The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1889-01-10
USED TO STOP a LEAK.
Flow Peter johnson Paid His Passage
Over the Atlantic.

Over the Atlantic.
Old Peter johnson, 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
the corner of South street and Coenties
slip, tells 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,pame is
aot Peter at all, but something in
which all the letters OF the alphabet
are combined, was born in a little
hamlet in Sweden Ever since he
hrst read translation of Robinson
Crusoe, at the age Of 10, Peter had
violent passion for the sea. One day
he heard Of America He asked how
lar oil this great land might be, and
his father replied that it was on the
other side of the great Irish sea and
across the Atlantic The next day
Peter made up little bundle of neces-
saries and started off to find this glori-
Gus Eldorado. He reached Leis,
small fishing port on the coast of Swe-
den.
Walking along the wharves he saw
bark OF about 800 tons that was adj
vertlsed to start for New York on that
very day He had never heard Of
New York but as he cambered over
the port rail of the little ship he blindly
hoped that it was somewhere near his
goal. On board he found all deserted.
By accident Peter stumbled into the
hold of the ship, He secreted himself
among number of barrels, and, as he
was very tired, he fell asleep About
ten hours afterward he was awakened
by a peculiar clanxing 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
ola man last evening to the waiter,
that went on deck. | was a mighty
sick colloose, can tell you. But l
wasn't too sie& to see that something
horrible had happened, The capn
stood near the wheel looking hope
lessly 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 a big
one and our ship was film fast All
the men were at work at the pumps,
but the water was gainin' on EN- and
they were losin' heart and hope.
When the cap'n saw me he did didn't
tire 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 God!' sorter
happy like.
Then he hurried me down into the
hold and then he said somethin' to
one OF the men as 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 me down
into the bow of the old hulk. That's
wher' she'd sprung a leak. Their was
hole bout the size of your body on
the starboard side. The Cap'n, he and
the man then cotched me UP, an,
mates, would you believe it2 they just
stuck me in that hole up to my arm
pits, they did, blast me if they didn't.
1t was mighty uncomfortable to me.
but it stopped the water from flown
in. After a while the water was all
pumped out, an then the carpenter
fixed the hole For my part of the
work the Capn gave me free pass
age, and here | 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.