The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-08-31
USED FOR SHARK BAIT.
Treatment to Which a Poor Stow
away Was Subjected.
The Cruel Sport of Inhuman Officers
Causes a Meeting-BlOody Eats>I2f---
the Mutineers-ReScue of
the sole Survivor.

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 APP
pearance after the vessel was well on
her voyage, has recalled wildly an
adventure had when boy of fourteen,
and. though l was q very humble in
dividual myself the particulars of that
adventure stirred the people of Il great
kingdom.
When l was eleven years old my
mother died, and my father decided to
go to Australia. was his only child.
and he was by no means burdened with
money. He was a master plumber,
and he set out for Sidney under con-
tract. Three months after our arrival
he married again, and it was not six
weeks before my step-mOther pushed
me into the street. | was understood
and sicSly, but l never gave her the
slightest cause for even u harsh word.
She simply took an aversion to me,
and somehow her hatred came to 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 advised
me TO set up as bootblack and news
boy. | should probably have followed
his suggestions had | not on that same
day CHANGED to fall in with two or
three lads who were planning to stow
themselves away aboard of an English
brig called the Charles H. Churchill.
They We're boys who had run away
from home or been thrown over like
myself, and the idea was that they
could do better 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 arrangements.
One night when the brig was nearly
ready for see. | stole aboard, carrying
with me about two quarts of water and
four pounds of bread and meat. This
was the share l was to furnish. l was
to be first aboard, slip down the mid
ship hatch, and the others were to fol-
low at brief intervals. A fire on board
a ship few hundred feet away col
lected the crew of the brig aft, and |
got aboard without risk. The hold
was nearly full of bags, barrels and
boxes, and after waiting a few minutes
l made my way over these toward the
bow aud found avery comfortable place
on lot of dry hides. l remained
awake and alert for two hours, and
then fell asleep, without realizing that
L was bit sleepy. 1t was morning
when awoke. and as the sailors were
at work below dared not move or call
out. | figured that my companions
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
l was in midnight darkness. l had
matches and stub of candle. and,
after striking light, l moved around
and whistled and called to my COM
panions. | could make my way over
the freight pretty easily in any direc-
ton; and l would not give up that l
was alone until l had searched for a
full hour. Then was positive that |
was alone; the others had either backed
out or had been batfied in their attempt
to get aboard. l was much upset at
the discovery, and crawled back to my
bed and cried myself to sleep.
1t had been agreed among US boys
that we should keep secreted three
days after sailing. None of us antici-
pated any trouble when we should
make our presence known. l had no
way of computing time. as it was night
all the time in the hold. but after my
bread and water had been used up and
was hungry and thirsty. decided
that the three days were up. Crawl
ing to the cover of the hatch knocked
On it and shouted, and after little it
was opened and was helped out. It
was nine o'clock on the morning of the
fourth day. The first word from the
Captain was curse, and his first act
was to swing me about the deck by
the hair. Then he called for a rope
and beat me until tainted away, and
while lying unconscious he and the
irst mate kicked me several times.
When came to was ordered forward
among the men. They gave me kind
words, satisfied my hunger and thirst,
and hoped the worst was over. 1t was
not. however. At about noon l was
sailed aft, and after the Captain had
Intercepted me as to my identity and
why l had selected his vessel. he gave
me another beating and turned me
Dver to the mate with the words:
"You can have him now, and hope
you'll kill him before the week is out ="