He and his sailing crew are running a load of pineapples through the Caribbean and up to New York. They have just defeated two pirate boats trying to capture them and are now just off Charleston, South Carolina. They have lost the wind.
Wrecker’s Tale
“John, we had better lower a quarter-boat. We’ll put all six men in it. Put out a rope, and we’ll try to take her in to Charleston.
“Aye aye, Sir.”
“Well Sir, the men’s rowing and the swells have brought us into the harbor. Look Capt’n, no ships moving about. The good news is the tide is beginning to turn, and it’s heading in, helping us.”
“John, bring the men in. Rest them, feed ‘em and then we’ll continue to tow the Jenney May into the harbor and anchor. Also, John, send me our Confederate Navy man. I think we may need to sell these pineapples in Charleston, and I'm going to need his southern accent. They are probably still fighting the Civil War here!”
They rowed and towed the Jenney May into the Charleston harbor and dropped anchor just a little bit past Fort Sumter and just out from the docks. An American flag was proudly flying from the fort’s ramparts.
“You wanted to see me, Sir,” the Confederate Navy Man reported to the Captain.
“Yes, Clyde. As you know we’ve no wind. Now we can’t be stuck here any time. Our pineapples will spoil. We’re going to town, and try to sell ‘em to a broker in yon warehouse. What is needed is for you to kind of take the lead, and do the introductions. Might be your southern accent will soften things.”
“I’ll do my best, Sir.”
“Thank ye kindly, Clyde. Change into your best, and four of us will take a quarter-boat in.”
“John, if the quarter-boat’s ready, then you, Clyde, Benjamin, and I will go on in, and see if we can dispose of this cargo.”
They pulled up to the dock, tied up, and climbed out. There was a ship being loaded with pine timbers. A few loiterers about, (more-than-likely) looking for work.
A man came up, “Help you-all, Sirs?”
Clyde looked at Dan, and Dan nodded, “Yes, Sar. Can you-all direct us to the port war...house manager?”
“That a...would be Colonel Daw...son, Sar. That door in yon war...house there,” as he pointed.
The four men walked up to and stopped in front of the door. A sign above read: “Charleston Port Sales.”
Clyde knocked. “Come in.”
Clyde opened the door, and they all filed in.
“May I help you-all, Sirs?” a clerk asked.
He was standing at a ledger desk facing them.
Clyde responded, “We just pulled into the harbor. We-uns are looking for Colonel Daw...son.”
“Just one second, Sar. I’ll ask if he can see you-all.”
He knocked on a door on the opposite side of the room and went inside.
“Send them in,” they could hear someone say.
The clerk came out, pointing into the room. “Colonel Daw...son can see you-all. Right this way, gentlemen.”
The four men went into the office. “Gentlemen, what can I do for you-all?” Colonel Dawson said with a flourish.
Clyde responded. It appeared he was beginning to enjoy his job and position. “Colonel Daw..son, Sar! May I introduce Captain Dan Benson, First Mate John, Benjamin, and myself, Clyde, of the good ship Jenney May out of Key West. Now sitting in you-all’s fine harbor.”
They all shook hands with the Colonel and then Captain Dan started, “Colonel Dawson, our ship the Jenney May has a full hold of six thousand fantastic South Florida, Key Largo pineapples. We were on our way up the coast to market them. Of course the lack of a suitable breeze has brought us to your fine shore. We would like to strike a deal for you to purchase our cargo.”
The Colonel responded, “Gentlemen, I got word of your arrival. Of course I didn’t know what your cargo was. Well, fine sirs, let me explain about our condition here in Charleston. As you may know, we’re still trying to recover and rebuild from the great war. In fact, Sherman came through here and thoroughly devastated us. As you look around I’m sure you can verify that. So, we’re not very financially secure. The best I could do gentlemen is thirty cents on the dollar.”
Captain Dan spoke up, “Well it certainly is something we should consider since we are stuck in this port.”
“Gentlemen, I know you started off this discussion by using this fine southern gentleman from Mobile. I know the accent. Tell you what, on his accord, I will add an extra five cents. So, gentlemen, thirty five cents on the dollar is my best and final offer. That is depending upon inspection, quantity, and condition of your pineapples. If it is agreed upon, by day after tomorrow, Charleston, Savanna and every community tween will be eating your great fruit!”
