The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-28


River
Our barge. Mallory. in charge of Capt.
Robert Borden of Somerset. had a crew
of eight men. and carried sixty five pas
sengers.
Had heard the year before, while in
Mexico, fabulous stories of the gold find
In California, but thought little myself
of the event, until my return home, when
found the gold fever running high ana a
stock company forming.
An older brother equipped me- and join
ing tho party, |, thon "a boy of ninetoen,
sailed awav from the land of my birth
bent Oh fun and adventure, rather tnan
an expectation of wonderful wealth
The weather mt this time was cod and
clustering but we had been out but
short time when we were glad 90 take our
Jackets OIL
Our course was for Cape Horn. Wo
should have made tho Cape De Verde
Islands, but got too far west and not
striking the northeast trades, Were be-
calmed and remained for days
"As silent as a painted ship
Upon painted ocean. y
There were a number of very homcsick
men aboard, when we had been ont a ieE
days, who kept their births, and refused
10 he comforted; for they had family ties
behind, and not very cheering prospect
before them.
To them the dark siie OF the picture
was all that was TO be seen.
10 us who were without family or care
of any kind, the brightest side was dark
enough.
Forming ourselves into "vigilant CONF
inttee OF three we waited on them who
could not or would not wait on them
selves. We had them on deck once In
tWcnty-fOur hours anyway; aud the moro
detected they appeared the more lively
we'd hustle them about
At one time we had our hands full, so
we were Obliged TO sleep part ot the day
that we might better lay the ghost OF
recolections OF the past and clip the
wings on the dark phantom of despair.
When we noticed n forlorn, or sad
looking man, three highwaymen would
appear and "go through him" with 10
gentle hand, tear his coat from his back
and even pull his shoe strings out OF his
shoes.
'.Mose Of the Mines was particularly
fierce and lawiess bandit, who dragged
forth many sad passenger whose signs
were louder than his snores aud COM
manded him Ito turn out and show his
pictures
A rap on the head and the order to get
up and show your pictures" usually
brought them on their feet for they knew
by experience three TO be an uneven
match for one.
Fishing out from perhaps the bottom
of their chest picture of sweetheart,
wife or other friend, we'd take IL, nod
ding approval each with some compii-
mcntary remark; wben, after being duly
inspected by each, we'd give them back
saying: "You can get In now"-and the
answer would be and you can get out,
III, in making a search, we found a man
with the Inopes. we'd drag him ON dock
for shave, for, when man Is overcome
with that complaint, he's apt to be negli-
gent of his personal appearance. When
there, we'd proceed to lather him in the
eyes with hasty pudding while one of
the others got the razor made OF good
English steel from the best American
iron ready for operation.
A shoemaker who.was sad at heart. was
compelled TO take three apprentices mt
ono time, who, In few days time,
learned the trade, knew more than the
boss, struck and kicking over the bench,
declared I'VE d not work for a~country
shoemaker who kept his tools In "A raisIn
box"
Having spent all the ready money we
had In our possession in New York. we
boys began To make plans To make more
before reaching our destination.
do yon think We could patch Dootsy"
asked one.
mo" was the answer. 1--WE couldn 9
pick up anything that way but there s
the blacksmith who is making knirus
dageers ana tormentors. l think he's
making a big supply to sell when he gets
ashore. Let's talk business To him.
Straightway we presented ourselves be.
fore him, where he stood at his cupolo
forge. p, /, . -
wait To hire two apprentices?"
You look like honest chaps. Related
to Gen. Harrison, arc your"
''Yes TippelcaBoe and Tyler, too, and my
friend here as "A minister's son. They arc
always COOL, you know.
"All right. that's recommendation
enough-cone on tomorrow morning.
Next morning we were set to work
striking and blowing-it was strike ami
blow, and blow and strike, until our
vague visions of glory, as an imitatUr uf
Ola Tubal Cain vanished. for wo never
bcd u ghost Of a chance OF lifting
"High our Lrawny hands
On the iron glowing Gle ar
III the sparks rushed out
In scarlet showers;
AS we fashioned
Ihe sword and the spear.
1t was simply blow and strike strike
and blow, aud pull out cInders pull out
cirGers, strike and blow again.
~ tnc Gnu vi tWO Wtlhs, Wntn OlI
wind had nearly given out the black
sDlith said:
well. boys, guess you've learnt tie
trade-nc,er had two such smart appreh.
tices before.
We were both glad. for we found out the
first day there was no money In H., as all
tic knives, ETC., made Were giNon 10 the
crew; bnt as We had agreed u sorve timc
rs Apprentices, we thought we'd stick u
out.
Our first port was IT. Catherine > :.
South America, where we got good sup
ply OF fruit
Willie there some OF tho younger Of our
number went on board an English harSuc,
and Joined In tho fun OF dancing and
singing
My name is Capt Kidd
AS sailed;
q, my name Is Capt Kidd
And much wickcdness did,
As l sailed.
They treated US each To long s,cm
pipe and still held mine tightly hotween
NV teeth when we made our departure.
In scrambling OF fell overheard but
bobbcd up sereDely, pipe In mouth.
Nose. your pipe gone Outt' they asked.