Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-07-01
FRIDAY. JULY 1, 1859.


deprived me Of sleep; bu, at length ! fell In.
to deep -lumber from which I did no,
awake until the sun Of the next morning
shonc into my face.
The wreck had disappeared. | suppose
that during the night the wind had again
sprung up. and tossed the vessel ashore up
on the rocks. The wind still came toward
the shore and every few moments the waves
would throw upon the sand fragments Of
wreck or portions OF her cargo. felt
strong and refreshed, bat hungry. and |
knew not Of what could make my breakfast.
I began to renew my former labor OF rolling
the barrels aud boxes out Of the way Of the
returning waves. My hands were torn and
bleeding, and my limbs som aehed with
the unaecustomed fatigue, but ! pcrsevered
as could not bear 10 see - much valuable
property swallowed up by the waves.
Among the boxes one was marked 4" Sir.
dimes" forced the I'D OF with stone
and f-as,cd my eyes upon my treasure.
but shut up 10 their little tin boIcs, the f'h
were as usclcs, 10 mc as though they were
at the bottom Of the lake. My hunger in
creased and at down upon my buiI'lo bed
and gave way to tears. Suddenly, | re-
mcmbcrcd ,ha, in one Of my trunks bad a
newly invented ehi.cl for copper cutting,
which my father had sent a. a present to
Mr.. Ashwell, who wa. engaged in the mines,
| found IL, broke open one Of the boxes Of
arIincs, aud enpyed delicious aud re-
frcshins meal. My hunger being satisfied
again went TO work, and spen, all that
day in saving such things as | was able to
handle.
The nst, day | occupied myself in collec.
ting together the good, viii in | had saved
from the wreck. found that had eight
barrels Of pork, two kegs Of lard, twelve
barrel. Of lour, two ofsusrr. several boxes
o! candy. candles, rAisins and dried herring.
my box OF s,riine.. another bale of buffalo
ro'c-. a box Of dry goods, nccdlcs, pins.
,hrcad, yarn. ETC.. b,I Of mining hatch.
cts. box Of heavy clothing and a bale Of
blankets.
On tho third day I explored my island
and found it to DO entirely unlnhabited ns
flr as could then judge. and Afterwards
asccr,ained this To be true The shore was
barren. lIAlfa mile from the lake there
were short and -crubby trees, which grew
larger and thicker as you advanced. On
thi. day also, the waves threw upon tho
shore the dead and bruised bodies ol several
of the sailors, among them that Of my cju'
.in.-ln his pocket found metal box
filled with friction matches, which were az.
terwaris Of the greatest service to mc. |
dug - shallow grave in the sand and buried
them rs we'll ~ could. Twas sad aud
awful duiy and left me very melancholy.
For several weeks was certain that a
vessel would arrive and rescue me. Bot
when .I weeks had passed, and | had seen
no .ail nor heard the voice OF any human
being, I began 81 give way to the mos, ppig.
nant agony and fear. Twas enabled finally
to overcome this. and as Autumn approach
ed had become ia measure, atlelst recon.
ciled to my fate.
/ knew had provisions sufficient for
three or four years. had already learned
to catch f,h, and to cook my pork and aour
without the aid Of dishes or stoves. With
the fragments Of the wreck and some Of the
empty barrels and boIes. made q low hut
which covered 10 the depth Of a foot with
sand. One end OF tai. was closed. the 9TH
er fitted with door made from the lids Of
my two franks over my barrels and boxes
Of good. stretched a sail. fastened down
by means Of n stake. As the winter mp.
preached. fabricated from my bulIalo
robes dre., which I f,nciei would be I'M
peryious to the coll Ny shoes, gloves and
hat were IN ,ds Of the sans material. The
forest supplied me with fuel, and | soon
learned To chop it with considerable ease.
During the early part Of the first winter |
suffered terribly but managed TO live through
it and the next season was Injured to hard
ships.
In ,hi. manner passed three long and
lonely years. | kept a Journal during this
unhappy period which was the only en-
ploymen, had. Ny books and even my
Bible were left in the vessel. Daring these
threo years saw but seven vessels. They
either did not SEQ or would not regard my
signals; my anguish on these occasions was
indescribable. The thoughts OF home and
of the friends who were now mourning me
among the dead would now rush upon me
with overwhelming force, and my misery
seemed too heavy for mo to bear.
At length, know not upon what day,
but by my calculations on the 2jth OF Feb.
rurary, my island was visited by six Memo
minee Indians. They had crossed from the
British shore. partly in their canoes and
partly on the ice. They were as much sur
priscd to find me upon the Island as | was
delighted to see human face again. We
could not understand each other, hut they
made signs that should 90 with them. !
was in their power hut ] was willing to CO.
as ! conceived tha, by their means might
finally obtain my release and restoration
They returned with me to the British coast,
which I think is not more than twenty-five
mile. from my island. Tney conducted me
in two day. journey to a French trading