Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-21
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.

life, that this must be my excuse for the
love have of every now and then taking
up a pen and jotting down some of my
recollections, when l seem in manner to
live my life over again.
l was always of rowing disposition, and
could never rest very long in one place, SO
that have visited most parts of the habit
able globe, leaving home sometimes at a
days notice, intending to be away for
months, and then as suddenly changing
my mind, and returning home again. l
hate plans and arrangements made long
beforehand, and l generally act on the spur
of the moment Although this habit, as
the following story will show, has some
times placed me in awkward positions, yet,
on the whole, am none the worse for my
way of proceeding.
About twenty years ago suddenly left
London in the hight of the season, on one
of these unprecedented voyages. was
weary of the eternal round of London life,
with its dinner parties, dances and drums,
and so determined to be off at once, not
caring much where to, so long as had a
change.
Four days afterwards | found myself
seated at the table d'hote of the Croce de
Malta Hotel at Genoa. But here, too
was bored, and / began to wonder what
had brought me. | knew no one in the
place, and, hating sightseeing, what was |
to do?
After dinner lit my cigar and strolled
| 70 = ho aA af ha
Gus and varied craft packed together in
the basin, and watched the picturesque
groups of sailors from all parts of the
world.
While lounging about [ came across a
lot of rough-looking Italian sailors dressed
in blue jerseys and jelly-bag scarlet caps.
They particularly attracted me, for, being
a bit of an artist, have an eye for color,
so l stood watching them for a minute or
two while they were talking eagerly to-
gether, and caught the words Garibaldi
and Caprera. said before that am given
to sudden impulses. One of these now
seized me. Why not go and visit this
hero in his island home? True did not
know him personally, but l had already
heard that he liked Englishmen, and re-
ceived them Hospitality. l was one of his
most ardent admirers, and here was an OPP
portunity of making his acquaintance and
of seeing his strange home
Half an hour before l had no more
thought of Garibaldi than of the man in
| the moon, and now | found myself sud-
denly engrossed by the idea, as if visit to
Caprera had been the dream of my life.
But how was it to be managed | walked
/ nm nd doxur for q Tniputa or tyUo tbtpl-ipo,
and then determined to speak to this
group of sailors. l am good Italian
scholar, so had no difficulty upon that
score, although sailors patois is rather diff
ferent from the language used in polite
society.
1 approached the group and wished
them a "Buona serra;' then, addressing
myself to tall, broad shouldered fellow
with long, shaggy, black beard, asked
him if he knew of any ship sailing for
Caprera and willing to take passenger.
Italians are very inquisitive race, and
the fact that |, stranger, had spoken to
one of them brought all the group, who
had dispersed, close together to hear what
had to say.
The man I had addressed, after looking
at me and then at his companions said:
"Ah, signore, it will be difficult matter
to find ship going to Caprera, for there
is but little trade with the island, and it
is rather out of the way for coasting YES
sells. | am only common sailor, but here
is the 'padrone Bartolo; he is the owner
of felucca which trades between Genoa
and Leghorn; he may perhaps be able to
tell the signore what he asks. Eli, Bartolo,
what do you say%
Bartolo, thus addressed, came up to me
with his hands in his trousers pockets and
pipe in his mouth. He was a short,
wiry-looking man, with black mustache
and dirty, unshaven face. He had
most evil expression of countenauce, with
squint in his right eye, and when he in
tended to smile, he seemed rather to frown.
Altogether he was about as untaking-look-
ing an individual as l ever met.
repeated my question to him.
'Well," he said, 81 don't often go to Ca
prera. for it isn't worthgmy while; but to-
morrow night l am sailing for Leghorn,
and as times are bad, if the signore likes
to make some arrangement with me and
my cousin, who goes with me, we might
manage to leave our regular course and
land the signore on the island, but l must
first consult with him, as he Is part owner
of the craft"
The plan seemed as if it might answer
so | sent him off for his cousin, to neigh
boring wine-shop, and they soon returned
together. He was a very different-looking
man from Bartolo, and rather liked his
appearance. A tall, stout-looking sailor
with bland smile, but noticed that he
was entirely under Bartolo's thumb, and
agreed with him in everything he said.
"Well, here is Antonio" said the latter.
"He thinks that we might accommodate
with the signore but the ship isnot fine
vessel, so perhaps the signore had better
see her before he decides. True, it is but
short journey of twelve or fourteen
hours, 50 that little discomfort will not
much matter, especially as, this chance
lost, it may be some time before another
presents itself. OF course the signore
understands that we are poor men, and
shall require some good inducement to
make us lose time by going out of our
way, but if the signore will pay US 100 lire
GA down, and give us small 'buona
mano on arrival we will take him."
The price did not seem extravagant, but
it is always necessary to bargain with Ital-
ians, or they take you for an ''imbecile"
who Can be easily robbed; so, bearing this
fact in mind, l expressed establishment at
their asking so much, and told them it
was quite out of the question. At last.
after deal of haggling, he agreed that if
next day | liked the look of the craft l
would pay them eighty lire down, and
give them another ten lire on their land
ing me safe at Caprera.
1t was now getting late, so We separated,
on the understanding that was to meet
Bartolo at the same place in the morning
at S.
was there at the appointed hour, and
found him waiting for me. His cousin,
he said, had gone on board, and was get
ting things in order, as they were to sail
at 6 that evening.