The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-05-06
MIsFoRTUSgs or JACK BECKLEn.
A TRUE NARRATIVE OF BRAZILIAN PERFID
AND CRUELTY

|
| Jack belonged 10 the Irish brig Amelia
Brazil trader. On tho evening Of the
2Sth August, 1889, the Amelia arrived of
Rio, and was Immediately noted for quar-
,ntine. Jack was one Of the midnight
watch on that eventful night. The wealth
er was calm and beautiful, and Jack lean
ed over the forecastle hammock nettines,
contemplating the moon which was just
setting in the west. Presently be saw .
canoe glide out from the shore, and he
thought he heard moans proceed from ii.
The persons in the canoe threw over
light body in the water, and immediatel,
started back Jack kept bis eve on the
spot. The tide was rapidly running out
Soon this light body came TO the surface
Within few rods Of where the Amelia la., J,
and from gurQling sound which proceed
ed from il, Jack knew that il was human
being struggling for life. He hesi,ated
not, but plunged into the sea, and was soon
enabled to secure the drowning girl, for
such indeed was the mysterious object
He brought her along side the rudder Of the
vessel, which in that hot climate ia al
most always open. Assisted BY the cap
tain and crew the poor girl was soon re-
stored to life. She was but thirteen wears
old, and her unhappy sobs induced the
c,ptain ofihe Amelia to allow Jack to ven
turs ashore with her--althouQh going
ashore from vessel in quarantine was
crime in Brazil which ent allied life's hard
labor in the mines. But Jack ven,ured
with his interesting burden, nevertheless.
md took the girl home to her mother, who
proved to he a rich and noble ladv. II.
arrived at the parent mansion, which was
near the sen, before daylight, and unmo
tested bv the police.
The result Of this romantic adventure is
> curious illustration Of the gratitude Of the
Brazilian character. The young girl had
heen seized bv some negroes within q
stones throw of her mothers house, She
was gagged and robbed Of her necklace.
bracelets, ring., &c, and then, for fear Of
detection, the black Williams determined 10
throw her into the sea. She had tainted
| in their hands, and this fact accounted for
the sbsence of further serious violence.-
Jack Becker, with true Irish heart, had
plunged into the wn,er and rescued her, a,
the immediate risk of drowning. or losing
his life bv sharks, which ravenous fish ma
aways be seen in those lati,udes. And
what was Jacks reward? He was deliv-
cred to the police on suspicion nf being an
,ccomplice of The negroes, and when thi
was disproved, md il was found that b.
belonged to ship in quarantine, which
had Just arrived, he was decreed TO suffer
ten ,enrs hard labor in the diamond mine.
for having infringed the sanitary laws Of
Brszil. He was fastened by the wrist n
some negro convicts, and driven hundreds
If miles into the interior, on foot, under a
hrniiing tropical sun.
A soon rs Jack got well settled at the
mines, and had mastered the Portuguese
language, he became great favoriie
among the keepers Of the convicts. Even
The governor himself was highly delighted
with Jacks genuine Irish humor, and wit
~ repartees. He therefore allowed the
Irish sailor MANY privileges not accorded
10 other convicts. Jacks most frequen,
recreation was climbing into certain
palm tree to inhale few fresh mou,hfuls
nf mir, as he said.
"When I'm up that tree" argued Jack 5
ait seems like | was at the mast head ol
The poor Amelia; but she'll never see the
likes Of merry Jack Becker at her foretop
agsn."
|, was singular circumstance, howev-
er. thnt Jack always climbed that same tree
for fresh air. lie was never known to at.
tempt the ascent Of any other of the nu-
merous palms that grew around bis abode
| The cause Of this mysterious liking for one
particular tree will be shown ia the sequel
Years rolled on, and Jack himself be,
came an overseer of the convicts. From
= prisoner he had been promoted 10 COM
Portable mode Of life. lie even married n
heautiful mulat,o girl whose parents lived
Ieight or ten miles from the scene Of his i'm
lprisonment. Jack was happy and con.
Tented; but vet he would occasionally in
dulge himself by climbing up the palm
tree, "for fresh monthtul Of air." A.
length The ten ears rolled round and Jack
was Sc, At liberty. His conduct had been
so meritorinus that the government fur
nished him mules for both himself and
wife 10 return 10 Rio. The day Of their
departure At length arrived. The girl
wife cried, and did not want to 60 so far
away from home; bu, Jack talked to her
until she consented to 60. just as the,
we're about 10 start, Jack declared he would
|have shllelah from his favorite tree, "jus'
|,n keep away the witches. or lnrrup the la.
zv mules. rs j, NAV be wnnted," said he.--
So he climbed up to the top, and cut off .
good stout limb, which he trimmed neatl,
into staff such as he required, and off
started the happy pair for Rio in compan,
with the government train.
!, Ia order to fully appreciate Jacks inge,
. nuitv in all his movements at the Brazilian
diamond mines, il should be understood
that the convicts are searched and physic.
, cd in every possible way to prevent the
concealment Of the precious gems about or
] within their bodies. Indeed, Jack declar
ed ,ha, he took enough physic during the
, last week OF his stny TO last him the rest
!. Of his life. But Jack carried off large
: fortune nevertheless. No less than seven
hundred valuable diamonds were conceal
ed within ,ha, very staff which he had cut
|, in the presence Of the governor himself.-
| IucLss Mo m MN, nc co,lows. Ha W0uld in.