davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1911-06-11

The next instant the lashings gave way, and
the boat shot like an arrow into the foaming
sea. beyond.
Il hardly knew what happened after that
for long time, for I was half dead with
fright and nearly strangled with water. 1
only know that / clung for dear life to the
thwart, realizing that the boat remained on
itJ keel, despite the fact that it was tossed
about in the mad seas like an empt~ bottle.
"By-and-by l felt the boat lifted up higher
than ever, as If balancing on the crest Of an
enormous wave; then it dashed forward again
and struck with great violence upon some
thing hard and solid.
'.The water seemed to recede for a moment,
and then, returning with renewed force, drove
the boat further along. something rustling and
grating against its sides, and then all was
still, except the bowling of the wind.
For time ! feared to stir. Then, as moth
1t was, dark, and the air was full of flying
spray, but / could perceive that the boat waa
resting on firm land and that dense bushes
were on every side.
so sat there, cold and wet, for hours as it
seemed, the wind shifting meantime to another
quarter and moderating perceptibly.
when daylight came-which thought it
and found myself on the shore Of lovely
little bay, with the open sea in front, which
was still agitated by white-capped waves.
though the gale had mostly abated.
From this spot 1 made my way, through
ridge, whence ! got.a fine view in every direc-
ton; and my heart sank when discovered
that ] was on a small island, not more than
a mile in extent, with nothing in sight be-
yond, in any quarter, except a great waste
of angry ocean and with no signs that the
cay was inhabited by a single living creature.
Whether the brig had outweathered the
gale, ! could not tell, and my mind was di-
yided between a sense of thanldulness that
1 had escaped a watery grave and a feeling
OF horror that i was castaway on a desert
island, where what would hefall me / could
not imagine.
AS the day wore on, l reflected that, from
the position of the brig when the hurricane
struck her, the island must be one of the
Bahamas, and, as the larger islands were in
h9bited,, 1 felt pretty sure some passing ves-
sci would come in sight before very long.
ms thought gave me much comfort, and
i concluded to explore my little territory and
see just what sort Of place l had fallen
upon.
"This was no tedious job, for, as have
already stated, the cay was small being about
a mile in length, with an average width Of
half that distance.
There was ridge along the centre of the
cay, which, however, rose in no place to a
height greater than fifty feet; and this was
covered with a growth of small bushes, in
terspersed with low trees. In one spot, near
the coast-line, was a cluster of dozen stunted
cocoa palms, well laden with fruit
This discovery greatly pleased me, for
at once saw that there was no danger of
starving-for a while, at least-since cocoa
nuts will furnish both meat and drink at
the same time. .. ~. .:
"The soil was very thin and sandy, and
the rocks seemed to be species of coraline
limestone, all full of assures and honey-combed
by the water. ..'.,W o..
'"All at once came upon scene that
The Washington herald., 1911-06-11

made me almost leap for joy. 1t was bear
tiful little bay, two-thirds land-locked, with a
wide beach of fine, soft sand. Against the
side of low cliff there stood a small hut,
thatch. hastened to this spot, only to hnd
the hut ready to tumble down with age
decay; but its existence showed that at some
time the cay had been inhabited
The next thing that arrested my atten-
tion was an odd-looking pen, or inciosure;
built along the shore where the water seemed
to be quite shallow 1t was about twenty ieet
long and ten wide, and was made OF SNORT,
stout poles, driven into the sand. these oehg
held together and strengthened by slenaer
branches of bushes and trees. interviewer nice,
ly, the whole thing forming KIND OF "a''ieu
fence.
"It was a curious sort Of affair, and for
what purpose it had been constructed was
Some ashes and burnt ends Of fagote near
the hut proved that a fire, had been kinqieeu tes
there, but as the aches and sticks were weasn-
er-beaten and scattered, ! inferred 'ha' lne
fire had not been recently made. =
Il will not weary you with an account Oh
INV life on the cay, nor tell you. how lone
some and dreary it was: 1t Is al very nice
to read about Robinson Crusoe and the swiss
family, and their adventures as castaways' pn. pn.
a few days real experience of such hie VIII
take all the romance out OF 1t, can Ten you
Il fixed up the old hut triae with broken
full, It furnished fair lodging place; I%ade
good use Of the cocoanuts, and found a.. .apun-
dance Of fine shell,ish. called conchs " h,cn
were quite palatable, and was happy to dls-
cover few banana trees near the hut, wnich
added to my stock of food not little;
"0ne day, while searching Tor shell-hsh
along the reefs, i came upon large lump OF
some wax-ike substance that was quite un-
like anything had ever seen. 1t was OF a
dark color ard emitted most disagreeable
odor.
peared to have drifted from the sea. How
ever, as it could be of no practical use to me,
and as the odor was detestable, fastened
away and never went near it again for long
time.
'Now and then / took look at the briggs
boat. more for old acquaintance's sake than
from an encouragement of help that it could
give me; for 1t was too heavy Tor me to
move, and, without sail, mast or oars, it
would have been useless even If could have
succeeded in launching it.
Three times a day / climbed to the crest
of the ridge, and from a tamarind tree scanned
the horizon for a glimpse of sail that never
came, and which, in the bitterness OF my
heart, / began to think never would come.
"The weather was lovely; the sun shone all
day long in a cloudless sky; the wind rustled
among the branches as gently as summer
breeze, and, although it was the month OF
February, the air was soft and balmy.
"The island possessed quiet beauty OF IT'S
own under its tropical vegetation, but could
enjoy none of it, for / was lonesome and
weary and heartsick, with my thoughts ever
rcyertng to the dear ola f;ISS home IN haS New Eng
ishly abandoned only a few weeks before.
Zone morning / was beside myself with
ioy. for, from my lookout in the tamarind
tree, deserted sail in the offng, and when
The Washington herald., 1911-06-11

