More troubles--Sinking of the schooner--Captain B. sympathizes and
proffers his advice--Kindness of Captain Downs--Strange conduct of
Captain J.--A plot to get possession of the vessel--A new partnership
formed--The sunken vessel raised--A personal encounter--A good
riddance.
Captain J., who had become much more respectful since the vessel had
been pressed by the Government, spoke to me about the stowing of the
vessel. He said that they were a very poor lot of stevedores at this
place, and the stowing of cotton in a vessel was a very important
matter. He said he had followed the business of a stevedore in New
Orleans, and understood it well, and if I would pay him the
stevedore's charge he would stow the vessel much better than I could
get it done by the stevedores of the place.
I had reason to know that the stevedores of the place were not very
proficient, and I agreed.
The cargo was sent down, and the stowing of the vessel was proceeded
with. The captain, however, still spent the greater part of his time
on shore, and the stowing was done by the mate. The latter, however,
having been the captain's assistant in the business in New Orleans, I
thought he might be as well qualified as the captain and more
zealous, although stowing cotton in vessels was a thing which I yet
knew but little about. The cotton bales, which were already pressed
to a great density, were squeezed tight into the hold by means of
screw jacks, the object being to get as much jammed into the hold as
possible; and the great merit and boast of stevedores was the amount
of cotton which they could stow into a vessel of a certain size or
tonnage.
The hold was stowed, and the mate boasted of the quantity he had
stowed away in it. Of course I was pleased with the carrying
capacity of the vessel; and the placing of the deck load was begun.
Having ascertained the total quantity she should take, I set off with
the captain to Houston to get the vessel cleared. This being done, I
went to Galveston to finish up with the Consul and get the vessel's
papers.
I now hastened back to Columbia in high spirits, thinking that all my
troubles on land were now past, and that we would soon be on the
honest salt water again. When I got to Columbia I found that Captain
J. had not yet got back from Houston, and the station-master coming
up to me said, "You have certainly had bad luck with your vessel."
Wondering if there had been some other seizure or detention, I said--
"Why? What is the matter now?"
"Do you not know," said he, "that she is sunk?"
I could not believe it, and hastened down to the river bank, and
there sure enough she lay sunk, with only the tops of her rails above
water.
The mate was in a very excited state, and roughly driving the men
about; but he could in no way account for how this had happened. He
said that when they stopped work on the previous evening all the
cargo was on board, the vessel was making no water. She was pumped
out as usual, and after one or two strokes she was dry, and the pumps
sucked, and all was well. About midnight he was awakened by the
water rushing into the cabin. He jumped up, called the men, and with
some assistance from the other vessels got the deck load off and
rolled ashore, and worked at the pumps, but it was of no use, she
settled gradually down. He carried the throat halliards from the
mast-heads to trees on the bank to keep the vessel upright, and
prevent her from falling outward into the river. This was all he
could do; as to the cause of her sinking no one could tell.
I could scarcely realize my unfortunate position. Everything thing I
possessed was sunk in the river. I had not even a change of
clothing--all had gone down in the vessel.
Several vessels were lying near, loaded and ready for sea, and some
new arrivals had been within the last few days, and the captains were
gathered round, each giving his opinion as to the cause of the
disaster. Among them was Captain B. of the sunken schooner
_Catherine_, who expressed his great sympathy with me in my
misfortune, but gave it as his opinion that I had been deceived when
I purchased the vessel, and that I would find that she was not such a
good vessel as I had supposed, and he believed she was not
butt-bolted, and that while engaged driving piles at the mouth of the
river some of the butts had got started, and had now opened, and that
was the cause of her sinking.
I said he was wrong in his conjectures; I had thoroughly inspected
her hull, it was strongly built, and butt-bolted throughout.
He said, Well, it was a great misfortune, and he was exceedingly
sorry for me, as he feared it would be a very difficult and expensive
matter to raise the vessel in the present state of things in the
country; and perhaps the authorities would declare the wreck an
obstruction in the river, and come upon me for damages. He said he
would not pretend to advise me, but if he was in my place he would
sell the vessel at once as she lay for anything he could get for her,
and get away out of the place, in case of any action taken by the
authorities.
