The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-04-14
Romantic.

we nave reCehtly nedru VI case OF
romance in real life the hero Of which is
known to most of our readers, and we
give it as described by himself, though
not in his own words.
Mr.. VIM. H. Davis, formerly Deputy
Sheriff of Stonington, Ct., started from
this place for California on the lst of
January, 1853. When he arrived in
New York he had but two dollars in
money with which to fit himself out and
pay his passage, but after working
few days he obtained enough to buy
some clothes, and then shipped on board
a large merchant ship, bound for San
Francisco, to work his passage before
the mast.
The third day out they encountered a
heavy gale which did them considerable
damage, the vessel springing leak
which kept the pumps going at the rate
of eight hundred strokes an hour until
they reached Rio Janeiro. Here the
mates and sailors, conceiving dislike
for the ship endeavored to have her
condemned so as to get their wages and
two months advance but, failing in
this, they refused to work and were put
in prison, leaving the Captain, Davis, an
other man, and four boys on board.
Before they had finished the repairs up
on the vessel the yellow fever broke
out and carried off all save Davis and
the cook. After recovering from the
fever, Mr.. Davis thought it was about
time for him to leave the vessel, also,
and try steam power the rest of the
way, but the consignee told him that he
must stay by the ship and take the Sec
ond mates berth. Immagine his sur
prise. In vain he pleaded his inexperi-
cnce, this being his first voyage, and he
entirely unacquainted with navigation,
but 90 he must; and so after shipping
captain, mate and crew, they started
again for the land Of gold.
But stilr'the decree of fate was against
them, for, in a few days the captain and
mate were taken sick, and the command
devolved upon Davis. Here was di-
lena But Mr.. ID. has the true yankee
go-ahead-ativeness about him, and, as it
was the best he could do in the circum.
stances, he assumed the command and
bent all his energies to learn the art
OF navigation. He succeeded very well
in this, and before they had reached
Cape Horn he felt considerably at home
in his new situation.
Fortysevcn days were spent in getting
around the Horn, during which they
encountered boistrous gale which blew
them somewhere into the CLOVER re-
gions," carried away most of their sails,
and did them other damage but they
finally rounded the Cape and put into
Callao for repairs. In about fortnigh,
they set sail again towards the place oI
their destination, the captain having Sc
far recovered as to resume his duties.
His adventures were not all ended ye
for he had the misfortune to break BIZ
shoulder, as well as meeting with some
minor mshaps but finally he arrived
at San Francisco, the only representa-
tive of the crew that left New York will
him-the cook having been lost over
board on the passage.
| We doubt if there are many instance.
where perfectly greenland" has
started from New York before the mas
and arrived to the responsibility of com
mander before he reached Cape Horn
and we doubt if there are many mel
who would have done as well under tn,
circumstances.
Mr.. Davis is now in the "diggins,
, enjoying the smiles of good luck, as h
always will do, with his enterprisiny