South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-08
The Wreck OF GrOSUenOr
By w. Clark Russell
Condensation By James B. Connolly

We were bound out OF London
with a general cargo. The wind
dying out we had % come 10 an
Choir in the Downs. The crew had
been grumbling about the grub. and
were now grumbling yet more I was
second officer. and 20 me came the
cook saying: Mr.. Royle. would
would you mind tasting this?" and
handed me a bit OF a ships biscuit.
Sugar. molasses. tea and pOrk-if
they call 'em that they're all the
same rotten mess. sir
The biscuit was bad. and though
10 was not my place 20 do so,
took It % Capt. Coxon. but got moth
ing from him except curses and the
cold aavice 10 mind my own affairs.
Mr.. Duckling, the first officer. add
Ell "A few obsequious remarks on his
own account The result was that
the crew. getting no redress, re
fused to make sail on the ship. and
were put ashore. Next morning a
crimp came down from London with
a fresh crew.
A fair wind sprang up. the ship
was got under way, but we were
not clear Of the channel when the
new crew were also complaining Of
the grub. Hot words we're passed
between them and the captain. so
hot that the captain had TO take no
tice. He finally promised TO put
into some handy port, in Spain or
elsewhere along the route. and lay
in fresh supply OF ships stores.
What injustice in the meanness
Of owners and captains" ! thought.
Here were good sailors and ordinar-
ily harmless men who might be
made into criminals, and all 10 the
end that our banking balances
might be kept large and our nation
al power supreme. without the
British sailor there would be no
British empire. and what treatment
is melted out TO him. He submits
20 hardships and danger, and re
ceives low wages. poor food and
mean living quarters: even should
he be granted hearing for a griev-
ance. 10 out Of 20 persons appoint
ed 10 investigate the trouble are
qualified neither by experience nor
sympathy TO render a just verdict.
The Grosvenor OF which I was
second officer. was a fast-sailing,
frH-rigged little ship OF 500 tons.
The captain. under owners orders
To make what time he could TO Val
paraiso. was out to drive her. We
were rushing along under a press of
T-Iff
craft OF some kind got a glimpse.
I'm the dark. OF a mast and A sail be
fore they vanished under US.
No word came 20 bring her 10. /
osked Capt. Coxon, who was on
deck. il he was not going 10 try 10
slve the possible survivors.
save be hanged, Why didn't
they keep out OF our way?"
knew what I wanted 10 say; but
40 is in the power of a ships cap
tain 20 iniure. even 20 ruin, the flu
ture OF an officer under him. I held
my tongue
We ran into a three days gale.
We had terrible time, but man
AGED 10 live through IT, AS it was
rroderating we sighted a wreck, a
most mournful and piteous sight. 1t
vas in my watch. and ordered the
shin luffed 10 have a better look at
her What / saw was an arm pro-
i-cting through her deck-hOuse
window. I at once called the cap
lain and asked for instructions.
Keep her awayl" was his order.
called him a murderer, and
rupealed 10 the men. They Dried
10 save the lives on the wreck. The
captain then allowed me TO take
boats crew and see what 1 could
DO
after a hard struggle our boat
made the wreck She was an Eng
Ish ship At no little peril I ran
7Ione the deck to her house. where
found a young girl and her old
father. Another man was also
there alive. but insane. Seeing a
p.nnillin OF fresh water. this man
grabbed il, drained it and dropped
dead.
When we were back aboard the
Crosvenor. I. for my part in the
rescue. was put in irons.
This wreck incident added 20 fur
Their needless ssbuse OF the men and
the further failure OF the captain TO
live up 10 his promise OF putting in
FOR better food. inhamed the crew
beyond endurance. They watched
their chance. rushed the poop in
the night and killed the captain.
They then killed Mr.. Duckling. They
might have killed me too. notwith-
standing that I had shown sympathy
20 them. but somebody had 20 navi-
gate the ship 10 within so miles of
the Florida coast. which was where
they intended 20 abandon her and
row ashore
Having the safety OF the young
girl and her old father as well as