Marshall County Independent, Volume 5, Number 11, Plymouth, Marshall County, 24 February 1899 — Page 3

t

DICK RODNEY;

m m m m m m An BY JAMES CHAPTER IV (Continued.) On perceiving that I was awake, a hand bell was rung by the captain, anil hot coffee, accompanied by the last slice of shore-bread that remained, was brought to me by Billy, the cabin-boy. and then, after a time. I was requested to state what craft that was from which I had been taken, my name, and so forth, that Mr. Hislop might enter all the particulars among the "remarks" in his log-book. I soon satisfied them as to all this. "And where am I now?" I inquired. "Pretty far out upon the open sea. my lad," replied the captain with a smile, as he threw the end of his cheroot into the empty grate. "The open sea still the open sea!" I reiterated with dismay, which I cared not to conceal. "Yes; we saw the last glimpse of the rugged Start on the day before yesterday, and this morning, just an hour before picking you up. we bade goodbye to old England, for the Lizard Light was bearing you had the dead watch, Hislop: how did it bear?" "About twelve miles off, on the weather quarter." "How shall I return home?" They both laughed as I despairingly made this inquiry. "By the way yen left it. I suppose: that is by water," said Capt. Weston. "You spoke of the Start; what i that?" j the j "A cape of the Channel, on southeast coast of Devonshire, about nine milrs to the southward of Dartmouth." he replied, while casting a casual glance a; a chart which lay on the table I had thus before being rescued so Providentia1;-, drifted more than a hundred miles from Erlesmere, and it was marvelous that the schooner had floated so far unseen. "Well, what is to be done now?" asked the captain. "We are bound for the West Indies, but we may put you aboard the first craft that passes us. homeward-bound; or you are free to remain, if wc cannot do better for you." I thought of my mother, my father, my two sisters; and my heart was so full of gratitude to heaven for preserving me to the end, that I might see and embrace them all again, that I had r.o words to reply. After a time I exclaimed: "Home, home! let me so home to Erlesmere!" wepping as I spoke, for the thought of them all made me a very child again. The captain and mate exchanged glances of inquiry. "It's no use piping your eye now. my lad," said the former, coming toward my berth; "but answer me quietly. You said that your name was Rodney?" "Yes." "And you spoke of Erlesmere; are you a son of old Dr. Rodney, the rector?" "Do you I now ray father, then?" I exclaimed. "Can't say exactly that I have the honor of being known to him; but I know of him, right well. Why, Master Rodney. I have sailed your uncle's ships many a time, and know his gloomy old office in the city, as well as the buoy at the Nore; so you are as safe and as welcome aboard the Eugenie as if in the old reetory house at home." This was pleasant intelligence, at all events; but my earnest desire was to return a design which was not fated to be speedily gratified. For several days we passed only outward-bound vessels, or others which were at such a distance that the task of signaling and freaking with them would have delayed the Eugenie longer than Capt. Weston could risk. Two that passed near us, when we showed our ensign, replied by displaying the tricolor of France or the red and yellow bars of Spain; so there was nothing for me now but to remain contentedly on board the Eugenie, which was bound for Matanzas with a solid cargo of steam machinery and coal. The master had no doubt of getting a return freight direct for Ixmdon; thus six or eight months might elapse before I could return to Erlesmere. I gradually became reconciled to the novelty of my situation: I looked forward hopefully to the time when the Borrow of those I had left behind would be alleviated, arxl began to enjoy to the utmost the prospect of a voyage in a spanking brig to the shores of Cuba. CHAPTER V. The Voyage to Cuba. I resolved not to be an idler or loblolly boy, and was allowed by Captain Weston to take my watches and share of deck duty with the rest of the crew; and at intervals I worked hard at a Spanish grammar with Marc Hislop, who would read "Don Quixote" in the original, with a fluency that even my old tutor at Eion might have envied. We were now clear of the Channel: and, after a hard battle with the wind and sea, we left the long roll of the mighty Atlantic. On the third night after my rescue, we encountered dark and cloudy weather, with a strong gale, which set all the cabin afloat. My watch was over, and I had Just turned in. when I heard the voice of Capt. Weston, who was on deck, shouting through his trumpet to "close reef the maintopsail, hand the mainsail, foresail, and foretopsail.

