Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-07-20

10 the unfolding OF my story, i pass
them by and take up the thread Of my
narrative.
We set sail on our return voyage.
Capt James was an altered man. lie
abstsined from liquor. he controlled
his temper. and this. with the addition
Of fine steady breeze. made our lives
on board happy. But alas! we were
doomed to n sal ending Of the voyage
k"""irg ncat ;he land, and squat
lal ine hold OF the ship. we were drawn
on lee shore. Ii was just after mid
night when we struck. and the dark
ness was terrible. and leaping out OF
my hammock ran on deck. | could
see nothing save the wild waters racing
over the deck. l cried out to my sh ip-
mate but got no answer. 1t was not
possible TO reach the after part of the
vessel where the lifeboats were kept,
so, acting on the impulse of the mo-
ment. | !eaped into the sea- Catching
hold of friendly dock | was saved.
Daylight came after weary waiting
The first thing saw was the ghastly
corpse of poor Capt. James, and not
far from it that OF our Oh uesc COOK.
The rest were saved. We made our
way TO Portland. where we were pa q
off; thence / proceeded to San Fran
cisco.
had often asked myself whence
came those strange voices and fearful
words, which had so alarmed our cap
tam and put most of the crew in terror,
and had so opportunity saved me from
the captains vengeance. But il was
beyond nv power TO answer the in
quiry; neither could the mate or any Of
the survivors throne any light there
on. Had we known what ventrilo-
ism was. we might have had therein a
solution of the m stery, but | had
never heard of an adept in the art
neither had any Of my shpmates.
Poor Martyr. when with us our most
intelligent Shipmate. seemed to be rs
much in the dark as the rest of US.
although he was not the least put out
by the occurrence.
Strolling along the streets of San
Francisco one night, about "A year after
the wreck. ready for ANYTHING in the
way OF amusement that migth turn up
nv eve caught large poster which am
nounced the wonderful doings of Prof.
Smithsson, 1.-The unriyaled and world
renowned ventriloquist.
This, thought !. shall be the source
of my evenings amusement. Turning
my face in the direction Of the Hall
of Science and Emporium of Amuse-
ment," | was soon seated in snug
corner of the building and was not
long in being carried away by the won
derful sayings and doings of the pro-
fessor. At last he told us he would
hold an imaginary conversation with II
person MP the chimney. He did so.
When in the midst of Iii dialogue the
person in the flue gave derisiye "Iia!
ha. ha!' ! was startled. ! sprang to
my feet. Lord said | half aloud.
that j. the voice and tones and words
which more than once came from the
mainiop of the Err que" And while |
was staring at the professor with eyes
ready 10 leap from their sockets he
came TO the front of the stage TO pre-
form his part. Then. in spite of his
flowing beard and other decorations, |
saw in Prof. Smithsson the identical
Tom Martyr. who. over twelve months
before, we believed TO have leaped in a
i, 81 madness into the sea and was
drowned
"Mart}nH cried out in my exc te-
meut.
sit down." cried one Put him
out!' said others.
In the meantime had come TO ma
self and resumed nv seat but not be-
fore had received from the professor
sign of recognition. When the per-
Torrance was over my old shipmate-
for it was he-leckoned me 10 him and
taking me TO his private room he grasp
ed m, hand In All the fervency of ard
ent friendship.
How came you to be saved from
watery grave on that dreadful night
when YOU jumped into that raging
sea?" | asked impalienrlv
IL did not Jump ovcrboard.' said
Martyr. laughing. neither was | any
less sane than ! am at this moment.
The entire plan was trick of my own
invention to frighten the captain and
then get away from his clutches. My
madness was a sham and the man over
board simply a bundle of old toys. top
ped bv my old hat. The moment
pitched them over the rail | slipped
down nto the forepeak. where l lay
hid until the night after the ship enter
ed port, when stole out and went on
shore. | had taken care to lay up
plenty of junk and | managed to avoid
detection until the Enrique sailed. The
cries which YOU heard from the main
top from behind the long boat. in the
cabin. | need not explain"
NO" said !. 'all is made clear by
the doings of this night"
Exactly SO. said he. Then he con-
tinued: Il had performed as ven
triloquist in most large cities and towns
in Europe before YOU knew me; but b.
com ng somewhat restless in my habits.
and having squandered all my earnings.
in a fix of rcck 'essness | took to the
sea. and in the capacity of sailor
found nv way to Puget Sound. But
had not Ia me the stun OF which sailors
are made; so after my adventure on
board the Enrique went back to m
old profession, IN VIII ch j have done
so well. NJ Wild oats are all sown.
hope; and having learned wisdom by
bitter experience. | shall stick 10 that
line of lie for which have capacity