The Topeka state journal., 1919-08-16

papers and compradoreS and coolies
alike enjoyed whole columns OF 1t o-er
the pipes and tea bowls. They called
It THE Strange Story OF the Devil
Boat" but Mrs. walpole, the wife Of
the British Consul. had most felicitous-
ly named It Tho Myktery of the
Phantom Junk" and this happy ti:!e
helped to extend the circulation even
further than it might otherwise have
gone.
What was this Mystery and why
was the Junk called a Phantom"
Listeni The testimony of Captain
Clarke, under direct examination and
under cross examination. was perfectly
clear and misunderstanding could be
more so. In a very condensed form, II
was simply this: Just before eight
bells on the evening of Tuesday. July
IL. he was standing on the forward
deck OF the steamer. right In front of
the wheel-house and waR talking to
Captain and Mrs. Duncan. when he
noticed a bank OF fog settling over tho
outer Loo Choo Islands and working
| its way rather quickly toward the
Black Camel Channel" through which
the ship would soon have to pass. lIa
excused himself to his passengers and
entering the wheel-house sent Jackson
the frst mate, down to his supper and
himself took charge of the course. with
Ching and Chang. the Chinese pilots
C1nown on board as 'DsAd-Eye" and
The Admiralty. at sae wheel. They
kept on their regular "So'-West by
West, half West" with the Hal Toy
beacon straight ahead. although the
strong ebb was drawing them little
nearer the cliff than usual. when the
fog seemed to settle right across the
southern half OF the Channel and they
changed tho course half a point to
give the "Camers Hump" a generous
margin.
Suddenly, without q moments warn
/ ing of horn or gong or bell, a great
black junk appeared on the starboard
bow. driving at full speed with every
sail of mating set and headed directly
for the ''Tien Pao.@ There was only
one chance to avoid the collision ard
Clarke took 1t. Hard a. starooard."
he shrieked TO Dead Eye and the Ai-
miraI. and they threw the wheel over
like old and experienced helmsmen.
Away over with IT," as he pulled with
all his strength on the whistle handle
and sent out the danger signal Away
over with it-for your ltves!"
'Belongee way ober. Sab" was the
answer of the faithful two. The good
old "Tien Pao" reeled over to her side
as she swung around under the strain.
then righted herself for moment,
gave a great forward plunge and with
crash like n thunder-bolt landed
right in the centre Of the reef.
Full speed astern i full speed
asternl" The gonss rang out in the
enGine-room and the propellors did
their best, but it was too late. The
steamer shook like a leaf but refused
to budge-she was there 10 stay, and
Captain Clarke and his officers hast
ened to attend to the saving OF the
lives in their care.
where is the junk?" was the very
first question. Did she clear the
reef?" The fog seemed to lift like q
curtain and roll itself out into the
ocean; the Channel was clear from
end to end and the junk had vanished
into airi Not on the reef or rocks;
not sailing the Channel; not on the
shore-no! Gone! Dissolved like the
"baseless fabric OF a vision" Not a
sign or trace OF her remained.
You have seen that JunkT' cried
the Captain to Ching and Chang.
What side he walker"
"Chinaman talkee him hTong all
samee debbil boat-no can savee what
side him walkee-spose him fly away,
hab got debbil wings. Velly bad Joss
see dat debbil boat-all timee maksc
ship reckee-velly had joss"
Pale as ghosts and trembling al
over, these poor victims of the wrath
Of some native divinity crouched along
the deck. ready to throw Themselves
into the sea- when Jackson. the mate
recalled them to their senses with
Here, Dead Eye. you and your mate
get to work here quick and help lower
this boat
Captain Clarke was, as we said. per-
fectly clear as to the junk. He knew
II was Ningpo coaster from the blacl
lines and the high poop and he was
very positive as to all its sails beinI
set and as to tho course which threat
, ened his steamer. He could hardly
realize the suddenness with which II
J seemed to loom up out OF the fog no
: had he any explanation to offer of III
almost miraculous disappearance Blu
I he and old "Dead-Eye." the Pilot Nrer,
{ the only human beings who saw il
Not another person on the steamer
: oficer. passenger or member OF tn
crew-saw any sign OF the junk befor
I or after the wreck. Nay. more. tn
E Testimony brought out that II was prac
= tically impossible for any vessel o
:; that size to have been in the Channe
e without having been seen before o
q after the elosing-in of the fog.
The testimony Of Ching the Pilot
who was very closely questionei
= through the ofiieial interpreter. en-
= tirely corroborated that OF the Captain
: but went q little more into details. H
: was quite positive It was a Ninsp
e Junk. Of the large sea- going class. wit
{ three masts and high poop; all tn
: sails were set and 1t was coming di
n rectly towards the steamer on a cours
e that would certainly have struck he
q on the port bow If she had not at ono
= put her helm hard down to avoid 4
II He saw the great google eyes on tn
junk and the tusk-like prews tina
made it look like some monster Of tn
y seas. but he had not been able to de
u cipher the name. One piece of Incl
L dental description-which. By the wa,
y seemed especially to interest the sea