The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-04-30


succeeded in lashing one to each end of a
spar which laid OH the deck, and then,
with infinite labor, / got them over the
side INTO the water, and soon had the plea
sure OF seeing them float towards the
breakers There were passages through
ther rocks, between which casks and boxes
could 1oat, but my trunks were thrown
up against the breakers, and lay beatin q
about there. | finally summoned up all
my resolution, and lowered myself into
the lake, having first thrown overheard
the yard which had killed poor George
My Hfe preserver supported me admirably
and L padded myself toward the spar
which l soon reached The waves bore
me gently along towards the breakers, un-
til reached the place where my trunks
were floating. Resting upon the ward
which connected them, / succeeded in
guiding them through the openings of the
breakers, and finally we were thrown up
on the shore. / was much exhausted, but
managed TO crawl up on the sand out Of
the way OF the returning wave, and then
laid down with full and grateful heart
After resting for perhaps half an hour, |
returned to the waters edge, unlashed my
trunks, and rolled them up on the bank
Pho shore was covered with casks and
boxes, n number OF which l succeeded in
securing. This fatigue1 Inc excessively,
tor was not then 20 robust as | now am.
Night was now approaching. Ny gar
ments We're wet, and ! began TO shiver
with cold and hunger. | had eaten moth
ing save some biscuits which had found
III the captain cabin. and which ! had
devoured just before leaving the wreck
The loneliness and danger Of my situation
90. I Z
whether the island was inhabited, or whe-
ther | was the only human being upon it
Night was closing in upon me. and | did
not know that I should live till morning
| knclt down upon the sand and tried TO
pray but no words came To my lips. 1
arose IN utter dcsolatcncss of heart and
walked AGAIN toward the water \ dark
bale was floating toward the shore, and |
say that by stopping into the water
short distance ! could save it. | did so,
and with some difficulty got It TO land but
is wcIght prevented me from rolling IL
it up the beach With my scissors soon
cut Cif tie covering Ci the bale and found
that il was COMPOSED OF buffalo robes
With great labor / succeeded In cutting
the cords that tied II together, and one ty
one lifted out the rObesa and carried them
up on shore The outer ones were wet.
but two or three of the inner ones were
warm and drv. J now found a large stone
and broke open one ofmy trunks took
of my wet apparel, replaced it with dr-y
clothing. and then making bed OF two
Of the bufillo robc-, wrapped myself in the
other and laviug down beside NV trunks
prepared to pass my first might upon the
island The tcrrors Of my situation. and
my grief for the death oimy cousin. for
long time kept me awakf: tut at length
my exhaustion prevailed. and fell into a
deep slumber from which | did not awake
until the sun ol the next morning shDne
into my face.
! looked towards the breakers. but the
wreck had disappeared The waves were
rolling high and il seemed that during the
night the wind had arisen IN great violence
and tossed the vessel topicces on the rocks.
The wind still came toward the shore and
every fcW moments wave would throw
upon the sand portions of the wreck. bar
rclS, boxes, bales or spaIs. felt strong
and refreshed. but soon began 10 be hun
cry and - wonder OF what | should make
nav breakfast ! walked down to the wa
tct5 cf.gt. aitu t-S',a4I ,e,,. nav : =,
labor Of rolling the barrels ard BOXES -6t'iit
of the way of the returning waves Ny
hands were torn and blecdlng. and MY
limbs soon began 70 ache. with the unac-
cu>tomed fatigue; but / persevcred, s. /
could not bear TO see 50 much property
swallowed up by th- waves After a awhile
q box was thrown upon the shore marked
Sayglincs How rcioiced ! was roll
ed il u,) to my resting place, hurst it open
with the same stone had used the might
before. and toasted hv cyos on my treasures.
But slut up IN their little tin boxes they
i tr., "a
the bottom OF thy. lake Ny hunger in
creased and sat down upon my bIitinlo
robes. and gave way to tears. Suddenly
remembered that in one of my trunks /
had a newly invented chi>el for copper
cutting. which my father had given me IS
a present 10 Mr. Ashneii who Was en Gaged
IN themines | found it after moments
search, broke open one otthe boxes ofsar-
dimes. and enjoyed adelic;ouS and refresh
ing meal My hunger satisfied, | again
went down to the shore, and worked all
that .iay in saving such things as L was
able To handle. " hen night came on /
again sought the refnse of my buffalo
robes and slept soundly and without dis
turbance.
The next day | occupied in collecting
together the things which had saved. /
found had secured eight barrels Of pork,
twelve barrels of flour. two barrels of SUI
gar. several boxes OF candy. candles, rais-
ins. and dried herrings, my box Of sardines,
another box of buffalo robes. box of mi
ner's hatchets and spades. box ofdry goods,
needles, pins thread and yarn. two boxes
of mems boots. some boxes of clothing,
and a bale OF blankets. Iou smile at my
catalogue, but had in my trunk an abun-
dance Of writing materials, and some days
afterwards when l commenced tokcep my
journal set down all my stock in trade.
You will admit that | was furnished with
a complete stock, but where were my Gus
toners? Here is my journal, sir.
And Miss Richardson exhibited to me
a manuscript book, OF considerable thick
ness, closely written. She continued:-"I
perceive that am wearying Your patience
and must hasten over many events. On
the third day l explored my island l
found it to be, as could judge, entirely
uninhabited The shore was sandy and
barren. About a quarter of a mile from
the lake there was a small creek, on the
banks and other side of which were short
scrubby trees, while further back, appear
ed n forest While j was absent on this
exploring expedition the waves threw up
on the land the dead and bruised bodies
of several of the sailors, among them that
of nv poor cousin. In his pocket ! found
a metal box containing friction matches,
which were afterwards of the greatest ser
vice to me- l dug hole in the sand and
buried them as well as | could. 1t was a
sad and an awful duty, and left me very
melancholy and depressed. r..
At first, and indeed for many weeks, /
was certain that a vessel would arrive and
take me off the island. But when six
weeks had elapsed and l had seen no sail
nor heard the voice of any human being,
| began to give way to reflect upon my flu
ture and to give way to the most painful
agony and fear l was enabled, finally, to
overcome this and as Autumn approach
ed had become, in a measure, at least,
roconciled to my fate. and BEGAN to make