The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-05-24
A Good Story, if True, and We'll told
if not True.

The story of a man of his majesty's
list regiment falling overheard off the
Chambly steamboat, between Long
Point and Montreal, and as miraculous
! ly appearing on the beach before his
comrades had diSembarked, reminded
me OF circumstance that occurred du-
ring my service on board the Dolphin
man of-war, bound TO the West Indies.
We were going at the rate of 3 knots
and a half an hour, when Tom Gar
board, belonging to the toretop, (who
by the bye was a bit of wag,) sleeping
in the lee fore-chains, by sudden lurch
of the ship was thrown overheard.
A man overheard was the general cry
fore and aft, and every one run TO offer
or give assistance to the drowning man.
Tom was a toerable good swimmer,
as every one thought, but nothing ex-
lraordinary; woke on finding himself in
deep water, and began to use his pad
dies, and the ship going ahead, as | was
saying before at the rate of three knots
and half. Tom was soon lost sight of
under the counter, (or although our
ship was not on Sir Robert Sepping's
plan, yet she was pretty we'll abah,)
whom Tom was lucky enough to get
hold of the rudder chains. The hands
all ran aft expecting to see Tom astern,
and to lower the jolly boat to pick him
up, but Tom was not to be seen.
Hes gone, said they, 'to Davey's
locker and efforts ceased.
Our ship was very deep, bound out to
West Indies; consequently our gunroom
ports were low in the water. This Tom
saw, and as it was getting dark, he
thought he would wait till they beat tie
quarters, and piped the hammock down,
before he got on board, which he did,
and he popped into the lady's hold,
where the gunner keeps his wads and
monkeys tails, and there remained till
the middle of the watch, when he sailed
forth and made free with our bread bags,
taking enough to serve him for three
days.
At the end ofthis time we were Jog
ging along at an easy rate, scarcely any
wind, about knot, when master Tom
unobserved slip't out of the port he came
in at, aid dropped astern, began to hail
the ship.
i The Dolphin ahoyn
'iiallo,' says the quarermaster, who
was about getting pull on the main
brace.
Says Tom, if you don't take back
the nsal and heave to, 1 shall sink,
for no man can swimto the West Indies
without provisions
Everybody ran aft in amazement, for
it had been blowing fresh during the
time we had supposed he had been over
board; but there was no time to be lost,
so the boat was lowered and Tom was
picked up, to the great qualification and
establishment of every body on board.
On our ARRIVAL, as the captain was Oh
shore, dining with the Governor, the
talk turned upon swimming. The Gov
ernor was extolling the powers of
black man he had, and the captain de-
clared no man could swim with Tom
Cardboard, of the Dolphin's foretop:
however, to make a long story short,
the captain and the governor made
very heavy bet-the time appointed
Tom required one week to get ready.
The carpenters were ordered to make
what chests and convenenccs Tom re-
CURED The day came, and Tom went
on shore at the wharf where appointed
when he began to stow his grub. The
black fellow looked at him with aston
ishment.
what you do here, massa 2 said the
negro.
what am | doing here says Tom,
why, am taking my provisions to be
sure, and | advise you TO do the same,
for not a bit of this do you get on the
road
why, massa,' says the negro, me no
more swim nine or ten miles,.
Says Tom, as fin amazement at the
short distance, why, man, am going
to Tobago, which, | believe, is two hun
dred miles, and shan't be back for fort
night
The spectators were astonished. The
Governor lost his wager, and it was not
until we were homeward bound that
| ON tOlQ Tue secret.
.Albaay Dutchman.
! PERPETUAL Morton DISCOVERED AT LAST
There is IL one of the new countries in the West
a remarkable system which is likely TO defeat
the old idea that perpetual motion is impossible;
it is as follows: In the third story ola building
is the jail; in the second story is the court-rocm
in the basement is rum-shop. In this last
named place, an old sinner against the laws of
temperance took drains. On going into the
street, he met a man against whom he INDUCED
some patriotic Indignation, and forthwith sspch-
ed into him." He was at once arrested--carricd
up to the second floor, tried and convicted, and
sent up to the third loft. Here he served out
his time, went to the first floor, and by the same
process, went up through the various apartments
of the building as before. This process was re-