Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-02-06

modest surroundings, feeble, blind and
almost totally deaf, broken down with
the weight of 76 years and the ad-
ventures through which he has passed,
is according to his own story, a scion
of the old English nobility, man of
illustrious lineage. He says he is de-
scended on his fathers side rom the
late Lord de Clepert of Somerset
county. England, being this nobleman's
great-grandson, while his wife's line,
he AYERS, can be traced direct to the
CAROLS of Maryland and the Lees of
Virginia.
Frederick de CIepert Adams Selway
though of such illustrious birth, can
call little of this worlds goods his
own and who courts neither title nor
notoriety. but is content to be in the
house of his nephew, Horace M.
James, the son of halfsIster. What
he does crave, however, is the COM
panionship of people with whom he
can discuss the affairs of the outside
world and who can describe to him the
marvels which inventive genius con-
tinues to create.
A reporter recently found him in an
unusually laxative mood, and he was
easily persuaded to tell the story of
his life, being provided at the same
time with an ear trumpet to catch any
comments the listener might make
ITO begin al the beginning" said
Selway, 'as the story has been told to
me and substantiated by records in
England, my grandfather. James
Selway, when young man, n what
year | do not remember, eloped with
the eldest daughter of the then Lord
de Clepert, who had no son. AS my
great-grandfather was of whit the De
Cleperts considered low deg. re, the
marriage was not counCenanced by
Lord de Clepert. who refused To recog
nize his son-in-law At the death of
the lord. however, my great-grand
mother inherited large sum OF money
and property, which, in course of time,
descended to my grandfather and then
my mother was a Miss Anna Ad-
ans, daughter of Benjamin Adams,
graduate of Oxford and a learned d.
vine. Five months after | was born
my mother died There was one son
older than | and three daughters. My
brother and father are now both dead.
But am getting beyond my story.
When was little baby my aunt took
me to rear. When 2, or years old
was severely burned about the arms
and chest, which was very unfortunate
as will be seen later on. We lived in
London. In 1887, when was IL years
old, my father one day came to my
aunt's house and claimed me. With
tears my aunt, who was religious
woman, while my father bore the name
of being wild blade, gave me into his
care.
"A few days later / found myself ap-
prenticed to ship captain on the col
lier Elizabeth. The captain was a
brute and used me as he would a dog,
escaped and ran away. After many
difficulties reached my fathers home
and again he apprenticed me on board
ship in the West Indian trade. When
the vessel reached her destination on
her first voyage | again escaped and
got to New York. AS had contracted
taste for the sea despite the brutal
treatment, | shipped on various craft
plying between HAMPTON Roads and
New York
Later on | went to South America
and there enlisted in the navy on the
old frigate Columbia, then on blockade
duty at Montevideo. We were in many
battles and l was injured by a fall
from the rigging. After recovering |
enlisted on the 74-gun frigate Colum-
bus, under Commodore J. d. Biddle
That was in 1854, and the Mexican
War was expected. We left Sandy
Hook on June 4, 1S45, for the East Iu-
dies and China on a cruise to look
after the American shipping interests.
Il was in Manila in 1886 While
there the black jack, or cholera. took
away ~ Vi Jul ClSM anu We leu. Al
Hongkong We came near being de-
stroyed in typhoon. We went to
Japan. and on July 10, 1916, we entered
the port of Yeddo. and to our COM
mander. j. D. Biddle, is due the honor
of paving the way for the famous
treaty with Japan which is accredited
TO Commodore Perry.
I'VE left there July % and were 100
days in getting to Honolulu While on
the voyage We spoke an English ship
and were informed that war had been
declared with Mexico. We sailed for
Valparaiso. where the Columbus was
made flagship of the feet. Gun prac-
tiee followed. Every day we discharged
hroadside after broadside into the air.
So great was the noise that | was
made almost totally deaf. We went
into the port of Montare and planted
the first American flag there. and then
continued to San Francisco. That was