The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-07-07

oxen were left to wander uncared for
through the streets of the city, with my
! precious load of what was to have been
our household goods, and before I had
the least opportunity to send single
word home to my wife and family to re-
lieve the dreadful anxiety that my long
and unaccountable absence must have
occasioned them, we were far out upon
the broad ocean.
Z" In the course of few months we
entered tho Indian ocean, and it was
seven long years before our ship again
cast anchor in the harbor of Liverpool
upon her return voyage. During this
long time had never heard one word
| from home or friends.
"After our arrival at the home port
was soon paid my hard-earned wages and
received my discharge. 1 soon reached
the welcome shore, and at once hurried
out of the now dreaded city towards my
old home i'll the country. 1 was 30
changed i'll appearance by years of ex-
| posure under a burning sun, that I was
| sure no one would know me. But hag-
gard and worn as 1 was, my heart was
! light at the thought of soon meeting my
dear wife and friends once more, and SO
L pressed eagerly onward until night
overlook me. wasafraid to call ut an inn,
lest from my dress and appearance I
should excite suspicion and be arrested
| as deserter from the navy. Finding a
stack of straw in lonely nook, 1 crept
under it and slept through the night.
In the morning n dense fog enveloped
everything, and 1 groped my way Oh
without knowing whittier / was going.
1t so happened that wandered into the
kings broad highway just in time to fall
In with another press gang who were
passing by. They seized me at once,
and utterly regardless Of my entreaties,
and in spite of my situation, hurried me
on broad another vessel that was soon
under weigh for the distant western coast
of South America.
"After we had been cruising about for
several years in the Southern Pacific, 1
managed to escape from my captivity,
and crossing the Andes alone and on foot,
arrived after many wanderings and hair
breadth escapes, weary and worn, ut an
Atlantic port. There the first opportunity
offered for sailing was on board of an
American man. -of-war that was home
ward bound. Impatient to leave, I en-
listed in the American navy rs a common
sailor for the term of one year. Our
ship arrived in New York harbor q few
months ago. I was soon transferred to
Commodore Chauncey's fleet, as you
now sec me.
"I have never heard one word from
home since my wife bid me goodbye at
the old farm gate, and that is now twenty
long years ago. But last evening, as L
swung in my hammock, fell asleep, and
[ saw her in my dreams, as have told
you already. She and our little one
must have died in my absence, and I
shall be with them to day."
"When Tom had concluded his
story" continued the old officer, "there
was not dry eye in that circle of hard
faced men, and in moment after the
command came harsh and loud to clear
the decks for action. And then
our little ship rolled gallantly up under
the guns of the fort and poured broad
side into the Royal George. Soon we
saw light puff of smoke curl upwards
from one of the batteries on the shore,
and nine pound cannon shot went
crashing across our deck.
cit struck poor Tom, and he fell dead
at our feet. AS his body lay upon the
deck with face npturned, there was a
smile playing uponhis stiffening features
that will haunt me to my dying day.
Death had to him no terrors. He
welcomed its coming. 1t opened to him
the door of heaven, to show him those
he loved. The smile upon his face was
smile of recognition"
AS the old man concluded his story,
he arose from his seat and bid us good
bye. And now the strangest thing about
this story of Tom Garnet is its truth, for
it is not all romance, but is veritable
history. DR.. Hough, in his "History of
Jefferson County, N. y" on page All,
places upon record an account of Tom
Garnet's singular presentiment and
death, which is substantially the same
as the one have woven into the wrap
of my story.
Says the learned historian, in conclud-
ing his narrative, and / use his very
words: "Chauncey's fleet sailed and
engaged the enemy's batteries in the
harbor of Kingston, rs above related
the first shot from which was q nine
paund ball, that crossed the deck of the
Oneida and passed through the body of
Tom Garnet, at his post. He fell in
stantly dead, with the same smile upon
his countenance that habit had i'm
pressed. This singular coincidence and
verification of presentiment is 80 well at
tested by authentic witnesses that it
merits the attention of the curious
AS the morning sun rose gloriously in
the heavens we left the little island, and
it soon grew dim and shadowy i'll the
distance; but the story of poor Tom
Garnet was impressed indellibly upon
our memories.