Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-10-27

to Portland, where we We're paid OFF;
thence proceeded to San Francisco.
had often asked myself whence came
those strange voices and fearful words,
which had so alarmed our captain and
put most Of the crew in terror, and had
so OPPORTUNITY saved me from the cap
tain's vengeance. But it was beyond my
power to answer the inquiry; neither
could the mate nor any of the survivors
throw any light thereon. Had we known
what ventriloquism was we might have
had therein q solutisn of the mystery, hut
/ had never heard of an adept in the art,
neither had any of my shipmates. Poor
Martyr, when with us our most intelli-
gent shipmate, seemed to be as much in
the dark rs the rest of us, although he
was not in the least put out by the oc-
currence.
Strolling along the streets Of San Fran
cisco one night, about q year after the
wreck, ready for anything in the way Of
amusement that might turn up, my eye
caught large poster which announced
the wonderful doings of Professor Smiths
son, ''the unrivaled 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 Amusement"
was soon seated in snug corner of the
building and was not long in being car
Rod away by the wonderful sayings and
doings of the professor. At last he told
us he would hold an imaginary converse
ton with person up the chimney. lie
did So When in the midst of dialogue
the person in the flue gave a derisive
''Hal hal haln / was startled l sprang
to my feet. Lord, said half aloud,
''that is the voice and tones and words
which more than once came from the
maintop Of the Enrique" And while
was staring at the professor with eyes
ready to leap from their sockets he came
to the front of the stage to perform his
part. Then, in spite of his flowing beard
and other decorations, l saw in Professor
Smithsson the identical Tom Martyr,
who, over twelve months before, we be-
heved to have leaped in fit Of madness
into the sea and was drowned
"Martynl" cried out in my excite
ment.
''Sit DOWN. cried one. ''Put him
out i" said others.
In the meantime / had come to myself
and resumed my scat, but not before l
had received from the professor sign
Of recognition. When the performance
was over my old shipmate--for it was
he-beckoned me to him, and taking me
to his private office he grasped my hand
in all the fervency Of ardent friendship.
''How came you TO be saved from a
watery grave on that dreadful night
when you jumped into that raging seat"
I impatently asked.
81 did not jump overheard" said
Martyr, laughing; 'neither was / any
less sane than am mt this moment. The
entire plan was q trick Of my own inyen-
ton to brighten the captain and then get
away from his clutches. My madness
was sham and the man overheard
simply bundle of old toys, topped by
my old hat. The moment pitched them
over the rail | slipped down into the
forepeak, where ! lay hid until the night
after the ship entered 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 maintop, from behind the longboat,
In the cabin, need not explain.
''No," said |, "all is made clear by tho
doings Of this night"
Exactly so, said he. Then he con-
tinued: II had performed as q ventrilo-
| quist in most large cities and towns in
Europe before you knew me; but becom-
ing somewhat restless in my habits, and
| having squandered all my earnings. in a
| fit of recklessness / took TO the sea, and
| in the capacity of sailor found my way
to Puget sound. But | had not in me
the stuff of which sailors are made; 30
after my adventure ON board the En-
| rique / went back TO my old profession,
In which have done so well. My wild
oats are all sown, hope; and having
learned wisdom by bitter experience.
1 shall stick to that line of life for
which / have capacity-a better thing
than splicing old ropes or taking in Ltop-
sail reefs on blowing night"
81 should think so,'' | said, "but you
nearly killed the captain with fright,
while you caused us many heartache at
your supposed loss"
"For the latter l am very sorry" said
Martyr, 'but cannot say pitied tho
captain. His cruelty to me was dread
full. and he would probably have ended
by killing me, but for the fortunate gift
Of ventriloquism. AIS well that ends
well.
True, ~ replied, land rejoice that
III are alive to say so. You kept your
,cret, for neither Capt. James nor any
| 4 Al.
fom Martyr was the ghost that haunted
the Enrique Sidney Herbert in New
Orleans Picayune.