I must say I did not like this man, and I thought I perceived his
drift. I turned away from him, saying at the same time that I was
much obliged to him for his sympathy.
"Yes," said a little old man named Captain Downs, who was standing
by, "and I have read something about sympathy of the same kind being
given by friends to a good old gentleman named Job, who, after all,
got over his troubles and came out all right. So, keep heart, Mr.
W., you may come out all right yet. I know how you must feel; but,
as it is now getting dark, and nothing can be done to-night, come
away with me. My vessel, like myself, is very small, and every hole
in her is crammed up with cotton, ready for sea; but I have a room on
shore, so come over and stay with me to-night."
The crew having made a sort of house for themselves among the cotton
bales, on shore, I gave them money to get some provisions, and told
them to make the best of it until to-morrow, when we would see what
could be done.
Captain Downs was well known among the vessels and inhabitants of the
place as a rather rough and comical old fellow, and in appearance he
somewhat resembled the old pilot at the bar. He was fond of joking
and witticisms, and seemed happy. I much esteemed his kindness that
night, and I found that a finer sentiment existed under the rough
exterior. I was too much troubled in mind to sleep, and he passed
much of the night in relating to me his history. It had been an
eventful and sad one, and thickly dotted with misfortune. His wife
and children had been drowned at sea, and he was left alone in the
world. He had no share in the vessel he commanded. She was a very
small thing, about twenty tons. He said she was large enough for
him, as he had little to live for. He said he had adopted this rough
and jocular habit to drown his cares and shroud his melancholy, as he
thought it a better way than to drown his cares in drink, and he had
got into the habit of it and could not give it over.
I approved of his method of drowning care, and said he need have no
desire to give it over. It was rather an accomplishment, and I only
wished I could adopt it. "Pooh!" said he, "what business have you to
talk about cares; you have no family bereavements or domestic
afflictions, and a young man like you, with no wife or family
depending upon you, has no right to grieve over a mere pecuniary
loss; you have the world before you, and it ought to stimulate you to
further exertion. Remember that the ways of Providence are
wonderful, and who knows but this accident may turn out for your good
in the end." This observation cheered me, and I wished for daylight
to take action in some way.
As soon as daylight came in, Captain Downs went with me to have a
look at the sunken vessel. He said that there would be no great
difficulty in raising her, as there was no iron ballast in
her--nothing but cotton, and although it had been compressed and was
very heavy, still it was lighter than water, and she ought to rise
with very little assistance.
He advised me to set about raising her at once. He was loaded, and
was going to proceed down the river the same day, otherwise he might
have lent me some assistance. He said he would give me a quiet hint,
and that was not to place much value on Captain B.'s sympathy, his
advice, or himself either, hinting at the same time that he might
have an eye to getting hold of the vessel.
In the meantime, Captain J. had arrived, and had learned of the
disaster. He did not seem much concerned, but thought the vessel
might be raised easily enough, but asked that I should allow some
whisky for the men while engaged at the work. I feared that there
had been already a little too much of that article, and it might have
had something to do with the sinking of the vessel. However, I
agreed to allow a little under proper restriction.
It was then arranged that the captain should get the sails unbent,
the topmast sent down, the anchors and chains ashore, and the vessel
lightened as much as possible, and I would go at once to Houston and
see the consignee and report the disaster, and ask him to advance me
some assistance and direct me where I might procure strong tackling.
The consignee, who had never before had much to do with shipping
matters, hesitated about risking any advance, but said he would think
about it. He, however, put me in the way of getting tackling, which
I got and sent to the vessel, and I requested Mr. P., my partner's
representative, to call upon some of the other merchants and see if
they would take a share in the vessel, and advance some assistance.
He did, and found that some of them would be willing to do so. I
then returned to Columbia.
The place where the vessel lay sunk was on the east, or Houston, side
of the river, near the railway terminus; but there were no houses on
that side, the small village of Columbia being on the west side.
