The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-05-01

| dropped n huge sail over the side, v
er,np the hole. The boats were put
over the side and we expected n ship
every minute TO founder. Next any we
were towed into puntn Arenas, u
after two weeks the ship was agaih
made seaworthy.
AT Talcahunna we shipped - span
jords. or "honhres." ms we cnIieu
them, 10 work the cargo. THIS doubieu
my work, and / prayed That ! wonlu
die. II was nothing but misery TO me.
I must have peeled eleven million par.
rels of spuds; In fact, i never turheu
in before six bells nj night and mao
to u out at six bells in the morning
After touching ut IL ports on the
west coast, dischnrging our cargo, we
left for n little island called Lopas,
where we were e taxi on q cargo Oh
puono. While working this cargo II
was misery for everyone on board; the
strong ammonia from the gunno made
our Ewes red and watery, and we could
only breathe by wrapping big
chiefs around our noses II mouths.
The wind was constantly blowing, n
puano was even In our food.
Then. coming hack, VIC touched nj
VALPARAISO, Chile. To me death seemed
easier than the homeward-bound Voy-
age, so one night BIZ and ! slid down
the anchor chain and swan TO u bum
boat lying near US. We gave the
Chileno 81 TO row US ashore. lie 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 a tall iron fence. AT the
gate were two customs officers, VINO
Immediately put US under arrest. BIZ
and / had $50 In gold between US
and, as is usual in South America, II
was a simple matter 20 bride the rus
toms officials 10 let us through. This
cost us half Of our fortune, but we dld
not care. Freedom was worth all OF IL.
We were well into the own and feel
ing secure when We were held up by
q Chilean geudarme, who looked like
n walking arsenal. This cost US s.
more for our freedom. He left US In
n hurry and went around the block
We had walked about five minute
when, bang another gcndarine. This
cost us 81. After leaving him we we're
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 "commullaute Of police He
had one hundred and s~cvcnty-clcht
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 M ship was to sail
nj four o'clock the next morning, and
that If he found US In Valparaiso we
would be sen TO the mines.
Shivering and trembling we wcnded
our way back to the dock and hunted
around for n boatman. Brih!ng him
with our remaining money he at last
brought us alongside, Just before the
g~nngplank was lifted. The black
smoke was pouring from the single
funnel Of the Cushko. Then we vent
before the captain, and he logged" US
ten pounds $500 each.
On our homowHrd.bound passage
we went around the Horn and ran
into n gale. The hos'n mutIniod. Old
"One.cyed Gibson" came behind him
and laid him low with a marliuSpike.
Then, carrying lin amidshipS. he
chained him to the iron steps leading
10 the bridge. He remained this way
for a day and II half, exposed 10 cold
and icy wind. Strict orders were
passed through the ship that no one
vas 20 approach him. That night,
under Of darkness, Bin and I
sneaked him a stcam!ug pot Of stew,
and some hot coffee. If he had lived,
we would, through this one action,
have gained n true friend for life.
From exposure he contracted pncu.
monIa and died. He was buried at
sea. The carpenter scwya him in n
sack, ana tying m Ola iron wheel 10
his feet, placed HIN on q ylruk, and
while the captain read a rough huria.
service the plank was Tilted. AMI tho
body Of the hoS'n went down 20 rest
In bavy Joncs' locker.
Tho first port We touched at, the
c"hSuIs flag was holStod nt tho fore.
mast, and Il hlcary.cvci h~alf.drunfen
little old man came on board and was
cloS"tcd with the captain for about an
hour. When he came out he was
staggering ana his eyes, II possible.
were more bleary. The CAPTAIN lined
the crew W, and the consul in n
thick and suffering voice. askcd the
crew II 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. Al sea
silence means consent. huttc1 In
n said mo" ] was standing next
70 the mate. I felt that gorilla.llEe
hand OF his plnching the back Of nv
neck, and ! nearly tainted. Then the
consul went over the side into his
boat and was soon pulling for the
shore. We lifted anchor ana the hort
was left behind.