It was just exactly ten minutes before sailing time when we finally made our way to the main deck through the crowd. I fairly shouted to the captain on the bridge:
“My two daughters are on this ship hidden away, and I want them taken off this boat before you leave!”
Capt. Bateman looked at me a moment as if he wanted to throw me overboard.
“Who are your daughters and what are they doing on my ship?”
“My daughters are Blanche and Bera Beebe and Swiftwater Bill has stolen them and is taking them to Alaska. I am Mrs. Beebe, their mother.”
For the moment that ended the discussion with Capt. Bateman. Instantly turning to a quartermaster, he said:
“Help this woman find her daughters!”
A half an hour and then an hour passed as we worked our way from one stateroom to another on the saloon deck and the upper deck without avail. Capt. Bateman was furious at the delay.
“Mrs. Beebe, I do not believe your daughters are here,” he said. “Swiftwater has engaged one room, but we have not seen him yet.”