When I got to the vessel, I found her as I had left her. The captain
had taken the sails off her and taken them across the river to
Columbia, but had done nothing more. The men said that the captain
and the mate had taken up their abode at a house across the river in
Columbia. The captain had also been writing out a protest, and had
got some of the men to witness it. Ha had also held a survey on the
vessel, and she had been condemned and abandoned, and the crew were
to be paid off. I asked whom he had got to make a survey of the
vessel. They said it had been Captain B. and two other men. I asked
the crew if they wished to abandon the vessel. They said the captain
and mate had abandoned her, and they had to obey.
Just then the ferry-boat came across, bringing Captain J., the mate,
Captain B., and several others, among whom was Mr. L., _soi-disant_
owner of Captain B.'s sunken vessel.
Captain J. came up to me with great formality, and said that he had
found it to be his duty as captain of the vessel, in behalf of the
crew and for the benefit of all concerned, to have a survey of the
vessel. He had called qualified men for the purpose, and this was
their report, which was read over, declaring the vessel to be a total
wreck, and the captain and crew were justified in abandoning her;
that he found a gentleman--Mr. L.--who was willing to purchase the
vessel as she lay for the sum of 12,000 dollars in Confederate money,
which was about equal to 600 dollars in specie; and, as the gentlemen
who had made the survey considered this an ample price, he had
decided to accept it on behalf of all concerned.
He spoke in such a formal and consequential way, with Mr. L. and
Captain B. standing at his back, that I scarcely knew whether to fly
in a rage or laugh at the proceedings; and seeing the station-master
standing near, I asked him to step up and witness what was said. I
then said to Captain J.--
"Do you wish to abandon the vessel, and do you refuse to do anything
in the way of saving her?"
"I have abandoned her," said he.
"And you, too, mate," said I, "do you refuse also?"
"I do refuse," said the mate.
"Very good," said I, looking towards the station-master, who had
heard the replies.
I then told the captain that as he had decided to leave the vessel,
he should do so; that he and all the crew should be paid off to the
full amount of their claims against the vessel at the office of the
British Consul, and as that gentleman should direct--that was all he
had to do with the matter. As regarded the owners and all parties
concerned, they were all on the spot, and did not require him to act
for them; and as for that precious document called a survey, he might
take it to them that advised him, and they might keep reading it over
for their amusement. In the meantime, I forbade him to take anything
further to do with the vessel, but to meet me at the Consulate.
The crew, who were standing by, asked me if they would get their
wages without going all the way to Galveston to the Consulate. I
said, oh, yes, if no dispute arose, I was going now to Houston with
the train, and would return with money to pay off all who chose to
sign off the articles. The captain and his friends stood aside,
seemingly abashed and disappointed, and in earnest consultation;
while I turned and walked slowly towards the station, ruminating on
how I would raise the money to pay them off, and calculating how much
it would take.
Shortly afterwards I saw Captain B. leave his friends and come
towards me.
"Just a word with you, Mr. W.," said he, as he came up.
"Say on," said I.
"Of course," said he, "it is none of my business; but I rather think
you will have more difficulty in raising that schooner than you
think, and don't you think you might consider Mr. L.'s offer; perhaps
he would go a little higher. Between you and me, I have no doubt but
he would--or perhaps you might say what you would take for the vessel
as she lies."
"I am going to Houston now," said I, "to get money to pay off the
captain and crew and all claims against the vessel, and when I have
done that, if Mr. L. has any proposal to make, he can make it to me
direct."
"That is the best way, Mr. W.," said he. "That will be the best way,
and I have no doubt that you and he will come to some arrangement,"
and he turned and went away.
I said this, not that I had the slightest intention of dealing with
them, but that I did not wish to come to open war with them, seeing
that I had not a single friend in the place, and the almost total
absence of anything like law or police supervision; and, as the
vessel was lying at their mercy, I did not know what prank they might
play with her, and I knew that if the tackles from the mast-heads
were cast off she would fall outwards into the deeper part of the
river, and then the difficulties in raising her would be increased
tenfold.
