The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-03-28
MY STOWAWAY.
The Actors Little Came" and
How Got Even With Him.

How I Got Even With Him.
One night towards eleven o'clock ]
stood at the stern of that fine Atlantic
steamship, the City of Venice, which
was blowing its way through the dark
ness towards America. leaned on
the rounded bulwark and enjoyed a
smoke as l gazed on the luminous trail
the wheel was making in the quiet sea.
Some one touched me on the shoulder,
saying, BEG pardon, sir,", and on
Strengthening up l saw in the dim light
a man whom at first took to be one OF
the steerage passengers. thought he
wanted to get past me, for the room
was rather restricted in the passage be-
tween the aft wheel house and the stern,
and moved aside. The man looked
hurriedly to one side and then the other
and approaching said in a. whisper,
"Tm starving, sir!"
"Why don't you go and get something
to eat then. Don't they give you plenty
forward?''
81 suppose they do, sir, but I'm a
stowaway. l got on at Liverpool.
What little took with me is gone and
for two days I've had nothing
.'Come with me. I'll take you to the
steward. he'll fix you all right"
20, no, no, no." he cried, trembling
with excitement. IF you speak to any
of the officers or crew I'm lost. / as
sure you, sir, I'm an honest man, am
indeed, sir. It's the old story-nothing
but starvation at home, so my only
chance seemed to be to get this way to
America. If I'm caught shall get
dreadful usage and will be taken back
and put in jail"
20, you're mistaken. The officers
are all courteous gentlemen"
Eyes, to you cabin passengers they
are. But to stowaway-that's a
different matter. If you can't help me,
sir, please don't inform on me-"
'.How can help you but by speaking
to the Captain or purser?"
''Get me morsel to eat"
"Where were you hid?"
Fright here, sir, in this place." and
he put his hand on the square deck
edifice beside us. This seemed to be a
sort of spare wheel-house, to be used
If anything went wrong with the one in
front. 1t had a couple of doors on each
side and there were windows all round
it. At present it was piled full of those
cane folding steamer chairs and other
odds and ends.
IL crawl in between the chairs and
the wall and get under that piece of
tarpaulin by the end here"
swell, you're sure of being caught,
for the first fine day all those chairs will
be taken out and the deck steward can t
miss you"
The man sighed as said this and said
the chances were much against him.
Then, starting up, he cried: Poverty
is the great crime. If l had stolen some
one else's money / would have been
able to take cabin passage instead Of"
IF you weren't caught"
"Well, if were caught what then?
would be well fed and taken care of. :"
30, they'd take care of YOU"
1.-The waste food in this great ship would
feed hundred hungry wretches like
me. Does my presence keep the steam
er back moment of time? No. Well,
who is harmed by my trying to better
myself in new world? No one. / am
begging for crust from the lavish
plenty all because am strugg ing to be
honest. 1t is only when l become a
thief that l am out of danger of starva-
tion-caught or free"
'There, there, now, don't speak so
loud or you'll have some one here. You
hang round and I'll bring you some
provender. What would You like to
havep Poached eggs on toast, some
turkey Or"
The wretch sank down at my feet as
] said this, and recognizing the cruelty
of it | hurried down into the saloon and
hunted up steward who had not yet
turned in:
Eyes sir, certainly. sir; beef or am
sirp''
Both, and a cup of coffee. please"
swell, sir, I'm afraid there's no
coffee, sir, but / could make you a pot
of tea in a moment, sir"
"All right, and bring them to my
room, pleasee"
"Yesser."
In very short time there was that
faint steward rap at the stateroom door
and most appetizing tray-load was
placed at my service.
When the waiter was safely gone /
hurried up the companion way with
much the air of man who is stealing
fowls, and found my stowaway just in
the position / had left him.
'Now pitch in," said. IN stand
guard forward here, and if you hear
me cough strike for cover. I'll explain
the tray matter if its found"
He simply said: THANK you, sir"
eAd ! went forward. When ! came