The Press., 1889-12-26
 THE STOWAWAY.

Reading in the papers the other day of the. arrest of the mate of the Rio steamer Fiji nance for cruelty to three or four StOwaways who made their appearance after the vessel was well on her voyage, has recalled vividly an adventure had when a boy of IA, and, though was very humble individual my self, the particulars of that adventure stirred the people of a great kingdom. 9s- 2 I know the sailor from topmast head to kel- son, I have sailed tn all sorts of crafts, with ali sorts of crews, and have served many captains know that sailors are rough and ]. uncouth, and that there is always disposi- tion 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 a cpr- tain antagonism between employer and em- !. ployed. On ship board this IS intensified, but that is because the employer has so much more power over the employed. frankly admit that I have never met half dozen sailors, no matter what sort of captain they : were serving under, who were without com plaints, but it does not follow that all the others complained without reason. The ship may be comfortable and full handed, the fare all right and the captain good man, but the mates can still make thecraft mighty uncomfortable for the men. venture to as- sert that there are not half a dozen long voy- age sailing crafts leaving our shores in 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 sians 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 was II years old my mother died, and my father decided to go 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 I never gave her the slightest cause for even a. harsh word. She simply took an aversion to me. and somehow her hatred came to besre-g fected in my father. He saw me thrown out on the world with hardly 8 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. should probably have followed his suggestions had not on that same day chanced to fall in with two or three lads who were planning to stow themselves away aboard of an English brig called the Charles Fl Churchill They were boys who had run away from home or been thrown over like myself, and the idea was that they confddo 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 madeour arrangenents.
 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 furnishs I was to be first aboard, slip down the midship hatch, and the others were to follow at brief intervals. A 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 5of bags, barrels and boxes, and after waiting q few minutes made my way over these toward E the bow, and found very coInfortablep place on lot of dry hides. remained awake and I alert for two hours, and then fell asleep without realizing that was bit sleepy. It was morning when awoke. and as the sail ors were at work below dared not move or call out. figured that my companions were in hiding around me, and so rested easy through the day, sleeping most of the time At about sundown felt the ship under mo- ton, and an hour later the matches were closed and was in midnight darkness I had matches and g. stub of candle and, after striking light, I moved around and whistled and called to my companions I could lke my way over the freight pretty, easily in any direction, and would not give up that was alone until had searched for full hour. Then I was positive that was alone; tho others had either backed out or had been baf1ed in their attempt to get aboard. was much upset at the discovery, and crawled back to my bed and cried myself to sleep | It had been agreed among us boys that we should keep secreted three days after sailing. None of us anticipated any trouble whenwe should make our presence known. had no way of computing time, as 1t was night all the time in the hold, but after my bread and water had been used up and was hungry and thirsty, decided that the three days were up. Crawling to the cover of theahatch knocked on it and shouted, and after little it was opened and was helped out. It was o'clock on the morning of the fourth day. The first word from the captain was curse, and his first act was to swing me about the
 deck by the hair. Then he called for rope
 and beat me until fainted away and while
 lying unconscious he and the first mate
 kicked me several times. When came to twas ordered forward among the men. They gave me kind words, satisfied my hunger and
 thirst and hoped that the worst was over. Il
 was not, however. At about noon wal called aft, and after the captain had interro
 gated me as to my identity and why had
 selected his vessel, he gave me another beat
 ing and turned me over to the mate with ths
 words:
 "Yon can have him now, and hope you'll j. kill him before the week is out. ?
 Aye, sir. leave that to me" was thereply
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