Show D E A I 1 n 10 y J A P S 0 N ph weird adventure of engineer off coast of china seaman supposed to have seen been drowned climbs aboard deserted vessel and wonders at the mystery of sailors fate new york it banzal banzai the japanese poodle and prized possession of william Tweed dalo chief engineer of the chief engineer of the british tramp steamer atholl now ds charging her tar far east cargo at the american docks statin staten island could t talk a lit he be would untold unfold a strange tale of the southern pacific but the story of how bow banzat banzai came into the possession of chief Is strange enough a tale in itself before joining the atholl w was as second engineer of the tramp steamer and were that steamers loj log to bo be had and the pages turned back to a year ago the drowning at sea of banzali Banz als owner would be noted im a drowned man and all there Is to it remarked to a reporter as he began the story of banzai 1 I seen the since tho night I 1 was drowned in the south Pa bacille cille but ive heard from my old chief and he says rin im carried on the log as drowned drown pd and that the vis via ears cars log to Is truthful in all things and drowned I 1 must remain it was waa about this time last year that I 1 was drowned the had bad touched in at japanese ports and was kicking her way south to singa singapore poro I 1 had just been relieved of my watch below by the third and had gone to the rail for a breath of air the night was stifling hot and whether I 1 bad got too much heat or what I 1 dont know but I 1 was taken with a sort of fainting spell 1 I cam cameto eto with a sudden shock I 1 was in the tha water it dawned on me mighty quick that no one had seen me go overboard and that it might be a couple of hours before I 1 was waa missed I 1 shouted a bit more and then I 1 began to save my breath and swim well air I 1 had bad soma tunny funny thought though tL fe first I 1 began to wonder how long I 1 could keep up and decided that by taking things easy I 1 was good tor for five ave or six hours and daylight tor for I 1 had gone overboard at midnight I 1 was beginning to tiro tire a bit and it was something of an effort to keep JIo floating atIns then sir air I 1 saw a slight eight that brought it X howl of joy boy out my lungs sweeping along toward me with all sails calls set was a ona malted vessel I 1 began to swim toward her yelling help everyl every few strokes st but not an answer tag ing cry did I 1 hear bear I 1 thought it strange for the vessel was ws almost on me bui but it tor for mo to wonder about such illings with a chance for me af so 0 o su U t hand aad so I 1 bumped alongside as the boat camo came by me luckily I 1 saw a ropo rope hanging banging over the side and got hold of it or id never be in new york or any other earthly harbor this day finally FIn hIly with one last awful effort I 1 drew myself over the side and fell in a heap on the deck I 1 eat up with a start and there was a bloom blooming las puppy dog what had been licking the side bide ot of my face that there pup was banzal banzai well air I 1 had come aboard into a pretty mess the vessel was a one sticker and was running under maln main sail topsail and jibs bibs but not a sign elau of a human being did I 1 see I 1 got up and went aft and there thera doubled up near the wheel was a dead jap the fellow was curled up like a fellow who fallen asleep and had tried to keep himself warm by rolling into a ball 1 I went down into the tha cabin and there stretched out on the floor were four more japs it certainly gave me the creeps to look at them they all had bad the samo same ghastly expression on their faces and the same wild look ook in their eyes as the fellow up on deck I 1 looked about expecting to see signs of a struggle but everything was as ship shape as could be the more I 1 looked at those dead n men en the more the idea stuck to me that they had bad seen something that had bad literally frightened them to death what it was you can guess as well as me ive often tried to figure out an explanation of those dead japs but its beyond me the bodies we were r in a good state of preservation so the men have been dead lo 10 long a 6 well the first thing I 1 did was to heave those thosa japs overboard 1 I kept on westward for about four days and then lato late one afternoon I 1 sighted a steamer low down on the horizon then I 1 saw the steamer beginning to slow elow down I 1 ran up as close as I 1 could and they lowered away a lifeboat to reach my ship As soon as it pulled alongside I 1 picked up banzat and jumped jute into the boat and was taken to the steamer tho the sailboat journeyed on as I 1 had left her all sails calls set and heading beading into the setting sun she was a ship of mystery where she came from what had happened to her crew and where she went I 1 dont know and never will |