] perceived that it was growing larger and
larger, and that il was apparently heading
straight for my island, / could not restrain
my feelings any longer, but danced and leaped
about shouting and crying by turns, till one
might have imagined had gone stark mad.
On came the vessel, turning neither to
the right nor the left, and by-and-by. when it
had approached within a half-mile of the
snore, heard the distant rattle Of the anchor
chain. and saw the splash Of the water as
tne anchor plunged into it's blue depths; and
then started at full speed and ran like
deer down to the shore and out along slen-
der reef that jutted into the sea in that local
ity, waving my hands and yelling vigorously.
The vessel was little craft, Of about iif-
teen tons burden. with canvas and rigging
much the worse for wears frail craft, i
Thought, to sail the great ocean. She seemed
70 have large number of persons on board
Tor SO small a schooner for readily counted
dozen, and was sure could make ous
four or FIVE boats. twoaof them towrd astern,
All this struck me as very strange, and /
began 70 think Of pirates, and all sorts Of
tnnss, though knew the days Of freebooters
were long past. e 80 e.s
My wonder increased when the people on
board paid no attention TO my outcry for
was certain they must have heard me, though
overlooked the fact that the wind was blow
ing from the schooner towards me, and that
consequently my voice did not probably reach
half the distance. n
Presently two boats put of from the YES
sci. each carving four mem one df4Rbous.
bost slowly Slonx ~ the dissstioS ss eois ne he
shore: Another leanine over the boats side,
thrust small wooden box into the water,
and appeared to be looking through Il. The
other two fellows carried long poles in their
hands, though they did not assist in propelling
They were all negroes, their black skins
fairly glistening in the sun, for they wore
only palmetto hats and cotton trousers. their
braWny- breasts and shOuldera hqin0 enfiralv
naked.
They were evidently searching for some
thing in the sea. What could it be? was
quite puzzled, and for a time ceased my
shouting IN amusement at the queer proceed
irgs of the men in the boats. Then, as they
gradually neared the shore, ! recollected my
sell, and called out again at the top Of my
voice.
This time the men heard me- and they az
once ceased from their curious doings and
poled the boat to the shore. accosting me, TO
my great delight, in very fair English, and
listening to my story with the deepest inter-
est. At my request they received me on
board, and took me to the schooner tosee the
captain.
/ found that the vessel was sponeins
craft from Nassau, the chief town Of the
gathering sponges. They already had quan.
tity on board, stored in the hold and on the
deck, and had visited this little island TO clean
the sponges, they said.
They seemed very kindly disposed, and
the akiPper said could go to Nassau with
weeks yet. and that he knew / would be well
cared for there, as the American Government
had consul at that port, who always as
forded relief to the destitute or shipwrecked
sailors Of his country.
ON pAcp sIv
The Washington herald., 1911-06-11

