ALBANY REGISTER.
FORTY DAYS:
OK
How I Nulled the "Ulnar UeorRe" In
BV II. QUAD.
1 was only sixteen then. AVe liad
made tlie voyage from Loudon to
India in the "King George." a flue
brig, and were returning Well laden
with a valuable cargo.
We had calle d at the Cape of Onod
Hope, of course, and during the three
days of our Stay every one. except
ing myself, was drunk a great share of
the time. 1 never had a taste for
strong drink, and therefore did not
participate In the general carousal.
Captain Colchester was a good sea
man and every vessel which he sailed
was sure to make profitable voyages.
On shipboard lie was sober and digni
fied, but on shore lie would take a
glass too much. What was true ot liim
was also true of the mates. We had
seventeen men aboard, calling myself
one. We sailed away from the caie
with light heart, as the voyage was
half over, and as the weather was all
that could be desired. It was about
the middle of August, and I never felt
a more steady breeze than that w hich
accompanied us up the coast for four
day.
We had taken considerable fruit,
aboard at the cape, some of which was
not over rie, and the men had also
smuggled several gallons of whisky
aboard. It might not have been either
the fruit or the whisky, hut something
caused a dreadful scourge to break out
among the men who had drank heav
iest and eaten most. The first man
had cramps and great pain, and did
not live three hours after being at
lacked. We liad not buried him.
when a second man was taken and
died ; and in less than six hours the
captain and one mate had followed.
We had a medicine chest aboard,
but it contained nothing which would
even delay the progress of the disease.
Men were suddenly taken with cramps,
fell down in an unconscious state, and
in two or three hours were dead. The
sixth day out we had lost nine men.
including the last mate, and there was
not a man in the ship that knew our
course. I hud a pretty goal idea of
the route we must keep, hut I could
not niake a reckoning. We were a
long way out from tlie Alrican coast,
but I proposed that we put about and
head for Waltish Bay.
The men were at first agreed, but
our ignorance as to the exact course
we must take showed them that we
might miss our port and strike the
mt to become the victim of some
hostile tribe. It was believed that we
should speak a ship within a day or
two if we kept on, and so we kept to
the old track.
On tliat same night two more men
died, ami liefnre morning another be
came delirious ami leaped overboard.
When daylight came there were but
six of us, and no one knew how long
that number would hold out. Soon
after daylight, three of the men went
aloft anil took in most of the sails, as
we had not men enough now to work
half the canvass in a stiff breeze. I
had not yet felt any symptoms of the
disease; on the contrary, I felt better
man usual, although of course consid
erably frightened and somewhat de
pressed in spirits.
The breeze had left us, and the brig
was wallowing along On the seventh
day at a two-mile pace, hardly fast
enough to give her steerage-way. Up
to noon no one complained, but just
alter partaking of a light dinner, four
of the six were taken at once. I never
saw human beings suffer more. Their
teeth clenched, their eyes upturned,
tbeir fingers grasping at the planks,
they moaned and shrieked until death
l.'ndly came to relieve their agony.
Only .Jack liell and I wore left. To
gether, we lifted up the bodies and
cast them over the rail, having no
means to give them a more regular
burial. When we. had finished, we
went back to the wheel which was
lashed so that the brig kept a pretty
steady course, and we looked into
each otlier's eyes.
"You ar' goin' to be left alone,
Tom," said .lack, his eyes filling with
liars. "I don't believe it will get
hold of you, but it will take me off,
QWl then you'll be alone on the brig."
J could make no reply because of my
emotion. .lack coughed a lump out
jt'liis throat and continued :
"Ye can steer a troche at the wheel,
an' ye can brace on a yard. If I go
under, ye'd better keep htr on this
course as long as you can. for ye'll
sight a ship sooner or later. We've
got most of the euivasa off now, and
she'll carry what's left even in a stiff
gale. I know I shall foller the boys,
and ye'd better see to it an' git pro
visions handy."
Acting under his orders, I spent the
next four hours in cooking salt-hrrse
aud other food which would keep, and
in so arranging matters that if I were
left alone I could get something to eat
without leaving tlm wheel too long at
a time.
The afternoon wore away, and Jack
began to feel encouraged. He was in
good health, aud hoped to escape tin:
scourge. He went aloft two or three
limes but could not see a sign of a sail
from any direction. I knew we were
on the regular track of the Indiamen.
and so we hoped tliat the morrow
would bring US succor. At eight o'clock
Jack ordered me to turn in until mid
night, when I should relieve him at
the w heel. The brig was making but
little headway, and it looked to lack
as If the wind would blowout entirely
by midnight. I could not think of
going down into tlie forecastle after
what had occurred, and so I stretched
my self out on the port quarter and was
soon asleep. ,
I slept just two hours, and then a
frightful groaning aroused me. Run
ning around to Jack, 1 saw in a mo
ment that he was done for. The
Symptoms were the same as in all the
other eases. I shouted to him. but he
could not answer. In less than fifteen
minutes alter I rescind his side. Jack
stiffened out and was dead, and I was
the only living filing aboard the King
George, it was a great shock to me,
as I had lain down strong in the belief
that Jack would pull through and that
we would work out of the senile togeth
er in a day or two.