Just before the train started, one of the men named Fred, whom the
mate had been beating and ill-treating, came cautiously to me, and
said that he and George would stay by me if I would pay off the
captain and the mate, and take command of the vessel myself. These
were the two men who were shipped at Matamoras, and did not come from
the barque with the captain and the mate. They were good, faithful
men, but not very strong or robust. He said, however, that they dare
not let their intentions be known, or they would be sure to be
assaulted and ill-treated. I said I would make it all right with
them, but cautioned them to say nothing about it, but stay close by
the vessel until I returned.
When I got to Houston I met Mr. P., who introduced me to the house of
R. and D. G. M. and Co. They named a certain sum as the value of the
vessel as she lay, and they would advance money to pay off the
captain and the crew, and give assistance to get the vessel raised
and repaired, and they would become shareholders in the vessel to the
amount of the money advanced. They insisted, however, that Captain
J. should be got rid of, as they had rather a bad opinion of him, and
they were quite willing that I should take the command myself.
The sum fixed as the value of the vessel was not great, but the
vessel was in a precarious state, and I was glad to get backing of
any kind, and I agreed to their terms. I got the money and went to
Columbia, and called the crew up to the railway station, paid them to
their satisfaction in presence of witnesses, and having the crew list
with me, they all signed. The mate also came, and he was settled
with satisfactorily, but Captain J. did not put in an appearance.
Several vessels were loaded and dropping down the river at the time,
and the discharged crew all got berths on them, and left, with the
exception of the two men who had agreed to remain with me. I sent
for Captain J., and requested to settle with him on the spot, if we
could agree; if not, at the office of the British Consul. He said he
would have nothing to do with the British Consul. He asserted that
he was still master of the vessel, and that I had no right to take
the vessel out of his hands, and that he would maintain possession of
her unless I would pay him a large sum by way of compromise.
I said I would pay him his wages in full from the time he joined the
vessel until the time he abandoned her and refused to work; I would
also pay him board wages from the time the vessel had sunk; I would
also allow him the bonus for the inward trip, and I would pay him for
stowing the cargo as I had agreed, deducting, of course, all monies
already advanced; I would also allow him the price of a passage back
to Matamoras, where he had joined the vessel, although I said he was
not entitled to that as he had deserted the vessel when she was in
port and himself in no danger.
He refused to accept my offer, but went away muttering threats of
vengeance against me if I did not pay him his demands, and declaring
that he would hold possession of the vessel.
I saw that he had been drinking much of late, and constantly in the
company of Captain B. and other men, who were plying him with drink
and inciting him to mischief, by assuring him that he as captain had
full power over the vessel, and that he had the right to sell her, as
Captain B. had sold the _Catherine_ when she sunk, to Mr. L.
By this time Mr. P. had met with a Captain S., of Galveston, a
stalwart man both in body and resources, a thorough Southern
steamboat man, who said he would undertake the raising of the vessel,
and with whom I made an agreement.
He soon came with his appliances--large blocks and tackles, and some
large pumps--and the Messrs. M. had agreed to supply several yokes of
oxen, and as many negroes as was desired, from a plantation of theirs
near Columbia.
Captain S. began, by taking the anchor chains, passing them under the
vessel's bottom and bringing them up over the outside, and making
them fast one to each mast at the deck, the other ends passing under
the bottom were carried ashore, and to them were attached powerful
tackles made fast to trees high up the bank, while from the
mast-heads were tackles to keep the vessel upright and prevent her
tilting outwards.
One or more of the yokes of oxen were attached to one of the falls,
and by a steady pull one end of the vessel was raised a little. What
was gained was retained and made fast, and the oxen applied to the
other tackle, and the two ends were raised alternately.
Had the bank of the river been solid and sloping towards the middle,
the raising would soon have been effected; but unfortunately where
the vessel lay it was deep, and the bank soft and almost
perpendicular, and as the vessel was brought against the soft bank it
settled down, and the vessel sank back again. We saw that it would
take a little time, but by perseverance we would accomplish it.
