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WHO BURNT THE VULCAN?
Old Captain Hathaway's Story.

W. H. Macy

Ballou's Monthly Magazine.
Vol. XXXII, No. 3 (Sep 1870)
pp. 260-267.

WHO BURNT THE VULCAN?
Old Captain Hathaway's Story.

      Our usual success followed us; we found sperm whales plenty, and within two months after leaving Callao we had taken five hundred barrels of oil, which made us up to two thousand; I had found occasion to observe, during this time, that Leonardo, the Italian, was a man likely to make trouble among a ship's company. His temper was sullen and vindictive; and, although, as I had supposed, an able seaman, he did not do his duty willingly, and seemed to chafe under any show of even reasonable and wholesome authority.

      He was midship-oarsman of the waist, or second mate's boat. One day, we came on board from a chase of whales, and the boatsteerer, a fine young man named Lawrence, called upon him to give him a lift with a heavy tub of line. This, being in one of his surly humors, he refused to do, and gave an insolent reply, which Lawrence, of course, resented. A few sharp words ensued, when

the Italian drew a knife and stabbed the young man in the side. He was immediately seized by the officers; and, as I came on deck, they were bringing the prisoner aft, while others were gathered about poor Lawrence.

      I took in the whole story at a glance, and, simply saying to the mate, "put him in irons, Mr. Daggett, and keep him secure," I turned my attention to the wounded man. I was soon satisfied that, with care, his life was not in danger. The vital organs were not injured, and I found means to stop the severe hemorrhage. With my mind lightened of a heavy load, I next considered what was to be done with Leonardo.

      Following the promptings of my feelings at the time, I could almost have shot him on the spot, taking the law into my own hands. Had we been near port, I should, of course, have delivered him up for trial, or to be sent home. But, convinced that Lawrence's life was in no danger, I did not feel justified in breaking up the cruise. We were doing well, and if we could remain two or three months more on the cruising ground, our voyage would be made. There was no help for it; Leonardo must be kept in confinement, and the voyage must go on; though I was by this affair, deprived of the services of two able men at a time when every one was much needed.

      I did not tell the Italian my real opinion about Lawrence's wound, but rather gave him to understand that it was serious, and his life in great peril. Little he seemed to care about it, either way. He offered no resistance when the handcuffs were put on; but went down into the run, as ordered, with that diabolical open smile on his face, saying not a word. I could not, however, keep him always in close confinement, in a tropical climate; so he was allowed to come on deck in the day time, still with his irons on, and at night was sent below again, the scuttle being pushed a little way off, to give him fresh air.

      A few days after this affair, we took a whale; and while boiling, we spoke the barque Persia. Captain West came on board to pass the evening, and we stood along on a wind in company. The Persia's boat was veered astern of our ship, and the breeze being moderate, she towed very comfortably. We walked the quarter deck together long after the watch was set, and I observed that most of the men forward were also on deck, "gamming" with the strange boat's crew.

      At about nine o'clock some one rushed aft with the report that the forecastle was full of smoke. This had been perceived for some time, but had been supposed to originate in some way from the tryworks, though the fires were drawing well, and the smoke driving off the lee quarter, as it should do, when close-hauled. But it had now become so dense that they gave the alarm.

      I ran forward and jerked off one of the fore hatches; but the moment it was lifted, the smoke and flame rushed out to such a degree as to drive me back. A main hatch was moved with a similar result; and I ordered everything tightly closed, the fires in the arches to be drawn and extinguished, and axes brought for cutting holes in the deck. It appeared that the fire was under the tryworks; and I know that my first impression was that it had caught from that source; probably from letting the water dry up in the "caboose-pen."

      This, it may be necessary to explain, is the space under the brickwork, between it and the deck, which is always to be kept full of water while the fires are in operation; and it is the duty of the officer of the watch to see that the water is replenished now and then, as it simmers away and evaporates from the great heat above.

      We cut through the deck and began pouring down water, but a few minutes' work showed us that this was useless, and it was abandoned. In the mean time the boats were lowered and veered astern, as we feared the flames might burst out suddenly amidships, when it would be too late to do it. The fire worked rapidly aft under the deck, and the cabin was so filled with smoke that it was at some risk of life that we managed to secure a few valuables. We felt no anxiety for our ultimate safety, as we had good boats, fair weather, and a consort under our lee.