II
with curious adventures, marvellous
~ to tell-that is, if he ever gets back
home again to tell them"
1t was Uncle Nathaniel who spoke, pune
tuatlng the sentence. in several places with
little wbiffs of smoke from his old brier-wood
PIPE
The old fellow had come up from Nan.
tneket, just as he had done every summer
ior weeks vacation as long as We could re-
member; and, a. he was our favorite uncle,
mothers only brother, and had knocked about
the world all his life and was full of famous
stones, you may be sure he received a cordial
welcome from all of us.
les boys, 1t Is true, as the good Book
says, that they who go down TO the sea in
snIps see the works of the Lord and His
wonders in the great deep" -
"a we knew what this speech meant, and 30
We crowded a little closer, il that were pos
mD,e, around Uncle Nathanieps big chair,
and fairly held our breath, lest we should
mlss a. word he should say VI
always had hankering after the sea, /"
went on the old man. which is not to be
2 q whaling ship, in the middle of the Pacific
oesSn, thousand miles from land.
a, curious enough, my father, fisherman
snTugn ne was, opposed my going to sea for
nyng; but i finally did what many boy
pas dom, before me, and what plenty of, them
Wi -cQptinue to do. ran away from home,
ana shlpped as cabin boy on brig bound
~ a Mexican port. go. ~ b
AZ was ali very pleasant at first. y The
Heetner was fine; a steady nor'east wind
D1eW right along; the skipper was a genial
old sea-dog, who treated me kindly, and !
ielt That l was truly in clover. and blessed
inc hour in which / had determined to start
out on my own hook.
but one afternoon. when we were in lati-
luce ~ degrees north, and in the Florida
Suli, the wind began to freshen, and sud
1enly backed round nor'east to nor west. The
barometer went down two-tenths inside OF
an hour, and the captain declared we were
gong TO have a hurricane.
approximately, he was a true prophet,
i9r, long before midnight, we were in the
t tmek OF i, the wind blowing like mad, the
and rolling about till j truly thought each
minute she would thrash her masts out or
turn keel up.
Presently the vessel sprang aleak, which
was not strange, considering how she was
twisted about and strained by the great
waves, which battered and pounded her sides
and deck with a strength there was no re-
after awhile the order came to man the
pumps, and all went on deck, and, as we
were short-handed, had to join the others.
!. ~ was hard enough labor, tell you to stand
on u ones feet and work the pumps and dodge
the huge eombers that now and then swept
tne deck from stem TO stern.
suddenly l saw a tremendous big wave
curl over the after part of the ship. Before
I could do more than realize the fact, was
buried IN salt water, and felt myself hurled
WIN considerable force against one of the
Drgs boats, that hung in the port davts.
elutched the gupnel with both hands,
ana lelt myself lifted bodily by the wave and
'""Wed IN under one of the boats thwarts.
The Washington herald., 1911-06-11

CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX
The Washington herald., 1911-06-11
COPYRIGHT BY JAMES ELTERsoN

] 4; $; :: $ :: :: !: :; 4
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The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-02
SMITHFIELD

G.. II. Blaisdell of Norridgewock has
installed a bone grinder in the mill of
A. j. Wyman. Mr.. Wyman is doing
the grinding
Albert Gilman suffered a severe at
tack of Indigestion last week. Or.
Wadsworth of Skowhegan and Smith
of Norridgewock were called. He is
gaining
Ellsworth Piper is home from Kineo
to visit his mother. Mrs. Lucy Piper,
who is in poor health.
There was an entertainment and
dance in Grange Hall, Friday evening
under the auspices of the Grange.
The community were saddened Sat
urday by the sudden death of Trustin
Wentworth, which occurred in Nor
ridgewock. He had been a respected
citizen of this town until the past year.
Mr.. Wentworth was veteran of the
civil war. He leaves four children
and several grand children.
The citizens of Smithfield are en-
thusiastic over the prospect of cleo
trio lights in town in the near future.
Daniel Groves has a contract to
build eight boats. Mr.. Groves is an
expert in boat building
Mr.. and Mrs. Horace Withee and
their son. Percy and wife were guests
of Mr. and Mrs. George A. Groves.
Sunday.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-02
MERCER.

