The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1870-11-24
TIPTON, IOWA, NOVEMBER "A. 1870

and had no thought of finding him
there, more than in any other part Of
the world, knowing his life to be, that
Of mere adventurer, "here to-day, and
gone tomorrow
But one day, while strolling about, I
passed what took to he prison or
guard house, where sentry was pacing
back and forth, when heard my name
called from loop phole. l stopped in
astonishment and stared at a face pressed,
up against the opening, which 1 did
hot at once recognize.
"Who is it that knows me-" asked
Don't you know your comtade Tom
Babson."
walked, ,ap to the loop to push my
hand in; but the sentinel interposed "a
little looking Cholos-as
the half Spanish, hall: Indian are called,
on this coast. took his measure at a
glance; a few Spanish words whispered
and more yet. few silver reuies display
ed to his ava rcious gaze, and the coast
was clear. He even limited to me that
If would pass around t"anothe- pigeon
hole on the opposite side, I could talk
with the prisoner without l'sing obser-
we'd; and he himself wcnlh not be COM
promised with his superior officer.
was not slow to take the hint; and after
a shake of the hand, in which l could
feel half that had to say, Tom told me
his sad story, peeping through the little
loop hole like Il post Office clerk.
He had, it seems, waited and searched
in vain for me after he got over
his revel, until lie was satisfied that
must have gone to sea in the ship, when
he took charge of both stocks Of fclothing
which was transferred to Scotch Jocks
hands for liquor and board. A few
days were sufficient to wear out his
welcome there. He was forced, after
all, to ship in the Tres Amigos man Of
war, and the landlord got the lions
share of the advance doubloon.
Tom was soon convinced that the
Peruvian naval service was not what it
had been described; and he, IA well as
several other English adventures. were
heartily sick of their bargain, and deter
mined to back out of it the first oppor-
tunity.
So having been sent inshore on some
sort of spy service, under the command
of II young MILDLY, they took charge of
the boat themselves, put the officer OH
the beach and started down the coast
leeward. But, not daring to show
! themselves ut any town on the main,
they managed to get u small stock OF
provisions at ali out-ot' tile way place,
and headed her off for the Galapagos
Islands.
| After many strange adventures and
dreadful sutferings, they landed there;
and As might be expected, they soon
became scattered, joining ifferent si'ips.
Tom had been in half a dozen Vessels
during a years time; and feeling quite
safe, bad come ashore in Payta, IA few
days before, from u coasting craft in
which he was employed. He had
hardly landed when he was recognized
by one of the former officers ofthe man
of-war. He WAS arrested, and tried by
hasty court-martial, wheie the little
mildly himself was brought forward, ami
glad enough of this chance for revenge,
swore to Toms identity.
He was, at once, found guilty Of hav.
ing mutinied, deposed his superior
officer, Iai! hands upon him, and turned
| him ashore i'm u hostile territory. All
this was true of course; but, until then,
Tom had hardly understood the enor-
nifty of his offence, which had seemed
20 him mere sailors freak. He was
sentenced to death!
Next Monday" said he, II am to be
led out ut sunrise, stood up in the corner
there at the angle Of the wall, and shot
by IL platoon of these Cholo scarecrows
Heaven have mercy OIL me! for l have
had none upon myself, and have found
none at the hands of my judges"
You may imagine how congratula
ted myself that had been so suddenly
led to think better Of our bad scheme
and to return to my duty on board the
Marion. But what could l say Il
comfort my misguided shipmate? Ii
three days. for it was then Friday morn
ing, he won!d be put to death; there wal
no hope Of pardon or reprieve.
But the second mate, after hearing IN!
story, entered into the thing heart an'
soul. 1t was too bad to sec an old ship
mate made target in that manner
he said, by a crowd of human monkey
like these Cholos; and by little man
aeemeut and few dollars used in bribe
he thought we might save Tom from
his fate and run him off the beach. II
went ashore me the same evening, am
, we managed another interview witt
the prisoner at his pigeon hole, an
, cheered him up with a hope of deliver
, ance, giving him some idea, too of on
plan of effecting it, that he might b
prepared to act i'm cooperation.
f We smuggled coil of rope ashore o
/, Sunday, and concealed 1t In pile c
= rubbish, con venient to the place wher