      A light had been set at the gaff, which was understood by the mate of the Persia as a signal for the "gam" to close, and he backed his maintopsail and also set his light for us to run down, knowing nothing, as yet, of the state of affairs on board the Vulcan. It soon became painfully evident to us all that nothing could save the ship. I ordered every one aft and put the helm up. As she swung off before the wind, the flame and smoke drove forward, which gave us some relief and enabled us to make our arrangements more deliberately.

      Until now Captain West and his crew had

been so busily employed in assisting our efforts, that no one had found time to look over the taffrail at the boat towing astern. His boatsteerer now reported no boat to be found. We ran to the stern to find his report true; the Persia's boat was gone! The warp was towing; we hauled it in, and found nearly the whole length of it, showing that it must have been cut or parted within a foot or two of the boat's stem. But we had no time for conjectures.

      I glanced about me to see if my crew were all safe. Lawrence had been helped up from below, and was among us, but no one knew anything about the Italian. I threw open the skylight and peered down into the cabin. The smoke was not so dense now that the wind blew from aft; and, at intervals, I could make out that the run-scuttle was just as I had left it, open a little at one end to allow of ventilation; but no one could have come up without pushing it back more. Leonardo was not with us, at all events; and, if still below, he could not be alive.

      It was too late to make any attempt to save him; and, as I closed the skylight, a glance forward showed me the tryworks settling down, the carlines having burned away under the deck. In a moment more the massive brickwork inclined to starboard, reeled and fell through with a crash; and, as the fire caught the deluge of oil from the pots, a column of flame and smoke shot heavenward, roaring and seething, masthead high.

      We were at this moment within a quarter of a mile of the Persia's stern. The conflagration, lighting up sea and sky, showed her crew swarming on the rail and in the rigging, all transfixed with amazement and horror at sight of this pyramid of flame moving down upon them. Whatever was to be done must be done quickly; the foremast, with its sails and hamper, was already in flames, and the heat was becoming so intense that it could no longer be endured.

      The men went to their places in the boats without confusion, while I took the wheel myself, determined to be the last man to leave her. When Mr. Daggett hailed to report all safe and waiting only for me, I put the wheel to starboard and gave her a sheer to pass well clear of the Persia.

      "Is Lawrence all right?" I asked.

      "Ay, ay, sir!" answered the young man for himself.

      "Has anybody seen Leonardo?"

      "No sir."

      I jumped on the taffrail and slid down by a rope into one of the boats. "Shove out and out oars!" And we fell rapidly astern out of range of the intense heat and smoke.

      I sat down by the side of my friend West, and now, for the first time, found leisure to consider my loss, and to realize the terrible blow to my worldly prospects. The Vulcan and her two thousand barrels of sperm oil were totally lost, and I had not a dollar insured. Insurance was not, then, so general as now, and I had always been willing to trust to the good luck which had heretofore attended me. I thought of my young wife to whom I had been united shortly before sailing; of the high hopes of rich reward which had cheered and sustained my labors for more than two years, only to find my hard earnings all swept away in an hour; and, for the moment, felt broken in spirit.

      But this was but momentary. Youth and health are never despondent long, if the conscience be clear; and by the time we arrived on board the Persia, I was able to look with some degree of composure upon the magnificent sight presented by my burning ship off the quarter. We continued to watch her, till, one by one, her masts fell into the ruins, and her hull, wrapped in the devouring element, was gradually reduced to a charred and smouldering mass. A few casks of oil, which had floated out, were picked up next morning; but this was all that was available of the late stout vessel and her valuable cargo.

      Meanwhile, we were all made as comfortable, for the time being, as the crowded state of the Persia would admit. We discussed now, at our leisure, the history of the fire and its probable origin. I expressed an opinion that it was caused by the water being suffered to run too low in the box under the brickwork. This brought out Mr. Hunter, the second mate, who was positive he had it filled with water not an hour before the fire was discovered; that he had personally overseen the job, and satisfied himself that it was full. In this he was fully confirmed by the two men whom he named, who had handled the buckets and put the water in.

