The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-07

"hi ~ N"e'h SN"pCSs
There was lately lost at sea, off Hat
teras, q coasting vessel bound from New
York to a port in Texas, the Captain of
which, John Williams by name, had a
somewhat remarkable career. He was
native of Sussex County, Del, and
first saw light about sixty years ago,
near the banks of Indian River Fol
lowing the example of the male popula-
ton 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 a hand on a schooner
trading with New York He made sew
eral trips, and his first glimpse of the
outside world was obtained as the YES
sci 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, buta rope being thrown to him he
was speedily on deck again. His first eX
tended voyage was to the West Indies,
and one day while in the tropics he, with
/ two companions, went in to battle. 4
school of sharks happened in the neigh
| borhood, and one of Williams com
| panions was eaten, while our hero him
/ self lost 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,
I got leave to make an excursion inland.
AS the three men were vending their
way slowly down mountain slope, be-
striding the mules used in such countries,
Williams, being some distance in ad-
vance, was startled by the sudden shy
ing of his mule. At the same instant he
heard a horrible kissing sound, and on
looking in the direction whence the
noise proceeded was terrorstricken to be-
hold huge serpent in the act of pounc-
ing 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 bore
it to the earth. When Williams came
in sight of his companions they asked
for an explanation of his strange con-
hot ha ha
had seen ghost. He could only point
down the mountain, where the serpent
and the mule, coiled together, were rolling
in the thicket below. The sailors lost no
time in departing from the dangerous
neighborhood, and made no more ex-
cursions into the country.
On the voyage home the vessel en-
countered a terrible storm and went to
pieces. Williams and a colored man found
themselves clinging to spar half dead
They both managed to bestride it, and
by constant watchfulness managed 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. Will
Jams endeavored to cheer him by saw
ing that as they were in the track of
southern-bound vessels they must sure
ly soon be seen and picked up. But
exhaustion, thirst ana hunger proved too
much for the mans endurance, and on
the second day after the shipwreck he
suddenly fell backward with "A sharp cry
of despair, and disappeared under the
sea. Williams continued to float for an
other half day, when he was seen by a
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 returning to the
former islands Williams, finding no YES.
sci ready to sail for New York, and be-
ing offered Il berth by the Captain who
rescued him, accepted AS the vessel
lay in the Spanish port a party Of the
sailors went ashore on mischief bent.
While strolling along the streets they
heard strains of music, and entering
a house found q dance in progress.
Half-seas over" and consequently
reckless, they entered into the fandango
with great zest. All went well for a
Time anu lnc inmates seemingly euJoyeu
the vivacity of the intruders. Presently
Williams began paying very marked at
tention to fair senorita, who in turn
seemed very much charmed with the
American-too much so, indeed, for the
peace of mind of her jealous cavalier,
who in a rage drew an ugly-looking knife
from its 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 in
mates, removed their injured companion
on board ship. Williams wound was
found to be dangerous one, and it was
deemed advisable to sail without him.
! He was accordingly placed in hospital