for, the
choro Wa lifted anchor apd tho n0rt