The item in last weeks correspond
ence in regard to the dance in Blais-
dell's Hall, should read March 9th, in
stead of March 4th. The dance will
be held, Monday night, March 9Th
town meeting day.
Mrs. Julia Gray Fletcher, former
ly of Mercer. died at her home Ia
Madison last week, after a long i'll
ness. She leaves a hubsand, two sons
and a brother, X c. Gray of Madison
Miss Flora Snow has been spend
ing few days at home, from her
work in Augusta.
Mrs. Bailey Smith is in very poor
health at present. Mrs. Witham is
working there.
Mr.. and Mrs. e. G. Lowell spent
Wednesday of last week in Dexter
visiting friends and shopping.
Mr.. Samuel Lowell of Mainstream
vas at his sons, e. G. Lowell's, a
few days last week hauling his po-
tatoes to market he had stored in his
sons cellar,
While II. L. Bane was on his way
to Mainstream one day recently, he
saw an object in the road ahead OF
him which suddenly disappeared. On
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-02
HARTLAND.
Deferred From Last Week.

Mrs. f. e. Booker and Fred Steel
brook were in North NasSalboro a
portion of last week, called there by
the illness of their mother, Mrs Mar
garet Steelbrook.
j. H. Henzie returned Thursday of
last week from business trip to Bos-
ton and New York.
Mrs Mabel Dearborn WAS called
early last week to Camden to care for
her mother who is very i'll with pneu-
monia.
Mrs. Mary l. Fuller was in Bangor
for a few days very recently.
Mrs James Perkins of Madison is
visiting with her daughter, Mrs. Will
liam Morrison, on Commercial street.
John Lewis Fish of Boston was
called home early last week by the
severe illness of his father, Lewis
Fish
Mrs. Granville Manson of Pittsfield
was a guest of Miss Mae Moore on
Academy street for the week end
A very pleasant surprise was ten
dered Mrs Lucy Buck last Wednes-
day evening at her home on Elm
street when about 80 friends sudden
| ly appeared to help celebrate her 68th
birthday. The affair was a complete
surprise to both Mr.. and Mrs. Buck
but they entered heartily.
Harold Baird. formerly a resident
here, but now of Colorado Springs,
Colorado, came Monday for a visit
with his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. A. D.
Baird.
Rev McCony of Searsport occupied
the pulpit of the Grace Linn Memorial
church Sunday morning in exchange
with the local pastor, Rev. A. B. Nc
Allister
e. l.. Fuller and E. P. Dyer went
| Wednesday to Portland to attend the
annual Automobile and Motor Boat
/ show.
Miss Loie Furber was taken to the
Central Maine hospital at Lewiston
Monday morning by her mother for a
| minor operation.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-02
~ The News of SOmersets Busy Towns ~

closed in form at 10 o'clock after
which the younger members enjoyed
social hour. Question for next
Saturday evening Can a woman on
the farm be cultured as the city
woman. and if so how can 1t be ac-
complished?"
c. E. Thompson of Auburn visited
in town over Sunday.
Mrs. b. L. Palmer who has been
quite i'll the past week is some better
at this writing.
Mrs. Christina Morrill, of Pittsheld
is the guest of Mrs Ellen Homestead
Mr.. and Mrs. c. f. Holway visited
relatives in Ripley over Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. L. L. Carter were call
ed to Troy. Thursday to attend the flu
neral of their aunt, Mrs. Abbie Bar
ker.
Ivan McCrillis is at home from the
Maine woods where he has been EN-
ployed during the winter.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-02
WEST RIPLEY.

We are sorry to learn Mr.. and Mrs
Earle Weeks are to move away very
soon. Mr.. Weeks is to have charge
of his mothers. Mrs. Stanley's, farm
in ST. Adams the coming season
Mr. and Mrs. NJ. J. Merrill of Main
stream spent the Sabbath at their
daughters Mrs j. S. Laughton.
Mr. Wingate Bean visited his moth
ar, Mrs. Dana Bean, at Hartland a
few days last week.
Miss Vesta Farrar spent last week
with friends at the head of the pond.
J. S. Loughton's children have been
Ill with bad colds.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hiram Raymond spent
Sunday at the home of Mr.. Raymond
sister, Mrs. E. w. Farrar.
Roscoe and Merton futile of West
Athens visited at their cousins, Mrs.
e. w. Bane, Wednesday of last week.
Roscoe returned home Thursday while
Merton will remain for a few days
and visit friends In Dexter.
Mrs. Ernest w. Bane has been quite
III. Pneumonia was feared, but
through the careful nursing of Mr.
Bane's aunt. Mrs. Hattie Delano. she
is improving.
Mr. H. L. Bane was in Dexter Sat
urday on business.
Mrs. II. l.. Bane and little Muriel
who spent last week with her par.
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Roscoe Felker, al
head of pond. returned home Sunday
Miss Doris Felker who has been
quite i'll is much better at this writ
ing.
Miss Hattie Osborne of Mainstream
is visiting Miss Doris Felker.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-02
Grading Eggs in Boston.

