Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-03-01
: Noah's Sunday Times.
A REMARKABLE DREAM.

Some few years ago was a resident
in Hong Kong, and there became &C
ouainted with the following circum-
stances. The story itself was related
one wiuter's evening-for even in China
there is a winters around a glowing
fire that put one in mind of home. The
conversation during dinner had turned
upon dreams, and some very curious
theories were advanced in support OF
the Interpretation of them. Our NUM-
Der consisted of eight persons; and after
a protracted discussion, in which the
number for and against there being any
truth in dreams stood about equal
Captain Topham proposed to settle the
question by telling us a story of what
actually happened to himself a few
wears previously. The cloth was re-
moved and at the invitation of oul
host we each drew our chairs round the
fire, Lit our cigar or pipe, and after
mixing for himself a glass of punch
the captain related the following tale as
nearly as | can remember:
"It is now, gentlemen, some ten
years ago since was first mate of the
opium schooner Wild Dayren. We
were lying in Hong Kong harbor at the
time, preparatory to sailing the next
morning for Formosa. Then-and, for
the matter of that, nowhere was a
great deal of smuggling done in that
beautiful island of the~Chinese. Our
cargo consisted of thirty thousand dol
lars in syce, one hundred and fifty
chests of Patna and two hundred chests
of Malwah opium, besides few sun
dries, which could be bought cheap
enough in Hong Kong or Shanghai,
but upon which we turned a good round
sum. Captain Wilkes-whom l think
you all know, gentlemen-commanded
her, and had made many voyage, and
run many a risk for his owners to the
same place. At about four in the af-
ternoon the captain left me to go on
shore; but just as he was stepping in
the boat, be cried out
"Topham Upon second thoughts,
[ shan't stay on shore tonight, as in
tended. I am going to old Douglas to
dine; and as, in all probability, it will
be noisy party, | shall slip away
early; so you can look for me about
eleven
Every we'll, SIR | answered; and
then turned to see that everything was
all right for the morning.
cat six o'clock [ and the second of
icer had tea; and after tea, he and 1
had quite a confidential chat about our
voyage, the value of our cargo and the
immense risk that was run in not ship
ping Englishmen, in place of the mon
grel crew we then had. Our crew con-
sisted, by the way, of fourteen persons,
including the captain, myself, second
officer and two sailors were English
men; Lascar; two Manila men, two
Malays and two Chiamen, as seamen; a
Chinese cook and Chinese steward-in
all, fourteen souls At about eight
O'Clock the second officer had retired
for the night, and had left me alone on
the poop. [ well remember how my
thoughts then ran. [ revOlved in my
mind the conversation that | had with
Mr.. Spencer, the second officer, respect
ing the immense value of our cargo
and the risk that we ran, both from our
own crew should they turn traitors, and
also from the hordes of pirates that
continually infest these China seas, not
withstanding our gunboats, and the
havoc that they make of them when
ever they come within range.
"Well, gentlemen, upon that evening
my thoughts were especially turned
upon home, and to dear mother from
whom I had received a letter by the
last mail, and who was then in very
delicate state of health / had answer
IL l, -. 1o+4o,. o,,1xy tI Of
q must have been on the poop about
three-ouarte of an hour after Mr..
Spencer had left me, and was thinking
of returning to the cabin to look over
some papers connected with the ship,
when [ observed sampan, or Chinese
boat, lowering round the stern. [ call
ed out to the men in the boat, and in
quired what they wanted there; but
their only answer, when they found
they were observed, was to pull away
from the ship in the direction of the
middle of the harbor. Their move
ments I did not at all like, and leaning
on the taffrail, | watched them until
they were lost In the darkness. [ sup
pose I must have remained In this
position-that is, with my arms on the
taffrail-about ten minutes, when, with
out warning, I felt myself lifted off my
legs, and some one behind me endeav-
oring to throw me overheard. | am by
no means a light weight, gentlemen, as
you can see-weighing, l should say,
then sixteen stone; but the person evil
IDENTIFY depended upon the suddenness
of the attack to accomplish bis pur-
pose. [ struggled violently, holding on
by nv hands to the rail, and letting fly
right and left with my feet; and in the
end I was successful. The Chinaman
tripped, and lay upon the deck In my
power. Without a thought, without a
moments hesitation, laid hold of him
by the trousers with one hand, and
took a couple of turns O. ais pigtail by
the other, and threw him overheard.
After | had accomplished this | made
for the cuddy. Arrived there, at
once went to Mr.. Spencer's cabin; but
upon trying the door, found it locked
! gave one or two good kicks, at the
same time calling out to him to open
the door. He sprang from his berth,
and called out in reply that it was lock-