The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-11-02
Sslerf Story.
MY SHI2MATE, TON BURT.


A strange, wayward youth was my
shipmate, Tom Burt; brave and gen.
erous to a fault, keen and intelligent,
but full OF romance and boyish impul
SIS. loved him better than any one
else on board the Cashmere; for we
had been playmates in our schoolboy
days, had shipped together, and were
sworn chums.
We had made port to recruit for a
season ''on Japan" at the coral-girt
barbor of Kitti. under the lee of the
beautiful island of Ponapi, or Ascen
sion, the largest of the Caroline group,
a very paradise of "beach-combers,"
and runaway seamen. The island,
in respect of climate. natural scenery
and productions. seemed to us boys a
very Eden.
On the first liberty day given TO our
watch Tom and had planned a gun
ming excursion up the river to shoot
pigeons. / had borrowed the mates
fowling piece, and my chum had one
of his own. We had secured the ser
vices of a couple of native boys a.
guides. Leaving the rest of our ship
mates TO go ashore in the ships boat
and seek pleasure in their own way,
We pushed off early, in small canoe,
with our sporting gear in fine trde..
No language can describe the exhil
Grafton of our youthful spirits as we
dipped our light paddles in the clear,
sweet waters of the Ronkitti, and leis-
urely admired the beautiful scenery on
either hand.
At place where the stream mar
rowed to a mere rivulet, and the man
groves hung so low as to compel US to
stop in the canoe, as we pushed ashore.
Striking inland we wound beneath the
shade of the lofty trees, where the pig
eons. in vast numbers, twittered above
our heads.
In the srdor of the sport Tom and l
separated, each having his own guide.
We were generally within the sound of
gunshot, and for several hours contin-
ued our wanderipgs. now and then
coming together aud comparing notes,
At last we became so far separated
that no longer heard the crack of his
fowling piece, and | pursued the sport
on my own account, expecting, of
course, that we should rendezvous at
the canoe.
1t was long past the meridian when
decided to give it up, having secured
as much game as l cared to. We soon
found our canoe safe where We had
tied her up, but our companions had
not arrived. Feeling hungry. invited
my young savage to help HE dispose of
lunch. Instead of doing so, he eI
cused himself, and making signs that
he would soon return, he pushed in
under the mangroves and disappeared.
/ gave myself no uneasiness, but leis-
urely satisfied my hunger, and then,
lying down in the canoe. under the
cool shade. soon fell asleep.
The sun was quite low when | awoke,
to find myself alone. l shouted and
whistled; l even ran short distance
into the forest, but did not dare to go
far without guide. No answer vas
returned to my calls, and waited un-
til dark without seeing human being.
Then pushing the canoe afioat, took
my way alone down the river.
1t was ten o'clock at night when l
pa idled alongsi3e o. the ship, and
learned from another watch that Tom
Burt had not as We, been seen or heard
of. A party sent up the river the next
morning failed to find any trace OF
him. Nor was either of the boy guides
to be seen during the time we lay In
the port. Inquiries made of the chiefs
| elected nothing. was convinced tnat
Tom must have deserted and that some