Or, The Adventures of

Ui Iii Of Eton Boy... GRINT. Look alive there, lads," he added, "or as sure as my name is Sam Weston. I'll give the volt to the last man off the deck!" This threat, so unusual in one so good-natured, together with the bellowing of the wind, the flapping of the wetted canvas, the rattle of the blocks and cordage, and the laboring of the brig, which was so deeply laden that every timber groaned, all gave such indications of a rough night that I sprang from my berth and proceeded to dress again in haste. To my astonishment, at that moment I heard the hoarse rattle of the chain cable, as it rushed with a roaring sound through the iron mouth of the hawse hole; then I was sensible of a violent shock, which made the brig stagger, and tumbled me headlong against the paneled bulkhead which separated the cabin from the afterhold. Hislop, who had been dozing on the cabin-locker in his storm jacket, started up with alarm in his face. "Have we come to anchor?" I asked. "Anchor in more than three hundred fathoms of water!" he exclaimed, as ho rushed on deck, whither I followed, and found that a very strange incident had occurred. In the murky obscurity of the stormj night a large Dutch lugger, in ballast apparently, and running right before the wind, with steering canvas set, came suddenly athwart us, and hooked j the anchor from the cathead on our j larboard bow by some unwonted negIcct it was not yet on board, nor had the cable been unbent with her starboard fore-rigging, and thus bore away with it. until the chain came to bear, when there was a tremendous shock. Several feet of our bulwark were tern away, and two seamen. Tattooed Tom, and an old man-o'-war's man named Roberts, were nearly swept into the sea, where, in such a night, and amid the confusion of such an incident, they would inevitably have perished unaided. Then we heard a shout, mingled with a crash upon the bellowing wind, as the Dutchman's foremast snapped by the board, and then, fortunately, our anchor tumbled from his side into the sea, where it swung at the whole length of the chain cable. We manned both windlass and capstangot the anchor, which was drifting, roused to the cathead, hoisted it on board, unbent the cable, and stowed it in the tier; but long ere all this was done we had lost sight of our lubberiy friend, who. when last seen, was tossing about like a log in the darkness, and drifting far astern of us. But for some defect in the pawls and notches of the windlass collar, I am doubtful if the chain would have run out so freely; but as to this I cannot say. We had hard squalls and a s?a that ran high until daybreak; there was lightning, too; red and dusky; it seemed at times to fill the whole horizon. We could see for an instant the black summits of the waves a3 they rose and fell between us and the glare; and when it passed away, all again would be obscurity and gloom. "More canvas must bo taken off the brig, sir." suggested Hislop, looking aloft and then over the side, where the foam-flecked sea whirled past us. "Well, in with the trysail, foretopsail, and maintopsail," ordered Weston. A3 the light of dawn stole over the angry sea, through clouds of mingled mist and rain, the gale abated, and all but the watch went below. Calm weather and heavy rains succeeded the gale; but the Eugenie steadily kept her course, and two days after, when spanking along before a fine topgallant breeze, wc picked up a bottle, which was described by the watch, floating and bobbing in the water a few fathoms distant from the brig. She was at once hove in the wind, and Hislop went in the stern boat to bring the bottle on board. As the most trivial incident becomes of interest on board of ship, where the daily occurrences are so few, and the circle of society so limited, considerable concern was excited by the appearance of this bottle, which seemed to have been freshly corked; and on its being broken, we found a scrap of papertorn apparently from a notebook whereupon a hurried and agitated hand had penciled this brief notice: "The Mary, clipper ship, of Boston. 20th Nov., 1861, momentarily expected to go down pumps worn out, and the leaks gaining Captain and first mate, with all the boats, washed away God help us!" "The 2Cth of November? It was on that night we encountered the heavy gale," said Weston. We had been on the skirt of the tempest, as Hislop maintained, while the Yankee ship had probably suffered all the fury of it. From the main-cross-trees Capt. Weston swept the sea with his telescope, in vain, for any trace of her; so if that melancholy scrap of paper told truth, all was doubtless over long since with the Mary and her crew. In the cabin that night a conversation on the probabilities of her destruction or escape led to a recurrence to the miraculous manner In which the unlucky Dutch schooner had floated so long with me; and I mentioned to Weston and Hislop the additional terrors I had endured by the effect of Imagination, and a recollection of the strange incidents told me by Capt. Zeervogel;

