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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 14, 1909)
The Last Voyage of J5he Donna Isabel By Randall Parrish Author i f Dob Hampton ot P.dvxr. I lustrations 'n- Dw'orn Melvill educated' man, an' seemed to like to hear me talk, an' among other sea yarns I happened to tell him this one. He seemed mighty Interested, although he wasnl never given to seafarin', an' asked me a whole pile o fool ques tions. Finally he wanted to meet me again alone the next day. "Well, having nothln" better to do, I was there when he came, an' he Bhowed up with a queer-lookln', big, ol' book, the cover half ripped off, under his arm. Then-he made me tell him that yarn over again, and de membered It Then, when I'd got through, an' told him everything I could dig out o' my memory, he opened up that book o' his on the table, an' damme, sir, if he didn't show me a picture of that same ol' hooker, plain aa life, only everything was trim an' shipshape on board, with the masts up an' the sails drawln'. The name was printed underneath, too Donna Isa bel, Cadiz. "That book he showed me sras printed In Spanish not just like what you see to-day, sir, but the letterln' all rough, as though It had been cut out o' wood, but the fellow showed me the date when It was printed, an' it read 'Seville, 1779,' plain enough. Francisco wrote out In English what be said was printed there about this Donna Isa bel; an' there It Is, sir, In his own handwrltln'." He took the paper out of his inner coat pocket and spread It open on the table before us. De Nova and Anderson leaned forward eagerly to look at it, but Tuttle shoved it along toward me. "Read it out loud, sir," he said, his voice trembling. The writing was not clear, and I held It Up to the light. "Galleon Donna Isabel, ship-rigged, 950 tons, Amador, Master, built 1730, home port Cadiz. Sailed Guayaquil for Valencia, June 11, 1753; crew num bered 32, passengers 17, Including five women; carried treasure, in gold In gots and pieces ot eight, valued at 3,000,000 pesos, consigned by Canda mo, presldente. to department of the west, receipted for by Salvatore, gov ernment agent. Spoken by ship Con quistador, Sanchez, master, July 16, 1753, 80 degrees 20 minutes west and 47 degrees 15 minutes south; all well Lost at sea; no report." I put down the paper, and looked across at Tuttle; he sat motionless, his head In his hands. I confess tha tale had affected me strangely, and I could not doubt that tho man honestly believed every word he had uttered. Yet It was far too marvelous ever to be true; too Impossible; too wildly romantic. It must have been a hallu cination, an optical Illusion born from a mirage of fog and sun In those frozen seas. Over 3,000,000 pesos, locked within the eternal Ice for 126 years! Over 3,000,000 pesos, guarded by the dead for a century amid that grim desolation of crested sea! God! It was simply unthinkable, and I even ventured to smile at the credulity of the men about me; yet I did It with set Jaws and Hps parched and dry. What if It was all true? I felt the blood boiling up through my veins, every extremity tingling with the fever of It Over 3,000,000 pesos! Merciful mother! It was the ransom of a king; It was the temptation of hell! I know not how I controlled my voice so as to question calmly, for, even as I first spoke, I noticed how my hands trembled where they rested on the outspread map. "Is that all?" Tuttlo nodded his head, uplifting his eyes questlonlngly to mine. "That'B tho whole of It, Bir. What do ycu think?" "That's more than I know, Mr. Tut tle. Perhaps you dreamed, perhaps Francisco lied. I should have liked to see that book." I bent lower over the chart, staring at the red cross. "What was It you men wanted me for?" "Iv operate the steamer, sir; the rest of us aboard only understand sallln' vessels." "Yes, of course; but why did you happen to choose a Bteamer for tho Job? There were plenty of sailing craft lvlns: In the harbor easier to steal than this yacht." "Very true, but it happened to be steam nower we wanted. Here is about how we figured It, sir. First place, we had to get away quickly out of those portions of the sea where they'd be most likely to hunt for us. We're outlaws, an' every ship sallln' under a flag Is an enemy. Well, sir, what chance would a sallln' vessel have In such a chase? We needed somcthln' that would show m a clean pair o' heels somethln' that would give 'em a run for their money. That's what this yacht can do; she's pokln' It now at sixteen." "Yes; you've got the advantage," I