Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-02-03

and started on a voyage which took
me around the world before I again
set foot on the British islands
"The day after leaving Montevideo
the barometer began falling rapidly,
and before night the wind was blowing
a stiff gale, while enormous seas came
washing over the decks. The bridge
was washed away, and the third Off
Ger, who happened to be sSslding there,
had a narrow escape from being wash
ed overheard. For three days this
weather continued, and, owing to the
ship being in ballast, we had a very
rough time of it. On the fourth day
the clouds broke and a few welcome
rays of sunshine beamed upon the anX-
ious crew. Later in the day the sky
cleared enough to allow observations
to be taken, and it was found that the
ship was many miles out Of her course.
AS night approached we sighted an is
land, and, fearing reefs, we hove to
for the night and in the morning put
q boat out for the shore.
"a landing was effected and the boat
hid in a little cove, after which we
started inland. For a mile or two the
course was along the side of a noun
tain, which grew sleeper and sleeper.
Then the path took the form of a long
balcony around the mountain, from
the other side Of which we got splen-
did view of a little bay and a hard
beach. To our establishment we saw
there, high and dry, the skeleton of a
wooden ship, evidently a brig, which
must have been there a great many
years. Seeing this old wreck, our in
terest and curiosity were excited, and
we directed our course toward it, when
we wee startled by a grooming sound,
accompanied by a noise much like the
believing Of a bull. 1t seemed to pro-
coed from the old wreck, and upon
further investigation we found the
opening to an excavation. We had a
consultation and at last decided to in
vestgate. The opening was narrow,
and we had to proceed in single file.
but at last the cave broadened out into
a vide room, and there a sight met our
eyes even the recollection of which
mikes the chills come over me. The
rom was decorated with all sorts of
weapons and other things of an I'M
Known nature, while on one side were
/ couple of ships chests, on one of
which was spread a silver dining serv-
ice, badly battered and blackened.
Opposite it and under the Danish
flag were the buSts of Venus and Mer-
curry, in front of which lay, in horrible
Squatted around the floor in front Of
the images were a dozen or more saw
ages, stark naked and tearing to pieces
what looked like the remains of a hui
man being, at the same time uttering
the peculiar grooming sound which at
tracted our attention when we came
around the mountain. In their midst
stood diminutive savage, entirely
nude but for a peaked hat that evident
~ belonged to some ships officer. ring
ing a dinner bell At the sight of MS
the saVages Sprang to their feet and
stood for a moment undecided. We
were also undecided, but we soon drew
our guns and slowly backed out Of the
room. Seeing this, the savages sprang
after us, but one of the sailors fired
point blank at the foremost man. and
he fell dead. His companions stopped
their fight and, uttering YELL picked
up the corpse and carried it back into
the room, where they probably added
II to their feast We got out of there
as fast as we could, found our boat
and boarded our ship"