Smyrna times., 1877-06-06
The Adventurous Career Of a Dola-
ware Sailor.

VIC uHu CHc lOlIOWlnS alllcle going Lle
rounds of the press:
There was lately lost at sea, off ITatteras,
q coasting vessel, bound from New York
to port in Texas, the captain of which,
John Williams by name, had a somewhat
remarkable career. He was a native of
Sussex county, Delaware, and first saw |
tight about sixty years ago, near the banks |
of Indian river. Following the example Of
the male population of that region from
time immemorial, he early in life became a
fisherman; and spent the greater portion
of his working hours in his boat dredging |
for oysters or hauling the seine for fish.
OF Williams haps and mishaps at this
period Of his career we have no record, but
if they were at all in proportion to what
bcfel him in subsequent years they were
very many.
When he was about 20 years old he had
grown tired of his quiet fishing life and
hired as hand on a schooner trading with
New York. He made several trips, and
his first glimpse of the outside world was
river among the forest Of masts. The only
accident that happened to him while in
the service of the Indian river skipper was
his being knocked overheard one day in
New York harbor, but rope being thrown
him he was speedily on decl, again. His
first extended voyage was to the West
Indies, and one day, while in the tropics,
he, with two companions, went in to battle.
A school of sharks happened in the neigh
| borhood, and one Of Williams companions
was eaten while our hero himself lost a
part o" his foot. His escape from the jaws
of the fish was so narrow that he never
vcntured to bathc in that latitude again.
His next adventure was in South America.
While the vessel on which he sailed was in
port undergoing repairs Williams with two
companions got leave to make an excursion
inland. AS the three men were winding
their way slowly down mountain slope,
bestriding the mules used in such coun-
tries, Williams, being some distance in
advance, was startled by the sudden shying
Of his mule. At the same instant he heard
a horrible kissing sound, and on looking in
the direction whence the noise proceeded
was terror-stickcn to behold huge serpent
in the act Of pouncing upon him. lie in
stantly sprang from the saddle and
bounded up the path. a moment later
the poor mule uttered an almost human
cry of fright as the serpent sprang upon it
and bore it to the earth When Williams
came in sight of his companions they asked
him for an explanation of his strange con-
he had seen ghost. lie could only point
down the mountain where the serpent and
the mulo coiled together were rolling in
the thicket below. The sailors lost no time
in departing from the dangerous neigh
borhood, and made no more excursions
into the country.
On the home voyage the vessel encoun-
} tered a terrible storm and went to pieces.
Williams and colorcd man found them
selves clingng to a spar half dead They
both managed to bestride it, and by con-
stant watchfulness managed to avoid being
rolled under the waves hy the unsteady
craft. After they had been floating for
twenty hours the colorcd man complained
that his strength was fast leaving him, and
: feared that he could not hold out much
longer Williams endeavorcd to cheer him
| by saying as they were in the track oil
, southern-bound vessels they must surely
5 soon be seen and picked up. But exhaus
ton, thirst, and hunger proved too much
for the mans endurance, and on the
second day after the ship-wrcclI he sudden
, ly fell backward with sharp cry of des
f pair, and disappeared under the sea. Viii
b. liams continued to float for another hal
f day, when he was seen by passing shiI
/ and rescued, more dead than alive. The
r vessel proved to be an American bark fo
t the West Indies, thence to Spain, and OF
,. reaching the former islands, Williams
finding no vessel ready to sail for New
York, and being offered IL berth by tn,
k captain who rescued him, accepted. A
= the vessel lay in Spanish port q party o
the sailors went ashore on mischief bent
is Whilo strOlling along the streets the
o heard strains of music and entering
c house found a dance in progress. "IIalt
1t seas over," and consequently reckless, the
o entered into the fandango with great zest
y All went well for a time and the inmate
&c seemingly enjoyed the vivacity of the in
s. trudcrs. Presently Williams began payin
n very marked attention to a fair scnoritt
e who in turn seemed much charmed wit
r the American-too much so, indeed for tn
m peace of mind of her jealous cavalier, VIII
n in rage drew an ugly-looking knife fror
il its sheath, and making lungo at Wi
ot liams stabbed him in the side. He stay
ct gered and would have fallen had he nc
le been caught by his comrades, who, afte
ID demoliseing the furniture of the place an
of wounded several of the inmates, remove
lg their injured companion on board shil
e. Williams wound was found to be DANCE
ne ous one, and it was deemed inadvisable [
BY sail with him. He was accordingly place