confessed, "so long aa your coal lasts. But you can't put In anywhere for a new supply what then?" i ! He turned partially about, and winked at De Nova; the fellow grinned back at him, but burst in eagerly: "Oh, we're not quite so green as all zat, Mona. Stephens, an' I t'lnk we got slk t'lng plan' out jus' 'bout right We steam so till we get maybe far 'nough south Were sey quit look for us. How It be 130 degrees west an' 40 degrees south? Nobody t'lnk we go zere non, non. We got coal plenty for sat, an' zen have bunch left I know; I try It No move need push her elzer after we leave ze Ferdandez we be well ahead zen. Zen we rig up ze schooner sails, an' make ze next t'ousan' mile wlzout burn' a poun'. You Bee how It do? Ze danjatre was not, for In zat ocean we meet nossing but maybe ze whale ishtp." "You understand what be means, sir?" went on Tuttle, as tho Creole paused for breath. "Once well ahead we can fall back on canvas, and save the coal. But we'll need the steam power down there to hold her off an' on by the Island while we do the job. It's a mighty nasty bit o' water, an' a sallln' vessel Is apt to get pinched in the ice. But with a steamer we can hold her to It, however tho wind blows." I looked at the fellow with greater respect. Evidently he had considered t ii in, s. m ijiji He Drove His Sheath Knife Half to the Hilt Into the Table. every angle ot the desperate game be was playing. "Your scheme certainly sounds rea sonable enough," I admitted, almost reluctantly. "And the chances are you will get there all right. But sup pose you do; suppose you discover this mysterious Island; suppose you find there the galleon as you say; sup pose you even succeed In getting aboard, and Into possession of the treasure what then? Don't you know you're bound to be caught the minute you come out of the Antarctic into any ocean patrolled by the fleets of the world? You have committed pi racy a crime against the nations and the civilized world will unite to hunt you down." "That's another reason way we hao to have a steamer," he explained, calmly. "You just remarked that they'd be lookln' for the Sea Queen to come back. Well, let 'em look; they won't never see her, sir. Once we get that gold under hatches, an' back as far as that rock they call Dough erty Island an' that's only a run o' maybe 500 miles I'll engage to make over this here Sea Queen so that her own captain wouldn't know her CO feet away. How? I'd strip the en gines out o' her, h'lst the stack over board, tear down tho bridge an' wheel house, rig her as a barkentlne, change every lino o' paint fore an' aft, an' then wreck her somewhere along the east Fatagonlan coast, or maybe the Falkland. It would be nothln' but a bloomln' whaler gone ashore on' afore anybody finds out different, we'll bo scattered to hell an' back." I was obliged to acknowledge to myself that It was not an Impossible plan. Eliminating the chance ot ac cident or some unusually bail luck, success appeared not only possible, but probable. "Did you think all that out yourself, Mr. Tuttle?" "Well, Francisco suggested consid erable, but we did It tog-ithur." "Where Is be? on board?" Tho mate laughed, his eym ex pressive of contempt. "Not much, ho hadn't tho nerve. He's a schemer all right, but a blamu' coward." "Hut suppose he gets to talking back there In Valparaiso?" It was big BUI Anderson who an swered me, disgusted with our long controversy. "Oh. to hell wld Franclnco!" he broke In. gruffly. "It's Wat you're goln' to do we want to know. Fran clsco'U hold his gaff well enough. He expects a bit ot the swag, aa', besides. I lt h!m Vns-x what wai cousin' to , him if fci let his tongue was. I had h'.m rlsbt. lot me toll ye. An', ; damme, Mr. Stephens," the bully In him breaking all bounds. "If It ain't comin' the same way to any other duffer who goes back on us this trip. of That's whst talks!" He Jerked bis sheath-knife from his belt, and, with one fierce lunge, drove tt half to the hilt into the table, his brute eyes scowling threateningly luto mlua. CHAPTER XI. In Vhich I Explain to Her Ladyship. I sized directly Into his bullying eyes with a depth of contempt I made . no BUKiuesi cuui l lu uiagumu. ucu I arose deliberately to my feet "Anderson, pluck that knife cut and put It back fn your belt.' ( "I'm damned If" ' " "Do as I say quick, you surly brute," I Interrupted, sternly. "Not another word. I'm In command here yet, and you'll obey orders, or I'll make you." He understood I meant It, with his Innate cowardice plainly apparent yet did not yield until Tuttle interfered with a