The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-04-30
CRIMES ON THE OCEAN.
STARTLING ADVENTURE ON VOYAGE TO
INDIA.

hc ioiloWlDS startling ipClnenIS are salQ
to be strictly true. We copy from an Eng
lish paper the deposition itself Of the hero
of the story. He says
My name is Austin Gray. I am an Eng
lishman, and the son of clergyman. Two
years ago / met Miss Flora Locke the
young and beautiful daughter of an Indian
officer. i became 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 aud sorrow, she could
not endure the thought of the long voyage
unaccompanied, and decided 10 be here om-
pan;on, hoping that her father would give
bis consent to an immediate union on our
arrival.
We sailed on the 18th 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 in
terested in my betrothed. felt strangely
uneasy at the looks of admiration he cast
upon her from time to time, and finally
mentioned my observations to Miss Locke
herself.
Tony surprise, she turned very pale, and
could with difficulty refrain from bursting
into tears.
81 know it, she said che has looked at
me constantly for the last three days, aud
seized every opportunity to speak 10 me''
] was very much annoyed at this. We
wele the only passengers on board, and
| Captain Gark looked capable of any crime.
A week after that Flora came to me sob
bing and trembling. and told me that the
captain had asked her to be his wife, and
when she had refused, had threatened her
with his vengeance. Ny first impulse was
to give the rascal good thrashing, for he
knew we were engaged but Flora was
timid, and begged that would act as if in
! ignorance Of the fact l consented, but
was sorry for il aftcrward. 1t was only the
next day that, while walking the upper
deck, | heard low frightened cry, and saw
Miss Locke endeavori"g to escape from the
arms of Captain Gark
| Without stopping to think of the consc-
queues, l struck the villain violent blow,
which felled him TO the deck. He rose to
his feet Immediately however, and, calling
/ the crew about him, commanded .hem to
seize me and put me in irons resisted,
but resistance was useless against so many.
! For six days was imprisoned in the hold.
l was scarcely allowed enough to eat, and
was in constant darkness On the seventh
day was brought in the presence of the
! Captain, aud face to face with Miss Locke,
who was weeping bitterly.
The monster then asked Miss L. which
she would do-marry him, see me put
ashore on desert island, at which they
| would arrive in few hours.
Almost crazed with grief and anger,
| Flora told him that she loathed him, and
would sooner die than be his wife.
every WE'LL" said he, ''then you shall
both be put ashore"
We did not believe that he would execute
his threat, but found that it was really his
| intention. At noon, that day, they cast
anchor, and Miss Locke and myself were
put in boat and taken ashore, together,
with the captain and about dozen of The
crew. To my amazement | saw that the
men had brought with them iron and vari-
GUS tools. l understood what it meant,
| however, when l saw them seize my be-
trothed and prepare to fasten her to a rock
by belt of iron.
The poor girl wept and implored them to
have pity upon her but the wretches had
not the courage to dsobey their master
beside, they believed her guilty Of some
horrible crime-I know not what The
captain had told them. At last, as they
were fastening the last rivet that bound her
to the rock, | succeeded in bursting from
those that held me, and seizing a sword,
sprang to her rescue. Il was useless. My
sword was dashed from my hand by gil
gantic sailor, and in a few moments more
Ishould have been dead man, had not the
captain commanded him to forbear.
''Do not hurt him. he said. ''We will
leave him get his sweetheart free, and then
they starve together" The whole COM
pany then took their departure, leaving, as
if in mockery, two days provisions.
I was so worn with my imprisonment
that 1t was long time before l could rise
and try to release my bride. resolved to
loosen one of the rivets which bound her
iron belt to the rock, if possible, with my
clasp knife.
worked for hours, but with very poor
success. Poor Flora was in a terrible con-
dition fright and despair look away her
little strength, and she was barely conscious
most of the time.
BY noon, next day, she was free, but l
despaired OF her life, even if we should be
rescued, for she was so weak.
The provisions which they had left, we
made last three days, but at the end of that
time MADE up our minds to die, for there
there was no fruit upon this dreadful barren