Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-16

sailors to dig for valuabies in the ruins
Of Carthage. Wakefield with a gang Of
mon unearthed some large marble pillars,
which we're cent TO England to be sawed |
up into table tops for the Queen.
While stationed here. news OF a BROTH
CIR. who was supposed to have been |
drowned, was received and Wakefield |
made up his mind TO 90 in search |
OF him as soon a. his term Of serv.
Ice was over. A sailor, whom he met, told
him that his brother was living In White
hall. N. Y, In this country. The feet
remained near the coaat Of Africa for
three years before II returned to Eng
land and then the pay Of the sailors was
held back in order TO induce them to
remain In the navy, for ne Crimean
war was then threatening. MIR. Wake
field, however, let tho salary 90 and
worked his way TO Portland, Me- where
he took an overland route to Whitehall
and found his brother.
REACHED AMERICA
He landed in this country In the dead
Of winter and coming. as he did. from
q long term in the tropics, he didn't fail
In love with the climate so that few
weeks were enough for him. He went to
New York and shipped from there 10
Charleston, S. C. from there he went
AS mate OF brig loaded with slaves
for New Orleans, where they were 10
be sold in the market.
The next voyage was full Of adventure
and was aboard a Baltimore clipper
bound for Rio Janeiro. II was at the
time OF the height OF the gold fever,
when all sailors wanted to look for their
fortunes in California. The crew. at
best. were a pad lot and this uneasiness
made them worse. When a few weeks
out. 1t was discovered that the supply OF
coffee for the officers had been stolen
and the captain, by way Of punishment.
ordered the crews supply Of tea to be
cut off.
This was done with the result that the
crew mutinied when the hrst bad blow
came up and the sails had to be lowered
by the officers as best they could. Tho
captain was full OF fight and took stern
measures to bring about discipline. At the
point of a gun. each man was ordered to
come forward, one at time. ana be put
In irons. They were then taken below
and chained to posv. MIR. Wakefield
!aughingly describes the episode. The
crew at first remained defiant and whiled
away a few hours with songs and jcsts NJ
came on and they had received nothing
to eat or drink. the spirit OF the bravcst
was conquered and the remainder OF the
trip was made with trouble. AT Rio
Janeiro they were discharged and crew
Of negroes taken on.
Upon the expiration Of the voyage. NJ.
| Wakefield decided to settle down on land
! and. strange to say. located in Whitehall,
which he had gladly left few months
previous. He went to England for his
family. shipping as ships carpenter. On
board ship, the carpenter is also the
undertaken. and while on the way to
| this country. his child died and the UNI
pleasant task Of sewing his child up In
the canvass sack fell to him. He pleaded
with others on the boat TO do that for
him but could induce OH one.
When off New Foundland his evil
genius overlook him again in the form
| of storm He so conducted himself as
to win the gratitude Of the passengers
and crew by a brave act which probably
saved the ship. A heavy wash had driven
every one below with the exception OF
the man at the wheel. when sudden
| blast tore some spars loose. They were
pounding the ship badly and would have
stove a hole in her If Wakefield had not
made his way along the side in the face
of the storm and cut the spars away
For this deed. he was made an officer
| s.vrr, resr>-cr,s Avn cy,,
Althoush the NE at sea was over d"
other opportunity LOT oiSp'a! VI
| courage was given tne sailor VIE" ilNi"s
IN this city. "hen he ana N1s son. 'oi'''
sa'eo 'he l'es VI t"o p@see"se'" OH"
| ,x.I,; al, b AI