Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-05-14

Wefp NV Hp'h "V'"S "'PIv "'"y w
them shared the fears Gi tho skipper
and | saw they would much rather
have braved his wrath than to be tor
mented as they were by tho "yoioes
Of the night" or the "day," Myself
and Chester were exceptions, What
his opinion was he would not say he
met all my questions by adrolt eva
sins, As for myself had no oSplana'
tlon to give,
Thus matters went on until we
were within two days sail OF the Is
land. All the while the poor captain
had been kept from tyranny by his
fears Of tho voice but now, cxasper'
ated by some fault in tho seamanship
on the part OF Chester, and beng the
worse for liquor, he hurled an iron pin
at him, which struck him on the head.
Clapping both hands thereon, with
A veil no rushed into the iorecastlc. II
was evident tho skipper expected to
hear the voice, for he looked nervous
" aloit but when all was silent in
that direction his courage returned,
and desired the second officer TO call
Chester back to the deck, Getting
no answer to his call, the mate went
below, where he fouod the poor fel
low dcliuous, Returning TO the deck
he reported him to be in dangerous
condition.
This filled the captain with fear.
Tie ordered that every attention should
be paid him, which was done. That
night it became necessary TO have all
hands on deck to reel, and while we
were on the yard an awful cry like
that of a maniac arose from the bow
of the vessel, and the next moment
several saw a h uman form on the rail
near the fore-switter, and then loud
splash was heard in the water under
our lee.
The captain and chiet officers who
were on deck rushed to the side. A
hat was seen for moment bobbing
on the crest OF wave the maniac
scream was repeated, when Captain
Phillips himself utlereda cry and
fell senseless 10 the deck. The mate
then hailed us that were Oh the top
sail ward "Come down from alott !
clear away the small boat y We
thought he was Is near beside himself
as was the captain; and so he was
for moment, fer when we gained the
deck, he countermanded the or.
der. Everything was awful beyond
expression the wind and water rag.
ing Wild it was impossible for a
small boat to live in so rough Sea, so
making a virtue Of necessity, the search
for the poor maddenea fellow was
abandoned, amid VOWS of vengeance
against the captain aud tears for our
los. .messmate.
Forty eight hours after this we en-
tered the port of Hilo. A vast change
had come over the crew. The cap
tain knowing their peculiarities, had
supplied them with money and coplous
libations of whiskey so instead of
reporting him to the Consul, as they
declared they would, they were ready
to shout his praise all day long. In
this however, l did not agree; but un-
able to bring the tyrant to justice single
handed, I resolved to quit the Nj
ger.
] did so. And after hiding in the
woods several days I was caught and
brought to the ship. As my adven-
lures are not essential to the unfolding
of my story, pass them by, and take
up the thread of my narrative.
We set sail on our return voyage.
Captain Phillips was changed man.
He abstained from spirit, he controlled
his temper, and this with the addition
of a fine breeze, made our lives on
board happy But, alas we were DOOM
ed to a sad ending up Of the voyage.
Keeping too near the land and squall
laying hold of the ship, we were driv.
en- on lee shore. 1t was just after
midnight when we struck, and the
darkness was terrible, and leaping out
of my hammock, I ran on deck. l
could see nothing save the wild waters
racing over the deck. | cried out to
my shipmates. but got no answer.
1t was not possible to reach the after
part of the vessel where the life belts
were kept, so acting on the impulse
OF the moment, I leaped into the sea.
Catching hold ola friendly rock, l
was saved. Daylight came after a
weary waiting The first thing l saw
was the dead body of poor Captain