The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-01-26

Nevertheless was moderately happy when
unfortunately the kind master of the hos
pital died, and / had to care fer myself
tried my fortune, going from city to city,
working when | could find something to
do, and when could not languishing of
hunger. One beautiful day as / walked
through field belonging to a judge saw
a hare, killed him ana was carrying MIN
triumphantly when / met the judge him
self He took me by the collar, calling me
poacher, scoundrel, and asked me who l
was. fell on my knees, begging his par
don and telling my whole history, but he
would not believe word of it. l was ac-
cused and found guilty of being poor be-
fore the circuit court and was sentenced to
Newgate to be transported as a common
vagabond.
After five months imprisonment was
dragged on board vessel and sent, with
200 comrades, to the plantations.
Our passage was miserably rough, and
owing to the foul air in the ships hold,
where we were shut up more than half Of
our men died, and the rest were very ill.,
When landed, we were sent to the plant
ers. Being so illiterate, had to work
among the negroes. My engagement was
for seven years. When it expired, 1 renew
ed the contract to obtain my passage mon
ey. Although l had tried to make this
time pass agreeably, 1 was delighted to
again see old England.
did not venture into the country, how
ever, for fear of being mistaken for vag-
abond, but remained in the city, doing
bits of work and running errands-in fact,
living quite contented.
AS / was returning from my work one
evening two men knocked me down in
the crowd. We were arrested, and because
could not give the judge a satisfactory
account and had never registered was al
lowed my choice of boarding a war vessel
or enrolling as q soldier. | chose the lat
ter and in this honorable position made
two campaigns in Flanders. was in the
battle of Val ard Fontenoy, receiving only
one injury, here in the chest, but the regi-
mental doctor soon cured me.
/ was discharged when peace was de
clared, but was unable to work because
my wound troubled ME from time to time
therefore enlisted as an infantry soldier
in the India service.
l fought there in six pitched battles
against the French, and l truly believe
had been able to read or write our cap
tain would have made me corporal.
But the fatcs were against me. / fell i'll
and was given a furlough and permission
to return TO England, with e40 in my
pocket.
A new war was just beginning between
France and Great Britain.
had hoped to land and spen my mon
ey pleasantly on shore, but the govern
ment needed men, and rs | had just had
an ocean voyage and had on my sea legs |
was requested to become sailor. When
the captain found l knew nothing about
a ship, lie would not give me an audience
but had me logged. However, my $40
were consolation to me during each NAL
treatment.
l might perhaps still have had that
money today if our vessel had not been
taken by the French, who of course strip
ped us.
Our entire crew was landed at Brest
where many of us died, not being accus-
toned to prison life. For my part, being
a little used TO it, found it not so bad.
One night as | was taking good sleep
on my bed Of boards, wrapped in a warm
blanket, was awakened by the captain
WIFI Il udTh ldulGEl Ill Ills udlu. JUN,
said he to me- "would you like to kill the
French sentinel"
81 would like to lend hand" said /,
rising.
every well, " said he. 81 hope we may
be able to do it.
went with him to assault one of the
guards.
We had no arms, but went to the door
where the two sentinels were stationed
and rushed on them violently, seized their
guns and knocked them down.
Nine of our comrades ran past us to-
ward the quay. We followed and took
possession of the first boat we came to-
leaving the port and putting out to sea-
We were not three days out when an Eng
lish private vessel picked us up. They
were glad to find some good sailors, and
we were glad to cast our lot in with them
At the end of the fourth day we found
the lot was not as happy as we had hoped,
for we encountered the French pirate YES
sci, the Neptune.
The fight lasted three hours, and just
when the victory was within our grasp
and we were about to board the French
vessel n large number of our men fell,
and the rest of us were left to the mercy
of the French. | was in great fear that
they might take me to Brest, where knew
would be in danger, but fortune smiled
for once. We were retaken by an English
frigate, the Amphitrite.
forgot to tell you that in the first fight
1 received two wounds, losing the four
fingers of my left hand and having a can
non ball take off one of my legs.
If had only had the good luck to lose
my leg and the use of my hand on board
one of the kings vessels, and not on the
private ship, should have been pensioned
for the rest of my life, but the fates were
against Cincinnati Post.