Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-05-14

/ DOdlH IuNl DelOlG tAit NNSS0l WGul hO"hs
but when she did go under she swamped
one of the boats, and the Captain and
seven men were thrown into the water ald
drowned. The other boat, with the mate
in charge, managed TO keep afoat until
we came up with it.
"The mate of the wrecked vessel, Mr..
Bradley, was a gray haired, rough-look-
/ ing 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 myself, he told us that
the little by, who was still in the after
cabin with Captain Harris, ha1 been ship
wrecked twice before. The little fellow
was the son of sea Captain, and had
been going to sea with his father and
mother ever since he was born. About
four years before, w1,s.a tue ship on which
this sea going fa;i1ffg Were was nearing
the English Channel, heavy fog set in.
The secoad 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 happened to
think of something in the galley that she
wanted and she went forward for it.
Just then big steamer loomed up sud-
denly in the fog and without any warn
ing, seuck the snip aft and
smashed in the ctbin. 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 a 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 b oxen timber to liberal himself.
He took the little boy with him, and
going on deck found that the wreck was
I sinking The vessel had been deserted
by the others, who had probably climbed
on board the steamer. The wreck was
now nearly even with the water, and the
mate made little raft and launched it,
He took the boy and sprang on to the
raft, where he lashed 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
a small iron bark bound to Japan. The
balk, however, got out of her course,
and was driven ashore on small island,
not far from the Philippines. The island
was inhabited 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 ofwar, which landed
them at Bombay. Here the mate was
taken sick and sent to the hospital,
where he was visited by Mr.. Bradley The
latter, who had once been befriended by
the boys father, said the bark he was ON
was about to sail for New York. and he
undertook to deliver 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 clme by the boy Cap.
tain Harris came in from the after cabin
and said that the little fellow was sleep
ing nicely. Mr.. Bradley began to tell
the captain about how the boy was
wrecked the first time. The c aptain
rose up, pale and trembling, and asked
the nama of the ship. When Mr.. Brad
lev gave the name of the ship that was
run down and said that the boys father
was Captain Wilson, the skipper stag
ge.ed back, and then rushed into the
after cabin, as if he had gone mad. We
couldn'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
noticed that his eyes were red, as if he
lal been crying hard Thinks /: well,
We'll you are an old maid of Captain,
indee L.
1.-The next morning we were becamed.
Near by us lay big clipper ship, which
toward noon sent boat to US. The off
Ger in charge of the clippers boat said
that they were bound for New York, but
were short-handed, and told Mr.. Brad
ley 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
10 leave our }, he looked around for
the boy. We found the little fellow in
the cabin. whe e he was being petted by
Captain Hairs The Captain made Il
great outcry en- Mr. Bradley said that
the boy would have to go with him. Our
skipper begged hard for the youngster,
but Mr.. Bradley said he would have to
take him to his friends Mr.. Bradley
was about to lead the youngster out Of
the cabin, when Captain Harris fell on
his knees and put his arms around the
boy. Then he looked up to Nlr. Bradley
and said:
90 you must not take him. | am his
father!
- His father replied MI. Bradley.
What do you meant Why, | knew
Captain Wilson myself. He was at least
ten years Older than you, and was a large
man into the bargain Come let me have
the boyv
"No, no, cried Captain Harris,
pressing the little fellow still closer to
him Il may not be his father, but am
his
"Don't say you're his mother, sneered
Mr.. Bradley.
'''Yes, am his mothern was the re-
ply.
And with that Captain Harris pulled
aside the heavy black beard mentioned.
There was no doubt about it. The
Captain had woman's face, and not a
bad looking one either. Mr.. Bradley
started back in astonishment and cried
You don't mean to sly you are Cap
tain Wilson's widow Z
That's exactly what am, said our
skipper, rising to her feet and putting
her beard back into place. After my
husbands ship had been struck by the
steamer / was lifted ON board of the lat
ter by two of the men. My husband and
child were given up for lost, although
begged the people to return and search
the wreck for them. They would have
dove 4I,;a b,,t tho Staapor GOULD nnf Hp1