The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-12-20
A FIGHT FOR LIFE;
The Remarkable Dream.

The Remarkable Dream.
Some few years ago | was n resident in
Hong Kong, and there became acquaint-
cd with the following circumstances.
Tho story itself was related one winters
evening around glowing fire that put
one in mini Of home. The conversation
during dinner had turned upon dreams,
aud some very curious theories were ad-
vancel in support of the Interpretation
OF them. Our number consisted Of eight
persons ; and after protracted discus
sion, in which the number for and
against there being any truth in dreams
stood about equal, Capt. Topham pro
posed to settle the question by telling
us n story OF what actually happened to
himself few years previously. The
cloth was removed, and at the invitation
OF our host wc each drew our chairs
round tho fire, lit our cigar or pipe, and
the captain related the following tale as
nearly as I can remember:
1t ia now, gentlemen, some ten years
since 1 was first mate OF tho opium
schooner Wild Dayrell. We were lying
in Hong Kong harbor at the time, pre-
paratory for sailing the next morning for
Formosa. Then there was great deal
OF smuggling done in that beautiful
island Of tho Chinese. Our cargo con-
sisted Of $50, 900 in syce, $50 chests OF
PAtna. md 200 Ghosts Of Malwan
opium, besides few sundries, which
could be bought cheap enough in Hong
Kong or Shanghae, but upon which We
turnel good round sum. Capt. Wilkes
commanded her, and had made many n
voyage nudun many n risk for his owners
to the same place. At about four in tho
afternoon the captain left me to go on
shore, but Just rs he was stepping into
the boat hc 9iied out:
"TophGm! Upon second thoughts. 1
shan't stay on shore tonight, as I in.
tended, I nm going to old Douglas to
dine; md 40. in all probability, it will
DO noisy party, l shall slip away early /;
so you can look for me about eleven.
Every well, sir" I answered; and
then turned to see that everything was
all right for the morning.
A six o'clock l and the second otticcr
lad tea and, after tea, he and l had
quito Il confidential chat about our
voyage, tho value Of our cargo, and tho
immense risk that was run in not ship
ping Euglishmon. in place OF the mon
grel crew we then had. Our crew con-
sisted, by the why, of fourteen persons,
including tho captain. The captain,
myself, second officer, and two sailors
were Englishmen; Lascar, two
Manila men, two Malays, and two
Cinnamon, rs seamen a Chinese cook
and Chinese steward-in all, fourteen
souls. At phput eight o'clock the second
officer Ind retired for the night, and had
left me alone on the poop. 1 well re.
member how my thoughts then ran. l
revolvod in my mind the conversation
that l had had with Mr.. Spencer. the
second officer, respecting the immense
value OF our cargo, and the risk that we
ran, both from orr crew, should thcy
tnru trlitors, and also from the hordes
of pirates that continually infest the
China sens, Notwithstanding our gun.
boats, and the havoc that they make Of
them whenever they come within rInge.
Well, gentlemen, uppu TINT evening
my thoughts were especially turned
upon home, nnl TO dear mother from
whom had received letter by the last
mail, and who was then in very deli
cate state Of health. l had answeredher
letter only that morning.
must have been on the poop about
three quarters of m hour after Mr..
Spencer hal left me, and was thinking
OF returning to the cabin to look over
some papers connected with the ship,
when | observed IL sampan, or Chinese
boat, lowering round the stern. l called
out to the men in the boat, md inquired
what they wanted there; but their only
answer, when they found they were OBJ
served, was to pull away from the ship
in the direction OF the middle OF tho
harhor. Their movements did not at
NIL like, anl leaning on the taffrail, |
watched them until they were lost in the
darkness.
I suppose I must have remained in
this poSiiiou-tllat IL, with my arms on
tho talIInlil-abont ten minutes, when,
without warning, felt myself lifted oil
my legs, and some ono behind ne On.
deavoring to throw me overheard. I was
by no means light weight; but the per-
son evidently depended upon the sud-
denness of the attack to accomplish his
purpose. struggled violently, holding
on by my hands to the rail, and letting
fly right aud left with my feet; and in
the end I was successful. The China
man trippei, anl lay upon the deck in
my power. Without Il thought, without
n moments hesitation, l laid hold Of him
by the trousers with one hand, and took
couple Of turns Of his pigtail BY the
other, and threw him overheard. After
had accomplished this made for the
cuddy. Arrived there, I at once went
to Mr.. Spencer's cabin; but upon trying
the door found it locked I gave oneor
two good kicks, Mt tho same time calling
out 10 him to open the door. Hespnng
from his berth, and called out in reply
TINT it was locked from the outside. I
told him to stand clear, and with n good
ono, two, three, from the shoulder, l
burst tho door in. There is no doubt l
must hive looked very pale md very ex-
cited, as his first question to me was:
"Why, Mr.. Topham, what in the
name Of goodness is the matterl You
look Ms palc NJ DEATH"
I tolu him all that had happened, and