The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-11-08
A ST0WAWAY'S STORY.

L =
Reading in the papers the other day of
the arrest of the mate of the Rio steamer
Finance for cruelty to three or four
stowaways who made their appearance
after the vessel was well on her voyage,
has recalled wildly an adventure I had
when a boy Of fourteen, and, though
was a very humble individual myself, the
particulars Of that adventure stirred the
people Of a great kingdom.
know the sailor from topmast head to
kelson, have sailed in all sorts of
crafts, with all sorts of crews, and have
served many Captains. 1 know that sail
ors are rough and uncouth, and that
there IS always a disposition to find fault
and 10 magnify evils. Jack would have
his growl, no matter how well fed and
how well used. On land there is a GER
tsin antagonism between employer and
employed. On shipboard this is intensi-
fed, but that is because the employer has
so much more power over the employed.
frankly admit that I have never met
half dozen sailors, no matter what sort
OF Captain they were sailing under, who
were without complaints, but it does not
follow that all the others complained with
out reason. The ship may be comforta-
bic and full-handed, the fare all right,
and the Captain q good man, but the
mates can sill make the craft mighty un-
comfortable for the men. venture to
assert that there are not half a dozen
long voyage sailing crafts leaving our
shores In which abuses calling for loud
growing do not exist, and what is true
Of America is true of all other countries. !
The Dutch, Swedes, Russians, and Las
cars will etar,s
> tiie- aDuse OF Objects, and as much for
this reason as any other the Yankee sailor
has been driven from the sea, and his
place filed by these substitutes.
When was eleven years old nv
mother died, and my father decided to
go to Australia. I was his only child,
and he was by no means burdened with |
money. He was master plumber, and |
he set out for Sidney under contract. |
Three months after our arrival he married |
again, and it was not six weeks before |
my steFmother pushed me into the |
street. was understood and sickly, |
but l never gave her the slightest cause |
for even harsh word. She simply took |
an aversion to me, and somehow her
hatred came 10 be reflected in my father. |
He saw me thrown out on the world |
with hardly protest, and two days later,
when he met me in the street, he gave me |
about eight shillings in money and adj
Tlsed me to set up as C boOtblack and |
newsboy- l should probably have fol-
lowed his suggestions had l not on that
same day CHANGED to fall in with two OF
three lads who were planning TO stow
themselves away aboard of an English |
brig called the Charles H. Churchill. |
They were boys who had run away from
home or been thrown over like myself, |
and the idea was that they could do bet
ter in England. was invited TO join,
and when our plans had been laid there
were four of Us of about the same age.
We looked the brig over, found that we
could get aboard, and made our arrange
ments.
One night when the brig was nearly
ready for sea I stole aboard, carrying
with me about two quarts of water and
four pounds of bread and meat. This
was the share I was to furnish. was to
board, slip down the midship hatch, and
the others were to follow at brief inter 4
walls. A fire on board a ship few hun
dIed feet away collected the crew of the
brig aft and I got aboard without risk.
The hold was nearly full of bags, barrels,
and boxes, and after waiting few minutes
/ made my way over these toward the bow,
and found a very comfortable place on a
lot Of dry hides. remained awake and
alert for two hours and then fell asleep
without realizing that was a bit sleepy.
II was morning when Iawoke, and as the
sailors were at work below, dared not
move or call out. figured that my COM
palions were in hiding around me, and
so rested easy through the day, sleeping
most Of the time At about shutdown /
felt the ship under motion, and an hour
later the matches were closed and I was
in midnight darkness. l had matches
and stub Of candle, and, after striking
a light, moved around and whistled and
called to my companions. could make
my way over the freight very easily in
my direction and I would not give up
hat l was alone until I had searched for
= full hour. Then I was positive that I
was alone; the Others had either backed
1ut or had been bafied in their attempt
70 get aboard. was much upset at the
discovery and crawled back to my bed
md cried myself to sleep.
1t had been agreed among US boys that
We should keep secreted three days after
iailing. None Of US anticipated any
.rouble when we should make our
presence known. had no way of com
outing time, as it was night all the time
n the hold, but after my bread and water I
lad been used up and / vas hungry and
thirsty, decided that the three days
we're up. Crawling to the cover of the
latch / knocked on It and shouted, and
lfter little it was opened and / was
helped out. it was o'clock on the
morning Of the fourth day. The first {
word from the Captain was a curse, and 1
bis first act was TO swing me about the ]
ieck by the hair. Then he called for a
ipps and bear ne Until ! tainted sasEsl