Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-06-27

Incidents i'm the Life Of a Sailor Re-
Gently Lost at Sea.

teras, coastlng vessel, bound from New
York to port in Texas, the Captain of
which, John Williams by name, had q
somewhat remarkable career He was
native of Sussex County, Delaware. and
first saw light about sixty years ago,
near the banks of Indian river. Follow
ing the example of the male population
of that region from time immemorial. he
early in life became 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 befell
him IN subsequent years they were very
many.
When he was about twenty years old
he had grown tired Of his quiet fishing
life and hired as hand on a schooner
trading to New York. He made sew
eral trips, and his first glimpse of the
outside world was obtained as the vessel
sailed up the East River among the
forest of masts. The only accident that
happened him while in the service of the
Indian River skipper was his being
knocked overheard one day in New York
harbor, but a rope being thrown him, he
was speedily on deck. His first extended
voyage was to the West Indias, and one
day while in the tropics he, with two
companions, went to battle. A school Of
sharks happened to be in the neighbor-
hood, and one Of Williams companions
was eaten, while our hero himself lost a
part of his foot. His escape from the
jaws of the fish was so narrow that he
never ventured to battle 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 a mountain slope, bestriding the
mules use in such countries, Williams
being some distance in advance, was
startled by the sudden shying of his
mule. At the same instant he heard 8
horrible, kissing sound, and on looking
in the direction whence the noise pro-
ceeded was terror-stricken to behold a
serpent in the act of bouncing upon
him. He instantly 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 hove it to the earth
When Williams came in sight of his
companions they asked for an explana-
ton OF his strong conduct, declaring that
he looked as if he had seen a ghost. He
could only point down the mountain
where the serpent and the mule coiled
together were rolling in the thicket be-
low. The sailors lost no time in depart
ing from the dangerous neighborhood,
and made no more excursions into the
country.
On the home voyage the vessel en-
countered terrible storm and went to
pieces. Williams and a colored man
found themselves clinging to a soar half
dead. They both managed to bestride
it, and by constant watchfulness man
aged to avoid being rolled under the
waves by their unsteady raft. After
they had been floating for twenty hours
the colored man complained that his
strength was fast leaving him, and feared
that he could not hold out much longer.
Williams endeavored to cheer him by
saying that as they were in the track of
southern-bound vessels they must surely
| 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 shipwreck he sud-
denly feel backward with sharp cry of
despair, and disappeared under the sea.
half day, when he was seen by passing
ship and rescued, more dead than alive.
The vessel proved to be an American
bark for the West Indies, thence to
Spain, and on reaching the former
islands, Williams, finding no vessel ready
to sail for New York, and being offered
berth by the captain who rescued him
accepted. AS the vessel lay in a Spanish
port a party of the sailors went ashore on
mischief bent. While strolling along
the streets they heard strains of music,
and entering house, found dance in
progress. Half-seas over" and conse-
quently reckless, they entered into the
fandango with great zest. All went
well for time and the inmates SEEM
ingly enjoyed the vivacity of
the intruders. Presently Williams
began paying very marked attention to
a fair senorita, who in turn seemed much
charmed with the American-too much
SO, indeed, for the peace of mind of her
jealous cavalier, who in rage drew an
ugly looking knife from it's sheath, and
making lunge at Williams, stabbed him
In the side. He staggered and would
have fallen had he not been caught by
his comrades, who, after demolishing the
furniture of the place and wounding
several of the inmates, removed their in
jued companion on board ship. Will
liams' wound was found to be a danger
Gus one, and it was deemed advisable to
sailout with him. He was accordingly
placed in hospital on shore and the
captain sailed home without him. In
few months, however, he recovered and
shipped for New York, at which port he
arrived without accident, after an alb
sence of several years. Finding a yes
sci from Indian River about to return he
embraced the opportunity of visiting his
early home. While there he was offered
the position of first mate on a ship en-
gagged in the southern trade, and accept
ed the place. On the second trip from