The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-02-06
Paddy Connen in the Feejee Islands.

The following curious story IS extract
ed from Wilkes narrative Of the United
States Exploring Expedition, during the
four years previous to 1912:
zone day while at the observatory, I was
greatly surprised at seeing one whom I took
10 be Feeiee-mau enter my tent, circum-
stance so inconsistent with the respect % our
prescribed limit, of which | have spoken
His color. however. struck me as lighter than
that Of any native / had yet sren. He was
short, wrinkled old man. but appeared to
possess great viCor and activity. lie had
beard that reached 10 his middle, and but
little hair, Of = reddish gray color. on his
head. He gave me no time for inquiry, bat
addressed me in broad Irish, with rich Nj
leSian br0gue. In few minutes he made
me acquainted with his story. which, by his
own account was as follows His name was
Paddy Conneil, but the natives called him
Berry he was born in the county OF Clare
IN Ireland he had run away from school
when he was a little fellow, and after wan
derine about as n vagaboud, was pressed into
the army in the first Irish rebellion. At the
time the French landed in Ireland, the regi-
ment to which he was attached marched at
. once against the enemy, and soon arrived on
the field of battle, where they were brought
to the charge The first thing he knew or
heard, the drums struck up a White Boys
tune, and the whole regiment went over and
Joined the French. with the exceptions OF
the officers, who had TO fiy. They were then
marched against the British. and were soon
. II
fight and Paddy found himself among the
slain. When be thought the battle was over,
and night came on, he crawled OF and reach
ed home. He was then taken mp and tried
for his life, but was acquitted be was, how
! ever remanded to prison, and busted himself
in effectinC the escape Of some of his cOtl-
rades. On this being discovered he was con-
fined in the Black Hole, and soon after sent
to Cork, to be put on board a convict ship
bound to New South Wales. When he ar
. rived there, his name was not found on the
/ books Of the prisoners: consequently he had
been transported by mistake, ana, was there
fore set at liberty He then worked about
for several years, and collected small sum
of money, but unfortunately fell into bad
company, got drunk. aud lost Il ali. just
about this time, Captain SartoTi, OF the ship
General Wellesley arrived al Sydney. Hav-
ing lost great part of lis crew by sickness
and deseTti0n, be desired 70 procure hands
for his ship. which was Stili az SaudalEUod
Bay, and obtained thirtv-fve mtn, one o!
;7iIuHi WAS I'addy Connell.
"At SaDdalWOOd Bay they quarreled with
4 the captain. Some of them shipped on board
the GlOTiani, and others, with Paddy, oeler
mined to remain on shore with the natives
. He added, that Captain Sartori was kind e
! him. and at parting had given Em pistol,
cutiass, and an old Od-for-uOthing musset
= these xitn his sea-chest. and few clothes
. were all that he possessed. lie had nov
lived forty years among these saTaSes- AT
ter hearing his whole story. / told aim i utd
not believe a word Of u; to which lie an
sWered that the main part Of it was true, bu
: he might have made SUuIO iiis-t-,1ks. a. =,
: had bear 50 much in the habit Of living {,
: the Feejeesauts, that lie hardly knew whel
7 be did tell the tTuth, adding hat lie had y
desire TO tell anything but the truth. Paid
turned out 10 1e very amusing fellow. aH
4 possessed an accurate kuowledg ge of tie Fee
70 iee character. Some ot the whites told M
: rffsss -0 "''a ''5"lS ..tll I,1'll iNue
. i,a eea.,,a,1 ~, 'eilght in showing now neariI
j1a v,-1s ,Irfns O., +iIar-, -, ing ana propfr
-. .,1 ,sy- - - @ - -, -'ttu
tion upon trifles He gave me q droll &C
: count Of bis daily pmpiCrments which Noui,
he Inappropriate 10 give here, and finished b-
telling me the only wish he had then was G
4 get for his little boy, on whom he dotted
small hatchet, and the only things be had 9
offer fen il were a few Old hens. On m1
asking him if be did not cultivate the grOunl
: he said 10 once no he found ID much easie
! 70 get his living hy telling the Feejeean
D stories, which he could always make goa.
S enough Tor them; these, and the care ui hi
} two little boys. and his hens ana his pics
when he had any, gave him ample e-.nl-s
, ment and plenty OF food