The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-07-17
AY father designed me for the
M law, but would be satisfied
~ = only with going to sea, anC

KY father designed me for the
M law. but l would be satisfied
Ava only with going to sea, and
being one day at Hull and one Of my
companions about to 60 by sea to Lon
don In his fathers ship, nothing would
serve me but must 60 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 in mind. In
nv agony / vowed that If God would
snare me through this one voyage l
would 60, Immediately l set foot on
land. directly home to my good par
ents AMI be ever after guided IN my
conduct Dystheir advice.
But next day the wind was abated
and the sea calmer. and the sun went
down to a perfectly fine evening, ana
when to that was added a bowl OF
punch made by a shipmate, forgot my
resolution to return home after the
voyage; and such has been my hablt
TO nv great misfortune, all my life:
70 f1isvow in the hour Of peril the
headstrong actions which have brought
me TO peril. and when the danger Is
past to forget all vows and plunge
heAdlong once more on my needless
courses.
Various were my adventures after
that first tempestuous voyage. Trad
ing to Guinea in Africa l was cap
tured BY q Turkish rover and sold Into
slavery, from whence after many
pertls escaped to the Brazils, where
I set myself up for sugar planter
and was enjoying fine prosperity
thereat, when / fell n victim to temp
tation. Help being scarce in the Bra
xils and some planters there knowing
that had traded with the slave coasts
Of Africa, they beguiled me into voy
age to those parts with the intent tt
Ssecure slave labor for our plantations
Only evil does ever come OF evi
counsel. Our ship was wrecked OF
:. an unknown island of to the northeas
coast Of South America, and OF all TIT
ships company alone. by the bless
ing Of God, was allowed to escape
through the high surf to the shore
All I possessed at the time was knife
1 pipe and q little tobacco in a box
Walking along the shore, when hat
recovered sufficiently in strength so t
walk, / found fresh water. a great JOY
Having drunk and put little Tobacco
against the hunger In my mouth. too
mn nv lodging in a tree and did ther
sleep 10 my great refreshment through
ont the night.
Next morning the weather was eiea
and the sea mild, but what pleased n
most wns the sight OF the ship whicl
a the tide ebbed. iayQso close to tn
shore that found no trouble In swim
ming ont to It. No living thing excel
= dog and two cats were left. On IN
ship: but there was store Of nece
sites. and such I took. building RAJ
for the purpose Of transporting the
10 an Inlet IN the island where WI
fresh water and nat high place Il
my habitation. On the night OF Il
thirteenth day. my work Of transpo
tation being done. lay down In n
usvu., fear Of Wild beasts. but also
thankfulness In the knowledge that
was prepared for some time to con
asainst the barrenness Of this islam
There were Wild fruit trees on Il
island. hut Il was many days hefo
I discovered them. There were 81
xoatN running Wild, but without q
fireafn,s and anpnltion ] tSd broug
from. the shiD ~ avail eere tn
\, ,ne1 e tta1ea to be than