The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-02-14
thought they were forewarned of inn pending evil or danger.

thought they were forewarned of im- pending evil or danger.
 "One dark stormy night a sailor, who l had record of undaunted bravery, came rushing aft, trembling with fear | and shouting "A ghost! A ghost! Un- l der the forecastle" Before the excite l ment had worn away and while the off, cers were endeavoring to discuss the mystery, there came a crash that sent | thrill of terror through the heart of every one of the crew, and the cry came ringing from forward aft, The | ship is ashore! After a long night of peril the morning broke but to our hor- TOT we found the ship surrounded by an army of sunburned savages in whose hands we were powerless and from whom we soon learned to expect but little mercy. We were allowed to eat of the fruit that grows so abundantly and also of the fish that came upon the shores. At night we, were gathered into the several bungalows Cor huts), not for our better protection but for safe keeping, fearing that when killing time came we could not be found A medi- cine man would come around and ex-
 
 doubt Gin my case as I was young and healthy 1t was anticipated at some fu- ture day I should be chosen to make up the bill of fare for the kings table But one morning ship was discovered in the off1ng and soon a boat was lowered and manned. With what interest we watched every move, and as the boat drew near the natives gathered upon the shore
 with fear and trembling we awaited ,the result, not knowing but that in the excitement a sacrifice would then and there be made: but instead, to our great joy, negotiations for a trade were entered into. One at a time was drawn from our little band as the purchase price was handed over. We thought, who will be the next? By and by I was left alone, apparently the subject of great contention, as the trinkets that had satisfied in all former pur- chases were not refused. A vision of the skulls and human bones that I had looked upon so often during my im- prisonment upon the island again ap- peared with all the attending horrors of the situation. Surely I thought it cannot be that the Providential hand of God that had so mysteriously guided this ship to this almost unknown island of the sea will now be withdrawn
 T thought, too of home and the loved ones there who had kissed me goodbye, and the associations of my boyish days, the dear father and mother whose faces | should never more behold. The vi- | sion broadened and had almost forgot | ten the danger that surrounded me, when above the confusion of languages I | heard the cry, 'Shipmate, you are safe.' | With a wild bound I rushed into the | arms of those who had risked their own life for mine and whom I have always | kept and shall ever keep in grateful re- Now, (continued the cap- tain) this is but a tythe of the history | that might be written in connection with the thirty days that I simply ex- isted among those cannibals.
 "As this island is near the Philippine group, there may be possible relation ship between this tribe and the inhabi- ants of the islands now so much under discussion.
 Remembering so wildly my experi- ,nces I shudder when neighbors express 50 much sympathy toward the poor Fili- oinos from whom we could expect but similar treatment to that which has ,een so often repeated by the inhabi- ants of the South Sea Islands,
 The above story was told the writer o show that this sailors early life was lot all sunshine, and was given for an Illustration and not as matter of his ory, so dates were omitted. Captain Fitch is seventy-three years of age, en- oys fair health for one of his years and S taking the comfort derived from his many years of hard labor at his home on Collins hill. He is quiet modest man, bhors notoriety of any kind, and was unwilling at first for his name to be sed in connection with this article, but lpon a special request from the writer le reluctantly consented.
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