Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-16
Remarkable Experience in the Life of
a Missionary.
HAS BEEN SAILOR AND ACTOR
Expects to Work Among the Peo-
pie of the Stage.
TRI LIS AND HARDSHIPS

Among the men who do missionary work
in our cities there are many who have led
strange lives Men who have been gam
piers, card sharpers, prize fighters, thugs.
corner loafers and even professional GRIM
inals, as well as the reclaimed wrecks of
many honorable trades and professions
may be found doing the work Of the mis-
sions- In the whole list. however there
will hardly be one whose life story is
stranger than that of Ben ]. Scoville. who
is now preparing at the Christian Alliance
School in Nyack, N. Y, for special mis-
sionary work among stage folk. Scoville
has been in his thirty years of life street
gamin, cabin boy. ships cook. tramp, chore
boy, actor. reciter. teacher of elocution and
at one time assistant stage manager for
Sir Henry Irving. In his experience on the
seas he was chief witness for the convic-
ton of Hughes. one of the most brutal
murderers in the history of crime.
Scoville was born in London, England,
thirty years ago. His father, an officer in
the British army, was killed in the Zulu
war. leaving widow and two children,
Ben and baby sister. The mother,
through Evolutionary and musical talent,
supported the children in comparative COM
fort until she suddenly died On the day of
her burial, while salute of honor was be-
Ing fired over her grave, the children were
deserted by their guardian, who left them
penniless and friendless in London. They
drtfted into the Whitechapel district, and
managed during warm weather to exc out
a precar1ouS living, Ben earning a few
pennies day as a newSboy, street sweep
er and bootblack. At night they slept in
alleys, under wagons or wherever shelter
offered.
Death of His Sister.
Then came the winter days and on the
night of the first snow storm of the season
the homeless waits praWla1 into q hoVShnad
which stood in the shadow of Nelson monu-
ment, in Trafalgar Square. Ben wrapped
his sister with his thin coat to keep her
warm. The snow drifted in upon them and
the next morning, when Ben, benumbed,
awoke, his little companion was dead. The
next day she was buried in the public burial
field, four newsboyS acting as bearers. and
Ben made the first great resolution of his
life, that he would earn enough some day
to have the body eXhumed and laid to rest
beside their mother.
The sea had an attraction for him. He
visited the wharves until he secured a place
as cabin boy with Capt Hoyle on the ship
Vanguard. On this vessel he remained sew
eral years, and was promoted to be cooks
assistant. The CAPTAINS daughter, Mary,
helped him with his studies, and he grew
very fond of her. One day, while she was
playing ball on the deck, sudden lurch OF
the ship threw her overheard. Ben plunged
after her and with considerable difficulty
kept her afioat until both were hauled on
board For this bravery, on his return to
London, he was presented with five pounds
by the Royal Humane Society He had
saved two pounds out of his wages and at
once proceeded to crafty his long-chcr-
ished desire. He had his sisters body re-
moved from the public burial field snd
buried by her mother. He then returned to
the sea, this time as stewards assistant on
the steamer Priscilla, Capt William Hughes
from Rio de Janeiro to London.
Witnessed a Brutal Murder.
On the Priscilla was a feeble-minded boy
whom Hughes had taken to sea in return
for 100 pounds paid by the lads guardians.
This boy, from the time he left London.
was subjected to gross indignities and
cruelties inflicted by the captain and bis
mate. On Christmas day the outrages ap-
preached the climax. The boy was brought
to mess and given only the bones which the
ships dog had gnawed. When the little fell
low reached out his hand for some plum
duff the mate struck him a blow with
carving knife, cutting deep cash In his
hand. The blood spurted on Ben, who tore
up his only white shirt to stanch the flow
and make bandages. On New Year eve as
Ben and a companion were on deck, they
saw Capt. Hughes and the mate bring the
boy out There was an alteration and
loud oaths, and the boy was struck. AS he
shrieked with pain Capt. Hughes lifted him
from the deck, carried him to the rail and
hurled him into the sea- There was enc
piercing scream and then all was still.
Ben and his fellow witness of the crime
said nothing. but when they reached Lon
don Ben promptly Informed the murdered
lads guardians. Hughes and the mate
were arrested, tried. convicted upon Ben's
testimony and We're sentenced to be hang
ed. On the night before his execution In
Newgate prison Hughes confessed that he
had acted principal or accessory in the
murder of more than thirty boys In the
same way. Most Of them were feeble
minded. and generally guardians paid f100
for having them taken to sea.
Shipwrecked and Sick.
Once more Ben returned to the ocean.
He endured many hardships, and on his
last voyage as a sailor was shipwrecked.
He drifted ten days in an open boat, SUBJ
sisting on a biscuit and gill Of water
day. After his rescue he underwent a long
sickness In the Marine Hospital London.
On being discharged he worked his way
on q cattle steamer to this country and
struck out for Buffalo. thinking from the
name Of that city that the biggest cattle
ranges must be there. He learned differ
emily, but subsisted a while by doing odd
Jobs and by dancing hornpipes in saloons
He then went to Cleveland, Ohio where he
engaged with doctor to do chores for 81 a