sarcastio laugh. "The captain isn't exactly the sort to be handled In that kind o' way, Bill," he said, smoothly. "He's a deep-water sailor, not a land-shark, but I guess he's likely ready enough by this time to say what he's willln' to do." The entire situation seemed to un roll before me like a panorama as I stood there, hastily making up my mind for action. I was afloat on the high seas, absolutely powerless to re sist the set purpose ot these men Bur- rounding me, all rendered desperate by greed. Much as I despised Anderson, I comprehended that his threat was no idle one; nor did I possess a single comrade on board who would stand at my back. I was utterly alone; nay, worse even than alone with two women dependent upon me. If I out wardly agreed with these rascals, and thus retained semblance of command over them, I might possibly preserve all our lives; I could, at least for the the present, protect the women from Insult, perhaps from danger, "Well, Mr. Tuttle," I said, quietly, "I may as well return you my an swer one time as another. I don't give a tinker's damn for Anderson's threats, and I dont altogether put much faith in your yarn. But per haps it's worth taking a chance at. What is to be my authority on board, providing I agree to go with you?" "You're the captain." "Absolutely in command?" He shifted about, appearing a trifle disconcerted under my rapid ques tioning. "Well, yes; in everything concernln' the discipline an' sallln' ot the yacht," be explained. There won t be no fuss about that job, sir. But we ain't a regular articled crew, beln' that we're all here on shares In the enter prise, an' so, as regards the purpose of the voyage, it'll have to be decided by majority vote. However, that don't need make no trouble." "What is to be my share It you find the treasure?" He thrust his bead out of the win dow nearest him, looking up and down tho deck; then he leaned across the table toward me, lowering his voice until It was little more than whisper "You get one-fifth, sir; the four of us here get one-fifth each; the other fifth Is to be divided among the crew, Ain't that fair enough, sir?" "It would appear so; yet there is still another matter ot some impor tance to be decided first. There are two women on board; how about them?" "What!" The vibrant excitement of his high-pitched nasal voice was echoed by the others. "This steam-yacht we have stolen was the property ot the earl of Dar lington," I explained. "Lady Darling ton and her maid are still on board, in the cabin aft. This unexpected and undesirable n formation seemed fairly to stun the fellows, their eyes meeting blankly. I heard Bill Anderson swear. "The question Is, how can we best dispose of them? This is no excur slon for ladle3, to rlc.rr.:ra ' I;: of any kind, we've started on. SI all wo hall some passing vessel and trans-ship' them, or shp.lt we run In to Juan Fer nandez and put them both safely ashore?" None of tho three men ventured to glance toward me, and for a long moment no answering volro spok". Then Tuttle gave oily utteranco to words of compromise "Blame if this don't sort o' knock me all out, sir," he acknowledged. "1 don't exactly cotton to either of thoso ldocs of yours, an' I don't know what Is best. I guess I'll have to talk It over with my mates here first, but you can tell them ladles that we'll get 'em out somehow before we turn south. Anyhow, they don't need to worry none 'bout beln' 111 treated. Then I take It, sir, that you mean to sail with us?" "There doesn't appear to bo any thing else I can do." "You're about right there. Well, let's shake hands on It." I did so, deliberately Ignoring both tho others, and fooling my flesh twitch when I touched his flabby palm. Tuttle chewed savagely on the tobac co In his cheek. "Damn the women!" he commented in sudden anger. "Hotter give the crew their breakfast, Anderson. Mr. Stephens, I've sent Dade Into the cabin to attond things aft. He'll make a good hand at that sort o' Job." We passed out together Into the bright sunlight on deck, and I re mained In silence for a moment be side the rati, gating forth across the (To be Continued) Tl I'.elx'kuhH Mt, j The annual convention of the ! Daughters cf Rebekah for the third district was held at Nehawka, Wed nesday, June 9th. A correspondent! th furnishes the following: Ail lodges m the Ulstnt were represented but two. Last president rf the stats, Mrs. Anna B. Crawford, tf Llnccln, gave an excellent address in the afuruccn and conducted a question box. A goaj program was given during the aftei nocn In which many excellent