New-York tribune., 1909-10-03
SAVED BY A cRUC1F1x.
How an Evangelist Escaped Death at TIE
Hands Of Cannibals.

Like one OF Robert Louis Stevensons romance.
reads the life story OF the Rev Thomas Needhaaa
evangelist. and one OF the Rev Dr. Wilbur Chap
mans little army Of men.
mere lad OF thirteen he was kidnapped messed
INTO service cabin boy a sailing vessel thar
took him around the Horn and then nnarooned him
on an island, where he fell into the hands Of a
cannlbal tribe, from whom he escaped only to faH
into a predicament as dire.
This is the way the story unloIds ITSELF says
The Boston Journal" Needham Is a native Or
Ireland. his birthplace being one Of the little sea-
port towns on the west coast OF the Emerald Isle.
wheFe tramp merchantmen occasionally puts IA
for supplies.
Like every other boy whose home is IN a seaport
town. the evanselist-to-be spent his spare time
along the waterfront. listening. whenever ths
chance offered. 10 the strange yarns OF the sea and
the lands beyond that the sailors were only too
willing TO spin.
ship came in one day. that the boy. nothing
loath. was induced TO go aboard. He didn't ileavs
il until he was marooned on little island in the
nilly. had been shipped 70 an the place.
Needham being lad Of spicit. rebelled. ard
suffered the consequence lie was subjected g
that degree Of hard treatment that was possibls
only aboard the merchantmen Of the old dT
He was beaten and cuffed, not only by the Ofsfss
but by the men before the mast ss we'll
For some act of INSTRUMENTATION he was lasEea
TO the mast and forced % undergo the ordeal e
tattOOing, clumsy sailor prickins painfully .lQSu
Faint and exhausted. the boy still rebelled. ana
extreme measures were taken
boats took the lad ashore 20 Oue Jf
the most desolate Islands Of Terra del Fusgo 9nd
left him at the waters edge. without foCtt
drink, and scarcely had the snip passed from s6af
when he was taken prisoner by the natives.
Taken 70 the little village that the DriTllllst
nuts of his CaptOrs formed. he learned. TO his nor
rOr, that he had fallen into the hands Of cauuf-
pals and that they intended to make meal -
him. PrOtestations We're Of no avail. he could uo1
even make himself understood.
tlghtlnS to the last, Needham OverpOWered
a IRE was prepared Then remarkable thing
chief. seeing for the first time the crucihx tire
prisoners arm. crossed himself and refused 70
allow the festival to go on.
BeWildered Neednam taken a hue. TIE
was sun q prisoner, but his safety had been as
sured by the priest, who. it developed. had been
versed in the rudinents of religion BY a Jesuit
priest who had been shpwrecked years before on
The Jesuit died before he completed the couver-
sion OF his hosts. how, tt is unnecessary 70 add
He had however, ingTained into their superstition
minds vague idea OF the meaning OF the cFJclfiNs
and the chief still retained wholesome fear Il It's
symbolism.
The captive soon became popular with the lads 0f
the village, and as they We're expert nOrSe1ens ne
became an expert Finally. after making elaborate
preparations he escaped BY taking the best horse
and Stampedtng the rest
Picked uD by a passing ship. he was conveyed 70
Argentine town. where DrOmDrly
rested as spy He appealed to the British Consul.
who. at the last moment able TO him. a-1
heped him 10 secure a passage back 20 Ireland
There the lad took up his Interrupted SchOolinEs
becoming eventually a cadet In the British navy
His early adventures, however had lett deep M
preston him, and II not strange that, hat-
ing the power OF symbol OF religion so scrtk-
inglv illustrated. he should enter the ministry
I His ministerial service begun IN this country
when he twenty-five years old a rev
I years later he led into evangelSuc Work ~
coming into coStact with some Of the worlds great
power and wide reputation, and a living PROOF that
| truth IS stranger than Action