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

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: 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 "bombres," as we called
them, to work the cargo. This doubled
my work, and prayed that would
die 1t was nothing but misery to me.
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 little island called Lobas,
1 where we were to take on cargo of
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 cur 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 UNCONVENTIONAL voy-
age so one night Bill and 1 slid down
/ the anchor chain and swan to bum
boat" lying near US. We gave the
i Chileno 81 to row us ashore. He did
so. Dripping wet we crawled up onto
the stone quay and made tracks for
I the town. We found that the dock was
enclosed by tail iron fence. AT the
gate were two customs officers, who
Immediately put us under arrest. Bill
and l had $40 in 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
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 S4. After leaving him we were
more cautious, hiding our remaining
money in my shoe. Again we were
arrested. y We said we had no money
and were hailed into the presence of
the's "eomynandante 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 wended
our way back TO the dock and hunted
around for a boatman. Bribing him
with our remaining money he at last
Drought US alongside, just before the
galgplank 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 $500 each.
On our homeward-bouDd 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 I
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-
sea. The carpenter sewed him in a
sack, and tying an old iron wheel to
lis 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
n Davy Jones' locker.
The first port we touched at, the ,
,onsurs flag was hoisted at the fore
mast, and bleary-eyed, half-drunlen ,
title old man came on board and was
loseted with the captain for about an !
Jour. When he came out he was :
and his eyes, if possible, :
we're more bleary. The captain lined !,
he crew up, and the consul, in a :
hick and suffering voice, asked the 7
rev if the bos'n had died from natu- >
al causes. Ninety per cent of the
1en could not understand what he :
aid, and a silence prevailed. At sea !,
Hence means consent. 1 butted in =
nd said mo" I was standing next ;,
, the mate. I felt that goriila-liEe :,
and of his pinching the back of my .
eek and nearly tainted. Then the :,
onsul went over the side into his :
Dat, and was soon pulling for the y
lore. We lifted anchor and the port :,
as left behind. -
Half way up the coast we ran out :,
Trash rratar ond had n drink rom V