The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-27
A CASTAWAY'S STORY,

We were ON the run down from Yoka-
hama, Japan, to a port in Cochin China,
on . English tea brig called the Russell.
Our course lay to the south down the
Pacific to the island of Formosa, aud
then around into the China Sea. 1. was
the season for squalls, aud the first four
days out gave US plenty to do, although
We made good progress. One the even
ing of the fourth day, just as twilight
was coming one, sudden squall laid US
almost on our beam ends, and while in
that position we were swept by sea
which carried me overheard. l don't
suppose l was even missed for the next
quarter of an hour, and was no sooner
in the water than understood the brig
could do nothing for me. No craft
leaves a man to drown if there is the
slightest show to save him, but knew
the brig had her hands full with the
squall. was near done for before l got
= breath OF air, and I had not yet pulled
myself together when I flung out my
arm and touched q solid object. 1t
proved to be q cage containing about
twenty live fowls, which had fetched
away, and I wasn't over five minutes max
ing fast to it by means of my belt. By
the time I could look around the night
had come down and the brig was no
where to be seen. The squall lasted
about twenty minutes, and then passed
sway, to be followed by q steady breeze
during the entire night.
had no idea that the brig would re-
turn to look for me, and the best thing
could do was to make myself comfort
able. The water was warm. the night
balmy and starlight, and the sea was not
heavy enou h to annoy me much. Ihad
every hope of being picked up next day,
Rs vessels were numerous on that route,
and so, taken all in all. / was not in de-
spair. ! was driven to the west at a
steady pace up to about midnight, and
then aqucer thing happened. l was on
top the coop or cage, which was buoy
ant enough to foat me foot above the
surface 1t had no doubt been lashed to
The deck by rope or two, and portions
Of these ropes might have been trailing
underneath, or it may be that in going
overheard it entangled rope. At any
rate, at about midnight there was sud-
den commotion under and about me,
and then my craft started off at almost
railroad speed. have an idea that a
big shark came nosing around after me
and became entangled, but it might
have been some other large fish. What
ever it was, was fast and actngas tug,
and the way he towed that cage along
the surface was caution. He tried
diving, but he could not pull it under,
md seeming to be more frightened by
Mis- discovery he set off with increased
speed.
For at least three hours the shark, or
whatever it was, ran to the west at rate
Of speed which could not have been less
flush Of day was in the horizon at my
hack when there was shock and crash
aud I went end over end off my float
To tell the truth, I was asleep. I had
been lowed so steadily and rode so easily
that ] went to sleep without knowing
that my eyes had closed. l struck out
and began swimming, confused and
frightened by the shock, but had not
made hundred strokes before bcached
myself on the sand and saw that l was
ashore on an island. I sat down to wait
for Daylight, and when it came the
situation was plain. / was on thickly
wooded island, and 200 feet fom the
beach due east Of where stood was the
wreck Of my hencoop entang,ed in a
coral reef which now and then showed
its head above water. Between me and
the reef the water was ten feet deep and
quiet enough to foat canoe.
Ofthe southern coast of Japan there are
alot Of islands called the Leon. X hieon
group. All of them are inhabited now,
but ut that time only the two or three
larger ones were peopled. was only a
common sailor, but it did not take me
great while to figure out that / had
been cast ashore on one of this group.
Had started out to become second
Robinson Crusoe, I could not have
chosen better location to begin busi-
%nea The climate was perfect, the
island loaded with various wild fruits,
and fish were leaping up all around me.
Ny first move was to take off my wet
clothes and hang them up to dry, and
while they were drying I made break
fast from wild fruits. After getting into
my clothes aga'n I took an inventory
and found myself possessed of a sheath
knife, plug of to@acco, three or four
bnttons, and a few silver coins. Had
there been wreck to draw on, as in
Crusoc's case, I should have been more
cheerful. then set out to survey my
domain, and by noon 1 found that I was
on M island about two miles long and
ono mile across. 1t was regular grove,
with high and dry ground, and an
abundance of fruits and berries. In
that walk l found the wild tea plan t,
potatoes, maize, onions, cabbages, rice,
-t6rnips, mulberries, and bananas. There
were plenty of birds, but did not find
areptile or wild animal of any sort.
The island was paradise in almost
every sense, but long enough before
night was greatly troubled in my mind
as 10 how I was to get along A young
sailor with hearty appetite Graves some
thing more solid than wild fruits.
wanted fire, and had no means Of
procuring one. wanted company. bu
even the birds avoided me. l wondered
how l could make q signal, and wha
sort of a craft came that way, and how
tar to the west the other islands were
and before night was so homes:ck ano
broken up that I was ready to shed tears
/ crossed the island twice during th'