Captain Dan said, “It’s a deal. Sir, you have just bought yourself six thousand pineapples.”
They all shook hands and the Colonel said, “I’ll have my clerk draw up the agreement. If your men will help, we will get them off your schooner and onto the dock. We’ll tally up, and I’ll have you-all a draft on the bank of Charleston.”
The pineapples came off the Jenney May unusually fast. The Colonel put his men and extra labors to work. The quarter and longboats were coming and going. Wagons pulled up to the dock, and the pineapples were on their way as fast as they were loaded in the wagons.
Captain Dan and John came out of the Bank of Charleston. “John, two thousand one hundred dollars isn’t close to six thousand, but it’s much better than a boat load of rotten pineapples! I think the Good Lord has been sailing with us. Tell you what, since “Mobile Clyde” got us an extra five cents on the dollar, I’m going to give each man a bonus of twenty dollars and tomorrow in Charleston.”
“And a day to recuperate,” John put in.
OK, John, dole out the bonuses, and tell them when they get the hold cleaned out, they have leave. But we’re going just as soon as we get the wind.”
“Aye aye, Sir!” John said enthusiastically.
“John, tell them to stay out of trouble. Don’t want another Civil War started or have to bail them out of some Charleston jail!”
“You got that, Sir,” John responded.
The third evening in Charleston harbor…The Jenney May was barely rocking to and fro floating on a calm sea. First Mate John was pulling watch topside. Captain Dan was sleeping in his cabin. He was more than likely dreaming about being home in Key West. Suddenly Dan sat upright in his bunk. The ship was rocking hard. He jumped up and slipped on his boots. Just then there was a hurried knocking on the door to his cabin, “Captain! Captain Dan! It’s the wind!”
Captain Dan threw open his door, “What’s it like, John? Let’s go, and take a look.”
They both went up top. The sails were moving about as the wind whistled through the rigging.
“It looks and sounds like a steady blow, John. It will be dawn in a couple of hours. If we don’t start to see men by an hour later, we’ll go-a-look’en.”
“Aye, Sir.”
The sun was trying to break through a mass of fast-moving, low-hanging clouds.
“Looks like I see the quarter-boat leaving the dock, Capt’n,” John proclaimed.
“How many men we got, John?” the Captain asked.
John was looking through his glass, “I count six, Sir. No wait. There’s a couple of heaps in the stern. If those two piles are men, we may have all eight!”
“I had better get the coffee started, seeing the cook was out with them. Hope he don’t mind me messing with his gear. We’ll go easy on them, John. They’re a good crew,” the Captain said as he stoked the fire for the coffee.
The entire complement of eight men appeared on deck, a couple being held up by the others. The cook saluted and headed straight for his area. He could be heard in the background, something about people messing around with his utensils.
John said, “Welcome aboard, men. I trust you-all have had a fine visit to the more historic and educational parts of Charleston. We will be getting under way soon! As you can see we have a fine breeze. Get yourselves shipshape either with food or lots of coffee. Or whatever suits your physical needs or disposition. I need men on the ropes and sails in thirty minutes! That is all!”
The Jenney May weighed anchor. Her sails caught the wind, and she pointed her bow out to sea. Her stern waved goodbye to Charleston as she picked up speed. Other boats throughout the harbor were following the Jenney May’s example.
“Head for home, John,” the captain said.
“Aye aye, Sir.”
All day and night they continued along at a steady pace. The wind was strong, and so was the sea.
Early morning the third day…
“Sir we’re making good time, but I don’t like the look of the sunrise or of the clouds up ahead,” John stated.
“I’ve been noticing that, John. I think we’ve got a blow a’coming.”
From the Author:
My second full-length book , Florida Keys’ Watercolor Kapers is composed of 336 pages. There are 12 stories running from 6 pages to as many as 72 pages. It is fully illustrated with 88 watercolors and sketches. The watercolors I made roaming around Key West after I finished my 750 mile hike from Georgia to Key West. (See book or Don Browne’s SouthWest Florida Online News records, A Walk Across Florida.) As you read these stories you will experience Key West, the Keys, and the Caribbean. These stories span the time of the early 1800’s to 1969.
bkranich.wixsite.com/bobkranich