b' they Miculed the story cf the poor man. chiefly. I thought, because "it waj the yarn of a Hollander." "Though I ail a Scotchman." began Hislcp "And come of a people naturally superstitious." suggested Weston, parenthetically "As all large-brained races are," retorted the mate, while filling his clay pipe with tobacce. "Well, what were you about to say?" asked Weston. "But first fill your glass ard pass over the tobacco bag." "I was simply about to reiterate that I don't believe in ghosts, or value them any more than I do the Yank00 sea serpent, a rope's end, or a piece of old junk; I never saw one. or knew a man who had seen one; but every one has heard of a man that knew another man vho saw, or believed he saw, a ghost. It is at variance with the laws of nature, which are so ordered that no such erratic spirit can be." "I don't know about that," replied Weston; "earth and water have their inhabitants, so why not the air also?" "And why not the fire?" "There you go, right before the wind, into the troubled sea of argument you Scotchmen are all alike." "Ghosts are at variance with the workings of Divine wisdom, and we all know what Jones of Nayland says thereupon." "No, we don't." said Weston; "who the deuce was he what port did he hail from?" "He who cannot see the workings of a Divine wisdom in the order of the heavens, the change of the seasons, the flowing of the tides, the operation of the wind and other elements, the structure of the human body, the circulation of the blood, the instincts of beasts, and the growth of plants, is sottishly blind and unworthy the name of man." "You hear him, Mr. Rodney," said Weston; "now he has got both his anchor and topsails a-trip; he can pay out whole speeches in this fashion, all at a breath, as fast as the chain-cabla running through the hawse-pipe." Being fresh from Eton, I was not going to let our learned Scotch mate have it all his own way, when Weston resumed: "If you will listen you shall hear a strange story in which I bore a prominent part." "As the ghost?" said I. "No; but you will soon acknowledge whether or not I had cause for fear." And after he had replenished his glass and pipe, Capt. Sam Weston began in this manner: "About fifteen years ago I found myself at Matanzas, in Cuba, the same port we are bound for now adrift, without a ship, and almost without a penny in my pocket, among foreigners, Spaniards and mulattoes. mestees and quadroons, black, white and yellow. I had gone there as second mate of a ship from Boston, but the tyranny of our skipper v.ellnigh drove me mad. During the voyage he had nearly killed three of our men for being slow in sending down the top-gal!ant yards on a squally night. He beat them until they were black and blue with a handspike, and kept them for forty-eight hours, lashed to ringbolts in the iescupppers, that the sea might break over tliifin, as he said, and cure their sores. "When I interfered to save a poor cabin boy, wom he had hung up by the heels from the main-boom, and was scourging witn a heavy colt till his back was covered with blood, he produced a bowie knife aid revolver, threating to 'shoot or rip me up.' "Just at that moment we were passing a Spanish ship of war which was at anchor in the bay, about half a mile from us, and had the red and yellow jack of Castile and Leon flying at his gaff peak. One of the poor fellows who had been so severely beaten was then in the foretop. so I hailed him to make a signal of distress to the Spaniard." (To be continued.)

