Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-06-14
A SINGULAR ESCAPE.

~ III -NNi y Is.th isA'N-ti hs
NV twin brother Tom and myself took 10
the sea at about the same time in lsl2, al
though we did not sail in the same vessel
There is a feeling among sailors that it is not
well 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 su-
perstition. we felt that, should any misfort
une happen to either of US while together
it would be a dreadful thing to the other;
and so we thought it best to keep apart.
During the next three years each of US
went a number of voyages, and it happened
that we were never once at home together in
all that time. Whenever | arrived back,
Tom would be, perhaps in Cronstadt or
Trieste, and whenever Tom was at home
night be doubling the Cape of Good Hope
,r unloading cargo Of flour in Rio Janeiro
Yet we had great desire To meet, for we
were as 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 homeland this was all |
knew of Tom. or that Tom knew Of me She
said that he had grown, as | had, and that
he was now a stout boy, whom all the people
he sailed with appeared to like. Poor motherl
suppose she was proud of us both, though
always in anxiety for us,
Finally, at nineteen, | arrived home from
the Mediterranean with a 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 i'll a
month or two. Mother was greatly pleased
to think that both her boys were TO be at
home at the same time, after so long a sepa-
ration.
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 any W here about the deck.
had dreadful inisgivins that something
evil had happened, and my fears were not
without reason. Two of her crew had been
impressed on board British man-of-war-
and one of them was Tom.
need not tell you what house was ours.
1t seemed as If death itself could hardly have
been worse than what had taken place 1t
was torture to us night and day.
Nevertheless, after some weeks | prepared
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 Poicters,
seventy four guns. but although there were
several men-of war anchored in the harbor,
she was not, us learned. among them.
But one day we saw big ship coming in.
Oh how she doomed up And when she
came to an anchor her yards were almost in
stantly black with men Her sails we're all
fure1 at one and the same time, and then she
lay swinging at her chain, although too far
Off for US to distinguish the faces of those on
board
somehow | had the feeling that this WAS
Toms ship and sure enough, upon questi n
ing a harbor boatman. we were told that the
vessel was the Poictiers.
1t was Sunday, so that we had our ensign
flying, and knew that this would httract
Toms attention provided hestill remained on
board the ship
thought it likely, too that he might rec
ognize the Amelia, as | knew tina he had
once saied in her himself He would see the
Stars and Stripes displayed from a vessel be-
longing to his native town, yet all the while
I've helpless to escape.
| almost wished that |. too, could be with
him on board the English ship. 1t seemed to
me that together we should be able to con
cert some plan Of escape, as two heads are
better than one But | little thought how
very soon my half wish was to be fulfilled.
In short time boat put off from the
seventy four. pulling directly for our vessel.
We well knew what that meant His ma
jestys ship was in want Of men-and she
would have them, tool
The officer who came on board of us said
that be was in search Of English sailors, and
was happy to perceive that our captain had
at least two such among his crew indicating
as he spoke one OF my shillnates and myself.
They are Americans, sad the captain,
land have projections, as all my men have
They can produce -
Never mind the producing" was the an
swer Here YOU fellows, get up your dun
mage at once and step into that boatr' And
his armed crew drew clOSs ABOUT us, a II 10
enforce the command
My shipmate was very pale, and could
not wonder at it, but as for myself, felt
that | was more than half willing TO go-I
did So want TO see Tom
ring of marines. with fixed bayonets, soon
hustled US into the boat, and in few minutes
We were standing on the wide. sweeping deck
of the seventy four What ship she was
in comparison To the little craft we Ind Just
left Beside the Amelia she was a castle COM
parcel with a cottage.
had iust.t time 10 observe this and to got
out from under the roses Of the office, and
his marines when a stout young sailor s9rang
forward and grasFed my hand
"Oh. joint I've cried lis it possible that
you have go; here. toof I'm sorry and glad
both at once
No matter what | said in reply. I had
found Tom. and even there, on the deck Of
that floating prison, | felt for the moment
almost happy
In less than week the old Poictiers took
us out to SEA We stood to the northward,
and the next day fell In with French pri-
vateer The mountains on the island OF
Martinique were in sight at that time, and
how Tom and | did wish for wings to fly
therei
The seventy -four crowded all sail in chase
of the French ship, and it could soon be seen
that she was gaining upon her Presently
we could see that they were throwing over
board her guns and other heavy articles to
tighten the vessel They cut adrift large
boat, and apparently got rid Of everything
they could spare
After this ii could be seen that she held her
own, and in fact she soon appeared to be gain
ing ground. The wind, however, had be
come very light, and neither vessel made
much progress
We passed close by the drifting boat. bu,
our commander made no attempt to secure
her, probably not wishing to be encountered
with such thing In the hurry and confu-
sion OF the moment the Frenchmen had for
gotten to stave a hole in her bottom and had
even left number Of oars on board Of her.
few minutes later we entirely lost the
breeze but the priyateer still had light
breath Of air. and Tom and were very glad
to see her make off, swapping her fingers, as
one might say. at the helpless old seventy
four
1t happened that We two were often close
to each other. and as we cast sly glances
toward the drifting boat the same thought
was In both our minds
Tom, | whispered at last, If the breeze
shouldn't spring up again till after dark, why
couldn't We make a dash for herr
The very thing I'm thinking Of he an
svered softly The trade wind will be sure
TO spring up soon, and that will take US
straight toward Martinique. know it is .