The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-20
GOOD STORIES or rHB raEsxSr DAx

GOOD sroRIEs OF TIE PREskSr DAx
New nr1e w.s csps.reA ,, AAvs.e.rsrs
| ssa Woman Marooaea.
There Is sailor employed By q ship chandler
in South street. New York. who attracts atten-
tion BY his walk on the street His right leg
seems to be attached to his body for walking
sideways instead OF the usual manner. At the
first glance you would call It a natural de-
formity. but II you followed him for . hun
dred feet you would feel quite certain that
| some accident had happened to him. and that
| he owed his condition to the ignorance or
ca-elessness OF those who practised surgery
on broken leg. will call his name John
Lee and will reel of his story as he told 1t to
me not fortnight ago.
In the year 1853. after the Government OF
the Japanese islands had put down the re-.
bellfon which had been In existence for two
years. many heads were Topped, OF and many
rebels banished from tho country. Among the
latter were score or more OF adventurous who
were not natives. but Europeans. Some had
| gone In with the rebels for the sake Of ad-
| venture and plumber and others had been
forced to join by circumstances The fear Of
| being involved with other Governments de-
cided tho Japanese authorities to spare the
lives OF these foreigners and at the same time
rid the islands Of their presence. There was
In the port OF Yokohama at the time an
Australian brig named the Robert May. COM
manded By Capt. Henry Welles. and she was
chartered to take fourteen OF these rsscally
adventurous to the south and land them on
any one Of the islands OF the BONN group
which should prove the most convenient. As
all OF them were desperate men. the Japanese
Government was willing to pay q good price to
get thom out OF the country. There must have
been money In 1t for the brig. or the Captain
would not have meddled with such q danger
GUS cargo.
The brig had an English crew Of nine men
and boy. and the Captain had his wife with
him. John Lee. the sailor with the twisted
leg. was one OF the crew. The brig had part
OF cargo Of tea. and space in her hold under
the main hatch was fitted up to receive the
prisoners. dozen musksts were brought
aboard. the prisoners guarded the same as
convlcts would have been. and Capt. Welles
set sail In full expectation OF landing them &C.
cording to instructions. He was not tho man
to deal with such rascsls. however. as events
demonstrated. Every man in the pen knew
that he was to be landed without shelter or
provisions. and from the first going aboard
there was determination to rise on the crew
and take the brig. 1t was on the night OF the
fourth day out, and during a squat. which
CduO near QlSuAStlnR the DTl2. that the blot
was carried out.
There are many things to be said in favor OF
the desperadoes. They desired to capture the
brig without bloodshed. and but for, the
logged obstinacy OF the Captain that would
have been done. He called the crew to rally
and when he found himself unsupported he
fought the gang alono and single-handed I'M
til killed by q musket ball. He was the only
ono killed. though some OF the crew we're
wounded in the first rush. John Lee was aloft
at the moment and in his fright and confu-
sion he met with fall which broke his leg.
Tho mutineers set it and gave him careful
attention. but in tho setting they twisted it
around and the bone knit and left It in
its present shape Having possession Of the
brig tho desperadoes were for timo divided
rs to what should be the next move. They
ha! had enough Of Japan. and no one had any
idea OF turning pirate in waters where man.
of-war was to be met two or three times
week. They decided to run to the southwest
and land on some uninhabited island above
Formosa and enjoy free and easy life for q
season. To that the crew OF the brig agreed.
some pleased with the prospect OF such a life
and others realizing that opposition would be
OF no use.
Mrs. Welles was about thirty years OF age. full
OF energy and resolution. Her treatment By
win the crew over to their side. The fellows
were led by an Engishman named Tom Jones,
who was. no doubt a thoroughly bad man. but
IN this case ho should have due praise. On the
morning after the capture Of the brig Mrs.
Welles was interviewed In the cabin. She was
told that the men had possession and that it
was proposed to get her out Of the brig and out
OF harms way while they had control They
did not dare to speak a ship. nor
land her at any port. but would set
her ashore on some island and provide her
with them that this was the best they could ba
expected to do. and for tho next two days and
t NIGHTS she Tas left entirely
but between the mate. who was acting as Cap.
tain. and Tom Jones' who was the leader.
good times" were being put Off until they
could 5 lind sRio pr, haven somewhere. John Lee
was Kept posted as to what was '1 going q. S%e
ward and aft.
on the afternoon Of the third day tho brig
pulled ashore to Investigate. It WAS only q
mites across and was uni inhabited John T Lee
s says ne begged the Captaln,s wife to take him
would prove Serious Case on her hands s or
yell and she decided kd. shst she would rather
effects OF her husband. with beef, pork.
bread. wine. a, musket and ammunition.
asked to be alIowd to take. Jones and three
men went asore with hor. and they not only |
found a good spot for camp. but constructed
cover No woman could have fallen into tho |
hands OF more desperate mon. and yet no |
woman could have been treated more tenderiy. |
The brig sailed away Just at shutdown, and |
she was left to begin her Crusoe life.
The island had scarcely been left behind be- |
fore tho men on the brig began their caronso.
Two days later they beached their vessel in u |
COW, on one OF tho Borodine group of islands:
by turns. From the very hour OF landing dis |
sensions arose and 1t wasn't week before the |
crowd split in two parties and lived apart in |
fear OF each other. John Loe. according to his |
own statement. was no better and no worse !
than any OF the others There was nothing to .
do. but sleep and. eat and drink. TIL !