The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-09-01
AMONG THE CANNIBALS,
My Adventures at Sea,

GONE time ago, we published a story
~ entitled, "The Adventures of Mr..
Seymour" in which the writer gave an &C
count of an old school master he had en-
countered on that voyage, who had been
abandoned to the mercy Of the cannibals by
perfidious captain by the name Of Darns-
ford, who turned up in California in COM
mand of a fine ship which he had purchas-
ed with the proceeds of the voyage he had
stolen from his friend Mr.. Seymour. This
illgotten booty he had been obliged to re-
turn to his victim, who had made his way
to the Golden State. The writer also re-
lated how he assumed command of the
beautiful clipper Belle Blonde, and, in
company with Mr. Seymour, returned to
the Fejees, and released female captive
whom his friend had seen there, and who,
by a strange coincidence, had been sold
into captivity when young girl by this
same Darnsford, who, as disguised sailor,
shipped with us on that voyage.
With these preliminary remarks, we will
now proceed with the story.
CATER our return to Boston, and Sey-
mour had married the lady we had jointly
rescued from living death among the
cannibals, and l saw how hugely he was
enjoying the profits he had made trading,
became greatly exercised in mind, not
with envy at his large fortune, but with
thinking why could not go and do like
wise.
The more thought about it the more
excited became, until at last ! resolved
to go fortune-hunting in the Fejees on my
own personal account, if / could arrange a
voyage.
fitted a vessel to my mind at last, and
having secured freight for Melbourne, /
took run down home and visited my
family and friends for short time, after
which l returned to the brig, that was
appropriately named "Endeayor y and
having parted from my wife in Boston, as
she had accompanied me there that she
might sec me of, intending to remain with
my friend Seymour's family for short time
after was gone, repaired to the wharf,
and began to get underway with the En-
deavor.
Profting by Seymour's experience, as
we'll as my own, had armed the brig with
six carronades and swivel, together with
full chest of revolvers and sidearms, as
well as plenty of ammunition so / felt we
were well-fitted to meet the natives on
their own ground, if from any cause they
should be disposed to show fight.
had a crew of eighteen men forward,
and so, with the officers, cook and steward,
we had twenty-four men on board, not to
mention a little jackanapes of boy that
had induced me to take him in the charac-
ter of cabin or loblolly boy.
There was quite show of force when /
summoned all hands aft, after the pilot left
us, and the crew seemed to show plenty of
esprit du corps when dismissed them after
a short speech, and long swig of stiff
grog to wash it down.
The abuse of liquor deprecate as strong
,ly as the most rigid Father Matthew man
but, like the Rev. Lecturer Train, can
not tell lie, and so always serve fair
allowance of grog, with plenty to eat, on
board Of my ship and when want lit
tie extra service Of the men, getit will
lingly, or--stop grog, for punishment.
Although it was risky thing to DO, !
determined to make Rava my first stopping
place, Judging that the natives were SO
severely punished during the previous trip
there that they would be quite docfe this
time, especially IL they wanted to trade.
never can explain the reason that in
duces me TO take cegtain steps as do but,
although a firm disbclieyer ii clairyoyapcy,
yet must admit that there Is some IN
known force that impels me to move in