Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-08-11

were on shore, leaving the cook, steward
Dick and the captain onboard Tha
afternoon the captain made q call on
brother shipmaster whose ship lay not ia
from his. but before he started he calle
Dick and told him that II squall shoul
arise to haul down the flags which wer
set, so that they would not get wet o
blow to pieces. Dick in truly sailor Ian
guage answered: AYE, aye, sir"
The captain had not been very long on
board of his friends ship when 1t began t,
tighten and thunder, with the appearance o
heavy squall Of wind and rain. He hasten
ed back to his own ship to find the flags still
flying and no one to be seen about decks
de called for Dick, who came out from un
der the boat turned bottom up upon tn,
forward house, where he had mattres.
and some books and where he had faller
asleep. With the assistance Of the cool
and steward Dick hauled down all the flags
except the burgee at the main, and tha,
they could not start as the halyards were
caught in the truck at the masthead The
captain took hold with them, all gave d
pull together which parted the halyards
below the flag leaving II flying in the wind
at the masthead. Dick was ordered alof,
to clear the flag. but at that moment there
came binding fash Of lightning accom-
panied with an instantaneous pesl of thuu.
der which caused the boy to hesitate and
tremble, the first time he had been known
to show signs of fear. He was urged to
20 up by the captain, partly in punishment
for falling asleep and not watching TO
take the hsgs In as he had been told to do
DICK made step toward the main rig
! gug when there wa. another binding
Hash and deafening roar and he stopped
He then said to the captain, IF YOU knew
something which | could tell you. I should
not be sent aloft at such time
| ne captain was Irritated by Dicks re-
mark. and said that he did not care then
to listen to anything he had to say, bu. to
| 60 aloft and do as he was told
| Dick knew that his best wav was to
| ooey the order so he started up the rig
| ging, crying and sobbing as he went aud
then there came furious gust OF wind
/ which nearly blew the ship from her moor
/ lngs and the rain came down In torrents.
7 hen Il was the captains turn to be fright
ened for fear Dick would be blown from
The rigging overheard, and inwardly up
braided himself for his own hard hearted
ness in ordering the boy aloft at such a
time, Tor DICKS last words still rang In his
ears. He called to Dick and made sign.
TO him to come down and let the dag blow
away. but he did not heed him Onward
aud upward he went, ths captain anxious
ly watching him, until he reached the royal
masthead, and above that was an eight
foot pole 70 the truck which had been
scraped and creased before the ship came
into port, and which 1t was Impossible for
him 10 climb. Dick tried to climb II, but
when he got part way up be slipped back
exhausted to the eyes Of the royal rigging,
upon which his feet rested with his arms
clutched around the pole and stood there
looking at the flag which by that time was
blown to pieces.
The captain could bear the suspense no
longer; he pulled off his coat and started
up the rigging as fast as be could TO bring
ana shouted to Dick TO follow him down,
but there was no answer; the boy still
clutched the mast with all his strength
The captain pulled the feet of the boy
from the eyes of the rigging with his
hands. and still clutching the mast he slid
down into his arms. He managed but
how he could not tell. to bring him down
to the main-top. where the boy tainted,
and from that point he was lowered to the
deck with rope fastened around his body.
The captain then slid down the backstays
TO the deck, took the unconscious boy In
his arms and carried him into the cabin
where restoratlves were applied and he
came TO his senses. The captain sent him
10 his room in charge Of the steward who
was TO assist in changing his clothes and
TO put him TO bed. But when they stepped
from the cabin Dick dispensed with the
eryices Of the steward. entered his room.
locked the door and was not seen again
until the following morning, when he was
on deck al play with the captains children
as happy and well As ever.
The ship sailed again for Havre, and
Dick did his duty as well as an old sailor,
81 the wheel, aloft and abont decks and was
very useful and efficient. At Havre, where
/ the ship arrived 10 due time, the cargo was
! discharged; ballast and $50 steerage pas
/ sengers were taken onboard and she sailed
| back to New Orleans. The ship continued
several voyages in the same trade, varied
by two to Bremen, in all of which Dick
was an important person onboard, always
faithful and TO be relied upon He had no
bad habits such as drinking, swearing, us
ing tobacco and other vices SO common
among sailors, but was fond of books,
was fine writer and he was truthful.
Dick had been two years and eight
months in the ship when in. December,
1859, she was ready to sail from New Or
leans to Liverpool. and as the captain
I thought, had become almost a fixture on
board. But on the day she was to sail
Dick was missing and search revealed the
fact that not only was he gone, but his
clothing also. Search and inquiry failed
to find him, and the captain was greatly
panied to be obliged to leave without him
for not only he, but his wife and children
had become strongly attached to the boy
, Why he should leave in the manner he die
they could not account for upon any reas
enable theory. The captain offered re
ward to any one who would return him t.
: his ship, or if found after her sailing tt
take good care of him until his return ant
: he would pay all bills incurred.
; The ship lett New Orleans without him
I had the usual winters passage across tn
e Atlantic to Liverpool, where she arrive,
e and was safely docked in due course o
i, time. When she commenced to discharg
i her cargo the captain stood upon the qua
: watching to see if 1t came out dry and il
k good order. While thus occupied he say
e a man whom he knew and who was no
unknown to the writer, Mr.. Richard Es
|, ton, shipsmith, approach. him. his cour
k tenance beaming with smiles, and said
!, good morning. Capt. Nelson replied I
y his salutation and said, "It seems to m