The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1891-09-12

To add 10 their distress they saw that
they were on the northern bank OF an
other river flowing into the Chattahoochee,
probably the Flint, and so could get no
farther without a boat. They found a dry
hummock and passed q WOeful night. Hun
ger, with all its horrors. was preferable to
being stranded in a swamp without means
TO continue their journey.
A day was passed wandering about the
swamp, and at nightfall they saw a boat
across the Chattahoochee. Some limbs
and d%riftwood were spliced together with
grapevines, to serve as a raft, and with
this Wilson, half sunk in the water, man
aged to get across. To his JOY the new
boat was the best Of all. and without a sin
gle Qualm of conscience, now that the joke
was on some one else, he cOnfiscated 1t,
took Wood on board and started full speed
down the river.
When hunger pressed again Wood re-
| manned behind to guard the boat While
Wilson foraged the shore. He didn't get
much that was edible, but finally found
some fish lines and hooks, and the problem
Of living was solved. Fish was abundant.
Although compelled to devour 1t raw, they
ate large quantities, and doubtless the lind
of fishing tackle saved their lives. Farther
down stream they secured matches, ana
later on a quantity Of sweet potatoes.
They kindled a. fire in & spot Of primeyaI
wildness and roasted and brOiled and ate.
Wilson says the only drawback to happi-
ness was the fear that the banquet might
he too much for them. He determined to
| draw the line when they had eaten enough
| for eight men, and persuaded Wood to hoid
up Il spell ana cook for future needs. After
piling up a stack Of roasted sweet potatoes
and broiled fish they surveyed their stock,
and it looked so good that they fell to and
ate some more. Then they slept, and after
that resumed the oars.
Finally they reached A~ppalachicola bay.
A long search for q stanch sea vessel was
fruitless, for fishing smacks and such craft
are not left lying about SO EeckIcssly as
r~owboats, and they set out IL their slight
skitf upon d voyage that would have ap-
palled them. but for the fact that they
courted death III the ocean IN preference
to the doom that lay behind them. Should
the sea swallow them it would be a fate
worthy Of brave men and. their enemies
would be outTitteI. The water was so
rough that the skitf sank out OF view OF
passing vessels, and after rowing beyond
sight OF land they reached the long, bare
island that shelters the haTbor late in the
afternoon. They made for hat L lit
upon an oyster bed. which absorbed all
attention for a time.
Shortly they noticed, beyond the island,
what appeared TO be a clump Of bare trees,
and 4 little later, 10 their joy, made out
smokestacks among the trees. Next the
old flag lazily swung into view and the
happy fellows could hardly restrain the
IMPULSE to jump into the water and try TO
swim to the feet. They rowed swiftly 10
the nearest Eunboat and were soon drawn
up the ships ladder, nearly naked, except
for a scant covering of swamp moss that
had replaced their worn out garments.
They were forIorn looking ~vagabondS Ia
deed. bat the very daring q thelr voyage
- saa IN IN cggn boat confirmed their re-
narkablc story and their welcome 10y the
feet officers was as hearty as the occasion
} demanded. GEoRGE l. hILAER