papers were read. At 7 o'clock a fine banquet was served to a large crowd Mrs. C. F. Sturms was toastmtstr.ss and vas an Ideal one. Several witty toasts were given and others full of good thoughts. During the evening tin inflatory work ws conferred on l. candidates by the Nehawka du re staff, who put on tho work In a mrt perfect mainer in every parti al. sr. Officers for the ensuing venr vi ic elected, rs follows: President Mrs- Bertha II iii'r, Syracuse. Vice Pres. Miss Julia Nutzmmi, Avoca. Warden Mrs.C. F.Sturm. Nehaw- ka. .Secretary Mrs. Cushlng, Syra cuse. Treasurer Mrs. Dora Guenzel, Nebraska City. The entire convention was a conv plete success, and mucii credit is due the Nehawka Rebekians for the delightful manner In which they en tertained their visitors. Those in attendance from Nebrns ka City were Mr. and Mrs. E.Guen zel, Mrs. L. W. Clark and Miss Edna Potts. Nebraska City News. Ileceivi Sad News. W. K. Fox today received through C. C. Wescott, secretary of the County Sunday School Association, the sad intelligence of the death last Saturday of his uncle Prof. E A. Fox at Louisville, Ky. Prof. Fox, at the time of his death was General Secretary of the Ken tucky State Sunday School Associa tion and editor of the Sunday School Reporter, one of the most widely known and most influential church papers in the United States. He died last Saturday after an Illness covering a period cf two weeks. At one time he was principal of the Paducah, Ky., high schools and had attained considerable prominence as an educator of marked ability. He visited In this city some six years ago when he met many residents who remember him quite well. He also was a fellow traveller with James Stander when he made his trip to. Rome and the Holy Land. The news of his death reached Mr. Wescott through the General Secre tary of the Sunday School Associa tion for Nebraska and It gave no details as to the cause of his demise. Mr. Fox was greatly shocked at the news which came so suddenly and unexpectedly. In his deep, sorrow over the loss of this most estimable man, he has the. sincere consolation and sympathy of all. A Cur Loud of Automobiles. The other day we picked up a paper published down In southwest Kansas and read a notice that the local hardware merchant was bring ing in a car load of automobiles to sell to the inhabitants. It sounds queer. We were at that town when nearly every man was carrying a mortgage, and the ones that weren't mortgaged were In that fix because they hadn't anything to mortgage. If some man had com menced to talk about paying out from $1,200 to $2,500 for an auto mobile the probate Judge would have said, "This is where I get busy. That mnn neds investigating as to his faulty." Of course there probably would have been no trouble of that sort be cause no manufacturer of devil wag ons would havo thought for a min ute that anybody In Hint town was able to buy one. nut G-cent cattle and 6-cent hogs and the spread of nlfalfn has put a lot of Kansas men on easy street and when tho average Kansas mnn has the money be Is not n tight wnd. If he grips n dollar hard It Is because ho do sn't know Jest when or where ho Is going to g t another dollar. Tepeka Mnll and Drueio. I'uiinei-M Nci-.l Sunshine, .lohn Kraeger.tho prominent farm er from west of the city came In this morning to attend to business with our merchants. Mr. Krneger fctatis Hint the fnrniers are needing sunshine ami warm weather very badly and thnt tho crops nro suffer ing for warm weather very badly and thnt the crops are suffer ing quite a good deal by the con tinued wet and cool wynther. There tins been more rnln than need ed and hot. dry weather for a few dnys would accomplish a world of good. Small grain Is threatened with rust on account of the bad wet weather. Mrs. A. F. Boybfrt of Cullom came down this morning on the Schuvler train for a day's visit in the rltyNl'w York and other points of with friends. 