Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-24


CRAFTY which, books. magazines, and in
fact literature OF all kinds on which |
could lay nv hands, were drawn upon.
Especially was | interested in descrip-
tons of travel and adventure. and my
mind became filed with images of scenes
in foreign lands. My parents, who were
in comfortable circumstances, with view
to directing my attention to something
more valuable in the way of study, sent
me to Heidelberg. intending that should
eventually adopt the profession of civil
engineer. am afraid that at this time my
studies were very much neglected, as my
spare time was largely devoted to the
reading of my favorite books. Finally
there grew up in me a desire to travel and
witness for myself some OF the wonders
OF which | had been reading. My
parents. however, bitterly opposed my
wishes in this respect, and one day, de
spairing Of their consent, at the age of Is
ran away from school and made the
best OF my way to Liverpool. Here
found large clipper ship which was
about to sail tor the East Indies. Being
a good English scholar and something OF
an accountant, | readily obtained
position as captains clerk.
We had been out tor some time when a
storm broke upon rs, swept Oft the deck
our captain and first officer and left the
second mate our commander. He at once
altered somewhat the course of the ship
and few days thereafter we put into the
harbor of Madeira for repairs. These
occupied perhaps six or seven weeks.
One evening while passing down dark
thorcughfare leading to the harbor | was
attracted by the screams of a woman, and
Fastening on saw a young lady in the
grasp of a couple of ruffians with another
behind them screaming. Having stout
stick in my hand | quickly struck down
one OF the fellows when the other ran
away. | found that the lady. who al
though badly frightened was not hurt, was
young English girl, and from what she
told me at the hotel to which | escorted
her, was with her father, who was an in
valid, stopping on the island. She said
that she and her maid had been doing
some triflng shopping. but had lost their
way and had wandered down the narrow
street or lane. where they were assaulted by
the ruffians who, as they supposed. wished
to rob her of some diamonds which she in
cautiously wore. During my six weeks
stay on the island our acquaintance ripened
into something more than friendship and
| cannot describe to you the pangs felt
when compelled to bid goodbye to the
one who had become my youthful idol
OF course we pledged our youthful vows
but what hope was there of the fruition
of our promises The voyage down the
African coast was monotonous in the ex-
treme, the weather getting gradually more
sultrv as we approached the tropics. met
with many adventures and at last got home
pretty well cured of my passion to travel.
| returned to school, and there became &C
quainted with Max Weimer, young man
OF about my own age and who was in the
same class with me.
Max was quiet. studious fellow. who
had the most peculiar ideas OF some alb
struse and forbidden subjects in the col
lege His book case contained a number
of black letter books of the fourteenth
century, which he delighted to translate
and read to me- especially large volume
on the black arts, in which were detailed
numerous receipts with old titles such as
THE Elixir of Life" and The Full Ac-
count of the Philosophers Stone" |
soon became absorbed in these studies,
and, in fact, thought of nothing else,
sleeping or waking. Finally, l became
very III. and in the delirium of my fever
would engage in the mysteries and COM
plcations of algebrac propositions. The
physician who was in attendance commu-
nicated my condition and its probable
cause to my parents, and advised them to
send me on long journey. to China if
possible, that my thoughts might be
| 4. tLa Il al,n ,,o1
in which they had wandered. Ac-
cordingly, | took French steamer
for Havre. this time as cabin passenger,
and started anew for that mysterious, I'M
known land of which | had so often
dreamed. On the long voyage to the
East Indies but one incident out OF tine
usual routine occurred. and that, strange
to say, was very near the scene of my
former shipwreck. The weather had be-
come rather warm, and was lying under
the awning stretched over the deck, list
| lessly dreaming of the lovely English girl.
when I noticed unusual excitement on the
part OF the lookout at the foretop Glad
of any diversion from thoughts which
were tlnged with the sadness of a hopeless
attachment. | sprang to my feet and
| looking to the windward saw large
steamer. the fore part of which. mast. rig
ging and hull. was enveloped in flames.
but the officers of our steamer were not
idle. and as the flames gradually licked
up decks and spars like a slow but sure
approaching death, | saw three OF our
boats. manned by gallant men. pulling
bravelv to the rescue. Inside of one half
hour the last living soul was removed
from the burning vessel twas not until
the next day that | met the rescued ones,
and you can imagine my feelings upon
recognizing in one OF the ladies my lovely
English girl. Ada, whom had met and
loved in Madeira. In long and sweet
conversation had with her learned that
her fathers health gradually became
worse and that he had died in Madeira.
leaving his orphaned daughter in only
moderate circumstances. She had re-
turned home and accepted the offer of a
home from her mothers sister, who was
the wife of Sir Hugh Grant, a general in
the Indian army. He was returning 70
his command on the Inflated ship from
six months leave of absence. accompa-
MED by his wife and niece, when the ire
occurred on the vessel. Accepting the
offer of the French captain he concluded
to continue his journey, as indeed he
could not well do otherwise. On those
happy days which followed! shall new
er forget them. The six weeks OF the