The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16
~ HE good ship "Foxton Hail. was
bowling along. under shortened
sail. off the coast of the Island

sf1tN ii good ship 'Foxton Hail was
n bowling along under shortened
sail, off the coast of the Island
- of Jamaica, in the Caribbean
Sea. working its way northward from
st. Lucia to New York City It had
just missed running into a West In
dian hurricane that, several days be-
fore. had swept Jamaica. Except
those needed to man the ship. the
crew were below resting. From time
to time they passed bits of wreckage
and debris in the water-evidently
blown to sea from Jamaica by the
hurricane.
The FirstMate, gazing out over the
heaving watersl noticed large cocoa
nut tree drifting past, good dis
tance from the vessel. Suddenly, he
Strengthened upr and reached for his
marine glasses. Yes he had not been
mistaken. There. in the branches of
the tree, was human figure. huddled
up and still Quickly calling out the
necessary orders, he soon had a. life
boat launched and pulling steadily for
the floating tree.
When they reached It they could
scarcely believe what their eyes told
them, for there, caught and held In
the crotch of the tree, was a little
colored boy about ten years of age.
He was unconscious and his little
limbs. shrivelled from exposure to the
elements, were hanging over a branch.
He was quickly lifted into the boat
and taken back to the ship where his
little body was rubbed until 1t glowed
- l. H..
to find himself snugly tucked away In
nice warm bunk. And then, after
he had been given hot food and cof-
fee he told his story to the officers
of the ship. 1t proved truly amaz-
ing one, far more exciting and won
derful, almost, than any story of ad-
venture you have ever read.
Like all Jamaican pickaninnies, Will
lie Gee--for that is his name-could
swim like fish and spent many hours
each day sporting In the deep blue,
white-capped surf along the palm
fringed beach. One afternoon, he was
diving and splashing around in the
long, rolling waves when 1t began to
grow dark and huge black clouds piled
themselves up on the horizon. Willie
well knew what that meant-a hurri-
cane, one of those dreadful wind
storms that come up in the Caribbean
like fash of lightning and sweer
everything before 1t. uprooting tree.
and houses and sending good ships tc
the bottom of Davy Jones' locker
So. turning quickly, the little fellow
padded fpr dear-life for tho shore
He reached II Just before the hurri
cane broke, letting loose its fury upor
the Island of Jamaica. Running vi
the long, sloping beach, he darted int
an old deserted log hut that stood
some distance back from the water
This. he felt. would shelter him from
the terrible vvind-storm.
But suddenly there was a rushin,
noise and the amazed little pickaninn,
felt himself being picked up, hut ant
all. and whirled around and around
Then. of a sudden, there was a grea
Jolt and a splash and he was strug
Cling in the water again. No, h,
hadn't been dreaming! Actually
mind you, the hurricane had picked
up the hut and blown 1t into tn,
ocean with little Willie inside!
He wan at home in the water, bu
surely thin was more than any littl,
ten-year- old boy could be expected
to stand. OF course he was frightened
wouldn't Nou have been. with thu