Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-12-29
"What's un?,, I asked.

Pointing over the hill. the guide
gasped:
People from the Hankan islands in
camp over there! And there's 4 white
man with them!"
'But is that surprising?" inquired.
Eyes, sir. I should say it was" be
answered. Then he added: 1--WE mustn't
stay here. It's dangerous.
To the surprise Of the guide an
nounced my purpose to have look at
these people, and, fearing to remain
alone rather than because he approved
Of the undertaking, the guide accom-.
panied me.
We reached the top of tho hill, from
which we could gee fire in the valley
not more than $50 yards below US.
About this fire four men stood, two Of
them Enthusiastically natives and two Of
them as Enthusiastically white men,
though the slight attire of all was the
same.
''There are two white men down
there said to the guide. ''No mat
tor how the others feel, these will be
friends. Come with me-" And, making
sure that my pistols were smooth In the!
holsters, threw the shotgun into the
hollow Of my arm and strobe down.
Like man under hypnotic influence,
the guide obeyed me, and in few min
utes we were at the fire.
The natives were the first to hear us,
and, without Selling their spears, which
were Oh the ground, they uttered yell
of alarm and fled.
The older of the two bronzed white
men-the younger was about one and
twenty-reached out his hands, and in a
voice trem bling ith emotion shouted
"Friends Erik DIS! At last, friendsr'
When the younger man could COM
mand his tongue, after he had shaken
hands with us, he cried out: "Get back
from the fire! There's danger here!''
He and his companion picked up the
spears, and, at run, they followed the
guide and myself to our camp.
There was no time for explanation,
Clearly thess men had been captives
and were as anxious to escape as we
we're to help them.
We saddled up quickly, placed the
older man on the pack horse, while the
younger sprang up beside me, and then,
guided by the stars, we started eastward.
During the night march the young
man behind me told me his story. His
name was Clifford Baldwin; that of his
companion was George Wellman, mate
of the lost ship Albatross and the
brother Of the captain.
The ship foundered in a cyclone after
most of the crew, including the captain,
had been swept from her decks. This
was nine months after she had left New
Bedford.
Or the five men who got away in the
1ifeboat, three died of starvation Young
Baldwin and the mate were flung
ashore on one of the Hankan islands,
where for six years the natives, who in
every other way had treated them kind
~, kept them captive. Now and then
they made forays to the main island to
carry off Maori cattle, and they had
just landed for this purpose the night
before.
take me to my father in Boston, {"
oaid the young man in conclusion, ''or
send me! to him, and he will repay you
for your trouble -
I told him that his father was then
at Auckland, whereat he was so much
affected that the poor fellow burst into
tears. :. ', - '''> $500
The Maoris were astonished at our
discovery, and they gladly furnished us
with fresh horses to get to the nearest
atage line.
We had provided clothing for our
nearly naked companions, and q barber
at the geysers had made them more pre-
sentable
It was now Christmas day when we
reached Auckland, and to two men at
least it WAS the happiest Christmas day
In all the world.
Mr.. Baldwin soon resained his health.
he and his son-the latter now married
ARE living in California. and never {:
Christmas day passes that I am not ask.
cd to visit them and celebrate the meet
ing in New Zealand.
LEON EDWARDS.