Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-10-05

8tlu TO Ieei very ANXIOUS ABOUT the |
safety of the ship. The plan was, as
/ overheard 1t, to take to the boats,
and it suddenly occurred to me that
they would refuse to take me with
them. / suppose 1 got thisidea from
the men telling me that ] was no
good, and that ought to be flung
overheard, and other expressions in
tended to upset me. You can Judge
how green / was by what followed.
L was IN McCOy's watch, and on the
night OF the fourth day, as heseemed
to soften up a bit when giving me an
order, 1 made bold to say; ''Ar. Nc
Coy, when you get ready to have the
ship go down, you won't leave me to
drown, viii your"
'W-what!'' he gasped as he stag
gCred back like one shot.
In ten minutes he had it all out of
me, and he stood before me pale-faced
and trembling. When he had made
sure that had not said anything to
any of the crew, he took me aft and
locked me up in a staterOOm designed
for the supercargO. Next morning
was taken to the cabin and question
ed by the Captain and mate and re-
turned to my prison. They were not
harsh with me; but, on the contrary,
promised that 1 should go in the
Captains own boat, and that l need
not work any more. 1 was made
cabin boy, and was warned that if
dropped one single word to any per-
son l should be flung to the sharks
at once. They could trust me. Sim
pie Simon that was, 1 cared only
to save myself when the hour came.
could not realize that the scuttIing
of ship was anything more than a
sharp trick. For all knew, it was
practced every day in the year.
One day when we had been out
about two weeks, as near as can re-
member. was sent to help the second
mate look fOrsOmething wanted from
the lazarette. His name was Elder
son, and he was the only one aboard
who had a friendly look. He had
| spoken to me kindly two or three
| times, and felt that he was a friend.
/ We were scarcely alone when he took
! from his pocket a box Of sulphur
| matches, a fishline and several hooks,
| and q large pocket knife. He handed
! them to me and said:
''Ben, take these and stow them
! away in your pocket, and on your
/ life say nothing to any one! Be sure
| to keep them about you"
He turned from me as if he did not
want to be questioned, and pOcketed
/ the articles without a word I was
in a state Of wonder, however, and
nothing was made plain until the
next day. At 10 o'clock in the fore
noon the ship was hove to about q
mile from q small island, d boat or,
dered lowered, and then all hands
were called aft. When they had as
sembled the CAPTAIN said:
<<AIen, I discovered two days ago
that this boy was a leper. He has
got it bad, and is to be pitied. My
duty in the case is plain. He must
be marc Oned."
Aye, aye, sir?" chorusad the
crew.
81 shall fit him out and set him
ashore" he continued, "and you arc
my witnesses that it is a step neces-
sary for the safety of all"
There was q ready assent, and be
fore fully understood what was 90
( ing on 1 was in the boat with Mccoy
and being pulled toward the island
by two sailors. Even when I knew
that was to be left [ did not raise
an objection. I supposed the island
to be inhabited, perhaps there was q
/ city there, and I was not sorry for
the change. We ran in SO close that
: l could wade ashore, and the mate
handed me several bundles which the
men supposed contained food cloth
ing, and cOnveniences. As soon as
/ had everything out of the boat the
three gave me a curt gOOd-by, and I
/ sat down on the sand and watched
! them return. The boat was hOisted
up, the AlbatrOss made sail, and I
! was marOOned upon an uninhabited
! island. This fact was not fully real
! lied until toward night, and I was so
! simple that it was several hours be-
fore had figured it out why I had
/ been set ashore. I was in
! possession of the plot to scuttIe
the ship, and 1 must be got rid Of
! The Captain had called me a leper to
| justify his action with the crew, and
! it was planned that should not live
/ long ashore. When I came to undo
/ the bundles I found them to be com
posed Of empty bottles, Oakum, and
/ bits Of canvas. There was not a par
( ticIe of fOOd-nOt an article of cloth
! ing-nOthing but rubbish. 1t was
then I realized the kindness of the
second mate. He must have over
heard them plotting to maroon me,
and he went as far as it was safe for
him to go.
When, at about noon, I rose up
| and understood my position, I felt
that the first thing to do was to ex-
plOre my island. I am writing of the
year 1852. At that time many Of
the islands In the Caribbean Sea
had not been chartered or named. I