Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-21
NO. 29l.
miscellaneous.
fHE RENARKABLE EXPERIENCE OF An
ENGLISH NORLENAN'S GRANDSON.

Capt. John Niven of Thorntown. Ind,
is grandson of Sir Hugh Niven of Eng
land. but his elder brother got the patri-
mony, and John defiantly shipped before
the mast. After many years he rose 10 be
master of his vessel. the Ramsay and the
famous missionary Adonram Judson went
to India with him. Under his mnistra-
tionS Niven was converted and baptized in
Rangoon, Hindostan. Soon afterwarsi the
ship was struck by lightning and destroyed.
Niven made his escape TO England. where
in 1916 he was intrustcd with the ship
Earl Of Eglnton. built on the Earfs es-
tate, and sent by him on her first voyage
to the United States. He was beset by
terrible storm off Nantucket island, and
after beating about all day aud night in q
dense fog. went ashore at Tom Never's
head. Two boats containing four men
each, were lowered. The captain ordered
that they be not launched until they see
how bad the breakers were, but they dis
obeyed him and six OF the eight men were
lost The islanders had now arrived.
The breakers drowned their voices, but
they chalked on the tail-board of cart.
Stay aboard and then Filing of an
oar" The captain followed directions !;
the oar, with a line tied TO il, was east off
and caught with a fish drail; and by that
means a cable was rugged from the mast
head to the rocks, with a horses names
on it, in which the men slid safely ashore.
Captain Niven was the last man to leave
the wreck, when the names bl oke and he
was thrown into the sea. The islanders
at once formed line for holding hands
and sprang into the breakers after him,
thus bringing him to land. When he
heard that his six men were lost he was
temporarily deranged, and jumped again
into the boiling waters. Again they res
cued him and put him in custody. He
was badly bruised, and was long time
recovering. The ship was total loss.
He returned to Great Britain, where his
friends fitted him out. and he started on
whaling voyage in the Pacific.
There again his vessel went to pieces in
a simeon. and he returned disconsolate to
Nantucket. His sea faring reputation was
badly damaged. Indeed it Is probable
that the red letter of "bad luck" was set
opposite his name in the records of the
commercial mariue of England. and that
he could not have obtained another ship.
| At any rate, he resolved to face the sea
no more, but to get rs far from II as pos
sible in some quiet town in the middle of
the continent. So he started West on foot. !.
with 80 in his pocket. Walking the tow
path of the Erie canal, boatman hailed
him pleasantly with "IIello! You are too
good looking a mau 10 be- walking In the
towpath. Jump aboard The captain
jumped aboard, and made himself 30 use
ful in splicing ropes and putting things in
shape that he was gladly carried to Bufia-
10. There he got a job TO rig sloop for
the lake. and received for il enough to
take him to Cleveland. There he shov.
cled sand on the new railroad at 81 day,
was promoted to the charge Of the gang
at S1.25 day, was advanced in the win
ter to be schoolmaster. became farmer
by slow degrees, and is now president Of
the First National Bank in Thorntown,
Ind. He has handsome home known as
Chrome HILL" but he occasionally visits
Nantucket and lives over again his perils
and escapes. San Francisco Bulletin.