Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-03-07
From the New Orleans Picayune.
1x,uInp and Cooking an AbolitIOnIst.
A TRUE TALE OF TABoGA.

va mnst suffice They were iovial wags, all OIL
boo while b. in particular, was known as the most
iveterate quiz fond of running all sorts OF SGTS ana
;dnlging in every variety of sells. 1t any Jun or
JyiItrv was going on, one share was never enough
FIR him-he was ready and willing 10 take any
number that might offer.
All went on we'll with the trio until they reached
Panama that jumping off place in the Pacing Tor all
travellers at that period going towards San FRANCIS
30 There however they found themselves stuck
NJ steamer was to leave for several days the amuse-
oorts and the curiOstes of the old Spanish CITY
we're soon exhausted and they concluded, one bright
and nleasant morning, that they would pay visit 10
the island of Taboga, miles distant down the
bav of Panama. to if they could not STIR up some
thing new in the way of excitement
They chartered for the trip species OF rude and
clumsy craft known as n bungy," small beat
with two oars and an awkwardly cut shoulder Of
mutton sail the captain and crew, all told, consisted
If two sta1warr negroes Against wind and tide they
could make no headway; even their cars were pow
oress in the way of propclling the bungy in
in smooth water, or when some tavOring breeze or
current came to their assistance In their present
TIN to Taboga, all the elements in their favor,
and after couple OF hours pleasantly passed they
we're set safely ashore.
Three or four additional hours were now wh;led
away in rambling over the beautiful island and in
lahing in the SURF when the gradual sinking of the
sun in the west admonished the party that they must
be on Their way back their dinner would be late
They reached the bungy, seated themselves as
well as its narrow and cramped 2ccOmm odatlons
would permit, and the negro boatmen were about
showing off, when a young New Yorker, who had
been accidentally left the island, came putting ana
flowing down in great haste and earnestly requested
a passage The Lousianians politely told him they
would like TO give him place, but there was no room;
he could for himself, there no opening where
he could stow himself He talked of being LETT out
all night said that he was most anxious to go over
Il hVVOSp no
smallest compass, if they would permit him. They
still hestated their comfort, if not their safety, told
them that their craft was already overIaden, but as
the stranger still imporuned, and almost crowded
himself in, they finally made room for him.
They started on flood tide, and with a fair but
Light breeze; but soon met the ebb running out, and
to add to the awkwardness of their situation the
wind whipped round, and commenced blowing toer-
ably fresh off shore. The bOatmen tugged Justify TO
stem the tide and adverse breeze, but all would not
do; the lazy old bungy would drift the other way,
spite 81 all their efforts.
Here was stuatIOn--here dilemma for a
small but crowded party. The New Yorker who had
forced his company upon the LoulsIanans, instead
OF accommodating himself to the smallest space as
he had promised gave his legs wider latitude than
they were entitled to- and appeared altogether TO
consult his own general ease and comfort. He did
more he avOwed himself an aboitonist, and com
menced anything but courteous argument on the
evils of slavery with the gentlemen who had so much
even helped himself, without invitation, to the last
drop of water in a emijohn and impudently made
himself generally at home. But must return to
The cruise.
Before the sun had yet set the bungy had drifted
past the end of the island from whence it started
the boatmen had become so much fatgued tt ey
could longer handle their oars, the breeze OF
shore continued, and the prospect of long voyage
upon the waters Of the Pacific grew every moment
more imminent. Before darkness set in no land
10, tlo ntlO
saw that they must pass supperless night, even il
nothing worse befell them AS the evening wore the
gungy still continued to drift outward occasionally
The tired boatmen would bead for few moments tC
their oars, but II was all to no purpose. Midngh,
came and still they were drifting out TO sea-Out
into the Pacifc-the longest and sroade>t ocean in
the wide world. The stories told were Of shipwreck
Of suffering, and of starvatiOn and with the deepest
anxiety did they all watch for the first gray of morn
ing
And when it did come it was only to show them
their lonely and utterly hopeless situation; for not
speck of land nor sign of sail could they discern as
they scanned the wide waste of waters with search
ing eyes Added 10 the sharp billings of hunger, The
more cruel suferngs from thirst grew rapidly upor
them, nor was there ought on board to stave off OF
mitigate either
This is aSerous business remarked B., will
more gravity than he in the habit of assuming
forget now exactly how long the shipwrecke(
crew Of the Medusa existed without food or water
but they were not in the tropics, and had not such
boiling sun theT heads as that which is beating
upon US.
What do you think of our chances p queried L
in a tone meant to be Respondent.
Well, continued B., to me they look might
slim. Barring a gale of wind, which would put
all out of our misery at once, don't see what eartt
~ show we rave out here the Pacific starVs
ton, unless some vessel should providenally com
along and pick us up, and we cannot well hope tc
any such God-send as that
But where shall we bring up if we keep thi
course 2 questioned the New Yorker, his voice be
raging evident alarm.
AS near as | can calculate, responded B., fror
my imperfect knowledge of the geography of thi
quarter of the globe, should say that in about thin
teen weeks should fetch up at the Feejee Islands
Thirteen weeks queried the aboHtonist
said thirteen, and poor picking the canibals wi
lind us by that time y
There a silence of some ten minutes, du
ring which the different members of the party seem
ed to be broodng gloomily the fate in store 70
them. Suddenly L. broke out with,
But what's to be done =
It's mi ghty sight easier to ask than to answe
such question as that, put in P, who with hi
legs shut up under him like Jack. knife, endeavore
81 10 get the cramp out Of Of them by moving i
But also ask-whats to be donen
Well, If the worst comes to the worst responde
The mad Wag B., and he sank his voice almost to
solemn whisper, say, if the worst comes to til
worst, the only rational plan offer is to kill an
cook that New Yorker, have box of matches, an
we can make fire enough, by breaking up the oar
10 roast few slices of him-rare done at leastn
Eh!' said the New Yorker, catching the sugge
yoh lndstlnctly, and forming a species of creScer
behind his right ear with his half open right han
d" though anxious not to lose word, he excIame
W ere you just abiding to me?"
wash gravely retorted B.