In the meantime Captain J. and his friends had thought of trying a
policy which was sometimes adopted in places where civil law had
little control, and that was to get public opinion on their side; and
there were usually a number of loafers about those small places who,
on being plied with drink were ready to take part on either side;
they probably thought this might be of material advantage to them in
getting possession of the _Catherine_ and also the _Rob Roy_. But
although there was the usual bar-room in the place which the captain
and his friends frequented much, there was not among the inhabitants
much drunkenness or many loafers. The military rule and the
Conscript Act had made the latter somewhat scarce in public places.
There was one man--a Mr. H.--who acted as a kind of messenger for
some of the officials, with whom Captain J. had become exceedingly
friendly. This man was a native of Cork, in Ireland, and a townsman
of Captain J. He was a young man, seemingly of fair intelligence,
much presumption, and affected to have some influence in the place,
and was remarkable in his hatred to everything British.
This man, Captain J., Captain B., and Mr. L. were constantly
together, and watching every movement at the vessel. They were, of
course, on the opposite side of the river from where the vessel lay,
and did not attempt to interpose, but indulged in many remarks,
declaring that we would never raise the vessel, but make a wreck of
her; and Captain J. applied at the civil court to get a decree
against the vessel and get possession of her in respect of his claims
against her; but on my giving security against his claims this was
refused, and he was told to bring up his claims in the usual way.
This, however, did not suit the object he and his friends had in view.
After two days' hard work the vessel was got up considerably, and the
coamings of the hatches were nearly out of water.
It was now November, and into winter, and on the evening of the
second day a strong norther set in, which blew hard all night, and it
was very cold.
In the morning by daybreak I was at the vessel, and I saw that the
strong north wind blowing down the river had lowered the water in the
river very much, and the hatches were above water, and the decks at
the fore- and after-parts were dry. I got a plank and went on board,
and was followed by some boys from the railway station, who seemed
wishful to gratify their curiosity.
I stepped through the water to the main hatchway and took off the
tarpaulins; I saw that the tops of the coamings were all above water
except a small part, which was just about level with the water.
Meanwhile the boys had got hold of the pump-handles, and one was
explaining to the others what they were, and began to pump; they were
amused at the black bilge-water which was brought up, and, like boys,
they began to amuse themselves by pumping vigorously.
I was thinking of how we might raise that part of the coamings by
nailing on strips of wood and canvas, when I fancied I saw the water
going down the least thing inside of the hatch-coaming. Wondering if
it could be the effect of the boys pumping, I cried to them to pump
away vigorously with both pumps, which they did, and it was not long
before there was a perceptible fall inside of the hatchway. I went
to the cabin-door and looked down the companion, and I saw by a
scum-mark on the paint that the water was going down rapidly.
I was overjoyed at this, for the doubt had still remained that even
if we had got the hatches above water, if the damage had been the
starting of a butt in her bottom or other serious damage as surmised
by Captain B., the water would have flowed in faster than all our
pumps could have pumped it out; and there being no dock or slip, it
would have been a difficult matter to repair it.
I ran ashore and got a pail which the negroes had been using to water
their oxen, and went to the main-hatch and began to bale with great
fury, and was pleased to see the water going down fast.
I was so busy engaged at this work that I did not notice the arrival
of Captain S. with the negroes and oxen, to commence operations.
"What the devil is that you are up to?" cried Captain S. "You seem
as busy as a hen with one chicken!"
"Getting the water out of her," I cried. "If you don't look sharp we
will have her afloat before you begin."
"Go ahead," cried he, laughing. "But what on earth are you doing up
to the knees in water this cold morning bailing at the main-hatch
when you might bail at the fore-hatch, where you would stand dry?"
"Indeed!" said I, looking at the fore-hatch; "I never thought of
that."
He then ordered the negroes to tie up the oxen and bring on board the
large pumps, and having placed them, he set the men to pumping, and
the water went down fast.
The hold being packed full of cotton there was but little space for
water to lodge, and the only solid bodies of water were in the cabin
and forecastle; which accounted for the water going down so rapidly.
