Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-02-03
A BOX OF DIAMONDS.

illustrated sporting anu Draihatie
News.
Well, as | said before, as it's
Christmas eve, / don't mind telling
you the story. It's good many
years ago now since it happened, be
fore 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
on board ship; and when once you
had passed the Eddystone, it was al
most hundred to one against you
ever setting foot again in old Eng
land. However, here | am, laid up
like an old hulk for the remainder OF
my days, with nothing to fall back
upon but my memories of the past:
and sad memories some of them are,
you NAV stake your life. ] was a
Young man then, and had been
knocking about in the Brazils and
the West lndias-everywhere in
South America, / may say, for
believe made one of the first par
ties of Englishmen to cross the An
des from Valparaiso to Bnenos Ayres,
1o You. if' [ Vas sTeiaind doctor BY profession,
and many time, by the exercise OF
nv professional skill, | have saved
nv own scalp among the savage In
dams of the Pampas. / am not go
ing, however, to tell you anything
about the Indians now-some other
time, perhaps-a slice of lemoni
Thank you-and sugar; that IL do
Now for my story:
AS | said before, had been knock
ing around a good deal in South
America, and shipped as doctor on an
old tub of trader leaving Rio ia
neiro. homeward bound for Bristol,
with full cargo and couple OF
cabin passengers.
The Good Hope was commanded
by Captain McFarlane, hard head
ell old Scotchman, John Williams,
first mate. and crew Of thirteen, all
told, made upof Englishmen, Dutch
men, Swedes, and couple of mig
gers. one of whom was the steward
mate. We sailed on the 18th of De
cember, a blazing hot day, with
scarcely a breath of wind To fill the
sails; but the captain was anxious
to get away, as Yellow Jack was in
port, and he had no mind TO keep
knocking his heels in quarantine any
longer than he could help. We had
however, hardly got clear of Raza
Island when breeze sprung up, an,
we were soon bowling along as fast
as the old ship could be made to steI
along. all studding sails set, and, sc
far a clean bill of health on board.
On the 21st, however, l was sitting
forward getting breath of air ant
smoking my pipe when Pete, thu
stewards mate, came up and sum
moned me aft to see one of our TIVE
cabin passengers, Mr.. William Grier
son, who had been very unwell du
ring the night, and began to b.
afraid that he was in for a touch o
the fever. l went aft and saw him
but there did not appear to be an.
very alarming symptoms just a
present, so prescribed some coolin:
medicine and left him.
He was, however, worse the mex
day, yet it was not case of yello'
fever. and there was something il
the symptoms that, l am not asham
ed to say. fairly baffied me. On th
oath he was so much worse that l be
gan to be seriously alarmed, and com
municated my fears to the captain.
at is not yellow fever, of that
am sure"
"What is it, then, Doctor?"
"Well, to tell the truth, l can
hardly say. Nothing that l can ad
minister seems to do him any goof
and he is evidently sinking rapidly.
"Humph?" said the captain, "mys
terious, to say the least of 1t. Doe
he know of his condition?"
The conversation was cut short b
the arrival OF Pete, who informed u
that Mr.. Grierson had been seize,
with sudden and alarming acces
of pain, and was apparently dying
adding that the patient wanted to Sc
me at once and alone. In obedienc
to the summons l went below, an
having shut the cabin door and &C
l ministered the necessary remedies
l asked the dying man (for there coul
be little doubt he was dying the re.
son for his wishing to see me.
81 wish to see you because / fe,
that am dying, and I can put off n
longer what | wish to say, if it is
, be said at all" responded the patieI
feebly.