The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-01-11
USED TO STOP A LEAK.
How Peter johnson Paid His Passage
Over tho Atlantic.

HOW Peter johnson Paid His Passage
Over tho Atlantic.
Old Peter johnson, q familiar 'land-
mark" of South street, and who, in the
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 q most remarkable tale Of
the troubles through which he had to
pass to become an American citizen
and to run away from his birthplace
in Sweden.
1t seems that Peter, whose name is
not Peter at all, but something in
which all the letters Of the alphabet
are combined, was born in little
hamlet in Sweden. Ever since he
Crusoc," at the age of 10, Peter had
he heard Of America. He asked how
far off this great land might be, and
his father replied that it was on the
other side of tho great Irish sea and
across tho Atlantic. The next day
Peter made up Il little bundle of neces-
saries and started off to find this glori-
Gus Eldorado. IIo reached Leis,
small fishing port on the coast Of Swe-
den.
Walking along the wharves he saw
bark of about 800 tons that was adj
vertiscd to start for New York on that
very day. lie had never heard of
New York, but as he clamberct over
the port rail of the little ship he blindly
hoped that it was somewhere near his
goal. On board he found all deserted.
BY accident Peter stumbled into the
hold of the ship. He sccreted himself
among q number of barrels, and, as he
was very tired, ho fell asleep. About
ten hours aftcrward he was awakened
by peculiar clanking noise. The
ship was rolling horribly. Her wooden
sides were being strained to the utmost
extent, and Peters heart stood still.
"Well, tho end of it was" said the
old man last evening to the waiter,
that went on deck. was a mighty
sick colloosc, l can tell you. But l
wasn't too sick to see that something
hor'blc had happened, Tho cap'n
stood near the wheel looking hope
lessly toward shore and didn't even
notice me. Tho sea was runnin' high.
IL heavy gale had caught us, to lee
ward and wo had sprung q leak. Our
of sight Of land The leak was big
one and our ship was film fast. All
the men were at work at tho pumps,
but the water was gainin' on 'cm and
they were losin' heart and hope.
When the cap'n saw mo he did didn't
fire off and cat tail me. No; he jest
caught mo by tho shoulder here and
he jest looked up to heaven thus way,
and he jest said, Thank Godr sortcr
happy like.
"Thcn he hurried me down into the
hold and then he said somcthin' to
one Of the men as was at tho pumps
The man went away, but he soon como
back an told the Cap that all was
right.
Then the Cap'n he took me down
into tho bow of tho old hulk. That's
whcr' she'd sprung a leak Their was
u hole bout the size of your body on
tho starboard side. Tho Cap'n, he and
the man then cotchcd mo up, an,
mates, would you believe it2 they just
stuck mo i'll that hole up to my arm
pits, they did, blast mo if they didn't.
1t was mighty uncomfortable to me,
but it stopped the water from ilowin'
TU1nptr out, an then the carpenter
fixed tho hole. For my part of the
work tho Cap'n gavo me free pass
age, 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 III explanation of his strange aa-
Tcnturc.-New York Evening Sun.