It was soon observed that the vessel was getting a list towards the
bank; this was caused by the vessel rising, while the tackles from
the mast-head to the bank held her down on that side. These were
slacked and the vessel righted, and the _Rob Roy_ was afloat once
more. By eleven o'clock nearly all the water was out; and the
getting out of the wet cargo was commenced.
Throughout the morning Captain J. and some of his friends had been
watching the progress from the other side of the river, and, seeing
the vessel fairly afloat again and their plans thwarted, they walked
slowly away seemingly to hold a consultation.
A few hours afterwards, Captain S. felt the want of some can-hooks to
tackle the cotton bales. He said he knew that some could be got at a
smith's-shop on the other side.
I said I would go over myself and get them, and, jumping into a small
skiff which lay alongside, I rowed straight across to the other side.
The place where I landed was some distance from the ferry-landing,
and on the bank lay a large number of cotton bales, large and
uncompressed.
I had just stepped ashore and fastened the skiff when out comes
Captain J. from behind the cotton bales. His face was flushed with
fury, and his eyes flashed like a demon as he came up and confronted
me.
It was a solitary place, and could not be seen from any of the houses
in the village; and no one was near.
"Mr. W.," said he, "will you pay me that money?"
"I will pay you all that is due to you, as I have already offered
you," said I; "but nothing more."
He advanced a step nearer to me, and said, in a fierce and determined
tone--
"Will you pay me what I have demanded of you?"
"I will not," said I.
"Then you die for it," he hissed through his teeth; and drawing a
dagger, he rushed at me, making a thrust at my breast.
I was on my guard, however, and springing slightly to one side, I
struck up his right hand with my left, and closed with him to get
within his point, and get hold of his right hand--in which he held
the dagger--with my left.
A desperate struggle now took place. I knew it was a matter of life
or death with me. He was vastly superior in size and strength to me,
but I had during the last three years been a little used to such
things, and had undergone some training in that kind of work, and I
held my own.
He had evidently been plied with drink to give him courage for the
deed, and whether its effects had made him unsteady or were beginning
to die out, I did not know; but after a desperate struggle for a few
minutes fortune favoured me, and I succeeded in throwing him on his
back. I still held the wrist of the hand which held the dagger,
while he struggled most desperately to get up, actually foaming at
the mouth. Two or three blows with my right hand gave me the
complete mastery of him, and I was wrenching the dagger out of his
hand, when I suddenly saw a revolver levelled at my head, and his
friend and townsman H. standing over us.
"Mr. W.," said he, "let go that dagger, and give it to Captain J., or
I will blow your brains out."
I still held on.
Again he cried, "Do you hear me; I give you two seconds to let go
that dagger; if you don't, I will blow your brains out;" and he held
the cocked revolver within two feet of my head.
"The devil you will, you cowardly dog!" cried a voice from behind us;
and in an instant the cowardly wretch H. was choking in the iron
grasp of Captain S.
The struggle had been seen from the schooner, and Captain S. and Mr.
P. had jumped into the schooner's boat and rowed across, just
arriving in time.
Captain S. having wrested the revolver from H., and after choking him
till he gasped, he threw him like a piece of offensive carrion into
the mud of the river-bank; while Mr. P. took the dagger out of
Captain J.'s hand, and the latter was allowed to get up, gasping for
breath.
We left them both there, and walked up to the office of the
Provost-Marshal, to whom Captain S. handed the dagger and revolver,
and related the affair.
While he was talking Captain J. came into the office in a most
wretched condition, covered with blood and dirt.
"Well, here I am," said he, "and what are you going to do with me?"
The Provost-Marshal asked me if I wished to take any action against
him.
I said, "Oh, no!"
He then looked at Captain J., and told him that perhaps he had been
disgraced and punished sufficient, and he would do nothing to him
now; but he would keep his eye on him, and if he attempted any
further breach of the peace he would certainly lock him up.
