Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-01-19

During the past two weeks the Ben
wood authorities have given lodging to
knight Of the road OF the better
class. who has had enough salt water
experience IN his life to fill a good-s:zed
volume. and a pretty interesting vol
ume It would make, too. The man is
evidently a genuine tar, Of the true
British type, being a former member OF
Great Br.ta:n's navy. He has served in
almost every capacity known on board
of craft of every sort beneath the rank
of commissioned officer. In an inter
view with a Register reporter the man
gave his name as John Harris and mar
rated the salient incidents of his naval
life. He said ne was born in New South
Wales. Australia. of English parents,
and lived there unit. 1876, when he de-
cided 10 see ihe world, and accordingly
secured berth on merchantmen out
of Melbourne. The vessel sailed for an
English port. and after an unevenhul
VOYAGE. during which Harris acquired
his first nautical experience, they ar
rived a their destination, and Harris
found himself in London, with no
friends and not an overstock Of money.
Having formed a liking for the sea- he
resolved TO once more launch
his fortunes on lis heaving
bosom, and accordingly succeed
ed i'm being shipped aboard the mer-
chairman Port Caroline bound for
Odessa. After the voyage was COM
pleted. the return trip terminating at
Cardiff. he again tried London and at-
ter abe necessary physical examination
was undergone. received berth on the
training ship IT. NJ. 5. "L,CneSs. Al
ter spending three years in the training
ship. he was drafted on board H. NJ. S.
Ajax" bound for The Mediterranean
Sea. He was with this vessel three
years. At the end of the cruise he re
turned TO England and took passage on
the "Casco' for Melbourne, where he
became a member Of the crew Of H. N.
s. Orlando" The Orlando cruised
through Oceanica after which the vessel
headed for London arriving there in due
time and transferring number of the
crew to the Victoria" among whom
was Harris. Ths Inflated Victoria
steamed out Of Chatham dock on the
third Of January IN 1890 for the Medi-
terranean sea. Every one well knows
the story of how. through, he m:sman-
agement Of Admiral Tyson, the Camper
down struck the Victoria while both
vessels were maneUvering. and the VIC
tOr!a sank i'm a very short time. while
nearly all on board, including Tryon.
found a waiery grave. Harris was below
when the shock came and rushing on
deck. made s.raigh. for the bridge. On
deck the confusion among the men was
great. and The first command Harris
heard was. Men save your livesw
Tryon gave the command, and
q few moments later the yes
sci careened and filing vry
rapidly. settled in The water. Har-
RS was sanding near the Admiral when
the latter lifted his hat and shouted
Good by. boys" He made no attempt
to save his own l.fe Harris leaped
from the sinking vessel into he water
and after managing to keep On the surf
ace for some little tine. az last caught
q floating spar. on which were clinging
q drowning boy and two blue-jackets.
\ short while after he four men were
picked up by the Camperdon's boats.
Harris says this was the naIr0Test
escape from death ne ever had. Re says
that many of the men lost their Ives
through their carelessness and cOnfu-
sion and bunglesome handling of the
boa-s. After this he left the navy. and
sailing IN the Green Br!ar" for Ameri-
ca. worked in the fishing trade among
the Grand Banks. off New Foundland.
until he thought he would try the shore.
He engaged next CT a lake steamer as
fireman. and after serving his time,
started overland to ,ry his fortune. He
5 now On his way To New York, intend
ing to again go 10 sea at his earliest op-
pCr.unity.