The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-02-14
= EY father designed me for the
IV law, but 1 would be satisfied
~ - only, with oOinp RI Sp0 and

IA ~ 1atneF ueSiSueu hie 1oh 'Ii0
IVE law, but I would be satisfied
Avn only with going to sea, and
being one day at Hull and one of my
companions about to so by sea to Lon
don in his fathers ship, nothing would
serve me but must go with him-this
on September 8, 1861, 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
my agony I vowed that if God would
spare me through this one voyage I
would go, Immediately I 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 q perfectly fine evening, and
when to that was added Il bowl of
punch made by a shipmate. I forgot my
resolution to return home after the
voyage; and such has been my habit,
to my great misfortune, all my life:
to disvow 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
Various were my adventures after
that first tempestuous voyage. Trad
ing to Guinea in Africa I was cap
tured by Turkish rover and sold into
slavery, from whence after many
perils I escaped to the Brazils, where
set myself up for sugar planter
and was enjoying a fine prosperity
thereat, when fell a victim to temp
tation. Help being scarce in the Bra
Zils 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 to
secure slave labor for our plantations.
Only evil does ever come of evil
counsel. Our ship was wrecked on
an unknown island off to the northeast
coast of South America, and Of all the
ships company I alone, by the bless
ing of God, was allowed to escape
through the high surf to the shore.
a pipe and little tobacco in a box.
Walking along the shore, when had
recovered sufficiently in strength so to
walk, found fresh water, a great Joy.
Having drunk and put little tobacco
against the hunger in my mouth, took
up nv lodging in q tree and did there
sleep 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 I found no trouble In swim
ming out to it. No living thing except
dog and two cats were left on the
ship; but there was a store of neceS-
stiles. and such I took. building a raft
for the purpose of transporting them
to an inlet In the island where was
fresh water and fiat high place for
my habitation. On the night of the
thirteenth day, my work of transpor-
tat'on being done, lay down in my
usual fear of wild beasts, but also of
thankfulness in the knowledge that I
was prepared for some time to come
against the barrenness of this island.
There we're wild fruit trees on the
island ~ 1t was many df.Js before
disco cred them. There wela also
goats running wild, but without the
firearms and ammunition had brought
from the ship of what avail were they
full for the good Providence which held
the ship to the shore until had taken
off all that was of use to me.
There was much to be done if | were
to secure my existence on this strang,
island. The needful things l did a.
best l could In turn, but not always
with good fortune attending my efforts
In my first planting of barley and corr
seed, the half of all my precious stool
was wasted by reason of being PLANTED
in the very wrong time. l spent wear!
months in making earth-ware pots for
holding fresh water; and fOrty-two
days it took me to hew my first Ion"
plank from a tree trunk. l strOve
for weeks to fashion a stone mortar
to stamp grain in, only to come a
last to a block of hollOwed-out wood.
five months I labOred in telling q
great cedar tree, hewing and shapin"
it to the hull of a splendid boat witt
which I was to escape from the island
only to be forced to abandon it fO'
want of a means whereby to launch i
into the sea. However, every failur'
taught me something had not known
before.
For the elements there were grea'