The New York herald., 1870-07-19
A JERSEYMAN AMONG THE CANNlBAlS.
A Sad Story Of the Ses-Wrecked In tho South
Atlantic = Twenty Years . Prisoner
Rescue, and Death in Australia.

The following outline Of tine sad story OF citizen
Of New Jersey appears much like the romantic tales
found In our sensation weeKlies but the narrative Ia
nevertheless true the distressed family OF the ad
venturer. who still reside in Jersey City can
testify:-
Twenty years ago gentleman in moderate or
cumstances living In Jersey City, determined to try
his luck In China. Accordingly he invested most Of
his capital In goods suited for that market and
barked on board ship bound for Hong Kong via
Liverpool. His family, consisting Of his wife and
several children left with sunicient for
their maintenance until hts return, which was ex-
pected 70 be within four years. The ship on board
which our Jerseyman was passenger had nne run
to Liverpool, where she completed her iading, and
then started on o long voyage 70 China Once only
did the family OF the Jerseyman hear from him after
leaving Liverpool and that was by letter received
by ship which spoke the Jerseyman's craft after
rounding the Cape OF Good Hope. Months passed
by and no further news Of the ship. She never or.
rived at Hong Kong, and nearly year after her de-
parture Liverpool her captain returned to that
port with the sad tale Of her or.ssseI n-
F0UNDRRIN0 IN MID OCEAN, ,.,
and his own escape, with most OF his crew and pas
sengers. from fearful DEATH The Jerseyman was
not among the saved. A dreadful storm, which
continued many days, drove the ship far out OF her
course 10 tne sOutnward ana nnaly AFTER losing all
her spars, she went down. giving her crew barely
time to lower the boats before the noble vessel made
her final plunge. The boats containing the captain
and most Of the crew. after tossing upon the sea for
several days, finally reached group 0flslands where
they remained six or seven months, kindly treated
and carried to Calcutta where tey secured pas
sage TO this city. But the boat IN which were the
Jerseyman and i've seamen was never heard Of SINCE
the first night after leaving the wreck.
TWENTY YEARS OF SORROW,
struggle and privation for the Jersey family passed.
the Ills Of poverty Keeping her Children andsr her
own roof tree, educating and fitting them well to
fight the battle OF life, and had the happiness OF
Ing them become brave men and good citizens, hon.
Orable among the most n0nOred. During all these
long years OF sorrow and toll she chung to the hope
that that the he husband Of her youth would return to
heart, and almost her only soiace was the the
recollection Of the happy hours passed with him In
their cottage home, and the belief that once more
she would be folded to his heart Twenty years
rolled slowly around children became men and
the hearth stone The suffering wife's hair WAS
turning white and her trusting heart was well nigh
broken from is1ong waiting, when, six weeks ago
LETTER FROM THE wANDERER
reciting his sad history. The second morning after
With but small stock OF provisions the Jerseyman
and his nve COMPANIONS, hoping against hope deter
one Of tSe msn nd 70
IN that direction. AFTER days toll during whicn
two Of the seamen died from privations, the party
seized BY the natives and condemned to fe Of sla-
verv Their capt0rs were cannibas. and long sought
TO Induce the white men to Join them In their horrible
orgtes but, finding both threats and entreates un-
awaiting, rhey finally desisted, and allowed their white
slaves 10 eat such food as they themselves chOse
One after another Of his white companions died,
until tile Jerseyman was left alone to his life OF
sERvITUDE AMONG THE sAvAGEs,
and so closely was he watched that although many
ships touched at the island he was unable to COM
municate with them. At length q schooner from
Australia dropped anchor during night In March
last, In cove near the hut occupied by the Jersey
canoe and padded or TO her before any Of the ma
tives were astr. So long had he been among the
savages that he had lost nearly every recollection Of
his origin, and had forgotten his native language
After gaining the deck OF the schooner he was for
some time unable to articulate word and only after
q cOpious flood OF tears had relieved him was the
strong man able to utter the simple word "home.n
Finally, after many Efforts he made the captain un
destand his story, which anected the noble.
hearted sailor that he at once weighed anchor and
sailed for Melbourne where he arrived after short
passage. .ar ~ .ilaf ll.4..
THE LAST SCENE OF ALL.
Here the JerSeyman was kindly cared for by the
authorities, but being too unwell to take passage by
sent the letter containing the joyful ttdngs OF his
safety. Last week letter, In mourning envelope,
from Melbourne was received by the Jerscymans
family. 1t was from city Official, anil contained
the sad tidings OF the wanderers death. After
twenty years Of hardship and slavery, Just as he
was ready TO embark for his long coveted home, he
was called to take longer, more dreaded journey,
and In that far-0H land, and among strangers but
among Christians, hfs spirit took It's flight.