New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-04-18

Five men and a little boy climbed up
from the boat to our deck, and we
gave them a warm welcome. The lit
tie boy couldn't have been a day over
eight years old. He was bright-look-
ing little fellow, with long curly hair.
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 were telling us
how they came to be in the open boat.
They belonged to barque which was
bound to New York, but had sprung
aleak and had foundered the day be-
fore. The crew left the vessel in two
boats just before the vessel went down,
but when she did go under she swamp.
ed one OF the boats, and the captain
and seven men were thrown into the
water and drowned. The other boat,
with the mate in charge, managed to
keep afloat until we came up with it.
s"The mate of the wrecked vessel,
Mr.. 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 sea captain, and had been going
to sea with his father and mother
ever since he was born. About four
years before, when the ship on which
this sea-going family were, was near
ing 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, were at
the dinner table. The captains wife
happened to think Of something in the
galley that she wanted, and she went
forwardf for it. Just then big steam
er doomed up suddenly in the fog, and,
without any warning, struck the ship
att and smashed in the cabin. 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 number
of times, but received no answer. He
could hear occasional whistles from
the steamer for about hall an hour.
Finally he made q struggle and sue
ceeded in tearing away enough broken
timber to liberate himself He took
the little boy with him, and going on
the deck found that the wreck was
sinking. The vessel had been desert
ed 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
dashed himself and the little fellow.
Soon afterward the wreck sunk. Next
morning it was clear, and the mate
and the boy were picked up by
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 careof the stranded
crew, but nearly three years elapsed
before any vessel came to the island.
They were finally taken off bya 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 befriended by the
boys father, said that 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 trembling
and asked thename ofthe ship When
Mr.. Bradley gave thename OF the ship
that was run down, and said that the
boys father was Captain Wilson, the
skipper staggered back and then rush
ed 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 I saw the captain
toeyilng ever the boy, who was fast
asleep. The captain looked up and [
noticed that his eyes were red, as if
he had been crying hard. Thinks /,
well, we'll, you are an old maid of a.
captain, indeed
'The next morning we were be-
Gained. Near by us lay big clipper
ship, which, toward noon, sent q boat
to us. The officer in charge of the
clippers boat said that they were
bound for New York, but were short
handed, and told Mr.. Bradley 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 his men being already to
leave our ship, he looked around for
the boy. We found the little fellow in
the cabin, where he was being petted
by Capt. Harris. The captain made
a great cutlery wnen Mr. bradley sala
that the boy would have to go with
him. Our skipper begged hard for the
youngster, but Mr.. Bradley said that
he would have to take him to his
friends. Mr.. Bradley was about to
lead the youngster out OF the cabin,
when Capt. Harris fell on his knees