The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-09-28
PHILIP DRAKE 5
WILD CAREER
Private SLAYER Who Was Cast
Out of England.
TURNED UP IN BOSTON
His Return to America and
His Poverty.

OF all the men who have sailed the salt
blue seas. whether as gentlemen adven-
turers or pirate sIavers, few have boast
ed OF a more remarkable career than that
OF one formerly well known at Havana
and Rio Janeiro as Felipe Drax or Eel
lpe Marine. whose true name. however,
was Philip Drake.
BRAKES father was sailor. and had
reached the berth Of mate on an English
coaster when he was born. Then his
mother died. and the lad. four years
old, was put in the workhouse of Stock
ford. England. Two years later ne was
at work feeding a machine that made
excelsior out Of moss for the use OF cush-
ion-maker. Drake used to say he was
chosen for this task because he was a
weakly lad. The dust from the machine
soon killed every one put at it. and the
authorities did not like to waste healthy
children in such work.
But Philip mutiIated his hand before
he had time to die. and then he was
shipped to America. the workhouse au-
thorities being confident he would never
the oversee voyage consisted OF new
cateehism. bound in bright blue cover:
a shilling and some advice. Drake al
ways remembered the advice.
Study your cateohism and don't for
set old England said Crump. the work
house master, as he left the lad shivering
on the wet deck OF a ship. And so I
left my native shore, expatriated for the
crime OF poverty" said Drake when relat-
ing the story OF his lire
However he reached Boston where he
vas picked up by a druggist. who taught
him to mix medicines, and then. while
delivering a package of drugs at a hotel
enc day, he saw and recognized an uncle
house. The uncle's name was Maurice
Halter, but he was now called Captain
Ricardo villeno
The uncle did not think well OF the lad
at first glance, but OF learning that he
had been working among drugs he chang
ed his countenance and received him
kindly. The uncle said he was captain Of
q brig. He offered the boy q berth on
board as an assistant Of the surgeon, and
Philip gladly accepted.
The two accordingly took the New York
stage, but they left it at New Rochelle
and boarded a smart brig. named the
Ceraline. that was lying at anchor in the
Sound-a brig that carried d dozen big
carronades. with a crew that showed
q weH-maintained discipline. Though the
boy observed these facts. he saw in
them nothing significant Of the character
Of 81 = -
any better when she went to Rio Janeiro
and lay there several weeks fitting for
a voyage TO Africa.
Eventually the Coraline sailed on this
African voyage. but with twenty-fou
hours a hurricane caught her. carried
her away to the north. and left her one
night. with an exhausted crew. among
some Islands of the north coast Of South
America. Here she anchored 10 recuper-
ate her men and then came the lads first
adventure in what was to be his life
career. With the first mornings light
some negroes we're seen on the Isearest
island. They were at first mistaken for
pirates. but their lack OF arms convinced
the captain that they We're runaway
slaves. and he Immediately ordered out
D
Philip was taken along in the boat that
carried the ships surgeon. with suitable
supplies for the care Of the wounded
men II was all very puzzling as well
as interesting to the lad for he had even
then no idea what was 10 be done. But
after the boats reached shore he saw two
negroes. a man and woman. captured
as they ished in q quiet stream The wo-
man was gagged. bound neck and heels
and thrown into a boat like an animal
for slaughter. \ little later. led by a ne
gro man. who served as 4 guide under
compulsion. the sailors surrounded a ivy
settlement, n a pretty glen some distance
inland and 81 the sound OF a pistol
shot raided il. killing two negro men
who resisted. ard capturing forty men,
women and children. who we're carried,
bound securely. TO the boats and sent
10 the swift-saHing brig.
The Coralins. with her easily gained
cargo OF negroes. ran north until she fell
In with a Florida trader. who bought
them with the intent ~ running them
from Florida into the United States
paid a price that yielded rhilIps uncle
a neat profit Of $500. Il Is % be OBJ
served that that captain made that. rot
The owners Of the vessel. II was that
the captain called a private venture he
would account 70 the owners for all
PROFITS OF the voyage 20 Africa, but this
lucky stroke was MS Own
Many and strange were brakes sdven-
lures thereafter. For instance. ar the end
o. seven years Drake sailed from ,he
Gambia river fl the brig Miranda. car
rying cargo OF so slaves Under matches.
the whole OF which belonged 70 himself
ard 8 Spauisrd named Deigo Ramos But
Drake slept comfortably II small shack
tuiit on the quarter deck. h was reused
BY Wild cries in the f0recastie and turn
e out 70 hnd that the brig was on arss
and the FIRE was beyond control
Su0therinE down the flames as well
IS they could. tire white rnsn built rafs
~ such spars as couid be thrown into TIE
water. LEFT il DRIFT clear az TIE YES
SCI. got thes- boats loaded with rrovi-
sisns ard water. ara then when al zas
ready one cS tie crew threw open The
Patches 20 let TIE rezres o. 5eck
As The blacks came yelling from he
hold. TIE crew laid % their oars ard seen
had the raft several lengths from ths
hulk which Was y this tire wei fIuu-
iratea by the flames that burst 0lt q
Tia forep~ak- BY the light q The are the
could see the boats towing TIE
vacant raft and they Instantly plunged
ever AID wezt swimming ii chase. of
course many q thsn were drovced bu1
tho strongest ard most ssEtrE reached
The rats ard we're ssss for TIE tine TIE .
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