The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-06-20
From the Montreal IIeraid.
TRICK OF AN ENGLISH sAILo


The story of man falling overheard from
the Chambly steamboat, between Long Point
and Montreal, and so miracplously appearing
on the beach before his comrades had disenl.
parked, reminded me of circumstance that
occurred during my servitude on board the
Dolphin man of war, bound to the West In
dies. We were going at the rate of about
three knots and half, when Tom Cardboard,
belonging to the foretop, who by the by was "a
bit of wag, sleeping in the lee fore chains, by
a sudden lurch of the ship was thrown over
board A man overheard was the general
drowning man. Tom, who was a tolerahle
swimmer, but nothing extraordinary, woke IN.
on finding himself in deep water and began 10
use his paddles; the ship passing ahead, Tom
was soon lost sight of, but was lucky enough to
/ get hold of the rudder chains Tie hands all
run aft expecting TO see Tom astcrn, and to
lower the jolly boat down to pick him Zip !; but
no Tom was to be seen. e He is gone" said
they, :" to Davy's locker, and all efforts ceased
Our ship was very deep, bound out tosthe
| West indies, consequently our gun room ports
were low in the water This Tom saw, and as
it was getting dark, he thought he would wait
till they had beat to quarters, before he rot on
board, which he did, and then popped down in,
to the lady's hold, (where the gunner keeps
his wads) and there remained till the middle Of
the first watch, when he salliedfo forth and made
free with our bread bags, taking enough to
| serve him for three days. At the end Of. this
time, we were jogging along at an easy rate.
with scarcely any wind when master Tom
unobserved, slips out of the port he came IN
at, and dropping astern began to hail the ship
The Dolphin hoy :. Halloo,' says the
quartermaster. Says Tom, {" if you don't back
the maintopsail, and heave too, shall sink, for
no man can swim to the West Indies without
provisions" Every body ran aft in amaze
ment, for it had been blowing fresh during the
time we supposed he had been overheard but
there was no time TO be lost--so the boat was
lowered, and poor Tom picked up, to the great,
qualification and establishment Of every body
on board.
On our arrival, as the Captain was on shore
dining with the Governor, the talk turned UP
ON swimming. The Governor was extollinr
the powers of black man he had, and our
captain swore no man could swim with Tom
Cardboard, Of the Dolphin's foretop; however,
to make long story short, the Captain and
the Governor made heavy bet-the time was
| approximations asked one week to get ready.
The carpenters were ordered to make what
chests and conveniences Tom required The
Purser was instructed at his request to supply
a fortnights provisions. The day came. and
Tom won't on shore at the wharf appointed,
when he began to stow his grub. The black
fellow looked a; him with astonishment--
am doing here. says Tom, e why am tax.
ing in my provisions TO be sure, and advise
you to do the same, for damn the bit of this do
you get on the road Why, massa," saws
the Negro, SINE no swim more nine, len
miles" g Nine or ten miles," saws Tom.
Why, man, I'm going to Tobago, which i
believe is over 200 miles, and shan't be back
for fortnight"
The spectators were aStonished The black
refused to swim. The Governor lost his
wager, and it was not until we were homoward
bound, that Tom told the secret
CuRRANT WINE. Let the currants be fully
ripe and freed from all leaves, webs or insects,
and decayed or defective frut--break ana
press out the juice, and to every gallon of juice
add 2 gallons of water, and to every gallon of
this mixture add q lbs. of good clean sugar,
one gill of good brandy, and one-fourth Of an
ounce of alum pulverised. Mix well together
i and nut the same into clean cask. Tamexpe-
| dite the process--ascertain the number Of gal
Ions the cask intended for wine will contain
calculate the proportions of the ingredients
put into the cask the juice, brandy, and aufa--
I dissolve the sugar in the water and 6ll the
cask, and with stick mix the whole together
In the month Of March following, draw off the
wine, adding one gill of brandy to gallon, and
the wine is excellent and improves by ago..
After the wine is drawn off the residue may DO
worked into vinegar, or be suspended IN thlch
bag in cool place. that tho remaining &ans
| may filter and be saved.---N 4 Farmer