Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-09-29
ASAVAGE ROMANCE.

ASAvAGE ROMANCE.
The Extraordinary Narrative of Narctsse
Pierre Peltier-Abandoned a Barren
Coast when a Boy, He is Adopted by a
Tribe of Blacks, ard Grows Up Among
Them.
The London Times publishes the fol-
lowing extraordinary story from cor
respondent, who dates Lis letter screw
steamer Brisbane, Keppel Bay, May
90: con the 18th of April, in the
present year, the John Bell schooner,
engaged in the 6eche 1e naer Fishery,
anchored at Night Island, small
island off the northeast coast of Queens
land, in latitude 10 degrees 10 minutes
south, longitude 143 degrees Is minutes
east, about three miles distant from
the mainland, to which boats were dis
patched FROM the ship in search of
water. The sailors sent on this
dcsy encountered, in the bush,
a party of aboriginal blacks, with
whom they found a white man, who
was, like the blacks, perfectly naked,
and appeared to be completely identi-
fed with them in language and habits.
On these facts being reported to the
master of the John Bell, he determined
TO make an effort to rescue the man,
and with this view sent on shore the
following dey large supply of articles
of barter, which it was endeavered to
explain to the natives were intended to
be exchan ged for their guest or captive.
The white savage was induced to enter
one of the ships boats, where he was
given biscuit to eat, and told to sit still,
muskets being at the same time pointed
at the natives and fred over their heads.
to induce them to retire, which they
were unwilling to do without being &C.
conpanied by the white man, whom
they begged to return with them. This,
he has since explained, he wished to do,
but was afraid of the guns held by the
sailors, and thought they would shoot
him if he tried to leave the boat, where
he has been hidden to remain.
The John Bell brought her prize to
Somerset, the settlement of Cape York,
where he was clothed and cared for by
the resident magistrate, Mr.. Alpin. For
some days after his arrival he sat the
greater part of the day perched on tie
the rail fence Of paddock, ''hke a
bird" as an eyewitness describes it.
casting quick. suspicious glances
around him on every side, and at every
object which came within his view.
rarely speaking, and apparently unable
to remember more than few words OF
his language, although he said enough
to show that he was Frenchman, and
wrote down on paper. in stiff, up
right. French hand, his.own name, and
a few elmost unintelEgible sentences,
which were subsequently found to con-
lain short account of his history. On
the return to Cape York of Lieut.. Con
nor, Royal Navy, who speaks French
fuently great deal more was extract
ed from the savage, and it appeared
that his name was Narcisse Pierre Pei
tier, or Pelletier, son of Martin Peltier,
shoemaker at st. Giles, Departmental
Vendee, France. At the age of IL Mar.
cisse Peltier embarkedas cabin boy on
board the st. Paul of Bordeaux.
This ship sailed from China to Austria
liza in the year 1858. having on board
some $50 Chinese coolies. She never,
however, reached her destination, hav-
ing been wrecked one dark night on a
reef off Roussel Island, in the louisiade
Archipelago. The captain and sailors
got off in three boats and made for the
main land, while the Chinese, with
whom was Narcisse, walked along the
reef to a small island situated upon it.
An attack was subsequently made by
natives upon the captains party, which
was compelled to retreat to the island
where the Chinese were, leaving In the
hands of the savages the second officer,
sailor and an apprentice. Distrustful
of the Chinese, and totally unproyided
for vito the means of conveyance for SO
large number, the captain and Euro
pean sailors determined to abandon
them secretly and escape in their boats.
making for the Australian coast, in the
hope of falling in with some English
settlement or European vessel. This
plan they accordingly carried out in the
night. They had intended also to leave
behind the boy Narcisse, but he had
discovered what was contemplated, and
followed The crew down to the boats,
into which they did not refuse him ad.
mission. How long their voyage
lasted is uncertain. They subsist
ed on q paste of -four
and water, and such sea birds Is they
could catch, which were devoured raw
Two or three days before they reached
the Australian coast, their supply o1
fresh water failed, and when at length
they reached the shore, which they die
at First Red Rock Point, South of Cape
Direction, latitude thirteen degrees and