The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1841-09-17

glisiening OF the mnsketa that they were mol
Indians, but friends cOningto my relief
The Rescue.
with thror, dnslaked, Will black lips baked,
could laugh nor vail
Throl 81 drought al dumb stood
bit h, sucked the blood,
And A sail "a sailp
me .aaciesl Mariner
III proved to 10 tue United States schooner|
't4Iotto," Captain Armstrong They had
landed in the boats and were marching in
regular order, with files Of men thanking to
the right and left.
g Are you there Thompsona" demanded
the Captain.
@ yes, said family, for my voice was.
nearly gone, and my tongue and lips baked
black, "send me up some water for Gods
sake
s He's alive!'' said the Captain, and they
raised a hurfa and sWore that ] should soon
be down.
l felt greatly revived; but how were they
to get me down! It was easier said than
done.
They consulted about the mode, and con-
cIuded that / might be reached BY q sailors
lclimbing the lightning rod.
Captain Armstrong himself drew off his
coat and ran up therod as high as the In
dams had gone; told him it would not do
as / had cut the wire nearly apart, SO he re-
turned. They devised every means to reach
me within their power. told them to throw
a stone TO noe with a tWine attached, but
ltherewas not a mothers son that could throw
to the top of the Light Houss-when Twas
boy could have thrown double the height.
The sun was now down, and felt my heart
/ sink within me as the Captain babe me keep
my spirit up, saying he would have me down
the next morning; SO they marched down
and went on board.
The next morning they returned. The
midshpmen had made paper Kites which
they tried to fly, but there was no air stir
ring. The Sun shone in my face, and the
stones on which lay were heated.
They then attached Irvine strings to ram
rods and fred them. About noon it
must have been, one of the ramrods struck
the Iron railing and glancing off left the
Irvine around the rail, | reached up and
seized it; rope was made fast TO the other
end and hauled it, passed it over the rail
g. sent one end down, to this they attached a
block with pulley and | drew that up.
/ made the block fast by doubling the Irvine
several times and tying it TO the rail- So
4
said he, dancing around in his bare feet
on the hot stone for they were heated by
the sum- whatdo you think the Devil will do
with you when he gets you? lie pulled Offhis
hat and stuck il under my head, and re
turned for his shoes saying that if they
tied a rope around me I'D break in two for
there was no skin on me.
The officers pulled off their coats, and
sent up two men with them. They wrapped
these around me and let me down by the
ropes. Tainted away and when came too
| was on board, and the vessel under way.
The Captain with his own hands would
take water in spoon and moisten my lips.
allowing me to swallow it only in small guam
titles. There was a man on board whose
name was Cody, good hearted buster
ing, drinking sort of man, (you may re-
member seeing an account Of the massacre
of his wife and children by the Indians,
in the papers-I helped TO bury them,)
Cooley came down and told the Captain
he would take care of me. So soon as the
Captain left the Cabin, Cooley came TO me
and begged him to give me water.
Come old fellow said he" we've taken
cocktail together before, now let's have
one now,' and with that he mixed & sweet
ened stiff glass Of gin and water and |
drank it of-Ibelieve itsayed my life.
Captain Armstrong did all he could for
me and hope he will be rewarded for his
kindness to so poor wretch as was. My
/ legs and feet we're terribly swollen.
and the fever still continued until he Ian
ded me at Key West and placed me under
surgeon, with strict orders that should
want for nothing.
Here remained about two months, and
recovered slowly. / became very impa-
tent of confinement but they would no!
hear of my going until ] prevailed on the
surgeon "a very good fellow he was) TO give
me a certificate that sea voyage would be
Of service TO my health.
Here the document is in this old pocket
book and you may read it, as your eyes. are
better than mine.
Il reads as follOUs.
KEY WEST SEPT. 26TH 1896
hereby certifythat John w. B. Thomp-
son was shot in the feet and legs, that he
has been a patient Of mine-that he has re-
covered from his wounds, but remains in
somewhat debiiiated state.-that in nv
opinion sea uogoge could be of much
benefit 70 lis health
y. PLATTs At. Surg
sent this down 10 the mail packet. schr.
Hope FOR Chrleslon, Captain Walker, and
gol myself, 81 his consent carried on beard.
detook me @ Charleston, where / remain.
ed under Dl Ramsey about three months.
When The people heard that the eLight
House man' Was on hoard hey crowded
down o tbe schooner d see me, like some
wild animal bid myself ID Tie hold but
Captain Walker hanlnd me- nn dack Annnnn