Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-07-04
4 SINGULAR ESCAPE,

IL NlAtVOulllV hoOAilsh
NV twin brother Tom and myself
took to the sea at about the same time
in 81, although we did not sail in
the same vessel. There is feeling
among sailors that it 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. or
course this is mere nonsense, but then,
aside from all superstition, we. felt
that, should any misfortune 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 . number of voyages, and it
happened that we were never once at
home together In all that time. When
ever arrived 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 flour in Rio
Janeiro .t. ...r.
Yet we had a great desire to meet,
for we were as strongly attached to
each other as brothers generally are,
and l 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 l knew of Tom, or that Tom
knew of me. She said that he had
grown, as l had, and that he was now
stout boy, whom all the people he
sailed with seemed to like. Pool
mother! l suppose she was proud Of
us both, though always In anxiety fol
us.
Finally, at nineteen, | arrived
home from the Mediterranean with 9
full determination TO see Tom once
more before again setting foot on 9
ships deck. He was In the Wes'
Indies, and bis vessel was expected
back in q month or two Mother wa.
greatly pleased TO think that both her
ooys we're to be at home at the same
time, after SO long separation.
The brig to which he belonged wa'
called the Columbia, and at last sh'
was reported to be down the harbor
How glad / felt! And I saw mothe
wipe away. tears Of Joy with the corne
of her apron.
But when the vessel came up to tn
wharf could not see Tom anywher
about the deck. Il had q dreadful
misgiving that something evil hat
happened, and my fears were not with
out reason. Two of her crew hat
been impressed on board a British
man of war-and one of them wa
Tom.
need not tell you what a hous
was ours. 1t seemed as if death itsel
could hardly have been worse thai
what had taken place. 1t was a tor.
ture to us night and day.
Nevertheless, after some weeks
prepared for sea again. l must 60
of course, for 1t was in the way of M.
profession. I shipped, by preference
for the island of Barbadoes; for, al
though reason told me how shadow.
such hope must be, could noC re
sist the feeling that there it might b
possible to learn something of Tom.
Our brig, the Amelia, arrived OH
Ia dae time, and from the moment W
entered the port I was all eyes an
ears. / knew that Tom had bee
taken on board the Poictiers, seventy
four guns, but although there wer
several nlen-of-war anchored in tn
harbor, she was not, as I learned
among them.
But one day we saw big shi
coming in. Oh, how she doomed up
And when she came to an anchor he
Yards were almost instantly black wit
men. Her sails were all furled
one and the same time, and then sh
Law swinging at her chain, althoug
too far off for us to distinguish th
faces of those on board.
Somehow / had the feeling that thi
was Toms ship, and sure enough, up
on questioning harbor boatman, "
were told that the vessel was th
Poictiers. ''t
It was Sunday, 50 that we had ou
ensign flying, and ] knew that th
would attract Toms attention provij
ed he still remained on board the shil
I thought it likely, toe, that b
might recognize the Amelia, as
knew that he had once sailed in be
himself. He would see the Stars an
Stripes displayed from q vessel be
longing to his native town, yet all th
while DO helpless to escape. n