The Delta independent., 1889-01-01
An Old Snlt,s Yarn.

New York Evening Sun: Old Peter
johnson, q familiar Landmark" oi
South street, and who, in memory OF
| the Oldest dock hand in this city,
has never been known to stir away
from his seat on an old box at the
corner of South street and Coenties
slip, tells a most remarkable tale oi
the troubles through which he had to
pass to become an American citizen
and to run away from his birthplace
in Sweden, ,s,ss-s - ss::-,rSS ..S's--s,9,,
1t seems that Peter, whose name is
not Peter at all, and something in
which all the letters in the alphabet
are combined, was born in little
] hamlet in Sweden. Ever since heread
a translation of Robinson Crusoe"
at the age of 10 Peter had violent
passion for the sea-, One day he
heard ofAmerica. He asked how far
off this great land might be, and his
father replied that it was on the 9TH
er side of the Irish sea and across the
Atlantic. The next day Peter made
up little bundle of necessaries and
started off to find this glorious Ell
Dorado. He reached Eeis. n small
| fishing port on the coast Of Sweden.
Walking along the wharves he saw
bark of about 500 tons that was
advertised to start for New York on
that very day. He had never heard
of New York, but as he clambored
over the port rail of the little ship he
blindly hoped that it was somewhere
near his goal. On board hefound all
deserted. By accident Peter stumbled
into the hold OF the ship. He secret
ed himself among q number of bar
rels, and as he was very tired he fell
asleep. About ten hours afterward
he was awakened by peculiar clank-
ing noise. The ship was rolling hor-
ribly. He wooden sides were being
strained to the utmost extent, and
Peters heart stood still.
well, the end of it was" said the
old man last evening to the writer,
'that Invent on deck Twas Il mighty
sick colloose, can tell you. But l
wasn't too sick to see that some
thing horrible had happened. The
cap'n stood near the wheel looking
hopelessly toward shore, and didn't
even notice me. The sea was rum
min high A heavy gale had caught
us leeward and we had sprung leak.
Our ship was pretty fast and we
were out of sight of land. The leak
was big one and our ship was film
fast. All the men were at work at
the pumps, but the water was gainin'
on 'em and they were losin' heart
and hope. When the cap saw me he
didn't fire off and cat-tail me.
No; he just caught me by the shoul-
der here and he jest said, Thank
God!' sorter happy like.
Then he hurried me down into the
hold and then he said somethin' to
one of the men as was at the pumps.
The man went away, but he
soon come back n told the cap that
all was right.
"Then the cap'n took me down in
to the bow of the old hulk. That's
wher' she's sprung aleak. Their was
hole bout the size of your body on
the starboard side. The cap'n, he
and the man then cotched me up, an
mates, W ou]d you believe it? they
just stuck me in that hole up to my
armpits, they did, blast me if they
didn't! 1t was mighty uncomforta-
BILE to me, but it stopped the water
from fowin' in. After a while the
water was all pumped out, an then
the carpenter tixed'the hole. For my
part of the work the cap'n gave me
a free passage, and here am"
And then old Peter Johnson closed
his teeth on an old clay pipe, nor
would he open them again to say
one word in explanation to his
strange adventure.