Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-05-05

leak and had foundered the day be-
fore. The crew left the vessel in two
boats lust before the vessel went
down, but when she did go under she
swamped one of the boats, and the
captain and seven men were thrown
into the water and drowned. The
other boat, with the mate in charge,
managed to keep afoat until we came
up with it.
t'The mate of the wrecked vessel,
Mr.. Bradley, was a gray-haired, rough
looking man, but he seemed to have a
kind heart. Early in the evening,
when he was sitting in the forward
cabin with the second mate and my
self, he told us that the little boy, who
was still in the after cabin with Capt.
Harris, had been shipwrecked twice
before. The little fellow was the son
of a sea captain, and had been going
to sea with his father and mother ever
since he was born. About four years
before, when the ship on which this
sea-going family were, was nearing the
English Channel, heavy fog set in.
The second mate was in charge of the
deck, and the captain, with his wife
and boy and the mate, were at the
dinner table. The captains wife hap
pened to think of something in the gal
lery that she wanted and she went
forward for it. Just then a bigsteam-
er doomed up suddenly in the fog, aud
without any warning, struck the ship
aft and smashed in the cabin. The
poor captain was crushed to death,
but the mate and the little boy were
only imprisoned by the broken tim
bers The mate cried out number
of times, but received no answer. He
could hear occasional whistles from
the steamer for about half an hour.
Finally he made a struggle and
succeeded in tearing away enough
broken timber to liberate himself.
He took the little boy with
him, and going on deck found that the
wreck was sinking. The vessel had
been deserted by the others, who had
probably climbed Oh board the steam
er. The wreck was now nearly even
with the water, and the mate made
little raft and launched it. He took
the boy and sprang onto the raft,
where he dashed himself and the little
fellow. Soon afterward the wreck
sank. Next morning it was clear,
and the mate and the boy were picked
up by q small iron bark bound for
Japan. The bark, however, got out
of her course, and was driven ashore
on q small island, not far from the
Philippines. The island was inhabit
ed by friendly natives, who took care
of the stranded crew, but nearly three
years elapsed before any vessel came
to the island. They were finally taken
off by man-of-war, which landed
them at Bombay. Herethe mate was
taken sick and sent to the hospital,
where he was visited by Mr.. Bradley.
The latter, who had once been be-
friended by the boys father, said the
bark he was on was about to sail for
New York, and he undertook to de-
liver the little fellow to his friends.
But now the poor boy was again on
his way to the other side of the world.
''While Mr.. Bradley was finishing his
account of how he came by the boy
Capt. Harris came in from the after
cabin and said that the little fellow
was sleeping nicely. Mr.. Bradley be-
gan telling the captain about how the
boy WAS wrecked the first time. Then
the captain rose up, pale and trem.
bling, and asked the name of the ship.
When Mr.. Bradley gave the name of
the ship that was run down and said
that the boys father was Capt. Will
son, the skipper staggered back, and
then ran into the after cabin, as if he
had gone mad. Wecouldn't make out |
what was the matter with him. An
hour later went into the after cabin
for something, and saw the captain
leaning over the boy, who was fast |
asleep. The captain looked up, and I |
noticed that his eyes were red, as if
be had been crying hard. Thinks /,
We'll, we'll, you are an old maid of a
captain, indeed
''The next morning we were be-
Gained. Near by us lay a big clipper
ship, which toward noon sent a boat |
to us. The officer in charge OF the |
clippers boat said that they were
bound for New York, but were short
and told Mr.. Bradley that |
he and the other men from the lost |
bark were welcome to come on board |
and work their passage to the United |
States. Mr.. Bradley jumped at the
chance, and the men being all ready |
to leave our ship, he looked around |
tor the boy. We found the little fell
low in the cabin, where he was being
petted by Capt. Harris. The captain
made a great outcry when Mr. Bradley
said that the boy would have to 60 |
with him. Our skipper begged hard
for the youngster, but Mr.. Bradley |
said that he would have to take him
to his friends. Mr.. Bradley was about
to lead the youngster out of the cabin,
when Capt. Harris fell on his knees
and put his arms around the boy. |
Then he looked up to Mr.. Bradley and |
said:
"'You must not take him. I am his
fatherp
"'His father!' replied Mr.. Bradley.
What do you mean? Why, l knew |
Capt. Wilson myself. He was at least |
ten years older than you, and was a
large man into the bargain. Come,
let me have the boy'
"'No, no." cried Capt. Harris, press
ing the little fellow closer to him. I
may not be his father, but I am his