The Negro world., 1892-09-03
a sTowAwAY.s ROMANCE.


she brought a romance that reads very
interestingly.
The Starting Is commanded by Capt
Joshua Higgins. and she has sailed from
this port for the past forty years. Two
years ago this summer she sailed for
4 the southern Pacific, and, when three
days out. one Of the crew. who was
searching In the hold for piece Of can
vas with which n make an awning. dis
covered under an old sail a boy appar-
emily about eighteen years Of age.
The stowaway gave his name as
Charles Mowry, and he said that
he had run away from his uncle.
farmer in the northern part Of
the state of Connecticut, to escape his
cruel treatment lie was an inteili-
gent lad. Of good physique, and Capt
I Higgins took interest in him. He said
that his parents had died when he was
an infant. and he had lived with his
uncle, who, so far as he knew, was his
only living relative.
Mowry was assigned 10 such labor on
board the ship a. he seemed capable Of
performing, and In a few weeks won
the good will Of the entire crew. He
was Of a fearless disposition, and
climbed about the rigging as easily as
II he had been barn and bred to the
life Of sailor lie performed his du-
ties without q mur1nur aud babe fair to
become the most efficient Of the Star
ling's crew.
When the ship reached the fishing
ground Mowry insisted on having a
place in the fishing boats. and though
he was at first awkward in handling
an oar he was soon able 10 pull with
the most experienced OF the men. A
strong friendship sprang mp between
the first mate. Henry Gordon, and
young Mowry. Gordon was a young
man not yet thirty, and he probably
found in the lad a more congenial com
panion than in the older members of
the crew. Mowry told Gordon that he
was infatuated with sailor life, and he
was ambitious to learn all that he could
of navigation, 50 that he might rise
above the position Of a common sailor.
Gordon exerted himself TO eulighten
the lad i'm nautical matters. and he was
soon master OF the quadrant, sextant
and compass, and finally became capa-
BILE Of standing watch at the wheel.
Under the touch OF the sea breezcs
Mowry's pale face became bronzed, and
his association with the sailors In u
measure dissipated the sbyness that
was at first noticeable IN the boys con-
duet, but there was always a gentle
ness ia his manner that caused at times
considerable speculation among the
men In the 'folS'slr As the weeks
went by II was noticed that Mowry's
regard for Gordon became almost affee-
tionate. The lad was at the mates side
whenever opportunity was offered. and
ON two occasions when Gordon was con-
fined 10 his berth by sickness the lad
manifested the deepest solicitude for his
welfare, and when his presence was not
required ON deck or in the boats he was
at the mates bedside anxious TO admin
lister TO his slightest want. This strange
devotion upon the part Of the lad soon
won for him among the sailors the title
of ''the mates crony," and such he was
called 10 the end Of the voyage.
One day by an heroic effort Mowry
saved Gordon from the jaws of shark.
II happened in this way: The Startling
was lying becalmed one morning when.
TO the surprise Of the captain, whale
spouted but few rods away from the
vessel. Gordon and three men, includ-
ing the harpooner. sprang into a boat
and put chase 10 the whale. When a
quarter of mile from the ship the
whale suddenly rose, and striking the
boat with its tail upset 1t, throwing the
crew into the water.
The accident was witnessed by
Mowry, who was watching the boat,
and springing into a boat he cut the
hawser and pulled in the direction of
the men. three OF whom had clambered
up ON the overturned boat and were
trying Ia keep their seat ON IT, Gordon,
who was n good swimmer. seeing that
there was but little room for him
on the capsized craft, turned away
and swan towards the boat In which
Mowry was coming to the rescue. He
had gone but few yards when the
men ON the boat shouted to him to
look out for the shark. lie looked over
his shoulder, and was terrified to see
man-eater but few rods away gliding
towards him straight as an arrow The
warning was heard by Mawry, who
bent tn the oars and sent the boat to-
ward the mate with redoubled speed.
The race between the two human
beings and the shark was hard and
close one, and the shark came very
near coming of victorious; but the
strength and intelligence OF Mowry
outwitted II, for just as the monster
turned ON It's back and opened its jaws
to swallow the mate Mowry struck
gaff-hook into It's whitr throat, and IL
sank out Of sight with grinding teeth.
The mate and the three men were safe
ly brought aboard the ship.
Returning home the Startling had
reached the South Atlantic ocean and
was In the vicinity Of the Falkland
islands. One afternoon while the ves-
sci was under full spread Of canvas,
heavy wind storm came up suddenly
ana i'm attempting 10 lower the top
gallant sail il was found that one OF
the halyards had become tangled and
il was impossible 70 free il from the
deck. The wind was blowing furiously
and the men were 10th TO venture into
the rigging. As soon as Mowry saw
what was necessary TO be done he
sprang into the rigging and climbing
quickly Ia the point where the halyard
was caught. freed t. Fearful that the
lad would be blown into the sea, Gordon
fastened q line about his waist and
made ready Co spring overheard 10 the
rescue Mawry had descended ahoot