Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-05-08

OAeV -" AOhS OVhAy h0th
Capt. Harris took to him at once. He
carried the little fellow into the after
cabin and put him in his own berth,
and took him something to eat, while
the rescued men we're telling US how
they came to be in the open boat.
They belonged to e bark which was
bound to New York, but had sprung a
leak and had foundered the day before.
The crew left the vessel in two boats
just before the vessel went down, but
when she did go under she swamped
one Of the boats, and the captain and
eve men we're thrown into the water
and drowned. The other boat, with
the mate in charge. managed to keep
afloat until we came up with it.
1.-THE mate of the wrecked vessel,
r. 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 ship wrecked twice
before. The little fellow was the son
Of a sea captain, and had been going
to sea with his father and mother aver
since he was born. About four years
ago, when the ship upon which this
sea-going family were, was nearing
the English channel, a heavy fog set
in. The second mate was in charge Of
the deck, and the captain, with his
wife and boy, and the mate, we're at
the dinner table. The captains wife
happened to think Of something in the
gallery that she wanted and she went
forward for it. Just then a big steamer
doomed up suddenly in the fog, and
without any warning, struck the ship
and smashed in the cabin. The poor
captain was crushed to death, but the
mate and little boy were only i'm
prisoned ny the broken timbers. 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 timber to liber-
ate 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 9TH
ers, who had probably climbed on board
the steamer. The wreck was now
nearly even with the water, and the
mate made q 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 bark, however, got out
of her course and was driven ashore
on a small island, not far from the
Philippines. The island was inhabited
by friendly natives, who took are of
the stranded crew, but nearly three
years elapsed before any vessel came
to the island. They were finally taken
off by a man Of war, 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 be-
friended 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 came by the boy,
Captain Harris came in from the after
cabin and said that the little fellow
was sleeping nicely. Mr.. Bradley be-
gan to tell the captain about how the
boy was wrecked the first time. Then
the captain rose up, pale and tremb-
ling, 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 Captain Will
son, the skipper staggered back and
her rushed into the after cabin as il
he had gone mad. We couldn't make
out what was the matter with him. An
hour later l 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 yes were red. as il
he had been crying hard. Thinks 1,
We'll. well, you are m old maid cap
tain. indeed
The next morning we were be-
Gained. Near by us laid q big clipper
ship, which toward noon sent a boat
40 US. The officer in charge of the clip
per's boat said that they were bound
for New York, but were short handed,
and told Mr.. Bradley that he and the
other men were welcome to come on