      "Besides," said Mr. Hunter, "if the fire bad begun there, it would have burnt out at once through the opening of the box; there would have been, it seems to me, no chance for a doubt about the matter; whereas, you know, it was raging for some time under the deck, with no escape or vent."

      This was true; and it completely changed

      my first crude opinion. I at once said as much, acquitting the second officer entirely of all shadow of blame on the score of negligence. But no lights had been used under deck since the night before, except in the forecastle and cabin; while the fire had originated amidships. I found both the chief officers of the opinion that the prisoner in the run knew more about it than any one else, and that he had escaped in Captain West's boat. The warp had been carefully saved and brought on board. It measured nearly seven fathoms, showing that only a foot or two had been lost; but the end was unlaid and so much fagged by the action of the sea in towing, that it was impossible to tell, from its appearance, whether it had parted or been cut. One thing was certain, if it was cut, the man who cut it must have been in the boat.

      "Well," said I, after we had discussed the matter in all its bearings, "it's not likely that the mystery will ever be cleared up any further than it is now. The Italian has either been smothered in the run, or he has gone adrift in the Persia's boat. In the latter case, he will be likely to land on one of the islands under our lee; but it would be like hunting for a needle in a haystack to look after him. Besides, it's of little consequence to us now what was the cause of the fire. Its effect is, that we have lost our all, and must begin the world anew. Still, I must admit it would be some satisfaction to know, positively, whether it was incendiary or accidental."

      I remained with my friend West until his arrival at Talcahuano, where I shipped as mate of a vessel for the run home. I found my family all right, my owners well satisfied with my conduct and ready to start me again with another ship. I found also that an eccentric uncle had died during my absence, leaving me heir to a comfortable old house, and some little personal property, on condition that I added his name to my own. As I thought my mother's name as good as my father's, I had no objection to bearing them both; and, after the usual forms of petition, I became Paul Covell Hathaway. It will be seen that it was important in the sequel of my story.

      I made several voyages after this with a fair share of success; but no further light was shed upon the Vulcan mystery. I learned that the Persia's boat had been picked up in good condition by another ship, about eighty miles to leeward of my position at the time of her loss. Everything was found in its place, and the natural presumption was, that she had struck adrift and gone off "on her own hook." The short piece of warp attached to her bow was fagged and soaked out like the other. It might either have been cut or parted.

      It was not until during my last voyage to sea, in 1849, that the veil was lifted from the mystery of the destruction of my old ship, and the crime of the incendiary met with its retribution.

      I was then in charge of the fine ship Ringdove, bound on the Japan ground, and was running down the north side of the Caroline group, intending to make a port at Guane, one of the Ladrones. Two canoes came off to us from the island of Ponapi, or Ascension, in each of which was one white man, with several natives. I had visited this island before, though anchoring on the southwest side, and I knew these white "beach-combers" to be, for the most part, a set of graceless scoundrels.

      The man who first jumped on board introduced himself as a Frenchman, gave his name as La Roque, and asked if I spoke French, to which I replied in the negative. I understood it very well, but felt justified in keeping this advantage of him. In this way, I found that he could speak English well enough. He was a tall man, of forty or more years, with black hair cut close to his head, and a thick bushy beard, turning to gray, which served to conceal his features. The other white man soon joined us, a little diminutive fellow, who hailed from the same nation, and I had no doubt of the fact, for every wrinkle in his nose was French. They conversed in that language with each other, but when addressing me, spoke English, in which accomplishment Pierre or La Roque was far ahead of his little companion, Alexandre, or Aleck, as he gave his name to me. Something about the former seemed strangely to bring up old memories, but I could not recall where or when I had ever met him before. I even thought of my Italian friend of the Vulcan, but I could not make him look like this man. Besides, Leonardo was no Frenchman, and I had never, to my recollection, heard him make use of that language.

