San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-09-17
THE STOWAWAY.

Reading IN Jne papers tuc OI'Si Jay VI -.
arrest of the mate of the RIO steamer III
nance for cruelty to three or four sto"aways
who made their appearance after the Nessei
was well on her voyage, has recalled NlVldIy
an adventure | had when boy of IA, and,
though was a very humble individual my
self, the particulars of that adventure stirred
the people of a great kingdom
know the sailor from topmaSt head to kel-
son, | have sailed in all sorts OF crafts, with
all sorts Of crews, and have served many
captains | know that sailors are rough and
uncouth, and that there is always DISPOSE
ton to find fault and to magnify evils. JACK
would have his growl, no matter how well
fed or how well used. On land there Is GER
tain antagOnism between employer and en-
ployed. On ship board this is intensified, but
that is because the employer has so much
more power over the employed. frankly
admit that | have never met half dozen
sailors, no matter what sort of captain they
were serving under, who were without com
plants, but it does not follow that all the
others complained without reason. The snip
may be comfortable and full handed, the
fare all right and the captain a good man,
but the mates can still make the craft mighty
uncomfortable for the men. venture to as
sert that there are not half dozen long VOy-
age sailing crafts leaving our shores III which
abuses calling for loud growing do not ex-
ist, and what is true of America is true OF all
other countries. The Dutch, Swedes, Rus-
slams and Lascars will stand over work, poor
grub and the abuse of officers, and as much
for this reason as any other the Yankee sail
or has been driven from the sea and his
place filled by these substitutes.
When l was II years old my mother died,
and my father decided to so to Australia.
was his only child, and he was by no means
burdened with money. He was master
plumber and he set out for Sydney under
contract. Three months after our arrival he
married again, and it was not six weeks be-
fore my stepmother pushed me into the
street. | was under sized and sickly, but
never gave her the slightest cause for even a
harsh word She simply took an aversion to
me- and somehow her hatred came to be re-
fiected in my father. He saw Inc thrown out
on the world with hardly protest, and two
DAYS later when he met me in the street he
gave me about eight shillings in money and
advised me to set up as bootblack and news
boy. I should probably have followed his
suggestions had l not on that same day
CHANGED to fall in with two or three lads who
were planning to stow themselves away
aboard of an English brig called the Charles
H. Churchill They were boys who had run
away from home or been thrown over like
myself, and the idea was that they could do
better in England Twas invited to join, and
when our plans had been laid there were four
of us of about the same age. We looked the
brig over, found that We could get aboard,
and made our arrangements.
One night, when the brig was nearly ready
for sea- / stole aboard, carrying with me
about two quarts of water and four pounds
of bread and meat. This was the share | was
to furnish. | was to be first aboard, slip
down the midship hatch, and the others We're
to follow at brief intervals. 4 fire on board
ship few hundred feet away collected the
crew of the brig aft, and got aboard with
out risk. The hold was nearly full Of bags,
barrels and boxes, and after waiting a few
minutes | made my way over these toward
the bow, and found very comfortable place
on a lot Of dry hides. remained awake and
alert for two hours, and then fell asleep
without realizing that l was bit sleepy. |,
was morning when l uwOkg, and as the sail
Ors were at work below | dared not move 81
call out | figured that my companions were
i'll hiding around me- and 80 rested easy
through the day, sleeping most Of tie the
At about SuuQOwn ! felt tho ship under G.o
ton, and an hour later the matches WI
closed and was in midnight darkness.
had matches and q stub Of candle, and. al; Il
striking light, l moved around and whist! .
and called to my companions | could maxi
my way over the freight pretty easily in an,
direction, and would not give up that Wa
alone until | had searched for full hour