The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-02-04
By NJ QUAD

II you had a mariners chart before
you. you would see that Wake island
Ii a bit Of a dot In the Pacific ocean
lying little south OF the regular sail
Ing route between Honolulu and Yoko-
hama. Now and then u Is sighted by
steamer or sailing vessel king the
passage. but the great majority pass Il
by 200 miles TO the north.
In the year 1851 the bark Restless
sailed out OF San Francisco ON voy-
age to Japan. aud u fate befeil her
which reads like any nctlou II the
sen. James westall was q landsman.
knowing nothing Of ships and sailors,
and Il transpired that the captain he
selected was thoroughly bad man.
while the mate was ~ little better. IL
was probably the captains idea from
the outset to get possession VI the ship.
but westail's suspicious were not
aroused until after they had called at
Honolulu aud resumed the voyage.
Then be overheard observations among
the crew which alarmed him. and he
went TO the captain with bis state
ments Tie was told without any beat
ing around the bush that the bark
was to change hands He was TO be
marooned on Wake island. and she
was to pursue her voyage rs captain
and crew decided II was one man
against fifteen. and Of course he was
helpless. Not u pound Of provisions
or an extra article OF clothing was to
go with him. lie was not even TO
have the means OF kindiing hre.
Rendered desperate by the situation.
he made a eight for Il. but was soon
knocked senseiess by blow OF a
capstan bar and while In that condi'
don was rowed ashore and dumped on
the beach.
He tried for days and days TO pro-
duce Ore by rubbing dry sticks togeth'
er. but he never succeeded. He con-
structed a hut IN the woods. but his
food consisted Of shellfish. roots aud
wild fruits. and there was no way to
replace his clothing. He soon found
fresh water. and be also made the dis
covery that the spot seemed accursed
OF all living things except the land
crabs. They were gigantic In size. and
his only way OF escaping them was to
climb tree. He built platform
among the limbs ten feet from the
earth. and every night during his long
stay he resorted to II.
You will wonder how man could
have lived for month as Westail
lived for three years. During his sec
ond year had be thought to erect some
sort OF signal as n sailor would have
made he probably would have been
rescued, as-two or three traders came
In for water but be did not even heap
up stones or set NJ n bush to attract
attention He had existed ON the Us
land three years and two weeks when
the American whaling ship Jonathan
touched there for water. ] was In tue
boat first sent ashore, aud while walt
ing for the water casks to arrive
followed a path up into the woods aud
discovered Westall asleep on bis plat
form. I believed him at first to he al
most black: his hair was long and mat
ted, and be was without clothing. As
he came tumbling down ran away
and gave the alarm. That frightened
him, and seven men Of Us spent half
a day In his capture. He fought US
with the greatest ferocity. and for a
long time We could not make out ILLS
nationality. He chartered n queer Jar
Ron or sulked. and we had put In az
Japanese port before we could Keep
clothing ou hin.
| was one of the aIprentlce boys on
the ship. aud ny the wild man had tax
en- a great liking Ia me and J seemed
10 be the only one who could control
him the American consul advised that
1 be left behind with the man while
| the ship made a three months circuit
put up blackboard and turned
schoolmaster. I chalked down the let
tiers OF the alphabet. made figures drew
pictures and tried TO start his memory
10 work For a month ! had no luck
The mans mind was as blank as night
He tried hard enough. and he used e
weep almost daily. but he could moi
get hold OF the end Of the string.
had almost given up all hope when
one day as was going through the
usual performance memory came back
10 him like a lash. He suddenly mt
tered a shout aud sprang 20 his feet
and as turned on him II was 10 hnc
a new look ON his face and to heal
him shout:
I
at has come. II has come My nam'
IL James Westall. aud I can remembel
everything"