      The two men persuaded me to go in and anchor in the bay where they resided, and I decided to do so; for I had a large stock of tobacco, prints, and other articles of traffic, such as are wanted at this island. So we

roused up the chain cables, Pierre La Roque installed himself as pilot with little Monsieur Alexandre for his lieutenant, and within an hour the Ringdove was riding at her anchor in Boytick Harbor on the northwest side of Ascension.

      This haven is very small, scarcely affording room for half a dozen vessels, and the channel of exit and entrance is very narrow. La Roque showed himself an excellent pilot, and handled the ship with the skill of a practised seaman. Of course, he acted as my interpreter and "trading-master" during my stay; and, for the most part, he and Alexandre boarded and lodged on board, and made themselves quite at home in my cabin. They always conversed in the French language, paying no regard to my presence. I had, in my youth, made several voyages to the French West Indies, and had also, in the course of my wanderings, served two seasons in a French right whaler; but I pretended utter ignorance of what was being said in my hearing, and had given a hint to Mr. Bennett the mate to keep his own counsel as to my knowledge of that tongue.

      I had all my water and stores on board, and the ship about ready for sea, when one evening I sat at the cabin table on one side, while my two beach-combers on the other side had just lighted their pipes and settled themselves for a comfortable chat.

      "Alexandre," said La Roque, suddenly, to his little comrade, "we must take this ship."

      I had some difficulty to repress a sudden start, but I recovered myself instantly. I pretended to be intently engaged in reading, and eating a banana which I plucked from a bunch on the transom at my side.

      The little Frenchman merely sucked the harder at his pipe and looked coolly to his Mentor for instructions. He was evidently one of those fellows who will "take suggestion as the cat laps milk."

      "You see," continued Pierre, "she has lots of plunder such as we want; and, if we take her, you and I will be the richest white men on the island. There's not much tobacco or cloth among us now, for most of the stock from the 'Fawn' has been used up. I say, that was a lively time we had in the weather harbor, picking the bones of that English barque – eh, Alexandre?"

      "Yes, yes," assented the little one. "And if you say so, I suppose this one's bones must be picked, too. You've more influence with the old Nanakin than any one else, and I think you understand putting up a job of this kind more coolly than anybody I ever knew. You must have led a hard life in your day, Pierre."

      "Well – so, so," returned the other. "I've had my share of adventures. I have had a hand in a few piracies, have slit some throats and wrecked some vessels in my day – and I once burned a ship at sea, Aleck, a ship that I belonged to, burnt myself out of her, and ran away by the light of the fire!"

      "Good!" grunted his pupil. "Where was that, Pierre?"

      "Off the Galapagos Islands."

      My breath came hot and thick. I rallied all my powers of self-control, and so far succeeded as to bite into another banana with a fair affectation of indifference, while I turned another leaf of the book in which I feigned to be so much interested. Leonardo, my cutthroat Italian, was before me! I knew now, where I had seen that restless eye, and that peculiar parting of the lips in the act of smiling. But he had since lost nearly all his teeth, which fact, with his closely cut hair and heavy beard, had very much altered his appearance. And this man did not know me! Fifteen years of hard service, and more yet, my change of name, had done the business, and saved me from recognition.

      "How was it? Tell us all about it,"said the little villain, with a glance of admiration at his superior.

      "Well, she was an American ship. I don't care to tell her name," said Pierre. (He had no need to tell one of his auditors.) "The skipper was a young man, and built very much like our unconscious friend, the captain, here. Indeed, when I look at his shoulders from, behind, I always seem to see that young Captain Covell before me.

      "I had been three months in the ship, which was a long time for me to be in one craft, and I was spoiling for an adventure of some sort. One day a young fellow, a petty officer, called me to lend him a hand; I did not feel in the humor, and told him I would not do it. He flared up and put ou airs, and I inserted my knife under his ribs. I don't know yet, whether he lived or died; but I'm afraid the incision was rather deeper than I meant it to be. Well, they took me aft, and put on me a pair of those large old-fashioned shackle-irons, to confine me as they thought. I was laughing in my sleeve at them, for I knew I could work them off, ay, and on, too, when I should be ready."

      Here the scoundrel looked admiringly at his small flexible hands. I dared not glance at him now, for fear of losing my self-command.

