Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-29

he would do once he had arrived at some des-
tination in the craft We were constructing. Hts
life on Midway however was not always q
seset dream. One day Henry Walker, one OF
the captains sons, met me with word that his
father wished to see me at once.
What Is wrong?" I asked in alarm at the
boys agitation us your father ill?" mo, Mr..
Cameron" the lad explained; lone Of the
Filipino boatSwains stuck a spear into his
cheek" II am sorry, Henry" said as gently
as possible: but you must tell your father that
1t Is too late to do anything with the men. He
should have let me wing one of them the
morning after the wreck Why didn't he him.
self shoot the man? Your father made his own
bed, Henry, and there he must he" The
wound was not serious, especially as it was
clean cut and soon would heal I did not take
the trouble to ascertain the cause Of the
quarrel
We completed and launched the schooner.
strongly built vessel with good lines Of shout
IA tons. Moving her to the water from our
building stocks, which were 20 yards from the
beach, required four days, the use of rollers.
much manpoWer and more SulphurOus language
Now that the vessel was ready for use, JOF-
gensen and announced our intention. not to
SAIL In her. COMPOUNDED by eur decision, Walker
tried to persuade us to go: he made lavish
promises; even offered US part of. the proceeds
when the vessel was sold. Yet knew, even II
must 60 to our support until we could shift fey%
ourselves; no British or American Ofieis hf
whatever country we reached would help us 20
long as we had the schooner or money realised
by her sale. - ~
We malicio,isly made counter proposal that
he give us the vessel on arrival; we were, how
ever. not disappointed at his refusal 1.-THE un.
derwriters who insured the Minstrel would not
permit that" he protested. What rot!" said
I. "Only the sails and rigging came from the
MinstrelS salvage. But Is 1t not strange cap
tain, that the underwriters would permit you 70
sell the schooner and share the proceeds with
us?" Day after day he tried in vain to move
Jorgensen and me. 80 g.
DURING this time the Dane and I did naA
neglect our duty; We put many barrels OF
fresh water aboard to serve as ballast and laid
in provisions Of eggs, smoked sea birds fish
sailed and smoked, live turtles-the whole
stock sufficient for six weeks during which
the schooner should be able to reach the Mare
shall Islands. Now no excuse for remaining
on Midway occurred to Walker; therefore hS
asked me the direct question: Mr.. Cameron,
why won't you sail with me?" II decline to
reply" said I, land you would be wise never
to ask me again." MY life would not be safe"
he said, with such Scoundrelly men,"
you, captain" reminded him, ARE alone
to blame. All our troubles are your fault Then
SAIL without crew. You and your sons could
handle the vessel: she is stanch you world
have good weather, now that it is Summer:SAd
the northeast trades would carry you the whole
way to the Marshals." But Walker would not
move without Messrs Jorgensen and Cameron.
Our labor had been wasted there was no one
to navigate the schooner. This turn reacted
severely on the men; Filipino boatswain and
TWO OF MS countrymen died of scurvy. Those
who kept their bodies Clean however, and fol.
lowed my advice about exercise were not affect.
ed. All hands soon became greatly depressed.
AT this Juncture storm cast the schooner
upon the lagoon beach, but the only damage
Continued on Nineteenth Page