The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-09
5kipg my bearing 1
~T no,Id eaV~nIafa that

island of Formosa, and nearly 800 miles
east of Hong Kong. By keeping on
| direct western course could readily see
that we would miss Formosa full thirty
miles and follow in the wake of the
Jeanette. AS reflected on TINS fact 1t
suddenly occurred to me that might
nlislead the robbers as to our true posi-
ton, and while pretending to pilot them
to .For1nosa / might induce them to con-
time on toward Hong Kong. thereby
prov ding a possibility of enccuntering
| the .Jeannette. But scarcely had this
resoln ton taken place in my mind when
Peters approached and began to exam
inc the chart, asking me to show him
our posi- ion.
ssIn reA 3onse to his request l pointed
to a spot one degree north of our true
position. "a 1turing the remark that we
would reach the island the quickest by
keeping in q ne western course.
HE made nA, reply to my remark, but
after asking f. W questions as to the
probable distance to the island he turned
| to his men and ga>7e orders for the boat
| to be headed for the north.
"My heart sank WIN hin me at this, and
for moment belieA ID that my decep-
ton had been discovered. However, the
next moment he explain,,d to the men
that it was his object to 60 t as far out of
the track of the Jeanette a 5 possible be-
fore making for the island.
"Being thus treasured, va1tured to
suggest that the Jeanette would most
likely search for us among the Bosher
islands that lay close to us on the south,
but Peters cut me off with the pert re-
mark that 1 was not brought along to
| give advice. This left me with no
| alternative but to quietly submit to be-
ing carried away beyond the possibility
| of encountering the Jeanette.
"My knowledge of the island to which
we were bound was of the most meager
character, and all could recall regard
ing it was that it lay some thirty leagues
off the coast of Fu-Kina, province in
| southeastern China, and was infested
with tribe of savage and warlike ma
| tives.
'AlL that day we continued our course,
| to the north, then turned westward, and
two days later sighted the rock bound
coast of eastern Formosa. Continuing.
| our course northward for several leagues
| we entered narrow inlet, and passing
| up this for four or five miles, we landed
in a secluded spot, where we disem-
barked and concealed the boat under a
| clump of trees that overhung a narrow
neck in the little bay.
| Gin level spot about 200 yards from
the shore a camp was made, and here
| we remained for three days before L
learned anything regarding the future
| plans of my captors. Then, from what
1 overheard from Peters in his converse
ton with the others, learned that we
| were to remain in concealment there for
three or four weeks, perhaps, when
small vessel-a smuggler on the Chinese
coast, 1 gathered commanded by an
old friend and pal of Peters, would ar
rive and carry us to Australia. In order
to carry out this plan one of the con-
spirators had been left aboard the Jean
nette, and on his arrival at Hong Kong
he was to see the smuggler, whose ship,
would probably be at that port, and &C,
quaint him with the business on hand,
and pilot him to the place agreed upon
on the west coast of Formosa. What
disposition was to be made of me in the
| meantime was unable to learn, but
had the gravest apprehensions that it
was their intention to leave me on the
island.
| However, I was allowed my freedom,
and went and came as pleased. Some
| times would venture quite distance
| inland, wandering over the hills and
| through the deep canons, in which grew
| abundance of tropical fruit, while birds
of rare and brilliant pEumage few about
me through the perfumed air.
"It was about week subsequent to
| our landing on the island. Twas return
ing one evening from one of my short
excursions inland, when, on crossing a
little hill, a strange, startling sound,
coming from the camp in the valley be-
low, reached my ears.
Christening to the top of the hill I
looked down into the little valley, where
| strange sight met my gaze. Coming
swiftly from strip of deep forest to the
north, leaping over the jagged rocks that
| covered the hill, / saw a horde of For
mosa savages rushing furiously down
| upon the sailors at the camp, brandishing
| their spears and gesticulating wildly as
they ran.
"For moment was almost stupefed
with surprise and fear. Sosuddenly had
they appeared upon the scene that it
seemed as if they had sprung up from
| the very earth. 1 recognized in a mo-
mant that as well as the sailors was in
the most deadly peril. for the natives of
FoAmosa are as fierce and warlike as the
Sioux and Apaches of our own country.
"T1heard the voice of Peters shouting
to the men to run for the boat, but be-
fore the order could be obeyed the saw
ages were upon them. heard the rapid
discharge, of firearms as the sailors rallied
about their leader and sought to repel
the advancing foe. Then the line of
screaming, rnaddened natives closed in
upon them, and nothing could be seen
but a mass of struggling humanity. 1t
would be impossible for me to describe
the fearful SCENE that followed, in which
the boats crew were every one cut down
and literally hacked to pieces before my
very eyes.
CAT the first appearance of the saw
ages had sunk down behind clu1np of
bushes, and, lying there upon the ground
stupefed with horror, witnessed that
awful scene, the horror of which-can
never be erased from my memory.
'Hcw long I lay there I cannot tell,
for must have swooned at the terrible
sight had been compelled to witness.
The next I remember was of lying there
among the bushes trying to recall the
past. As soon as could realize the sit
uation arose and peered down into tho
valley. The savages had all disappeared
as mysteriously as they had come. The
sun was low in the horizon, and adeath-
ly stiffness had fallen over the scene.
"For half an hour I stood there. wait
ing and listening for sounds of the saw
ages, but at length, hearing nothing to
excite my fear, stepped from tbsShick-
ct of bushes and stole cautiously down
to the little grove where the camp had
been.
"There amid the rank shrubbery lay
the mangled remains of the i'll fated
sailors, disfgured beyond recognition.
For several moments I stood there al
most peralyzed by the horror of my sit
uation. Then the deadly peril that sur
rounded me roused me to the knowledge
Of the necessity Of immediate action. It
xuou1d not do tn 1inrar thera n moment