The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-04-07


Zone morning when we were in the
South Pacific, some one cried out that
there was a small boat with several
people in it in sight on the lee bow. We
bore away for the boat, and pretty soon
it was alongside the ship. Five men and
little boy climbed up from the boat to
our deck, and we gave them warm well
come. The boy couldn't have been over
eight years old. He was bright-look-
ing little fellow, with long curly hair.
Capt. Harris took to him at once. He
carried the child into the after cabin
and put him in his own berth, and took
him something to eat, while the rescued
men were telling us how they came to DE
in the the open boat. They belonged to
bark which was bound to New York,
but had sprung leak and had foun-
6ered the day before. The crew left the
vessel in two boats just before she went
down, but when she did go under she
swamped one of the boats, and the cap
tain and seven men were thrown into
the water and drowned. The other boat,
with the mate in charge, managed to
keep afloat until we came up with it.
"The mate of the wrecked vessel, Mr..
Bradley, was gray-haired, rough-look-
ing man, but he seemed to have kind
heart. Early in the evening, when he
was sitting in the forward cabin with
the second mate and myself, he told us
that the little boy, who was still in the
after cabin with Capt. Harris, had been
shipwrecked twice before. The little
ri g >%os, =
had been going to sea with his father
and mother ever since he was born.
About four years before, when the ship
on which this seagoing family were,
was nearing the English channel,
heavy fog set in. The second mate was
in charge of the deck, and the captain,
with his wife and boy and the mate,
were at dinner. The captains wife hap
pened to think of something in the gal
ley that she wanted. and she went for
ward for it. Just then a big steamer
loomed up suddenly in the fog, and,
without any warning, struck the ship
aft and smashed in the cabin. The poor
captain was crushed to death, but the
mate and the little boy were only i'm
prisoned by the broken timbers. The
mate cried out number of times. but
received no answer. He could hear oc-
casional whistles from the steamer for
about half an hour. Finally he made
struggle and succeeded in tearing away
enough broken timber to iiberate him
self. He took the little boy with him,
and going on the deck found that the
wreck was sinking. The vessel had
been deserted by the others, who had
probably climbed on board the steamer.
The wreck was now nearly even with
the water, and the mate made little
raft and launched it. He took the boy
and sprang on to the raft, where he
dashed himself and the little fellow.
Soon afterward the wreck sank. Next
morning it asFclear, and the mate and
the boy were picked up by small iron
bark bound to Japan. The bark, how
ever, got out of her course. and was
driven ashore on small island, not far
from the Philippines. The island was
inhabited by friendly natives, who took
care of the stranded crew, but nearly
three years passed before any vessel
touched at the island. They were final
ly taken off by man-of-war, which
landed them at Bombay. There the
mate was taken sick and sent to the hos
pital, and while in hospital he was Wis
tied by Mr.. Bradley. Mr.. Bradley, who
had once been befriended by the boys
father, said that the bark he was on
was about to sail for New York, and he
undertook to deliver the little fellow
to his friends. But now the poor boy
was again on his way to the other side
of the world.
while Mr.. Bradley was finishing his
account of how he came by the boy,
Capt Harris came in from the after
cabin and said that the little fellow
was sleeping nicely. Mr.. Bradley be-
gan to tell the captain about how the
boy was wrecked the first time. Then
the captain rose up, pale and trembling,
and asked the name of the ship. When
Mr.. Bradley gave the name of the ship
that was run down, and said that the
boys father was Capt. Wilson, the skip
per staggered back, and then rushed
into the after cabin as if he had gone mad.
We couldn't make out what was the mat
ter with him. An hour later went into
the after cabin for something, and |
saw the captain leaning over the boy
who was fast asleep. The captain
looked up, and | noticed that his eyes
were red, as if he had been crying hard.
Thinks |: We'll, well, you are an old
maid of captain, indeed
1.-The next morning we were becalmed
Near by us lay big clipper ship, which,
toward noon, sent a boat to us. The
officer in charge of the clippers boat
said that they were bound for New
York, but were shorthanded, and he
told Mr.. Bradley that he and the other
men from the lost barque were well
come to come on board and work their