FAMOUS BUCKSPORT CAPTAIN. Profit from Ilia Flshinc Fleet This Year About S'jO.OOO. "Tom Nick," or "Cap'n Tom," is said to have made ?20,C00 at least, clear profit, this year out of his fishing fleet. So say the wisest of the Bucksporters, and they refer to Capt. Thomas Nicholson of that town and to his business prosperity. Cap'n Tom is one of the few men in Bucksport, Me., who are worth more than $100,000, and when he started In life he hadn't a cent or a soul to give him a helping hand, says the Lewiston (Me.) Journal. The story of Cap'n Tom's life is a story of thrift, tireless industry and rapid money making. All along the eastern coast, from Maine to Boston, he is known as a remarkable man. When he was 13 years of age he made his first trip to sea went fishing on the Grand Banks in a Buckport schooner, and for some years he continued to catch codfish on shares, as one of the crew. The shares were liberal in those days, however, and the men who were willing to work extra hours, stealing the time from their watch below, used to make a good deal of money by cutting out the cods' tongues and sounds and pickling them for the home market, those parts of the fishes being, by custom, "thrown in" to "fat up" the men's wages. Cap'n Tom is a bachelor, aged about 40 years. Often he may be seen at work in his little office at 3 o'clock in the morning. He talks and apparently thinks of nothing but his fishing vessels. (Siberian Sunshine. The Russian meteorologist, Professoi Woctkof, calls attention to the rJmosl uninterrupted sunshine that prevails in winter In the Irutsk region of Siberia, lie thinks it would be an ideal placa for consumptives and for ralsin plants under glass.

FRANCE IS GREATLY

The Death of President Rumors in Our Emile Loubet has boon elected president of the French republic to succeed Fau re, he having received 4S0 votes. The result was forecast by leaders of both parties, inasmuch as the re publicans had a good majority and PRESIDENT TAURE. were united on their president of the senate. New York, Special. -Now that the first emotion and surprise caused by the sudden death of Felix Faure have passed away, there is. contrary to all expectation, not the slightest trace of agitation or of political excitement on the part of the public, says a Paris dispatch to th.? Tribune. Even the sadness that characterized the crowds at the news of the death of President Carnot is absent. The apparent indifference of Parisians at the loss of the president of the French republic strikes many close observers with amazement and is interpreted by the Bonapartists and the royalists as an indication that the people are tired of a republic and would welcome a change in the regime. Such is the view most emphatically expressed by Paul de Cassagnac, who in a conversation in the lobby of the chamber of deputies remarked to the Tribune's correspondent: ''The unseemly haste of the republicans to elect a new president is a sure sign of the apprehensions caused by the attitude of the people toward pretenders. The demonstration that has nightly been taking place at tho Nouvcau theater in the patriotic dram:'. "Roi de Rome," may scon be transferred to the streets of Paris. A plebiscite would prove that the French people and the French army are united and true to Napoleonic; traditions." When asked whether he considered the moment ripe for Prince Victor to act and place himself at the head of his followers, M. Cassagnac replied: "That is more than I can say, at all events, until we know whom the republicans will choose for their president." Particulars of Faure Death. The president expired in the Elysec and had only been seriously ill for three hours. When the end came M. Faure was surrounded by the members of his family, his secretaries and Premier Uupuy. The news spread like wildfire, causing intense commotion on the boulevards. If there is a coup d'etat providence seems to have arranged the op-

FRENCHMEN MADE CONSPICUOUS BY THE PRESENT CRISIS.

J

) nOMi.:DMfxf . portunity. That- was the opinion on every lip, and little short of a miracle can prevent the contingency being utilized by the enemies of the republic. Within ninety minutes after the announcement of President Fau re's death the bulk of the prominent military ofTest Eminently Satisfactory. "So you want to marry my daughter, eh?" queried the old man. "Do you think you have the patience and forbearance to make her a kind and indulgent husband?" "I don't know," replied the would-be son-in-law. "I can button a stand-up collar on a shirt that is a half-size larger without getting angry, and I " "Say no more," interrupted the old man. "Say no more, but take her, my son, and my blessing goes with her."

