Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-10-30
ATAR'S TALE.


A Plucky Sailors Escape From the Bark
Alberta.
Lewiston (Me.) Journal.
He was q reminder OF the oue-hoD
shay. His tanned skin, calloused palms,
and closely knitted frame made him
look as though no part of him could
wear out, but he would collapse all ct
once when he should go. He was .
tough sailor, smuggler, diver, whom i
encountered down on the shore Of Passa-
maquoddy Bay, and he has had enough
adventures to make a skeleton of an or
binary man.
I'm March, 1857" said be, ~ shipped
on the bark Alberta, of Prospect, Ne,
Captain West. I was then eighteen
years old. We signed articles to go to
the West Indies and back. We went to
Cardenas and discharged. There We
found that the captain had chartered to
take sugar up the Mediterranean, and
proposed to make the crew go, although
we had not signed to do it. made up
my mind that I would not go. While
we were lying there the brig Annie D.
Torrey, not far from us, hoisted her COL
ors for q pilot. Theirs my chance
thought I, deciding to get ABOARD Of hsr
and 20 of with her. At O'Clock in the
morning, as we were hesving short, .
boat from the Alberta hailed the brig
and inquired if I was aboard. Tho
mate came on and found me in the fore
castle. He took me back to the bark,
but was not discouraged, and kept my
eyes open for the next chance.
The very next day I saw that q brig
called the Scotland" from Portland,
had hoisted her colors for . pilot. Al
midnight made another effort to e.
cape. Taking q pair Of oil pants I
stuffed my clothes into them and tied
them up with strings, 80 the water could
not get in. I hitched the pants to q
board to help tloat them. Then I got
down on the boystays and dropped into
the water as quickly as could, with my
board and oil pants. Iswam half mile
to the brig and caught hold Of her chain
cable. 1 crept up on that and got fairly
aboard with my clothes. When I threw
back into the water the piece Of board
to which my pants were hitchsd the
splash awake some of the mon on her. /
hid till they had Quoted down. In about
half an hour went down into the hatch
to stay. The brig was loaded with mo-
lassss, the steam from which affected ne
80 I could not stay there. I grew dizzy.
It seemed as though thousand humble
bees were buzzing in my head. Giving
q spring, I caught tina climb Of the up
per cask and got out. I crept along the
lazaretto and crept in there, where I lay
all the next day, which was Sunday. At
IL o'clock Sunday night I crawled
through bulkhead opening into the
same hole that went into first. crept
along over the cargo back to the hatch
where I went down, but I could not get
up. It seems lot Of sails had been
piled on the hatch.
II was desperate thirsty and hungry,
having had nothing to eat or drink for
over thirty hours. I finally managed to
DIV open the hatch end get out. I first
stole into the cooks galley and got some-
thing to eat. Then I went oft nd,
tapped a water cask. They heard me-
and began to hunt for me. I slipped
along and went under the t'gellant fsss-
castle, a little deck over the heel Of TIE
bowsprit. There was paint locker in
there, and I crawled into it and laid
down. At 4 O'Clock in the morning We
got under way, and I knew then was
all right. However, did not dare to
come out yet, 30 I staid in the locker
till sunset, when we came to anchor at
Stone Keys. Being awful hungry again
I cane out to get come supper: A sail
or saw me. I told him my story.
"'The cap'n will send you back il b
sees you,' said he. You stay hid until
We get out into the gull"
$50 did. When We had got outside,
I crawled out Of my hiding place and
went straight to the captain.
"'Halloop said he, where did you
come fromr
The bark Alberta said l."
allow did you get aboard?'
II told him how did it, and be said
he would not have done it for $4,000.
Said he, "A man could not swim that
distance once in fifty times without being
devoured by sharks
II knew that sharks infested the
waters. but did not care I was bound
to get away. The captain told me that
the mate Of my bark had been there
after me. but of course they reported 10
him that no such man was aboard. The
captain used me well and sst me- q
work. When We got into port the csp-
tain gave NE IS gold piece and, the
crew made up purse of S. moro for M.