      "They put me down in the run and kept me there nights, letting me up days for an airing. You may be sure I chafed at confinement, and determined to get my freedom at any cost. A chance was soon offered; we got a whale, and when nearly through trying out, we spoke a barque, and the captain came aboard and veered his boat astern by the warp. I was on deck then and took note of things. I made up my mind to fire the ship that night."

      "I had fireworks in my pocket, for I was allowed to smoke when I liked while above deck, I knew that the blubber-room had been cleaned out that afternoon, and that one of the lower deck hatches was left partly off, while the upper ones were closed. At dark I was driven into my cell as usual, and the captains went on deck to spin yarns and smoke; in short, they went about their business and I about mine.

      "I lost no time in slipping my hands out of the shackles, and crept through to the main hatchway. I had explored the road before and knew the feeling of every cask in her, abaft the mainmast. The hatch being off, I could pass up between decks without noise. I made my way into the sailroom, knowing where to put my hand on a large bag of tarred oakum, and some rolls of old canvas, which I lugged forward until about under the tryworks. I also found enough greasy wood to start a good bonfire, and keep it going, too.

      "I arranged all my combustibles, and fired the piles in three or four places, to make a sure thing of it. When I lit the oakum the flame and smoke spread so quickly that I had enough to do to escape being suffocated; but, as I dropped into the lower hold I managed to pull on the hatch, which kept the smoke out of my quarters for the present. I went back to my old station in the run, and waited until the alarm was raised, and I heard the two captains run forward to look for the fire. I knew then that the coast was clear, and everybody's attention was occupied. So I jumped up into the cabin, placed the scuttle just as I found it, leaped on the transom and dropped out at the stern-window, pulled myself into the barque's boat, cut the warp, and the ship kept on her fiery course, leaving me alone on the Pacific!"

      I had preserved my outward appearance of indifference and listened to this detail of the destruction of my ship. But I must still keep cool and not betray by any sign that I understood a word; for if they intended to take the Ringdove from me, I might learn their plans, so as to counterplot a little. "Well," said Aleck, "did she burn up?" "O yes. I made a sure job of that. All hands were saved and taken on board the barque, while I lay quietly by at a proper distance and saw the whole performance. When all was quiet I set the boat's sail and ran to leeward. I knew there must be land not far off, and the next day I landed on one of the islands. I set the boat adrift, taking nothing out of her, for I knew she would be picked up, and no one could know but that she had struck adrift while towing. I lived three days on turtle's flesh and some bread that I had brought with me. An English whaler touched there, and I got a passage down to the Marquesas, representing that I had got astray on the island and lost my shipmates, while hunting terrapins."

      "Mon Dieu! that was well done!" said little Alexandre. "But have you never seen that young captain since?"

      "No, never. I would like to cut his throat If I had the chance," answered Pierre.

      I felt obliged to him for his kind intentions, but dared not express my gratitude, even by a look.

      "But now," asked the little one, "how do yon mean to manage this ship?"

      "I mean to mismanage her, so as to run her on the outer end of the reef. I shall take her out through the narrow part of the passage, and then put her on the rocks, as if accidentally. You must have the canoes ready behind this point of rocks, here. You will go ashore and see the old Nanakin, and get the tribe mustered, for she will get under way to-morrow, just before night. As soon as you see the ship bring up, or hear my signal (you know what that is), you will bring all the fleet as fast as possible. Our innocent friend, here, will suppose you are coming to his assistance to get him off the reef. After that all is plain sailing. We must take out the plunder and burn her. We don't want the ship for anything."

      "But what do you propose to do with the crew?"

      "Dead men tell no tales," said the Italian, sententiously.

      I could hardly restrain a shudder at the

coolness of the villain, but I knew that I had him now "on the hip," and could spoil his plan, as well as mete out to him just retribution for his malicious destruction of my ship and cargo, fifteen years before. I found an opportunity to confer with Mr. Bennett, and also with the other officers; enjoining upon them all, by no sign or movement, to betray their knowledge until the proper moment.

