The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-01-18
USED TO STOP a LEAK.
How Peter johnson Paid His Passage
Over the Atlantic.


Old Peter johnson. a familiar "land.
mark" of South street, and who, in the
memory Of the oldest dock hand in
this city, has never been known TO stir
away from his seat on an old box at
tho corner OF South street and Coenties
slip, tells a most remarkable tale Of
the troubles through which he had to
pass To become an American citizen
and TO run away from his birthplace
in Sweden.
1t seems that Peter, whose namc is
not Peter ut oil, but something in
which all tho letters OF the alphabet
are combined. was born in q little
hamlet in Sweden. Ever since he
first read translation of "RoL inson
Crusoc, at the ayc of 10, Peter had q
violent passion for the sea. One day
he heard Of America He asked how
far Oft this great land might be, and
his father replied that it was on tho
other side of the great Irish sea and
across tho Atlantic. The next day
Peter made up little bundle of ncces-
SERIES and started oil 10 find this glori-
Gus EldorltlO Ic reached leis, a
small llsning poir on the coast Of Swc-
den.
Walking along the wharvcs he saw
bark of about 500 tons that was al.
vcrtiscd to start for New York OH that
very day. He had never heard of
New York, but as he clambered over
the port rail of the little ship he blindly
hoped that it was somewhere near his
goal. On board he found all deserted.
Dy accident Peter stumbled into the
hold of the ship. He secrcted himself
among Il number of barrels, and. as he
WAS very tired, he fell asleep. About
ten hours afterward he was awakened
by peculiar clanking noise The
ship was rolling horribly. Her wooden
sides were being strained to the utmost
extent, and Peters heart stood still. -
well, the end of it was" said the
old man last evening to the waiter,
that | went on deck. was q mighty
sick colloose, can tell you. But I
wasn't too sick to see that something
horblS had happened, The cap'n
stood near the wheel looking hope
lcssly toward shore and didn't even
notice me. The sea was runnin' high.
A heavy gale had caught us to lee
ward and We had sprung leak. Our
ship was pretty fast and we were out
of sight of land. The leak was big
one and our ship was film fast. All
the men were at work at the pumps,
but the water was gainin' on 'em and
they were losin' heart and hope.
When the cap'n saw me he did didn't
fire Off and cat tail me- No; he Jest
caught me by the shoulder here and
he jest looked up To heaven thus way,
and he jest said. Thank Godr sorter
happy like.
'Thcn he hurried me down into the
hold and then he said somcthin' to
one OF the men IS was at the pumps.
The man went away, but he soon come
back an told the Cap that all was
right.
Then the Cap'n he took mo down
into the bow of the old hulk. That's
wher' she'd sprung leak. Their was
q hole bout the size of your body on
the starboard side. Tho Cap'n, he and
the man then cotched me up, an,
mates, would you believe its they just
stuck me in that hole up to my ARM
pits, they did, blast me il they didn't.
1t was mighty uncomfortable to me,
but it stopped the water from flown
in. After u while the water was all
pumped out. an then the carpenter
fixed the hole. For my part of the
work the Cap'n gave me free pass
age, and hero ! am"
And then old Peter Johnson closed
his teeth on an old clay pipe, nor
would he open them again to say one
word in explanation of his strange adj
venture. New York Evening Sun.