Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-03-21
An Old sailor at OharieatsR who knew By
ren and sholley,



Very few people IN Charleston, and GER
tainly no one out Of the ciiy, Is aware that
we have 10 our midst mau who was as well
acquainted with Byron and Shelley as a
mother 8 with her oWn child. have been
with the old fellow ior hours to-day, and
mayhap your readers, particularly the lady
portion Of them, who think the author Of
"Dou Juan" was such dear, naughty
creature, may like to glance At this portion
Of my letter.
Antonio Johe Is such representative man,
that It seems strange that no one heretofore
has brought b. &c before the plblic. He COM
N lnds a little boat Of some fifteen tons, the
Esmeralda, which deserves notoFiety from the
Rct that IL i came the women and children
from Fort Sumter, when Major Anderson
sent them away, 70 be taken sboard he Ma
rion. Capt Jobe stands as tan, as erect
and Ss muscular as " honest Old Abe" and
have no doubt that on a stretch there would
Be found considerable 'ioulc0me7 in him.
Seventy-six years have deeply scanned his
cheeks, and planted many a furrow in his
brow, YET be is as &C tive, as quick, and as
clear, as when he was IN Lord Byron's en-
ploy In Greece. have lazilV lounged away
the morning hours sailing with the old man
close enough4o Sumter 70 salute the sentry
who guards the lone flag of our country,
close, too, 70 the fr0Wning batteries of Morris
island, where they hate the flag that others
so near them worship, and within biscuits
throw Of Moultrie on the other side, where
saw over two thousand men at their devo-
tons.
Il is somewhat difficult 70 get the old man
started, but i you happen 70 get on the right
side Of him, yeu have a prospect of a genuine
treat such as any member Of your erudite
Hbnriesl Society might envy. John was
born in the city that gave Columbus to a
grateful world, and ran of 70 sea ere be was
wen loosed from the maternal fountain Hav-
ing an intense lsVs Tor America, which il the
golden Utopia Of so many Europeans, be
sought our shores, and at the time Of the last
war with England, be shipped IS petty off,
Ger on board ''Old Ironsides' and was in the
thickest Of that famous fight BE was at
different times, so be told me, with nearly all
that GALAXY Of 1912 heroes, who covered our
Gag with such impeTishable. renoWn. When
peace was declared, he returned to Europe,
and took br8f respite in bis native. city
When Byron was IN Venitia, our old hero
entered his service, and was with him for q
long period. When the creator of sOhilde
Harold was infatuated with the Countess
Guicciol, John took occasion TO remonstrate
with The poet about some little affair, and
was dismis ed This he has never forgotten,
and when asked him what he thought Of him
who had made so many men and women
mad, he said shat iif Lord Byron had not
been Lond, he should have thought him 3
d-d rascal BE added, that to his
equals be. was generous to d faut, but to his
interiors be was sapercilious oVerbearing and
mean; that be looked upon all women as
mere toys, to be imposed upon and deceived,
if opportunity offered. Hl'7
This may shock those who think Byron is
divine, but old Jobe says SO, and insists upon
il with great Yehemonce. Not TINS does hs
speak Of Percy Bysshe Shelley. BE knew him
well; and used 70 rig anC sail his boat for
him while Shelley in the careless insouciance
Of the hour, would tell Of his melancholy and
OF his unhappy life. The last voyage that
Shelley made, Jebe prepared everything for the
cruise, and particularly cautioned him against
a sqnall that freduently sprung up of a Ger
tain head-land. He begged him e be very
/ cauiious when he passed there, and take in
/ sail The poet, with that belief in ones self
th 4 bolongs 70 all true sons Of Britain, paid
! but little heed, and the world knows the sad
result The old man has lived here for many
years, and has charming wild flower, in the
shape Of maiden Of sixteen Summers, who
boasts that she has kingly Indian blood in
her veiAs. Capt Jobe swesrs by the Stars
and Stripes, and swears against the Palmetto,
but no one troubles him, and be may pro-
claim his views, and in the Mercury office,
without any danger. His white locks, his
red Genoese cap, and his six feet four, would
make him g study for painter; his honesty,
his love Of his adopted country, and hls hat
red Of oppression everywhere, made me- look
upon him almost with EeneratiOn. We're he
in New York be would be extensively lion
lied, and perhaps, killed with kindness, "a
Ralph Farnham; here he is almost unknown,
except as an honest old Italian sailor, who
has pretty daughter.