A CRITICAL SITUATION
And now followed a period of waiting, and the captain was worn with
anxiety. The possible suspicion of the people ashore at the delay
in departure must be anticipated, and the captain busied himself in
getting potatoes and onions, wood and water aboard, and opened up
negotiations for a quantity of kangaroo skins.
The crew had become uneasy at the long delay, and were almost mutinous
at their restricted shore liberty, for Captain Anthony did not dare to
trust them with shore leave, excepting in charge of an officer. Their
own theory of the proceeding was that the vessel was fitting for a
cruise to New Zealand. They were humored in this belief, and were kept
busy in painting and refitting.
One forenoon, when the captain was ashore with Mr. Smith, they noticed
the colors at half-mast, and saw that four of the crew had stolen a
boat and were rowing ashore, with another boat's crew in pursuit. The
runaways reached shore and started for the beach. The police were
notified, and soon overtook and captured them. The ringleader, Joseph
McCarty, struck an officer and was detained. The other three were
delivered aboard the vessel and were placed in irons in the steerage.
The man who was arrested was a desperate fellow, and Captain Anthony
was glad to have him go. He was sentenced for seven days for the
assault. The captain hoped to get to sea before he was released, but
the man served his time and went down on the jetty and sought to go
aboard the ship. Captain Anthony did not dare to trust the man, in view
of his delicate mission, and refused to receive him. He was one of the
men who was shipped at Teneriffe, and had a bad record.
Two days had passed since the captain's return to the vessel, and no
word had been received from Breslin. Meanwhile, the vessel was in
readiness for a prompt departure. At noon, on Tuesday, April 11, a
telegram was delivered to Captain Anthony, which read as follows:--
Your friend S. has gone home. When do you sail?
J. Collins.
Captain Anthony at once cleared his vessel at the custom-house, and
later in the day, as he was about to telegraph that he would start,
word was brought to him at the hotel that the Catalpa had been seized
by the custom-house officials and that an officer was in charge. The
distracted captain hastened to the custom-house, and found his offense
had been a violation of the law in landing a barrel of pork after he
had cleared. After a long consultation the officers released the
vessel, but it was then too late to sail.
On Wednesday, Captain Anthony telegraphed:--
I'll sail to-day. Good-by. Answer, if received.
G.S. Anthony.
Back came the reply:--
Your telegram received. Friday being Good Friday, I shall remain in
Freemantle, and leave for York on Saturday morning. I wish you may
strike oil. Answer, if received.
J. Collins.
Freemantle.
Captain Anthony at once appreciated the situation. He knew that the
prisoners were detained in their cells on Sundays and holidays, and
that his plan would have placed him at Rockingham on Friday. He replied
to Breslin's telegram:--
Yours received. Did not leave to-day. Wind ahead and raining. Sail in
the morning. Good-by.
G.S. Anthony.
That evening the captain discovered that his crew had been doing a
rescue on its own account, and had stowed a ticket-of-leave man in the
mizzen-topmast staysail. While he pitied the fellow, he was fearful
that the authorities might discover the man hidden on his vessel, and
make trouble which would interfere with the great object ahead. So he
notified the police, and they came aboard and took the man ashore.
Still misfortune crowded in upon the conspirators. A heavy storm came
on, extra anchors were necessary; but with the whole length of chain
out the Catalpa dragged, and destruction on the bar was threatened.
It was impossible to sail, and Captain Anthony knew that Breslin's
plans must be upset once more. He went to the telegraph office to send
a message, and found it closed on account of the holiday. He hunted
up the operator, a woman. She declined to go to the office, saying it
would be useless, since the Freemantle office was closed. The captain
pleaded, for he knew that everything depended upon it. At length the
woman opened the office and sat down to the instrument.
She called for several minutes. There was no reply.
"I told you it would be of no use," she replied.
Just then came an answering click. The operator sat down at the
instrument once more. After a moment, she said:--
"They are taking the message. An operator happened in."
Captain Anthony nearly shouted with joy. This is the message which he
sent:--
J. Collins, Esq.:--
It has blown heavy. Ship dragged both anchors. Can you advance money,
if needed? Will telegraph again in the morning.
G.S. Anthony.
Once more the element of good luck had manifested itself, this time at
a most critical point.
On Saturday morning, April 15, Captain Anthony finally telegraphed:--
"I shall certainly sail to-day. Suppose you will leave for York Sunday
morning. Good-by."
Straightway the answer came back:--
Your telegram received. All right. Glad you got off without damage. Au
revoir.
J. Collins.
Captain Anthony reported at the custom-house that he was ready for sea,
and the officers came off and prodded the hold and every dark space
with spears, according to custom, to see if any prisoners were stowed
away. At two o'clock in the afternoon a moderate favoring breeze from
the S.S.W. was blowing. Anchor was hoisted, and with all sail set the
Catalpa slipped up the coast bound for Rockingham.