Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1888-11-16

four days l began to feel very anxious
about tho safety of the ship. Tho plan
was, as overheard st, 10 take to the
boats, and it suddenly occurred to me
that they wou,drefuso to take me with
them. suppose l got this idea from
the men telling me that ! was no rood,
and that ought to be flung overheard,
( and other expressions intended to upset
me. You can judge how green was
by what followed. / was III McCoy's
watch, and on the night of the fourth
day, as he seemed to soften up bit
when giving Inc ON order, made bold
to say;
Mr.; Mccoy. when you get ready to
nave g the ship go down, you won't leave
"W-what" he gaspcd, as he stha
gcred back like one shot.
la. ten minutes he had it all out of mo,
md he stood before me pale.faced and
trembling. When lie had made sure
that had not said anything I'd DIV of
The crew, ho took me aft aud locked mo
up IN stateroom designed for the super
cargo. Next morning I was taken to
the cabin md questioned by the Can
tam and mate and returned to my prison.
ihey were not harsh with me- but on
the contrary, promised that should 30
IN the Captains own Boat, and that
need not work any moro. | was made
cabin boy, and was warned, that If
dropped one single word to any person
| should DO flung 10 the sharks ut once.
They could trust mo. Simpl6 Simon
that was, cafdd only to save myself
when the hour came. / could not real.
ize that the scuttling of ship was any
thing more than n sharp trick. For all
knew, it was practised every day i'll
the year.
One day when we had been out about
TWO weeks, MS near rs l can remember. |
was sent to help the second mate look
Tor something wanted from the lazhrettd.
Ills name wes Eldcrson, and lie was the
only one aboard who had friendly look.
He had spoken to me kindly two or
three times, and felt that he was n
TREND. We were scarcely alone when
he took from his pocket q box Of sulphur
matche, lishlinc and several hooks.
and large pocket knife. lie handed
them to me and said:
"Ben, take these and stow them away
in your pocket, and OH your life sty
nothing to any one! Be sure to keen
them about you"
lie turned from me ms if he did not
want to be questioned, and l pocketed
the articles without word | was in n
state of wonder, hcwcvcr, and nothing
was made pnin until the next day. At
10 o'clock in the forenoon the ship was
hove to about n mile from small island
a Don't ordered lowered and then ali
hands were called aft. When they Ind
assembled the Chaptain said:
"Alcn, ] discovered two days ago that
this boy. WAS II lepcr. lie has got it bad.
md is to be pitiel. My duty in tho
case Is plain. He must be marooncd.n
Aye, aye, sir!" choruscd the crew.
VI shall fit him out and set him ashore
here" he continued, "and yon are INV
witnesses that it is step necessary for
the safety of all"
There was ready assent, and before
fully understood what was goinp OH
was in tho bout with Mccoy and being
pulled toward the island by two saiors.
Even when | knew that was to be left
did not raise an objection. supposed
the island to be inhabited, perhaps there
was q city there, and was not sorry for
the change. We ran in so close that |
could wade ashore, and the mate handed
me several bundles which the men sup
posed contained food, clothing and con
Ticnces. AS soon rs l had everything
out OF the boat the three gave ME a curt
good-by and sat down on the sand and
watched them return. The boat was
hoisted up, the Albatross nude sail, and
l WINS mnrooncd upon an un:nhabited
island. This fact was not fully reali cd
until toward night aud was so simple
that 1T was several hours before | had
Inquired 1t out why had been set a,hore.
was in possession of the plot to scuttlc
the ship. and must be got rid of. The
captain had called me lcpcr to Justify
his action with the crew, and it was
planned that 1 should not live long
ashore. When came to undo the bun,
dies found them 10 be composed Of
empty bottles, oakum and bits of can
vass. There was not n particle Of food
NOT m article of clothing nothing
but rubbish. 1t was then realized the
kindne of the second mate. He must
have overheard them plotting to maroon
me, and he went rs far Us it was safe for
him to go.
When, at about noon, I rose up and
understood my position, | felt that tho
first thing to d. was 10 explore nv island
$3.50 "itN''SS va 'iiO year lo)-. AL lDat
time many of the islands in the Carib
bean Sea had not been chartcd or
named. was, rs aftcrward asccr.
taincd, on key or isle TO the north of
Trinidad, and up to twelve years ago it
was down on the charts as Little Coco"
It was about three mile, long by one
and half wide, and fairly wooded.
There wero various birds, troans of
monkeys, and numerous snakes, bit N,
wild animals to put one in fear. I had
been landed in the little bay on the wcs-
tern side of the island found spring
of water quarter of n mile inland, with
plcntyof wldfrui all around me aud
on the first night of my stay l slept OIL
the open beach. twas three DAYS be-
fore fully realized my position and saw
that must depend entirely upon myself.
When walked clear around the island
and across it, and decide | that my best
location was near where had
come ashore. Had gone to the east end
Of the island and raised signal should
have been taken oil in week. rs there
was chnnnel between that and the next
island north much used, but this had
no means of knOwinfr When T fo,,pd