Imperial Valley press., 1937-02-07
PaCheCO Seeks IrO1
Chinese Rebellion
- r.
Still the of hero spirits pass the lamp from
hand hand
-Cbaries kingsley.
BY Lieutenant-C Commander
Romaldo Beast" Pacheco, r. NJ, Ret,
and Whit Wellman

COCK thought, here are sailors they play
so affectionately" and remembered my old
friends, Mr.. Larsen and Mr. Stuart. 1t my
business to keep safe distance. and followed
these two thugs along gloomy streets, while
they met and feled several men, robbed them,
and left them unconscious In the dim light of
pier lamp I saw policeman, and wondered
whether to tell him. had a choice to look
out for people being robbed and beaten, or to
look out for myself. glanced at the blue-coat,
and at the footpads. d. To my credit be it
said that hesitated and to my dscredit, that
decided upon safety. Ignoring the law, fol-
lowed the thieves to Dupont Street and the
Barbary Coast.
My footpads disappeared up an alley, and
fell in with big sailor kindly human
out for good time, and most gloriously drunk
He was at peace with all the world and seemed
to know everyone in North America, including
the boastwain of auxiliary schooner beside
the bar. This gentleman was pointed out to me,
and 1 asked for job.
I'VE lave in the nlornin on the tide" he said
in broad Irish AN there's no job for ye Here's
a half" and he gave me so cents which
Immediately spent for fried eggs and packet
of Durham. Some one else bought me couple
of drinks which raised my spirits momentarily
and gave me the courage to approach several
other sailors for work The only result to
acquire a few nickels, and I braced the Irish
boatswain again.
ment. He would let me stowaway, he said, if
would stick beside him until we reached the
boat.
Toward morning he headed back for the
docks, reeling drunk and broke. thought of
the other citizens of the night who attacked
drunks, and felt apprehension My boastwain
was staggering, cranky and growing vicious.
When I helped him down the street, he thought
was trying to roll him. but my only
interest to keep him erect and aimed for
his ship. After fifty blocks, wandering in
circle, he admitted we were lost. He remem-
bered neither the name of his ship where
she was tied up His thckened Irish brogue
made it impossible for me to ask any to
interpret his mouthings Somewhere in the
course of our sidewalk journey, he had acquired
a black eye from a sailor who objected to his
nationality. He grew weaker and weaker, and
ended sitting the lower step of doorway,
where he sank in daze. From this position I
failed to bulge him, and there we waited. An
hour of pulling and pushing proved hopeless,
until heard two ambng our way. told
them the story, and one of them leaned over
with Chinese sulphur match to view the situa-
ton block of matches in his other hand
ignited, and he promptly dropped the flaming
mass in the boastwain's middle.
"A ITTH roar, my friend lurched to his feet
w and lashed out with fists and boots.
Queensbury rules were forgotten. Three men
kicked cursed and raised enough noise to stir
the dead. had visions of blue-coats again, and
picked up one of their hats filled it with water
from fire barrel, and threw it at them. 1t had
no effect until they were worn out and stepped
back to observe the damage. All had forgotten
what started the violence. They looked at each
other in surprise. The boatswain was able by
now to mutter coherently through lips lacer-
ated and swollen.
Lets have drink he mumbled We're all
from the same ship =! 1t was true These
men were shipmates. but in the darkness had
not recognized each-other.
On second thought. we didn't have a drink.
They decided to get me aboard quietly One
was to borrow a dory to row under the fore
quarter another drop line to help me up.
Before long were prowlng under the docks,
where we found skiff with One of my
new friends skulled out to the appointed
place and after some fumbling on deck, a line
splashed to the water Hand over hand, went
to the deck of the unknown ship bound
for far ports.
The boatswain slowed me away in the sail
locker Before turning in, he brought me
handout :. T. big chunk of cold salt horse and
a beaker of cold tea, and Of many meals this
was the most appreciated.
was quiet in the sail locker, but by the
sounds on the top side, l suspected we were
getting Under way; the tide was turning. slept,
and STAYED in that sail locker for over "a hours
to prevent the chance of beEg sent ashore by
the skipper :. by pilot boat or inbound ships.
When was taken before the master to plead
guilty Of slowing away without duplicating any
member Of the crew nothing he could do
would hurt me. was free of the law had es-
capped from the detention home, and was on my
way to Australia
Ny captain was a British master Of the old
school: he believed In the famous creed of
D. D. w.-duty. discipline and work. and he
meant all three of them. He took pleasure in
going over rough shod-as to language
but omitted physical punishment when showed
him my ''Bible" the tattered and badly used
manual
lY NEW skipper tall, lean Brtishel
NJ with tongue like whip ash-berated
me soundly to his hearts content; but I'd
learned that words couldn't hurt, and just stood
before him. trying to look solemn. and probpbiv
looking like sheepish youngster with lot4of
nerve. was tattered from the nights adven-
tars, difty and bruised from minor conflicts In