Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-02-10
liver Falls, Wis, Dec. 81, 1876.
MISCELLANY.
A BOX OF DIAMONDS.


from the illustrated Sporting and Dramatic
News.l
Well, as said before, as it's Christ.
mas Eve, l don't mind telling you the
story. It's good many years ago now
since it happened, before the days of the
mail companies and Glasgow clippers,
when man had to make his will and set
his house in order before putting his foot
OH board ship; and when once you had
passed the Eddystone, it was almost a
hundred to one against you ever setting
foot again in old England. However, here
l am, laid up like an old hulk for the re.
mainder Of my days, with nothing to fall
back upon but my memories of the Fast !;
and sad memories some of them are, you
may stake your life. was a young man
then, and had been knocked about the
Brazils and the West Indies-every.
where in South America, I may say, for
l believe made one Of the first parties
of Englishmen to cross the Andes Valpa-
raise to Buenos Ayres, no light feat in
those days. can tel you. was doc.
tor by profession, md many a time, by
the exercise of my professional skill, 1
have saved my own scalp among the saw.
age Indians Of the Pampas. am not
going, however, to tell you anything
about the Indians now-some other time,
perhaps-a slice Of lemon! Thank yon
land sugar; that'll do. Now for my
story:
AS said before, had been knocking
around . good deal in South America,
and shipped as doctor on board of An old
tub Of trader leaving Rio Janeiro, home.
ward bound for Bristol, with full cargo
and q couple of cabin passengers.
The Good Hope was commanded by
Captain McFarlane, hoary.headed old
Scotchman. John Williamson, first
mate, and crew Of thirteen hands, all
told. made up Of Englishmen, Dutchmen,
Syedes, and q couple Of niggers, one OF
whom was the stewards mate. We sail.
ed on the 14th of December, blazing
hot day, with scarcely breath of wind
to fill the sails; but the captain was
anxious to get away, as Yellow Jack was
knocking his heels in quarantine any long.
er than he could help. We had, however,
hardly got clear of Raza Islands when a
breeze sprung up, and We were soon bowl
ing along as fast as an old ship could be
made to step along, all studding sails set,
and, so far, clean bill Of health on board.
On the Dist, however. I was sitting
for'ard, getting breath Of fresh air, and
smoking my pipe, when Pete. the stew
ards mate, came up and summoned me
aft to see one Of our two cabin passengers
Mr.. VIM. sGrierson, who had been very
unwell during the night, and began to be
afraid that he WAS in for touch of the
fever. I RsnkafEand saw him, but there
did not stpeartoGbe any very alarming
symptoms Just 1t present, so prescribed
some cooling medicine and left him.
He Was, however, worse the next day
and the iiext, yet it was not 1 case 8
yellow fever, and there was something il
the symptoms that, I am not ashamed Il
say, fairly baffled me. On the Oath b,
was so much worse that I began to b,
seriously alarmed, and communicated my
fears to the captain:
1T is not the yellow fever, Of that ! an
sure.''
"What is it thcn, Doctor?'' Il
swell to tell the. truth, can hardly
say. Ntthing that can administer
seems to do him any good, and he is cv
identity sinking rapidly
"Humph" said the captain, myster
ious, to say the least OF it. Does he know
Of his co6dition!'' s..
The conversation. was cut short BY tn
arrival of Pete, Who informed us that Mr.
Grierson had been seized with . suddel
access ofpsin, and "a. apparently dying
adding tint the patient wished TO see m,
at once ahd alone. In obedience to th'
summons ! went below, and having shu
tho cabin door. and administered the nee
cssary remedies. asked the dying ma,
(for there,cppld be little doubt he VA
dying) The reason 4 for bis Wishing. to Sc
II wish to see you. because / feel tha
lam DYING md c1n put Of I, no longe