Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-22

been finished he said
Now, l guess we had better go
down and see the captain, and you must
tell him that you are sailor, and have
been going to sea for four years, and
then you will get $50 advance.
But can't tell him that, for amt
q sailor. I have never been &c sea in
my life."
Cd yoaf soul, I'll make you a
sailor said Gleason, with a threaten
ing air, clinching bis fists and advan-
cling ON the boy, who retreated toward
the wash-room. "You come
down to the house and eat my supper,
and then tell me you have never been to
sea-"
"But it is true, sir; I never have
been to sea"
"Hear me |" thundered the man.
You have been to sea four years r
But / can't -" --rr
"Dye hear me ?" shouted he again,
hitting the boy heavy blow with his
right hand on one side of his head.
"You've been to sea four years, or
will knock the d head off you; do
you hear ?"
"Yes, sir" said the boy, thoroughly
frightened, and feeling that he could
have no chance for escape until he got
out of the house.
After some more threatening language
a sailors cap was placed on his head,
and with the landlord on one side and
a stalwart runner on the other, he was
marched into the street. The boys
hope revived as he got into the open
air, and he told them that if they did
not let him go he would call a police
man and have them arrested.
You say word to anybody and I'll
knock the teeth down your throat"
said Gleason, while the runner, with
a menacing gesture, swore he would
kick him to pieces if he opened his
head. "And hear ye," added the
landlord, the best thing that you can
do is to keep as quiet as you can. All
the policemen down here are my friends,
and if you call to one I'll give him a
couple of dollars to club you"
The boy made no reply, but looked
as keenly as he could at those they
passed; but at the time Git was now
after dark) in that section of the city
there was no one to be seen to whom
he dared appeal. They approached
policeman who was standing on the
corner, and the boy, in spite of threats,
made up his mind to call to him but
his resolve was checked when his cap
tors and the policeman nodded pleas
antly to each other, and he thought his
safest plan was to see the captain, who,
in his innocence, he supposed would
certainly refuse to take him when he
found he was no sailor.
When they came to the shipping Of
tice-not the Office of the United States
Commissioner, but an outside" or
private ofice-the captain, who was
present, without asking any questions,
told Gleason that the boy would not do,
he was not heavy enough, and he might
as well take him right back and bring
him heavier man or none at all. The
boy attempted to speak, but was ST.
lenced by threat and marched out of
the office again. On the way back the
runner proposed to take him to another
office and ship him for Liverpool, but
Gleason refused, saying he was going
to send him on a voyage where he
would not come back soon and would
ship him for China on Monday.
Arrived at the house again, he was ia.
ken to q small room at one end, where
there was little cot, and ordered to go
to bed, being admonished that if he
dared to try to escape during the night
it would be at the peril of his life.
Left in the darkness, the boy eau
tiously felt the floor and the bell, for
he had heard that there were places in
New York where they dropped men
through traps and then, finding moth
ing that seemed like trap. he sat
down on the bed and abandoned him
self to his thoughts. AS he thought of
his position-a prisoner right in the
heart of the great city, and held by men
who he was convinced would not hesi-
tale to murder him, and threatened with
being sent to China without even hay
ing chance of letting his mother know
where he was, and as he thought of her
agony over his disappearance-bitter
tears came to his relief, and he resolved
to make an attempt to get out. 1t must
have been about four or five o'clock in
the morning when he succeeded in
picking the lock on his door (there was
no window and cautiously opened it,
only to see that he was guarded by
sentinel, whose vigilance there was no
hope of eluding. There was faint
light in the larger room into which his
opened, and by it he saw an immense
bloodhound raise himself from the
floor, and, with white teeth and low,
savage growl, gather himself to spring
on the intruder. The boy drew back,
for he was very much afraid of dogs,
having been badly torn by one in his
childhood, and feeling that there was
no possibility of escape, commended
himself to God.
The long night passed, and morning
came, and he was permitted to get some
breakfast; but during the whole day
was kept a secure prisoner, either
Gleason himself or one of his runners
being always on hand to check any at
tempt to escape. In the evening the
captain of the Baltic sent up word that
if Gleason could do no better he would
take the man who had been refused the
night before.
Thereupon the considerate landlord
fitted out the boy for sea. The pea
jacket he had been wearing was of some
little use, so from box of old clothes,
long, swallow-tailed coat, or what
was left of what had once been the prop
erty of some shanghed hummer, was
selected, and he was made to exchange.
This, with an old quilt, two fimsy
check shirts, three clay pipes, pound
of plug tobacco and sheath knife and
belt constituted the outfit with which
he was to be sent to round Cape Horn