The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-06-19

IA NY father designed me for the
M law, but would be satisfied
A' only with going to sea, and
being one day at Hull and one of my
companions about to go by sea to Lon
don in his fathers ship, nothing would
serve me but must go with him-this
on September 8, 1851, and being then
nineteen years of age.
The ship was no sooner out Of port
than the wind began to blow and the
sea to rise in the most frightful man.
ner. which made me most terribly sick
In body and frightened H. mind. In
my agony / vowed that If God would
spare me through this one voyage |
would go, Immediately set foot on
land, directly home to my good par
ents and be ever after guided in my
conduct by their advice.
But next day the wind was abated
and the sea calmer, and the sun went
down to a perfectly fine evening. and
when to that was added a bowl of
punch made by shipmate, forgot my
resolution to return home after the
voyage; and such has been my habit,
10 my great misfortune, all my life:
10 disvow in the hour Of peril the
headstrong actions which have brought
me 10 peril and when the danger Is
past to forget all vows and plunge
headlong once more on my needless
courses.
Ua~souo mara vnv advaufuroc after
that first tempestuous voyage. Trad
ing 70 Guinea in Africa / was cap
tured by Turkish rover and sold into
slavery, from whence after many
perils l escaped TO the Braz!ls, where
/ set myself up for sugar planter
and was enjoying a fine prosperity
thereat. when fell victim 10 tenn
tation. Help being scarce in the Bra
ziIs and some planters there knowing
that I had traded with the slave coasts
OF Africa. they beguiled me into voy-
rye to those parts with the intent to
secure slave labor for our plantations.
1 Only evil does ever come Of evil
cgunsel. Our ship was wrecked on
an unknown island of to the northeast
coast OF South America, and OF all the
ships company alone, by the bless
ing of God. was allowed to escape
through the high surf to the shore.
All possessed at the time was a knife.
nine and little tobacco in box.
Walking along the shore when l had
recovered sufficiently in strength so to
walk. found fresh water. great joy
Hpving drunk and put little tobacco
against the hunger in my mouth I took
up my lodging in tree and did there
rieep to my great refreshment through
out the night.
Next morning the weather was clear
and the sea mild, but what pleased me
most was the sight Of the ship which
as the tide ebbed. lay so close to the
shore that found no trouble in swim
ming ont TO II. No living thing except
a dog and two cats were left on the
ship: hut there was store OF neces
sisies. md such took. building a raf
for the purpose Of transporting then
TO an inlet IN the island where wa
fresh water and fiat high place To-
my habitation On the night Of tn
thirteenth day. my work Of transpor
tation being done. I lay down in m,
usual fear of wild beasts. but also o
thankfulness in the knowledge that
was prepared for some time to COM
ngainst the barrenness OF this island
There were Wild fruit trees on IN
island hut II was MANY days hefor
l discovered them. There were ais
goats running Wild. hut without tn
frea,ms and ammunition 7 had hrough
from the ship Of what avail wera the.
70 met So I had reason to be thank