Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-05-12
NO. 49,.
#istellat1eons.
From the Worcester Press.
APLUCKY BOY. 7o s

A bright looking lad of sixteen applied
for lodgings at the police office last even
ing about 10 o'clock. He gave his name
as VIM. II. Reed, of ABINGDON, Mass, and
according to the custom was told to place
in his hat whatever articles he might have
about his person. He promptly drew a
good sized bible from under his coat, and
placing it in his hat, said that the book
was his all. 1t is not usual for dodgers to
have bible in their possession, and this,
coupled with the intelligent appearance of
the lad, interested the officers in the case.
The boy when questioned, told the follow
ing interesting story:
With the consent of his father he left his
| home the first of last October, and shipped
| from Boston on board the bark Mary F.
Hurlburt, Capt. Dudley, who was boun1to
Galveston, Texas. He was subjected to
severe treatment during the voyage, on
the arrival the vessel at Galveston he es-
capped, but was captured by the police
some miles up country, and returned to
the ship. As punishment for running
away he was locked in the forecastle bv
the captain, but in the night time he broke
out, and by means of hawser reached
the pier and was free again. He had 81
in money, the suit of clothes which he had
on, and sailors bag containing number
OF trinkets. He left Galveston on Nov. IL
resolved to reach his home. The distance
from Galveston to Boston is 2,289 miles,
and last night he had only A miles of the
distance to accomplish. OF the whole dis
tance young Reed had travelled 563 miles
on foot. The rest of the journey he ac-
bomplished by obtaining rides on on rail-
road trains and in teams which he met on
the road. His route has been as follows
Galveston to New Orleans, $40 miles New
Orleans to Cairo, 638 miles; Cairo to De-
catur to Toledo, 1923 miles; Toledo to
Cleveland, 113 miles; Cleveland to Erie.
50 miles; Erie to Buffalo, 81 miles, Bffalo
to Albany, 298 miles.
Young Reed, during his journey. en-
countered hardships which would have dis
couraged less plucky boy, but through
all he bore up with fixed determination
to reach his home. At New Orleans he
had his bag and several articles of cloth
ing stolen from him by negro. The va
rious expedients to which he resorted to
obtain ride to help him on his journey
are illustrated by the fact that last night he
rode on the cOw-catcher of the engine
from West Brookfield to this city. He also
rode POI miles on the truck of Pullman
car, on western road during a cold,
stormy night, when the wood and iron
work of the track was covered with ice.
He had paper in his Bible containing a
list OF persons in the various cities and
places where he had stopped who had be-
frlended him, and to those he said he pro-
posed TO write when he reached home.
The list is novel one, as will be seen
from the following addresses: MARY Ann
Wilson, the poor fireman's widow and
peanut woman at the Academy Of Music,
New Orleans, La" Two policemen in
New Orleans housed and fed the lad for q
week, and two members of the police at
Albany gave him a suit of clothes. The
Bible. with which he has not parted since
he left Galveston, was presented to him by
his father the day before he left home.
The yonng lad was a hero at the police
office last evening. and the officers con-
tributed purse to defray his expenses
from this city to his home In Abingdon.