The Osceola times., 1882-01-07


end at last, and on arriving at Rio de
Janeiro managed to slip off the vessel,
ana, owing to the kindness Of some ne
groes, remained hidden on fhore until
the Nelson sailed again. | staid for two
or three months with my black friends;
they lived on the outskirts of the city,
and while with them | employed my
self by making lariats, which ! sold on
the streets Of Rio. ! became quite ex-
pert in lasso making, aud sold number,
so soon had few dollars made. These
enabled me to purchase one or two
necessities. | next fell in with plant
er, who offered me position as assistant
overseer ON his plantation at Pernam-
buco, which | gladly accepted. | had
pleasant time for the year and a half
that followed, and became the best Of
friends with my master, but the wander
ing lever was strong in me. ! was now
well dressed, r perfect horsenlan, and
good shot, and had comfortable sup
plv of sinners, so determined to see a
little life in Mexico, my resolve being
somewhat hardened by the coldness OF
the planters aughter with whom ! was
deeply in love. ] obtained passage on
board a schooner 10 Aspinwall, and con
tinued the journey TO Panama ON a pack
mule, in company with several other
men whose destination was Tn same as
mine-M xico and silver.
"At Panama | shipped on another yes
sci for Mazaiian, and there joined a
second mule caravan, which eventually
brought me to Alomus, an ancient ruined
town old Mexico, reChristenel by the
Spaniards, where | purchased a small
share in silver mine, and set to work.
The gang with whom my lot was now
cast was made up of adventurers from
all over the world. The nights were
passed in the widest debauchery. and
frequently the whole of several DAYS
hard toll was lost in one stake at cards.
In addition, we had to be on the con
stant alert against the attacks of the
Apache Indians, with whom we were in
continuous war. One way and another,
| made good deal OF money, and | be
gan to have dreams of returning TO
England rich man, ! was now in my
Dist year, and as biz a man as | am now.
One day we heard that war had been
declared between the Southern and
Northern States of America, and that
fortunes were he ny realized by blockade
running. In company with three other
men, travelled night and day until |
arrived in Charleston, where purchased
a share in steamer and her cargo Of
cotton bales. We eluded the federal
cruisers and successfully crossed the
OCEAN to Liverpool and in day or two
| found | was master of el2,000 |
fastened to my parental home in De.
vonshire, but the place was shut up and
\ l.. "a I'll 4.
my father had been ruined at play at
Baden Baden, and that all the family
acres had been sold under the hammer.
1t had been supposed that | had been
drowned, the captain of the Nelson
having stated that fact in reply TO an
advertisement making inquiries as to my
whereabouts. Nobody seemed to know
what had become of my father. / wrote
to two or three near relatives, but the re
plies ! received were the reverse Of cor
dial. My few thousands could have
redeemed but little of the property tor
merly owned by my father, and besides
had no wish 10 remain in land where
felt worse than stranger. l again
Invested my fortune in steamer and set
sail once more for the land of the free |
In attempting to enter Charleston har.
Dor we wee captured by federal man |
of war. | had the pleasure of seeing my !
ship sunk by my captors, and shortly
after | was landed with my crew and
sent north az a prisoner of war ! man
aged to gain the good grales of one of
the sentries, and with his connivanCe |
escaped.
"My feelings in those days were ell
tirely with the southern cause; besides,
| attributed my loss of property TO the
North. so | determined to get to the
South ard enlist. After weary tramp
for two months, during which was sew.
eral times arrested for a spy, | managed
to get into the Confederate lines in Caro-
lima, and had no difficulty in finding a
Colonel of irregular cavalry willing TO
take me rs a trooper. passed through
many battles ofthe war without scratch
until the action ut Mansfield, Texas, was
fought. Gen. Banks commanded the
Union forces, and Kirby Smith was our
general. | commanded my troops in
this battle. and received the wound you
notice on my face. My horse was shot,
and | was slashed with a saber and
felled 10 the ground. 1t was some hours
before | recovered consciousness, and |
found that my wound had sped bleed
ing. | was very weak and exhausted,
and only hearty constitution like mine
could have existed after losing SO much
blood Lying 10y the side of me was a
man in the uniform Of a Federal officer,
who was groaning piteouly with pain
| turned toward him and found that
hayonet had pierced his stomach and
breast in several places. | raised his
face toward me-iudge of my horror aud
surprise in recognizing my father. /
whispered in his ear, and a faint gleam
of pleasure crossed his face as he heard
my voice. | crawled toward some of the
dead and stripped them OF their coats
which | placed around the dying form
of my father. On one body J. found
flask with brandy, with which moist
tened his lips In few sentences he
told me that he thought / had been
drowned that all his property had been
lost and that he was an officer on the
staff Of General Banks. | begged him
not to speak further. lie desistcd. but
motio1ed TO me 10 open the bre9st of
his coat, where | found Il bundle Of let
tiers. put them In my poke, and in
few minutes my father hreaihed his last
in my arms. looked in vain tor some
human aid. Around me were hundreds
of the dead and dying, but | was afraid
if ! LEFT my fathers body ! should not
be able to find it AGAIN. Night came on,
and my wound began to bleed afresh,
and | once more became unconscious.
Weeks passed away before | recovered
my reason, and then found my self in o
military hospital. had had brain
fever, but my wound had healed during
my insensible condition. ! was once
again prisoner of war, however, gnd
soon AS was well enough to travel was
sent with others 10 the North, and this
time found myself IN durance vile at