The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-05-09
But He Invoked the Law-Money
= and Friends Saved Him from
Sailing on a Vessel That Was
Lost With All Hands.

ar conper colored fellows from the
north shore Of Africa. Had II not
been for the name of being. In JAIL
was well pleased with my stay there.
i was permitted to visit my hrst room
mates whenever pleased. Every DAY
such as were not put in for capitai
ofrences were turned out In the pa
rade ground as they called II. ~ was
strong picketing. enclosing i've VI
three acres and guarded by soidisrs.
I had money and lived much better
than had been In the habit for some
time. got my Indian dress from
Camp Covington and one day. Gus
Parker and myself performed for the
benefit Of the major. had iarse
butcher knife and the major allowed
me to act the part Of the drunken IN
dian. got into the grounds with my
knife and began cutting capers. anu
Park er telling how durn dangerous
was when drunk The British. span.
lard. negro and everything else. would
give me as wide walk as I wished
VOLUNTEER WHO REM
DERED GOOD SERVICE.
Now for the trial--it came on. petors
Judge Berrien. While mixing about l
FOUND A man who seemed to know my
age better than I did myself. and all
I had to prove was that was not
Stwenty-one-.years of age, to be dis
charged from the vessel on which had
shipped. The man that seemed TO
know my age was not native OF AM
erica, but looked old enough to have
known Adams age. He volunteered bis
service and as the government hao
been receiving volunteers for some
time past, thought 1t well enough TO
take one into my service. drill MIN
and see what could make Of him.
There was General Watson and a
cousin OF mine who could say from
what they understood that my age was
recorded somewhere. as having been
born February ~, l797--this was IN
March 1915. I found that their testi-
mony was not likely TO do me any
good. You know It has been said that
volunteers are better than drafted men.
Ny volunteer came to the stand ana
made HIS statement. The 5arge asked
the witness some questions as well as
the counsel for Captain Downs. He
answered them promptly and to the
purpose.
The Judge informed Captain Downs
that he would discharge me unless he
could offer testiminy to Offset that OF
the witness that had Just left the
stand Just as the Judge closed these
remarks the witness turned and said.
"oh, may II place your honor he may
look all over Amerikay and Ireland,
too. but he will never End the lad who
viii say. that black IL my eye"
Captain Downs looked at the witness
moment and then said:
mo. never can or any one else md
man that is better master OF your
trade than yourself.
The witness then remarked: I
sAh. Captain. you are right. There's
not a man living that can beat me
ditching, age and inch me-
The last remarks OF the witness even
made the captain laugh. was dis
charged. If ever I see you. and you
will call my attention to this subject
and to the visit made with Tom Rix
to st. Augustine, and your visibility
gate myself at least to make you smile
THE VESSEL WAS LOST,
FATE Is UNKNOWN.
After was discharged offered the
captain the bounty money had re-
ceived, but he would not take 1t and
insisted on my going with him, which
I refused. I have seen Captain Downs
since, but Lieuts. Shubrick. Stevens
and all knew on board that vessel
were lost. believe I did hear that q
young man I knew by the name OF
fOWdIQ OOkiIcNt xEOtu AuBuSthg Ge.i
who shipped as Master OF Marines
about the time left, also left her be-
fore she sailed from Savannah.
On the 18th OF July. 1915. the Eper-
vier passed Gibraltar on her return to
this country with dispatches from
Commodore Decatur and she was under
the command OF Lieut.. Shubrick; that
| is the last satisfactory account heard
of her; that isl history. have never
let an opportunity escape to catch any.
thing that thought could or would
give the least clue to the destiny Of
that Ill fated vessel and crew.
After quitting the Epervier and lott
ering around Savannah for a geek
or two. I returned to Miiledgevilie.
paid q visit to my relatives In South
Carolina and went into the Nation that
same year; laid claim at or near the
old Mordecai Place and very near
where old John Burch settled. After
spending some months or six weeks
with the Indians and engaging some