Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-08-26
Gales ar1b Sketfbes.
From the Brooklyn Eagle.
CAPTIVITY.
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE IN ABYssINIA-
FoRIY-FIvE DAYS A PRISONER OF TIE
CHRISTIAN KING JOHN.
CONTINUED from yesterday.

fN<Dsssf~N~N
Almost choking with thirst. driven to
the very last limits Of strength. we
crawled upward. often on our hands and
knees, until at last. having nearly sur
mounted long, precipitous portion OF
the route, / sank faint and breathless upon
the ground with a strangling sensation in
my throat. wildly FACILITATING heart and
feeling Of acute pain in my breast.
knew that my lungs were falling me-
motioned tn my guard for a bottle Of cog
nae which had formerly belonged to my
stores, and which knew to be in nv pos
session. He gave me 2 couple OF swal
lows and took the lions share himself.
was, however. allowed to lie quietly upon
the ground for perhaps half an hour Be
tween the effects OF the cognac and the
rest, strength revived, and crawled
slowly up on the mountain.
On the thirty third day Of our captivity
we were delivered over TO the guards Of
King John Of Abvssinia. We were not
taken into the presence Of the king. We
had simply changed our keepers for the
worse. rather than the better. We re-
NAMED at the camp ground till next morn
ing. Toward night we were given an al
lowance Of tolerable good bread. In the
from each other by order Of the officer
commanding the guard. noticed look
Of surprise upon the face Of the soldier
who unlinkcd the chain, at the ease with
which by means Of our assistance. it was
done, but nothing was said. He evident
ly concluded that we had been fivoritcs
with his predecessors. The other cap,ive-
were not unclaimed. We had suffered
much during the day from hunger. but
now. after having received good supply
of bOosa or Abyssian beer at the hands Of
the guard both hunger and thirst were
appeased. as it proved. for the last time
during our journey back TO Adowa. The
king passed US on horseback about the
middle Of the forenoon. He noticed but
deigned no reply TO our sanitation. About
IL O'Clock we were halted on the lime
stone plateau. The king had established
his camp. We were broiled in the hot,
monday sun. About quarter Of
an allowance of sour bread was
given us at nightfall. with perhaps
half pint Of water each. We slept
in the open air II was with difficulty
could rest. Suffering from hunger, thirst.
vermin, sores. cold and severe attacks of
cramps in the legs. which seized me i'm
mediately upon lying down. it was. in
deed, no wonder that [ got no longer any
refreshing sleep
On the morning of the 10th of March we
were only about three hours journey dis
tant from Adowa. | took the road and
staggered on mt will with the help of
stick which an Abyssinian soldier, who
seemed to have appreciated my almost
helpless condition. had kindly given me.
| could no longer keep pace with the
others. An Abyssinian soldier appointed
to guard me was ut times near by. at
times he watched from aiar. | gave him
no heed, but rested and tottered on rs |
pleased Now and then camp girl
came along and. touched with q feeling of
pity. voluntarily gave me drink OF pep
pered water from her gourd. At one mo-
ment an Abvssnian soldier came up
Scored with the lines of halt of q century.
all marks of youth had passed away He
stopped. looked ut me. uttered no word.
made no sign, but | saw by the changing
expression OF his countenance that some
thing OF good was struggling in his heart
for the mastery At last he put his hand
slowly into his wallet. searched around
Tor moment. drew therefrom n piece of
sweetened bread about the size of Al
English water biscuit. looked Mt il an in
slant, thrust it quickly into my hand. nod
ded and went his way. would not have
exchanged that morsel of bread just then
for piece of gold its equivalent in size.
doubt not that the man himself was hun
CRY. but he had met one on whose features
starvation marks were too plainly visible
NY neither garments. torn TO shreds
were flying about my bare limbs. scratched
and bleeding from brambcs and thorns
still clung to the remnant of nv shoes.
but both my feet were greatly swollen and
worn to the living flesh. My body was
nothing but mass of scabs and raw
bleeding sores from neck to heels. Hair.
mustache. beard and tattered clothes were
literally alive with vermin. Ii was thus
that crept on little after midday, n
gaunt. starving. feeble shadow of my
former self Innocent of all wrong doing
against King John or his people. either in
thought. word or deed nevertheless. to
such plight as this had been brought
rs the effect of treatment received at the
hands of Christian officers of this very
Christian king.
Arriving at Adowa had how the salts
faction OF feeling that | could rest. and
that perhaps might be permitted. under
guard, to seek out some of the Europeans
In the town. at whose hands knew that |
should receive all the assistance possible
for them to give. But must starve on
for a few days longer. Although in the
midst of plenty we were still ted only once
day. and in proportion to our needs on
an almost microscopic quantity of black
bread and water. waited until the morn
ing Of the 18th of March for the king 10
take the initiative as regarded my relief
Il seemed. however. that he had no inten-
ton whatever of giving me reprieve
from suffering and starvation. Therefore,
on the morning mentioned made an APP
plication to the officer OF the guard for
permission to visit the town under the eve
Of his soldiers. and see il could not find
some Europeans from whom | might OBJ |
tain assistance. He replied that he would |
ask the king and let me know the result |
ON his return at night. At nighttall the |
officer informed me that he had made |
known my request to his majesty. who had |
replied that he would permit it. but that |
must have my irons taken of. as he did |
not wish me to appear before the Europe
ans in town in chains.
The next day. with the first light. hav-
ing received neither bread nor water. |. |
together with the captive soldiers. was |
summoned ont upou the HIGHWAY LEADING /