      To get to sea through the narrow channel in the reef, it was necessary to carry out a kedge to windward, hook it down firmly in the coral, take up the lower anchor and heave ahead on the kedge, until the ship's cutwater was almost rubbing the rocks on the weather side of the bay. We were then to make all sail, hanging by the kedge, swing the headyards briskly, slipping the hawser at the same moment, and cast her head right into the passage, meeting her in time with the helm.

      Monsieur La Roque, or Leonardo, showed himself a thorough seaman in performing this somewhat delicate operation. It was well for me that I was to have the benefit of his pilotage through the intricate part of the channel; after which, as may be supposed, I meant to take her into my own hands. Had he purposed to capture the ship inside, I should have had no alternative but to fight to the death, and take my chance of getting her out myself, if I succeeded in repulsing the savages. The calculating villain knew how we would fight if attacked while our ship was afloat; but if he put her on the reef and wrecked her, we could then be decoyed on shore and murdered at leisure.

      He took the wheel himself, gave the word when ready to slip the hawser and swing the yards, and performed all his evolutions in beautiful style. The Ringdove obeyed her helm like a thing of life, as she shot into the narrow channel, while Leonardo controlled her movements with such a delicate touch that I could not help admiring his skill, even while I knew he meant to cut all our throats the same night. I knew, too, that the flotilla of canoes, manned and armed to the teeth, were then lying in ambush within a few hundred yards of us, but concealed by a projecting point

      Already we had passed the critical part of the passage, and the reef began to trend to the southward, affording more searoom. The decisive moment had come, and I signed to the officers to be ready. I saw Leonardo's eyes snap, as he suddenly hove the wheel up.

      "Captain," said he, " there's a sunken reef makes out here on the weather-bow. I shall have to throw her off a point or two."

      Mr. Bennett and the second mate were at that moment behind the Italian, pretending to be doing something with the spankerboom guy. At a movement of my hand they seized him from behind, and jerked him backward, while I caught the wheel myself and brought her head back to the proper course. Leonardo struggled powerfully with the two officers, whose object was to secure and bind him without noise or confusion. But, by superhuman effort, he threw them both off and jumped to the rail, while I shouted " Kill him!" for I saw that there was no help for it He had already drawn a pistol and was in the act of cocking it, when a lance, thrown by the third mate, passed through his body; but not before he had put his fingers to his mouth and sounded a peculiar shrill whistle, which was answered instantly by a movement of the leading canoes, starting out from behind the rocky point.

      "We will have his partner," said I, "and then we shall have done enough."

      I did not fear their attack, now that I had searoom and a good working breeze. Seeing that we were well clear of the reef, I gave the order to back the maintopsail and to remain at the braces, ready to fill again at the word. My Italian had fallen to the deck with the lance still in his body, and no one had offered to pull it out His life was fast ebbing, but I can never forget the infernal expression of his face, as his eyes rested on me.

      "Captain," said he, in a voice hoarse with agony and baffled rage, "you understand French?"

      "Like a native, Leonardo," I answered. "And, moreover, though my name is Hathaway, now, fifteen years ago it was – Covell."

      He closed his eyes, gasping out a bitter oath; his spirit was going fast. By this time the leading canoes were coming up with us, and I counted twenty-five which had made their appearance from behind the point, all filled with armed men. As I had anticipated, the foremost one bore the little Frenchman and the old Nanakin of the tribe. They approached within hail, but not seeing their masterspirit, who was now in the agonies of death on deck, they rested on their paddles for a parley. They were evidently puzzled, not knowing what to make of the aspect of affairs. Alexandre, becoming impatient, stood up in the canoe and hailed:

      "Where are you, Pierre?"

      "Go look for him!" I answered, in his own tongue, as I brought my rifle to a sight. Before he could stoop the bullet had passed through his brain. "Brace full the main-yard!" I shouted, as the body of Leonardo, alias Pierre La Roque, was launched overboard among the horror-stricken savages; and the Ringdove, under the impulse of fresh trades, flew on her course towards the Japan whaling grounds.

      I had no desire to work any revenge upon the islanders. We had punished the two scoundrels who had so coolly plotted the destruction of all our lives; we had visited just retribution upon the pirate and the incendiary; and had cleared up the mystery of the burning of the Vulcan.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION