The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-06-19

small boat 10 live In 90 rough . sea, o.
making : virtue Of necseaity. tn
poor maddened fellow was abandoned
/ amid VOWS of vengencs against th'
captain and lears for our lost mess
lmate.
Forty y.eight hours after this we en-
tered the port of Hilo. 4 vast change
had come over the crew. The captain
knowing their peculiarities. had sup.
piled them with money aud copious
ltbatfons Of whisky 90, instead Of re.
porting him to the consul, as they had
declared they would, they were ready
to shoot his praisss all day long. In
this, however. did not agree; but
unable to bring the tyrant to justice
single handed, resolved to quit the
Niger.
did 90. After hiding in the woods
several days, / was caught aud brought
back to The ship. As my adventures
- fugitiyeaare not essential to the
unfolding Of my story, pass them
by, aud take up the thread Of my mar
ratfve. aa
s We set sail on Our return voyage.
Captain PHILIPPE was An altered man
He abstainsd from spirits he con-
troiled his temper, and this, with tho
addition Of . fne, steady breeze, made
our lives on board happy. Hut alas |
wel were doomed to . sad ending up
Of the voyage. Keeping too near the
land, and . sqaall laying hold on the
ship. We wers driven on . lee shore.
It was just after midnight when We
struck, and the darkness was terrible !;
ssd, leaping out Of my hammock,
ran on deck. I could see nothing save
the Wild waters racing over the deck.
l cried ont to my shipmates, but got
no answer. It was not possible to
reach the aster.part Of the vessel
whore the life belts were kept So
acting on the impulse Of the moment,
1 lsaped into the sea. Catching hold
Of . friendly rock was saved. Day
light came After wesry waiting. The
first thing saw was The dead body OF
Poor Captain Phillips, and not far
from him that of our Chinese cook.
The rest were saved.
We made our way to Portland,
where We were paid of. Thence 1
proceeded to San Francisco. had
often asked myself whence came those
strange voice. aud fearful words
which had 90 alarmed our captain and
put mott Of the crew in terror, and had |
20 opportunely on ono occasion saved |
mo from the vengeance Of the captain.
But II was beyond my power to ans
wer the inquiry; neither could the |
mate nor any Of the survivors throw
light thereon. Had We known what |
ventriloquism was. We might have had |
therein = solution OF the mystery, but |
had never heard sn adept in the art,
neither had any Of my shipmates; 9TH
srwise 1 judge sach fact would have |
been mentioned, aud the voices &C.
counted for on that ground. Poor
when with us, our most in
telligent shipmate, seemed to be as
much in the'dsrk - tho rest Of us, al
hough he was not in the least put out
II the way BY the occurrences.
Strolling along the streets of San
ono night, about year af-
er tho wreck, ready for any thing in
he line of amusement that might turn
Up. my eye caught . large poster
which announced the wonderful do
nes OF Professor Meredith, the un-
'ivalled and world-reno wned ventril-
,quist.'
This, thought I, shall be the source
# my svening's enjoyment. Turning
ny face IN the direction of tho Hall of
Science and Emporium OF Amuse-
nents,' was soon seated in . snug
'ornsr Of tho body of the building,
md was not long in being carried
way by the wonderful sayings and
loings Of the Professor. At last he
old us he would hold an imaginary
ON versation With ! peraon mn tha
,himnev. He did 40. When. In tina
midst OF . dialogue. the person mn thu
ios gave derfsive sHah, hah, hahP
/ WAS startled. I sprsne from my
eat. Surely, said /, half aloud,
those are the voice and tone and words
which more than once came from the
Of the Niger And while I