EXCITED

Faure Creates All Sorts of Sister Republic. ficc-rs of Paris, including den. Zurlinden, the military governor, had gathered at W Cercle Militaire in the Avenue de l'Opera, where the utmost excitement prevailed, and active consultations between military chiefs immediately began. The generals were evidently convinced their hour had come and wore preparing to take timely measures to protect their interests. Belief on the boulevards is that Prince Louis Napoleon has the best chance anions the pretenders, the only unfavorable circumstance being the 112 hours it will take him to reach the frontier, whereas the duke cf Orleans, who is in Italy, could reach Modane in a tlay, and so bo on hand to enter France at the first signal from his supporters. The anti-Dreyfusites are jubilant at Fa tire's death, which they regard as a supernatural interposition in their favor. The revisionists are correspondingly depressed. GENERAL ZURLINDEN: CAN Under the present exceptionally exciting conditions anything may be expected lo happen. Much depends iron what (Jen. Zurlinden, military governor of Paris, as head of the military element, may decide to do. By a curious coincidence M. Dupuy occupied the same position which he held when President Carnot was assassinated on June 24. 1S94. M. de Freycinet ordered the troops confined to barrack.. The Figaro attributes the death of M. Faure to a sudden violent attack of angina pectoris. All the sovereigns have sent condolences on the death of President Faure. 1'art of the Ctitniu. "Don't you hang up the stockings at Christmas at your house any more?" "No; we've got too old for that. We hang up the storekeepers for presents now. Philadelphia North American. Uhore He Cot It. Old Gentleman What! Give daughter in marriage to one of my my clerks? Never!" Ardent Lover I don't see why. You can easily get another clerk. Truth.

, All 4Jnpitx !; LQ Is wMs ill mmwk Mm:

Besides the public buildings many private housos display flags at halfmast. E:rp?ror William of Germany has telegraphed his condolences with Mm". Faure and has directed the Gorman ambassador here. Count von Munster-I-odenburej, to place a wreath on the president's coffin and to announce that his majesty is sending a special mission to represent him at the funeral.

Just Itefore De:itJi. The president v.M., working with M. le Gall, chef do cabinet, when, about 3 o lock, he complained th-.it lie felt ill. He did not attach much importance to it. and went out for an hour's drive', hoping the indisposition would pass off. Instead, it became worse, and on his return to the Elysec M. le Gall noticed a man;:d and alarming change in his face. He was evidently very ill, and M. le (lall had to give him his arm to lend him to a sofa. Mine. Faure was immediately informed. The President was taken to his room and messengers were hastily sent to fetch the nearest physician. It was not long until Dr. Launcelongu-? and Dr. Potin arrived, but after a very brief examination they declared that there was nothing to be done. There hud been a rush of blool to ! the brain and the president was past j human aid. The cure of the Madeleine was sumHE MAKE A COUP D'ETAT? moned to administer the last sacra ments, but the messenger failed to find him. and a young priest passing along the Faubourg St. Honore was called in to administer extreme unct'on. The president became insensible and remained unconscious for at lea.-t an hour before death. At 10:10 all was over. Frederic Coudert's Tribute. Xew York. Special. Frederick II. Coudert, recognized as the head of the French element in America, when told of the death of President Faure. wa visibly affected by the news. Recovering himself with an effort, he said: "Nothing more unfortunate for France could have happened at this juncture. This sad catastrophe plunges the French nation into chaos. The crisis is acute and imminent. Indeed, were tlu military party lteaded by Gen. Boulanger at the present moment mere would, I believe, be a revolution in progress at the present minute. Happily for France, there is r.o military idol with influence enough to lead sucl; a movement." I'ope Deeplj I inpre J. Rome, Cable. Cardinal Rampoüa. the papal secretary, communicated the death of President Faure to the pope. The pontiff, who was deeply impressed, said: "Poor France suffers one misfortune after another. What terrible consequences may follow." The pope celebrated mass for the repose of the soul of the late President Faure. An Ilonent Senator. "I met a man a short time ago who says you paid him for his vote." "Well, sir." answered Senator Sorghum, drawing himself up. "I should defy him to say otherwise. There is no man who dares insinuate that 1 attempted to cheat him out of his money under those circumstances." Washington Star. I'ncie Khcn'ii Philosophy. Deshcre politicians wants ter take care deah healf." said Uncle Klen. "An one o' de mos danjusest symptoms I knows ob is a sudden rush o voice to de mouth." Washington Star ltd l Ion of Franc. There has been no religious census in France since 1872. All religion are equal before the law and have allowances from the public treasury ia proportion to their numbers