The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1875-03-26

! friend In this unaccOuntable spiritual
presence, or whatever it might be.
The captains angry passions were to
some extent checked by it though,
now and then, they broke forth so sud
denly that the object of his fury re-
ceived blow before it could interfere
| We had arrived within a couple of
days sail of the English coast, when,
| becoming exasperated at some bIunder
of Hastings he hurled a belaying-pin,
| which struck him in the head. The
poor fellow suddenly clapped both
hands to the spot, with a wild yell, and
rushed in to the forecastle. The cap
| tain, after having thrown the missile,
appeared, as thought, surprised at not
hearing anything, and I noticed him
| glance nerveusly aloft. But, still hear
! ing nothing, he recovered his courage,
and ordered Mr.. Raynor to call that
| man to deck ag6in.
The mate getting an answer to his
| call, went below, and found Hastings
| delirious. He reported that he believed
the man to be in a critical condition,
| and the captain directed him to do
whatever he thought best for his re-
! lief. think Captain Phelps, like some
other hard cases that I have sailed
with, did not dare to venture into the
1OICCdSblO himself, lOI lGdI uG ul1B III
| never get out again alive.
That night it became necessary to call
all hands out to reef again and while
we were on the yards, a thrilling cry
arose from the bows, such as well
might have been raised by a maniac.
A human form was seen by several of
us erect on the rail, near the fore
swifter. and then a loud splash was
heard in the water under the lee.
Mr.. RaynOr and the captain, who
were on the deck, rushed to the side, a
hat was seen for a moment, bobbing up
on the crest of the sea, and the same
dreadful yell of insanity was repeated,
even more shrilI than before. Captain
Phelps echoed the cry, but family, and
fell insensibIe to the deck.
Mr.. RaynOr hailed us on the tOp-sail
yard with voice like trumpet blast
Lay down from alOft Clear away
the small boat "
We thought the mate was quite as
mad as the poor suicide, and so he was,
for the moment. By the time we
reached the deck he was ready to cOun-
termand the order. Everything was
hidden in darkness, the wind and sea
fast increasing, and it was impossible
even then for the clumsy little boat to
live. The captain, still unconscious,
was carried below, with many NUT
tered wish that he might never come
up again, and bitter were the Oaths of
vengeance mingled with kind words
and tears for our departed messmate
that went round our waksfuI little cir
Gle during the stormy, dismal night.
When the Hull pilot boarded US,
forty-eight hours afterward, Captain
Phelps was at his post trying to lock
like himself, but still pale and trem-
bling. The mate told US that he should
have him arrested as soon as we arrived
in port. But 1 think he must have
relented, and COnnived at his escape,
for he was missing before the ship was
fairly secured. I don't think he was
ever brought to justice, though L did
not wait to see. 1 was glad enough to
shake the dust of the Norway off my
feet, and to forget, If possible, the his
tory of the voyage.
StroIling along the streets at early
evening, ready for anything in the way
of amusement that might turn up, my
attention was caught by poster an
nOuncing the performance of Prof
HolbrOOk, the unrivaled and wOrld-re-
nOwned ventriloquist. 1 had never
seen a performance of that sort, but
after reading the bill resolved to go.
I was Just in time when ! reached the
hall of exhibition, and taking ticket
I entered and took a seat. l thought
the entertainment the most wonderful
I had ever witnessed or heard. After
a variety of sounds and voices had
been initiated with marvellous skill, he
informed US that he wsUld hold con-
versation with an ordinary person up
the chimney. When the responsive ha,
hal came down, was startled to such
a degree as to rise from my seat. 1t
was the same voice in precisely the same
peculiar tones that [ heard so many
times from the NOrway's main-tOp.
A minute later the professor, having
finished his part, came forward to the
foot of the stage and spite of his
flowing beard and other disguises, 1
recognized one whom I had supposed
to be dead five years before.
"Jack Hastings, said 1 aloud, for
getting in my excitement where I was.
"Sit down. Put him out, cried
dozen voices at once.
I subsided, of course, but not before
had seen a sign of recollection from
the ventrilOquist. When the perform
ance was over he beckoned to me, and,
in the privacy of his own room, grasped
my hand with hearty pressure.
Hastings" I asked, chow in the
name of miracles were you saved?"
"Saved ? Where ?"
"When you jumped overheard, raw
ing mad"
81 never jumped overheard, Ashton,
said he, "and was no more mad than
am now. Itwas only plan to frlghten
old Phelps, and think 1t succeeded
but too we'll If he had been tired OF
life, and had thought him in danger, L
could have appeared in court and fright
ened him again to save his life. But
he could not be found, and 1 never
heard OF him since. My madness was
all sham. and the man overheard was
onIv bundle of old duds surmounted
by my old hat. I slipped down IN the
fore-peak, and lay concealed till the
night after the ship arrived, when I
stole out and went ashore. Of course
YOU understood the cries you heard.
Certainly; and the other strange
sounds on board. Your ventrilsquism
explains the whole matter"
''I I performed IN most of the cities
and large towns in England before I
knew you, but was then dissipated In
my habits and sqUandered all that I
made. While on one of my sprees, I
shipped and went to sea, and that is
how you found me In Cronstadt. But
I was never stock to make a sailor of.
Since 1 have returned have done well