The oath of last January Maine
poultryman shipped SO dozen eggs to
commission house in Boston. The
quotations at that time for first quail
tty stock were 27-29 cents per dozen,
and when he got returns of 26 cents,
he thought he had been trimmed
But upon investigation he found out
that his eggs when lighted out were
not all of one grade. In fact this is
the way the commission man had
sorted them:
41h dozen fancy at Csc.
48 dozen good at 26c.
2 dozen dirty at %.
21h dozen cracked at 13c.
| dozen rotten at -.
1t may help the poultry industry or
the individual raiser to ship rotten
eggs to the Boston market, but just
how does not appear on the surface.
The express, however, is just the same
for rotten stock as 1t is on fancy"
and when a shipper displays a will
ingness to work off such stuff on the
marketman, he ought not to squeal
when he gets beaten at his own game.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-02
Faith in Praye
Massage and A Preparation of
Roots and Herbs

These three elements, when COM
pounded, are giving astounding re-
suits by originators of method or art.
The work is one that has been studied
and developed from the Bible, nv
Annie L. Decker, a lady of pleasing
personality and magnetic ability. Her
efforts have enabled her to accomplish
the purpose of healing all kinds of dis
eases, from the most chronic to the
most mild. She locates your disease
and it's symptoms, without asking a
question, free of charge, and tells you
how long you are in being healed.
Has healed tuberculosis, Eyresipelas,
Diabetes, Cancerous tumors, Nervous
Prostitution and other diseases. Her
work involves nursing, whenever re-
quired. Has never remained longer
than five days on the most critical
cases, as her cures are marvelously
rapid. Guaranteed to give satisfac-
ton to all, and goes TO surrounding
towns, at moderately low prices. Her
Office is in Norridgeweck at Mrs. Fred
Doyle's. Hours, 10 a. m. to p. m.
Tel. 5-93. No Sunday work.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-02
AGRICULTURE DECLINING
IN MAINE
The Census Returns Show That Agri-
cultural Towns Have Lost in Pop
uIatiOn.

The Maine census returns are all
in. and the figures making interesting
reading to the statistical students
and others interested in the prosper
ity of Maine. for the returns show a
reasonable degree of advance in pop
ulation though it is mostly in the
cities.
All the cities except Bath Gardiner.
Calais and PASSPORT show greater or
less increase
Portland, the largest city, has a
population of 58,571, an increase of
about 5000 over 10 ytars ago, and eX-
ceeds in numbers 10 out of the l6
counties of the State.
The greatest increase was made by
the town of Rumford in Oxford coun-
ty with a population of 5,427 an in
crease of 2,8}2 over 10 years ago.
Bath shows the greatest decline of
any of the cities, its figures of l0,47
of 10 years ago being now reduced to
1896, this falling off being due to the
decay of the ship building industry.
Agriculture Declining.
Most of the agricultural towns re-
mote from the greater cities have lost
in population, which has been going
steadily on for the past 30 years OF
the % towns of York county l6 show
a falling off which Acton leads with
loss of 175 from it's 778 of 10 years
ago, and Old Orchard the least by los
ing but three in the decade, which is
chargeable to the great fire of three
years ago.
Sanford, the largest town, makes
the gratifying gain of nearly 5000 and
with its present population of 9049
has passed the city of Saco and is
only exceeded by the city of Bidde-
| ford
Kittery in the extreme southeastern
part of the State and the oldest town
has increased from 1872 to 1888 and
| Madawaska $50 miles away at the OPP
posite extremity on the ST. Johns riy-
er has gone ahead from 1880 to 1881.
In Cumberland county the three
cities and the larger towns gain and
the smaller towns lose, with the ex-
ception of Pownal, which increases
from 582 to 625.
Sebago loses 40 Cumberland 1,
Baldwin 20, Falmouth 20 and Harri-
son 2.
In Lincoln county IA out of the II
towns lose in population, while the
desolate and storm swept island of
Monhegan, 20 miles from the main
| land, in the Atlantic. increased from
| "a to 1870. The large and fertile
farming town of Waldoboro in the ten
years lost 489, and the little town of
| Somerville dwindled from 374 to 291.
In Knox county all the IA towns
but Camden and South Thomaston
/ lost.
Rockland, the only city, made a
gain of "a, which somewhat euriously