The affair had got wind, and a small crowd had gathered. Captain J.,
who I believe would rather have gone to jail than bear the disgrace,
made his way out uttering threats of vengeance; but it was of no
avail. The sympathy of the crowd had turned against him, and he was
still more irritated when an old fellow in the crowd taunted him by
saying--
"Why, Captain, I heard as how you was something of a fighting-man;
but I think you must be rather small potatoes to let a fellow like
that handle you so."
Captain J. sneaked out of sight, and Captain S., Mr. P., and myself
went together to the smith's-shop to get the can-hooks.
Captain S., whose standing and authority was of considerable
importance in the neighbourhood, gave an account of the whole affair
to the smith and the bystanders, and of course the thing became the
general talk.
For myself I was very thankful that I had come so well and safe out
of it, considering the great advantage he had over me in point of
strength, besides being armed, and I considered that I had been
favoured at the time with some supernatural assistance or strength
and courage not my own.
I knew that the statement of the affair given by Captain S. and Mr.
P. would quite overrule any version that Captain J. or his friend H.
might try to get up, therefore there was nothing to fear from popular
opinion; yet I believed that he still thirsted for revenge and would
try to wipe out the disgrace in some way, and I resolved to be on my
guard.
We got a considerable portion of the wet cargo out that day, and the
pumping required was about ten minutes every hour, the water being
partly from the leak, and partly the drainage from the wet cotton.
A strict watch was kept during the night to attend to pumping, and
also to guard against any attempts being made against the vessel by
Captain J. and his friends.
For myself, the fact of the vessel being again afloat and the events
of the day drove away all inclination to sleep, and I walked the deck
like a sentinel all night; but still my thoughts were of a different
kind from what they were on the night I had spent with Captain Downs
after the vessel had sunk. I was prepared to give a warm reception
to any intruders should they come, but no attempt was made.
By eleven o'clock on the following day about half of the cargo was
out, and the cause of the disaster was discovered. In squeezing the
cotton into the hold, they had, by reckless overpressure of the
screw-jacks, started the deck beams upwards, and, as long iron bolts
from these beams passed down through the thick planking which formed
the casing of the centre-board, when the beams were forced up the
bolts were started, which opened the seams in the casing, and caused
a leak high up in the hold, and above the water line, which did not
show until the deck-load was put on, which brought the leak under
water, and the vessel began to fill, and, the inside lining of the
vessel being very tight, the water did not get to the pumps for some
time, which may have accounted for so little water being in the well
when the pumps were tried; but had any attention been paid
afterwards, and the pumps applied on the first appearance of water,
the vessel could easily have been kept afloat.
Captain S., who understood everything about the stowing of cotton,
swore vehemently, and said it might not have been done intentionally,
but, if not, it was certainly the height of reckless stupidity.
About this time we had a visit from Captain B. and Mr. L. They said
they had come to congratulate me on the successful raising of the
vessel. They expressed their great astonishment at the extraordinary
conduct of Captain J., and seemed wishful to impress upon me that
they had no hand in advising him. I was very reserved in my replies,
and made but little remark, and was very glad when they took their
leave.
Shortly afterwards the owner of Captain B.'s sunken vessel, the
_Catherine_, succeeded in getting her raised, and the affair of the
_Rob Roy_ having given him courage, he held on more determinedly to
his vessel; and Mr. L. gave up the case and left the district,
leaving Captain B. to get out of the country the best way he could.
As for the contemptible H., he tried to explain away his cowardly act
by asserting that what he did was to try and prevent a deadly
conflict between Captain J. and me. How he could make that out I
never could learn, and, as he took care never to cross my path again,
it was to me immaterial.
As for Captain J., he did not make his appearance in public for
several days. I sent word to him, desiring to settle with him, and
suggesting a reference of his claims against the vessel to the
decision of the British Consul. He declined to have anything to do
with the Consul, but offered to refer the matter to the county judge.
To this I agreed.
The judge, having heard both sides of the question, awarded him a
much smaller sum than what I had previously offered him. This I paid
to him, and was very glad to get clear of him.
This ended my transaction with this man, and I would much rather that
such a character had never found a place in my narrative.