San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-18
A SINGULAR ESCAPE.

My twin brother Tom and myself took to
the sea at about the same time in 1912, 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 SUI
perstition, we felt that should any misfort-
une happen 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
vert number of voyages and it happened
that we were never once at holns together in
all that time. Whenever l arrived back,
Tom would be, perhaps, in Cronstadt or
TriesteS and whenever Tom was at home
might be doubling the Cape of Good Hope
or unloading a 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 l had, and that
he was now a stout boy, whom all the people
he sailed with appeared to like. Poor mother!
| suppose she was proud of us both, though
always in anxiety for us
Finally, at nineteen, 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 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 l feltl
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 abost the deck.
| had\a dreadful misgiving that something
evil had happened; and my fears were not
without reason. Two of her crew had been
impressed on board a British man-ofwar-
and one of them was Tom.
| need not tell you what a 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 l prepared
for sea again. l must go, of course, for it
was in the way of my profession. l shipped,
by preference, for the island of Barbados:
for, although reason told me how shadowy
such a 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 Pofctiers.
seventy-four guns; but although there were
several men-ef war anchored in the harbor,
she was not, as learned, among them.
Bat 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 in
Stantly black with men. Her sails were all
furled 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 l 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
lying, and l knew that this would attract
romis attention provided hestil remained on
board the ship.
thought it likely, too, that he might rec
ognize the Amelia, as l knew thai he had
once sailed in her himself He would see the
Stars and Stripes displayed from vessel be-
opging TO his native town, yet all the while
10 helpless to escape.
l almost wished that l, too, could be with
him on board the English ship. 1t seemed to
ne that together we should be able to con-
ert some plan of escape. as two heads are
'etter than one. But | little thought how
cry soon my half wish was to be fulfilled.
In short time boat pat off from the
eventg-four, pulling directly for our vessel
We well knew what that meant His ma
estyts ship was in want of men-and she
you'd have them, tool
The officer who came on board of us said |
hat he was in search of English sailoTs, and |
7as happy 10 perceive that our captain had |
/ least two such among his communicating |
S no spoke one Of my shipmates and myself. |
They are Americans, said the captain,
and have projections, as all my men have.
hey can producan--