The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-08
ABANDONED AT SEA,
by LIEUTENANT wARNEroRD, r. \

On the 22d of March, 1902, just four day.
before the treaty OF peace was signed at Amient
between France and Great Britain, grievsus
misfortune befell James Henderson, sole owner
and captain of the Peggy, a small schooner hail.
ing from Bristol near which city, about a mile
distant on the road to Bath, was James Hender-
sons land dwelling-a modest cottage bequeathed
20 his wife, which might perhaps have com
manded a rental of fifteen pounds per anuum.
It amply sufIiced for the accommodation of the
Henderson family, which consisted of himself
wife, two daughters, and two sons-hardy young.
sters, the eldest of whom, Robert Henderson,
when the misfortune have spoken of occurred,
had just entered his nineteenth year. James
Henderson was somewhat more than a year his
brothers junior-stoutly limbed, gallant lads,
both of them.
The daughters, Margaret and MIry, were very
much less healthily framed than their brothers.
They were both delicate; Margaret had an aiIec-
ton of the spine, not conduciye ~ gracefulness
OF figure, and Mary early showed symptoms of
pulmonary decline. The doctor was consequently
seldom cut of the house or cottage he was never
theless an always welcome visitor, fOrasmuCh
that he held firmly To the opinion that the girls
pBoer continuous skiiful treatment, of course
'Would certainly grow out of it, Margaret being
only fifteen, Mary TWO years younger. The sons
jdolzed their sisters all the more ardently, no
Doubt thai, so unlike themselves they were weak
and ailiDg. We may be sure they were loYaOle girls
to father, mother, and brothers, lovabe girls.
And wdn't the sisters proud OF their brothers
Rather and they had just gre uuds for being SO,
long before they grew out OF IT, and got mar
Titd.
Brave, honest, indefatgable skipper Henderson
had but one fault that can discoyer-that by
which the angels fell, ambition; and, like the
fallen ones, be was er-cOnhdent, rash, prone to
miseaculate chances. He was anxious to push
his ons early forward in the world TO insure a
eumlortabls home, where care should never cross
the hire, 2Od, for his daughters, for his wife.
senied by tue Peggy, he, upon the strength OF
ewsparer reports that peace with France was as
@ gooa AS signed, refused TO renew his assurance
Of the schooner against war risks, and uninsured
took on board valuable cargo for Dublin, and
sailed for that port on the 2lst OF March, 1902.
The Peggy, which was handled by himself, his
twosOns, and two hired seamen-by no means too
many hands-encountered rough weather for the
time of year. t-
That would have been of small consequence
had not her ioretopmast-thrOugh a defect in the
spar, which sheuld have been rectided before the
vessel left Bristol-snapped short off-au acci-
dent, if accident it could be called, which So
Tiously reduced her speed. And tue schooner
had soon need of all her wings. EEcume, a re-
maIkably swift and audacious priyateer carrying
four guns, hove In sight when the Peggy was
struggling acrossthe Irish Channel, Immediately
gave chase, came up with the partially crippled
schooner hand over hand, and when near enough h
fred sbotted guns by way of menacing admOni-
ton to her captain to lie TO, and take the newt
able capture of his vessel pleasantly. The bal s
fell puTposCly wide at first, but finding that the
schooner held on with every thread OF canvas she
could SGT, the guns were pointed seriously, and
one unlucky ball smashed both Of skipper Hen
deTsOn's legs
The indomtabe pluck of the man was MOI
tanned by even that terrible inhictiOn. 1T is use
less, boys" said he addressing bis half-irenzied
sons, "the FTenchers must have the schooner
= there's no help for il but they shan't have me
Pitch me overheard rather than see me carried
of to die in French prison. Bear hand witt
the tOurniquets, and then hoist me over the dc
into boar. The frog. caters viii not care tC
follow when they have nabbed the vessel auc
cargo; and you must take care of yourselves, i
only for your mothers, sisters, my sake" THIS
only available course, under the circumstances
was promptly taken, and the schOOner5 boat
sufficiently provisoned, was in very few minutes
seudding before the wind towards the Irish coast
LEcuHae did not attempt pursuit, her commander
being no doubt anxious to secure his prize and
get back 10 Granville whilst he had a chance OF
doing so. The French shippers object sue.
Cessfully accomplished. He got back 70 France
with his prize without so much as having sighted
a British cruiser. The truth seems TO be that
s'general opinion" taking it for granted that the
war was over, bad not only mised James Hen
deTson 70 his ruin, but paralyZed the energies
and watchfulness of the royal navy.
Hendersons legs were amputated in Dublin
the operation was skilfully performed, and in less
time than could reasonably have been expected
he was stumbling about in his garden near Brs.
tol. Much sympathy was expressed for him
but that is cold barren comfort much more to
the purpose was tho generous offer Of an old
friend, Captain Russell, to ship his sons-Who
had, Of course, been released when peace was
defnitiYely sigDed-on board the fne brig Charles,
about TO sail for Bombay, as second and third
mates. The offer was gratefully accepted, and
the first week in November the Charles sailed for
her destination. "May the Lord guide you
srght, and always have you in His holy keep
ing said the weeping mother, when her sons
sook last leave Of home. "Do not forget that
" ~ pave now no earthly dependence except upon
a.srS .aS selection Of the two Hendersons notWith-
secona thsr youth for the responsible posts Of
hctXssD. .ho .l third mates of a ship measuring
Is moi a, stee and four hundred tons, proved 10
mari az ~ Tsre : eenerons, but judiciOus act ON the
paIi paIIii Sa Sa dVSp'sm Russell. Il would have beeS
OF first mate. A'un@'e IN MS cuolce
1he Eey age 70 Bombay, though not tbashor.ast
ever before made, Was areo5e.t w lue shoIleSt
damage or accident, and the cateo hilnout
is on1 to. la aauAs, IN great degree ,the