Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-06-28
lQ(urcester 9aip Spp.
Flom the New York Evening Post.
a Nantucket NVhaIemnn Ia .Tedd,

AT the present time, when tn japanese are
the excitement Of the day, the following
strange and romantic narrative will be read
with special interest. Notwithstanding the
time which has elapsed since he incidents oc-
cured, the circumstances hNe never been
published
Among the Sandy Hook pitts there is none
better OF more Familiarity kuufn than captain
Nelson Mr.. Henry Steers tie shipbuider, is
now building a pilot boat ia him, which in
the course Of Il month will be ready to be
launched from her ways at tie foot OF Twelfth
street, East river. A frank sailor roughness
characterizes captain Nelson those who know
him like him for his honcstyand plainness of
speech, and none ever though OF accusing him
OF being given to spinning silor yarns.
A Swede by birth, at the age of seventeen
an inclination to follow the ca possessed cap
tain Nelson. Unable to resst he shipped as
sailor before the mast. Il soon found, how.
ever, sea life not so romatiC or pleasing as
he anticipated. The captal under whom he
sailed was harsh, and knoe.ed him about with
cruel severity. Not relislng this treatment,
she deserted at Alatuka, mall island in the
''Vacltlc ocean. Soon an opportunity presented
itself of shipping on Il wlaling vessel, the
Eutaw, from Nantucket-ol her way from the
Pacific ocean, A terrible storm arose. the
ship was diSmaS:ed, and tley were Obliged to
put into Jeddo for repairs This was in 1881.
Casting off anchor, flee of row-boats APP
preached the Eutaw and agnalled to her to
m0.e away. Not needing he injunction, the
fleet surrounded them, each boat attaching it.
self to the other b chain They were thus
made prisoners, with no chance OF escape. AT
ter a while large row boat made its appear
ance. The style of the boat and train of at
pendants, nearing the waers edge, made it ey
ident that some one endowed with unusual au-
thority was on board. Immediately one OF
the environing chains Wis loosed and the large
barge was rowed to the tide of the ship. A
man dressed in state, with two immense swords
dangling from belt, m,unted over the side of
the ship and by signs intimated a desire to
know what they wished By means of an in.
terpreter, they explaind the occasion of their
visit, and expressed readiness to depart when
their vessel was put in proper repair. The of
fetal told them they Guild do nothing towards
repairing their ship unil they had delivered
two of the crew into hs hands as hostages to
guaranty against viOlace on their part The
captain expressed his ssent to the proposition.
But you must heaanother condition." said
the official.
"What is it?" aske the captain.
con each mar" responded the official,
"must be placed shirt coated with sulphur
and tar. The momenlyou break faith with US,
Tile Shifts vi GdCI W II NC SCI Oll llIG anu Tie
men burned to death
The condition was hard one There was
no other alternative however, but to comply
with it. Capt Nesn, who was then only
seventeen years old and young man named
Turpin, Of Philadelhia, consented TO being
delivered up as hostages. The official, who
proved to be the ruling magistrate of Jeddo,
had young Nelson AM his companion taken on
shore and delivered over n a guard. They
were placed in Il sat of tent near the dwell
ing of the magistrate. Thinking it best to be
guarded against emergencies, young Nelson
concealed about hin pistol.
Weeks elapsed, aud with them the wearing
of the sulphur Gated shirts AT first the
guard was strict, but generally they were kept
under less restraiit, until finally they were
allowed to roam Almost quite free during the
day time. Gradually, also, the magistrate les
sened his reserve toward them. AT length he
invited them to his house, then to eat with
them and to play he japanese chess
A daughter, yong, handsome, and spright-
ly, formed part OF the household of the JeddO
magistrate. The pale sailor youth looked ad-
miringly upon hg and she reciprocated the
look; interviews followed glinpses. They
soon learned to understand each iOther. An
officer of the army was sutton OF the magis-
trate's daughter her father did not approve
him. He was tccome on a certain night. A
change had cone over her inclinations, and
she did not visit to go, she was afraid that if
she did not, her lover would take her life.
Young Nelson ADVISED her to elope and prom
ised to rescue Rr.
The night cane and the lover also. Young
Nelson learnin, the route the officer would
take, strolled OFT OF town during the day and
lay in wait for him. Sure enough, the mid
night tramp of iteeds was heard, and soon-it
horses appeard. Nelson hid behind tree.
The officer was the last of the train. lie had
the young gid on his own horse. AS the
horse was passing the tree where Nelson was
in ambush, he discharged his pistol at the
horse. Immediately the horse stumbled, and
Nelson seized the atfrighted maiden. The
pistol firing frightened the troop OF horsemen,
and thinking large party was lying in am
bush they fled. the officer following suit
Taking the girl home to her father, he won
the old gentenan's gratitude, he became more
OF tav0rte, and was daily diner thence
forth at tie family table. He was allowed to
dispense with the sulphur shirt, and was alto
gether privileged character. His companion,
Turpin, had, however, to wear the sulphur
shirt to the last
The Eutaw remained at Jeddo five months.
Every entreaty was made by the magistrate to
urge Nelson to stay, and in view OF the sup
plicating eyes of the daughter, he came very
near doing so. His protracted stay at Jeddo
made him quite conversant with the japanese
language, so much 50 that he was appointed
by the government coast pilot of Japan, on
board the United States frigate Mississippi.