Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-08-08
ROMANTIC ADVENTURE.

SO much talked of, the following strange AND
romantic narrative will be read with special in
terest. Notwithstanding the time which ha:
elapsed since the incidents occurred, the cir.
| cumstances for the first time published.
Among the Sandy Hook pilots there is none
better or more familiarly known than Captain
| Nelson. Henry Steers, the ship builder, is
| now building pilot boat for him, which will
| shortly be ready to be launched from her ways
at the foot Of Twelfth street, East river. A
frank sailor roughness characterizes Captain
Nelson; those who know him like him for his
honesty and plainness of speech, and none ev-
er thought of accusing him of being given TO
! spinning sailor yarns.
A Swede by birth. at the age of seventeen
an inclination to follow the sea possessed Capt.
Nelson. Unable to resist, he shipped as a sail
or before the mast. He soon found, however.
sea life not so romantic or pleasing as he ex-
| pected. The captain under whom he sailed
was harsh, and knocked him about with cruel
severity. Not relishing tins treatment, he de-
! serted at Matukta, small island in the Pacific
| Ocean. Soon an opportunity presented itself
of shipping on whaling vessel, the Eutaw,
| from Nantucket-on her way from the Pacific
| ocean. terrible storm arose the ship was
| dismasted, and they were obliged to put into
Jeddo for repairs. This was in 1881.
Casting off anchor, feet of row-boats sp-
preached the Eutaw and signalled her to move
| away. Not needing the injunction, the feet
surrounded them, each boat attaching itself to
the other by chain. They were thus made
prisoners, with no chance of escape. After a
while large row boat made its appearance.
The style of the boat and the train of attend
ants, nearing the waters edge made il evil
dent that some one endowed with unusual au-
thority was on board. Immediately one Of
the environing chains vas loosed and the
large barge was rowed to the side of the ship.
A man dressed in state, with two immense
bal fad
the side of the ship, and by signs intimated
desire to know what they wished. BY means
of an interpreter they explained the occasion
of their visit. and expressed their readiness TO
depart when their vessel was put in proper
pair. The official told them they could do
nothing towards repairing their ship until they
had delivered two of the crew into his hands
as hostages to guarantee against violence on
their part. The captain expressed his assent
to the proposition.
'sBut you must hear another condition.
said the official.
What is it ?'' asked the captain.
ssOn each man, responded the official, must
be placed shirt coated with sulphur and tar.
The moment you break faith with US the shirts
will be set on fire, and the men burned to-
death.''
The condition waS hard one. There was
no other alternative, however, than to comply
with it. Captain Nelson, who was then only
a
Turpin, of Philadelphia, consented to be de-
livered up as hostages. The official, who
proved to be the ruling magistrate of Jeddo,
had young Nelson and his companion taken on
shore, and delivered over to guard. They
were placed in a sort of tent, near the dwell
ling OF the magistrate Thinking it best to be
guarded against emergencies, young Nelson
concealed about him pistol.
Weeks elapsed, an6withthern the wearing OF
the sulphur coated shirts. At first the guard
was strict, but generally they were kept under
less restraint, until finally they were allowed
to roam almost quite free during the day time.
Gradually, also the magistrate lessened his
reserve toward them. AT length he invited
them to his house, then to eat with them and
play the Japanese chess.
A daughter, young, handsome and spright-
ly, formed part OF the household of the Jeddo
magistrate. The pale sailor youth looked ad-
miringly upon her, and she reciprocated the
look; interviews followed glimpses. They
soon learned to understand each other. An
officer of the army was suitor of the magis-
trate's daughter; her father did not approve
of the officer, and she had agreed TO elope with
him. He was to come on a certain night. A
change had come over her inclinations, and
she did not wish 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 her.
The night came. and the lover also. Young
Nelson, learning the route the officer would
take, strolied out of town during the day, and
lay in wait for him. Sure enough, the mid
night tramp of steeds was heard, and soon-it
was a clear moonlight nIght-a retinne of bor-
ses appeared. Nelson hid behind tree; the
officer was the last of the train. He had the
young girl on his own horse. AS he was pass
ing the tree where Nelson was in ambush, he
discharged his pistol at the horse. Immedi
ately the horse stumbled, and Nelson seized
the affrighted maiden. The pistol-firine fright
ened the troop of horsemen, and thinking a
large party lying in ambush, they fled, the
officer following suit.
Taking the girl home to her father, he won
the old gentleman's gratitude he became
more of favorite, and was daily diner
thenceforth at the family table. He was al
lowed to dispense with the sulphur shirt, and
was altogether privileged character. His
companion, Turpin, however, had to wear the
sulphur shirt to the last.
The Eutaw remained at Jeddo about five
months. Every entreaty was made by the ma
gistrate to urge Nelson to stay. and in view of
the suppliCating eyes of the daughter, he came
very near doing so. His protracted stay at
Jeddo made him quite conversant with the Ja-
panese language, so much so that he was ap-
pointed by the government coast pilot of Ja-
pan, on board the U S. frigate Mississippi.
1t is stated that the two boys of Mr. Doug
las, left by his first wife, have come into the
possession of large fortune by the death of
their maternal grandmother, who resided in
North Carolina; and it is further stated that
Mr.. D. will visit his connections in that State
after be has completed his New England tour.