11 I t fm and wide end club ties, and some beautiful designs in, light weight rumchunda handkerchief ties, A special line of new stripes and spots in silks and washable ties which we are at '. A new stock of new stocks 6, L UoOGOil's 0110 "WHERE QUALITY COUNTS." THE NEBRASKA TELEPHONE COMPANY TO RAISE THEIR ' RATES No Change lo be Made in The Plallsmoulh Telephone Company Rates. NO MORE 50c PER MONTH BELL TELEPHONES The following letter has just been received from the Nebraska State Railway Commission by General Manager Pollock of the Plattsmouth Telephone Company stating that the Nebraska Telephone Company will on July 1st, 1909, discontinue the CO cent per month rate for residence telephones at Plattsmouth, and raise their telephone rates to the new schedule filed with tho Railway Com mission, as shown by the following letter: Lincoln, June 9, 1909. Mr. T. II. Pollock, General Manager, Plattsmouth Telephono Co., Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Dear Sir: Referring to your favor of the 25th ult., In regard to rates charged by the Nebraska Telephone Com pany for Its Plattsmouth exchange: Since our letter of the 1st inst. was written, giving you a copy of tho rates of file at that time, the Nebraska Teh phono Company has applied for authority to make tho following changes In Its rates: Metnlic Circuit. Individual line, business, reduce from $30 to $30 per year. Individual line, residence, reduce fom $24 to $18 per year nnd to climate all grounded circuit and special rates now In effect at said exchange; also for authority to es tablish the following new rates: Mctiillr Circuit. 2-pnrty line, business $24.00 2-pnrty lino, residence .... 15.00 4-pnrty line, residence 12.00 As It appeared to the Commission that these rates, In no case, cut below the rates charged by the com peting company at Plattsmouth, ap plication was granted, the new rates lo become effective on nnd after July 1,ll't9. This for your Information. Very truly jouif, t t , Clark Perkins, 1 Secretary. The Pluttsmotith Telephone Com pnny started In business in rintts- At Allu nt Ir ( II). ' Through an oversight tho depart ure of Dr. T. P. Livingston to at tend the meeting of the American Medical Association at Atlantic City, N. J. on Friday lust was not noticed. Dr. Livingston Is a delegate to the meeting which Is ono of the most Important to be held by the medical profession In the country. It will Inst several das after which ho ex pects to put in some time In visiting the principal cities of tho east In cluding Washington. Philadelphia. In- terest. lie will also pay a visit to his We have just received our third Spring shipment of the very latest things in Neck wear, including new effects in tiger stripes, Persian pat terns, light grounds of pearl and soft shades of olive and brown with contrast figures. Reversible, loose end and nar-, row4in-hands. Also medium now offering 50c. See our west window. AT PUTTSUOimi mouth In 1899 when the "Hell" Company was charging $4 per month for a business telephone and $3 per month for a residence tele phone for an exchange of 26 sub scribers. The Plattsmouth Tele phone Co. tstabllshed a rate of $2 per month for business and $1.00 per month for residence. The Plattsmouth Telephono Com pany own and operate over 3,000 telephones now owing nine ex- changes and five toll stations in Casa county, so that it is poslble to reach nearly every farmer, bulness man and telephono user in Cass county over the Plattsmouth Telephone Company's lines. The "Bell" Company own and operate only one exchange In Casa county, the one at Plattsmouth with about 100 subscribers. The Plattsmouth Telephone Com pnnq operate 600 telephones on the Plattsmouth exchange, which is be ing rebuilt and made an all-cable plant which will Insure first-clasa service. The capacity of the Ex change is being increased bo that within the next two week It will bo possible to supply a telephone to every resident in Plattsmouth on short notice. The long distance service over the Independent or Pluttsmouth Tele phone Company's lines Is all that could bo desired, having first-class copper long distance lines to all points within 500 miles. Fine ser vice to Omaha, Lincoln, Council Muffs, St. Joe, Kansas City, Dea Moines nnd all Intermediate points. Tho Journal believes It is the duty of every citizen of Plattsmouth to stand by The riattsmouth Telephone Co., ns It is tho company thnt has brought down telephone rates to reasonable place. Tho Journnl has mnde Inquiry of the Plattsmouth; Telephone Co., and find thnt no , change In rates will be made, th'i old rates of $2.00 per month for business phones and $1.00 per month for residence phones will prevail. birthplace, Dlngmnn's Ferry, Pa., w here ho spent a portion of his child hood. It will bo several weeks be fore he returns to tho city. New Niilloiml Hunk. Dispatches from Washington an nounce thnt tho Plnttsmouth State Hunk of this city has been granted permission to convert itself Into a national bank under the title of the Plattsmouth National flank with a capital stock of $50,000. Thin leaves but one state bnnk In the city The Hank of Cass County. So far as heard from there Is no Intimation of a change In its form of organisation.