Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-04-09
GRIMES OF THE OCEAN,
Startling Adventure ON VOyag
TO India


TO India.
The following startling incidents are
strictly true. We copy from an English
paper the deposition itself of the hero
of the story He says.
My name is Austin Gray. | am an
Englishman and the son of a clergyman.
Two years ago | met and loved Miss
Flora Locke, the young and beautiful
daughter OF an Indian officer. Ibecame
engaged to her, and we were to have been
married shortly, when her mother died,
and her father wrote for his child to
come to him in India.
In her desolation and sorrow, she
could not endure the thought of the long
voyage, unaceompanied, and | decided
to be her companion, hoping that her
father would give his consent to an i'm
mediate union on our arrival
We sailed on the 10Th of -, and for
the first week of our voyage there was
nothing amiss.
The eighth day out | noticed for the
first time, that the captain--a coarse.
but rather handsome man-appeared
very much interested in my betrothed
| felt strangely uneasy at the looks of
admiration he cast upon her from time
to time, and finally mentioned my obser-
vations to Miss Locke herself.
To my surprise, she turned very pale,
and could with difficulty refrain from
bursting into tears.
| know il" she said, he has looked
at me constantly for the last three days
and seized every opportunity to speak to
me.
was very much annoyed at this. We
were the only passengers on board, and
Captain Gark looked capable Of any
crime.
A week after that Flora came to me,
sobbing and trembling, and told me that
the captain had asked her to be his wife.
and that when she had refused had
threatened her with his vengeance. My
first impulse was to give the rascal
good tbrashing for he knew we we're en-
gagged; but Flora was timid and begged
that | would act as if in ignorance OF the
fact consented, but was sorry for it
afterwards 1t was only the next day
that, walking the upper deck, l heard
low frightened cry aud saw Miss Locke
endeavoring to escape from the arms Of
Captain Gark.
Without stopping to think of the CON
sequences, | struck the villain violent
blow, which felled him to the deck He
arose to his feet Immediately, however,
and calling the crew about him, com
manded them to seize me and put me in
irons. | resisted, but resistance was
useless against so many. For six days
| was imprisoned in the hold | was
scarcely allowed enough to eat, and was
in constant darkness. On the seventh
day was brought into the presence of
the captain, aud face to face with Miss
Locke, who was weeping bitterly
The monster then asked Miss Locke
which she would do-marry him, or see
me put ashore on a desert island, at
which they would arrive in few hours.
Almost crazed with grief and anger,
Flora told him that she loathed and
hated him, and would sooner die than
be his wife.
Very well, said he, then you shall
both be put ashore"
We did not believe that he would exc
cute his threat; but found that it was
really his intention. At noon that day
they cast anchor, and Miss Locke and
myself were put into q boat and taken
ashore, together with the captain and
about q dozen of the crew. To nv
amazement saw that the men had
brought with them iron and various
tools. l understood what it meant, how.
ever, when / saw them seize my betrothed
aud prepare to fasten her to a rock by a
belt Of iron.
The poor girl wept and implored them
to have pity on her; but the wretches
had not the courage to disobey their
master; besides, they believed her guilty
of some horrible crime know not what
the captain had told them. At last, as
they we're fastening the last rivet that
bound her to the rock, / succeeded in
bursting from those that held me, and
seizing sword, sprang to her rescue.
1t was useless. My sword was dashed
from my hand by a gigantic sailor, and
few moments more ! should have been
a dead man, had not the captain com
manded him to forbear.
"Do not hurt him." he said. 1--WE
will leave him to get his sweetheart free,
and then-they can starve together"
The whole company then took their de-