There was a bad break in the machinery to-day and we were delayed until the following morning. One of the pistons broke, and the ship was helpless until the Chinamen, with superintendence of the engineers, managed to put another in its place. It was a long, hot piece of work, and none of us envied the men at their work above the engines. The weather was good while we were drifting about. Land was sighted off the starboard bow early in the morning and we were in sight of it all day. The next morning, Wednesday, we sighted and passed a large rock about noon. This was evidently the top of an extinct volcano which had placed its head above the waves, and died there in its solemn, solitary grandeur. While we were lying lazily on the waters, the men on board managed to catch three sharks which had been about the boat some time. The sharks were small, averaging about ten feet. The men caught them by means of a small line, and when Mr. Fish was partly out of water, a strong slipnoose was let down the smaller line, and he was noosed.
Edward Avery Bumpus
(June 24, 1875 — September 28, 1901). Lieutenant in the U.S. Army from Massachusetts. Killed in action in the Philippines.
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