The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-17
A Thr,II.ng Experience. .
THE MARROW ESCAPE or A Roy WHO roryD
HIMSELF AFL0Ar WITH LUyATfc.

/
ffrom The Toropio ilobe.I
| On Saturday morning about @ O'Clock the
Captain OF the steamer Empress OF India, in
coming up the lake, and when about fifteen
miles east Of Toronto, sighted small boat
to the souihward. In the boat were dis.
covered two persons, who were waving
their coats In the air and shouting at the top
Of their voices, evidently with the object OF
attracting the attention OF those on board
the steamer. The Captain Mt once called the
mate, and beaded the steamer for The craft +,
out OF which they quickly gol the occu-
pants, whom they took on board the
steamer. They then bore away for this
city, whittier they were bound, towing the
small boat astern.
The rescued ones proved TO be Captain
Maurice Fitzgerald, OF the schooner Me.cie
L. Hall, and a lad about seventeen years Of
age named william Clarkson, one OF her
crew; and the boat was the yawl OF that YES
SELL They both seemed quite exhausted and
completely drcncbed with water, the boat
being almost hulf-hlled when they were
picked up. Captain Fitzgerald and his CON-
panon were as quickly as possible pro-
yided with refreshments, OF which they
psrtook in manner that betokeDed long
fast. After the cravings Of hunger had
been satisfied the Captain commenced u wild
and incoherept story.
lie averred that he bad been chased
while in the yswl by pirates, who kept up
steady fire on him with needle-guDs.
He had seen light on the lake, and heard
voices calling: "Salor, come herel }"
"There |, one OF the pirate boats now !"
he said to the mate, Mr. Ackerman, who,
however, failed to see the object pointed
out by the strange captain, who, more
over. stated that while on his own schooner
his crew had conspired 10 rob him OF Sl5O,
and to murder him aiterward. Some OF
them were in favor OF cutting him up and
packing him in barrel, while Others, less
ceremonious, were for simply throwing
him overheard. Bll these statements he
called upon the boy to corroborate, cau-
tIoning him TO tell the truth. even II he 1.-THE
boy) should impicate himself. and even II
it would Grub him pretty bard"
The boy, who was nearly scared TO dealh
when picked up, told an entirely different
tale, OF which the following Is the SUD-
stance: The Mercie E. Hall left Oswego on
Tuesday last. "fying light" bound Tor
this port, and the variable and adverse
winds she met so retarded her progress up
the lake that 1t took her until Friday eve
ming to get within the distance OF some
fifty miles OF her destination. The
Captain, the boy went on 10 say,
had been drinking very heavily for
about TWO weeks. and had left Oswego
with scarcely any provisions, so that tney
subssted, on the passage, almost en-
tirely on potatoes. AT o'clock on
Friday evening the Captain came on deck
went forward, picked up "norman " IA
large iron bolt to insert 10 the windlass 10
keep the cable In lis place thereon when
they "let go anchor y, and, walking ait,
also seized an axe. lie then went aloft the
main rigging TO the crosstrees, where DC
kept waving the axe and the norman N
either hand, yowing that he would Kill any
one who would attempt to come near him
he also threatened 10 cut away the mair
balvards end lie. the sail down by the run.
After some considerable time, the oo}
narrates, the captain came down on deck
aud about twenty minutes to on SATURDAY
morning ordered him into the yawl. III,
then commenced to cut the tackles whicf
suspepded the boat to the davits. The mate
tried TO prevent him, but got knocked dowr
with the norman; so the man succeeded u
getting the boat into the water, not, how
ever, without partly filing the boat VIII
water. At first the captain tied him th
bowl In the bow OF the boat, but after TIM
released him, saying, Ion, tbls IL you Is u
WiIlieW The boy at once went ait ana seIZe'
the only oar they had and skulled Tor dea
life fer the north shore, In the hope that n
would be picked up by some vessel. In
moor lad was nearly exhausted when res
cued and could hardly have held out muc
Longer. Under the circumstances be be
hayed very cooly, for he was in fear ever
moment that the Captain would brain hin
with the axe or throw him overheard. Cap
tain Fitzgerald was arrested. as appears II
Saturdays Police Court, and was remandet
until to-day.