Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-10
A SINGULAR ESCAPE.

There is a feeling among sailors that 1t IS
not we'll for brothers to sail together. 1t
is bad sign people say-a sign that one
or the other will die on the voyage. OF
course this is mere nonsense, but then,
aside from all superstition, we felt that,
should any misfortune h9ppen to either of
us while together, it would be dreadful
thing to the other; and so we thought it
best to keep apart.
During the next three years each of us
went number of voyages, and it happen
ed that we were never once at home to-
gether in all that time. Whenever ar
rived back, Tom would be, perhaps, In
CrOnstadt or Trieste; and whenever Tom
was at home | might be doubling the
Cape of Good Hope or unloading a cargo
of -four In Rio JaneriO.
Yet we had a great desire to meet, for
we were strongly attached to each other
as brothers generally are, and think even
more so. Mother would tell each of us
how the other was looking. and what he
had said and done while at home and this
was all knew of Tom, or that Tom knew
of me- She said that he had grown, as |
had and that now he was stout boy,
whom all the people he sailed with APP
peared to like. Poor mother! | suppose
she was proud of us both, though always
IN anxiety for US
Finally, at 10, I arrived home from the
Mediterranean with full determination
to see Tom once more before again setting
foot on a ships deck. He was in the West
Indies. and his vessel was expected back
In month or two Mother was greatly
pleased to think that both her boys were
Go be at home at the same time, after so
long a separation.
The brig to which he belonged was
called the Columbia, and at last she was
reported to be down the harbor. How
GLAD felt! and saw mother wipe away
tears Of Joy with the corner of her apron.
But when the vessel came up to the
wharf | could not see Tom anywhere about
the deck. / had a dreadful misgiying,
that something evil had happened; and my
fears were not without reason. Two of
her crew had been impressed on board a
British man-Of-war-and one of them was
Tom.
need not tell you what a house was
ours. 1t seemed as if death could hardly
have been worse than what had taken
place. 1t was a torture to us night and
day.
Nevertheless, after some weeks | pre-
pared for sea again. | must go, of course,
for it was in the way of my profession.
shipped, by preference, for the island of
Barbados: for although reason told me
how shadowy such hope must be, | could
not resist the feeling that there it might be
possible to learn something of Tom.
Our brig the Amelia, arrived out in due
time and from the moment we entered the
port | was all eyes and ears | knew that
Tom had been taken on board the Polo
tiers, seventy-fonr guns, but, although
there were several men-of war anchored In
cho |
among them.
But one day we saw a big ship coming
in. On, how she doomed up! And when
she came to an anchor her yards were
almost instantly black with men. Her
sails were all furled at one and the same
tine, and then she lay swinging at her
chain, although too far from us to dis
tinguish the faces of those on board.
Somehow | had the feeling that this
was Toms ship; and sure enough, upon
questioning a harbor boatman, we were
told that the vessel was the Poictiers.
1t was Sunday, so that we had our en-
sign flung, and | knew that this would at
tract Tom attention, provided he still re-
manned on board the ship.
| thought it likely, too, that he might
recognize the Amelia, as | knew that he
had once sailed on her himself He would
vessel belonging to his native town, yet all
the while be helpless to escape.
| almost wished that too. could be with
him ON board the English ship. 1t seem
ed to me that together we should be able
to concert some plan of escape as two heads
are better than one. But | little thought
how very soon my half wish was to be full
filed.
In q short time boat pulled off from
the seventy-four. pulling directly for our
vessel We well knew what that meant.
His majesty ship was In want OF men
and she would have them too!
The officer who came on board of us said
that he was In search of English sailors,
and was happy to perceive that our captain
had at least two such among his crew-in-
dicating as he spoke one of my shlpmateS
and myself,
''They are Americans, said the captain,
land have protection, rs all my men have
They can produce -
Never mind the producing, was the an
swer. Here, you fellows, get up YOU
donnage at once and step into that boat!
And his armed crew drew close about US,
as if to enforce the command.
Ny Shipmate was very pale, and | c0ulC
not wonder at it: but as for myself, | felt
that | was more than half willing to go
did so want to see Tom!
A ring of marines. with fixed bayonets
soon hustled us into the boat and in a few
minutes we were standing on the wide
sweeping deck of the seventy-four. What
a ship she was in comparison to the little
craft we had Just left. Beside the Amelia
she was a castle compared with cottage
| had Just time to observe this and to ge
out from under the noses of the officer anC
his marines when a stout young sailor
sprang forward and grasped my hand
''Oh, john" he cried, is it possible
that you have got here, too? I'm sorry
and glad both at once.
No matter what said in reply. l haC
found Tom, even there, on the deck o
that floating prison, l felt for momem
almost happy.
In less than a week the old Poictier
took us QUITO sea. We stood to the north
ward, and next day fell In with Frenel
privateer The mountains on the island o
Martinique were in sight at that time anC
how Tom and | wished for wings to fl,
therei
The seyenty-four crowded all sail IL
chase of the French ship, and it could sool
be seen that she was gaining upon her
Presently we could see that they wer
throwing overheard her guns and othe
heavy articles to Tighten the vessel. The.
cut adrift large boat, and apparently go
rid of everything they could spare.
After this it could be seen that she hel,