The wind had fallen until there was
not a breath. The brig was swashing
and swinging on the long swells, her
yards groaning and her rudder creak
ing. I was almost dumb for a time,
anu I believe that only a good crying
sell saved ine from going stark mad.
I began to get afraid of the body and
of the ship itself. My presence at the
wiieel was not necessary, and so I cov
ered poor Jack with the end of a tar
paulin, and went forward. Closing
the fo'castle door and bolting it. my
fears drove me forward clear to the
bow. and I clambered up on the bow
sprit. The feeling of lieing alone on a
broad prairie is nothing to the feeling
of being alone on the ocean, and in
such circumstances as I was placed.
The groaning of the yards made me
shake and tremble, seeming to be the
groaning of my shipmates as they
struggled with "the terrible disease
which had so piiekly swept the ship
of every soul but me, I scarcely re
member anything about the night,
more than that I did not sleep again,
aud that the hours seemed years.
As davlight came my courage rose a
little. Men are not superstitious ex
cept when darkness covers the land,
and the sight of the sun dispels some
of the gloom irom the mind so de
pressed. I got down from my perch
and walked aft. 1 was very hungry,
but before eating I must get rid ot the
remains of poor Jack. The corpse
was too heavy for me to lift by main
strength, and so I brought a tackle
into use, and the purchase enabled me
to swing the body onto the nil. De
taching the ropes I gave the body a
push, and saw it descend, It had
barely touched the water when an
enormous shark turned on his back"
and seized It, hardly closing his jaws
on the prize, before a dozen of his
seciei were shooting alongside of the
brig.
I felt much relieved when the ship
was clear of dead. I opened ev ry
(hlllgso as to give the ship ventila
i ion. and then burned sulphur In cabin
and fo'castle, thinking that it mislit
be cholera which had taken the men
off. When through with this I sat
down and satisfied my hunger, and
then overhauled the Captain's ciinrts.
I laving a fair knowledge of geography.
I soon saw the course which I nuH
keep. Everything would of course
depend on tlie weather. If I had fail
winds I could keep the brig jogging
along seven cr eight miles an hour
uniler what canvass was set. but if the
wind was unfavorable. I would have
to beat ami tack and would have to
leave the course and perhaps lose
ground as well.
The forenoon dragged itself a -vay
and the weather made no change. The j
mean was like a minor, and there ivas
not swell enough lo move the main ;
sail boom whicii struck at auiidship.
Knowing that I might have to stand
by the '.heel all night, I determined
lo ohL'.in all the sleep I could during
the afternoon. Stretching out. o:i the
quarter, I was soon last asleep, and
did not waken until just at sun-down,
when the creaking of the yards aroused
me. A wind had sprung up, but to
my sorrow 1 found thai it came from
almost dead ahead. The brig had
swung off to the northeast, so tlUj she
beaded for the Lower Guinea coast,
and was already under headway.
Of course, the only ihiug I could do
was to keep her on that tack, and to
hold lier as near to the wind as possi
ble, so as not to lose the course more
than could he helped. I could not ac
count for the calm which I liad exper
ienced, except on the theory that dur
ing our trouble the brig bad drifted to
the north beyond tlie influence of the
trade winds, which almost invariably
accompany a homeward hound ship to
the equator. Taking this theory as
the correct one, I trimmed the sails as
well as I could so as to hold her near
the Wind, whicii began to stiffen as the
sun went down.
I could do but little at bracing the
huge yard, which needed tlie pull of
half a dozen men, but I managed to
slant tlie sail so that it would not hin
der, if it did not help our progress. I
could trim tlie mainsail ami jibs with
out trouble, and when darkness set in,
the "King George" was walking along
finely. The ltrecze held very steady,
and all I had to do was to hold her so
that she lost n little course as poihle.
The hope of meeting any vessel in that
quarter was very Stint, but I hung up
a lantern, and saw that the two slx
ponnders which the brig carried were
loaded aud could be filed off at a mo
ment's notice.
Tlie breeze kept growing stiller as
the evening advanced, aud the brig
sooh liad a good sea to wallow through.
Had the upper sails been left, drawing.
I should have had my bauds more
than full. As it was, I could hold her
quite into the wind and yet feel that
die was dashing along after her old
style. Tlie breeze held good until
midnight, and then liegantodie away.
It changed somewhat as it weakened,
so that I had to ease the ship off a
counle of points, irivinir me a more
direct course toward the coast. In
one hour 1 lost all that I bad gained
in the last five, and was swept clear
beyond the influence of the trades,
Bv two o'clock the sails hung idle,
and I might as well have been at an
chor. So long a I had had something to
occupy my attention, I had liecn free
of siuier.-titioii ; but now, the ship
having no headway, and everything
groaning as she rose and fell, I began
to feel afraid. We had plenty of lan
terns aboard, and I lit four or five
more and bung them about the deck,
so as to dispel the gloom, and spent
the time until daylight in walking up
and down. The sun brought up a line
breeze from the northeast, and my
spirits rose. Such a breeze, if lasting
ten or twelve bom's, would carry me
back into the trades, and then I would
be all right again. I bad just trimmed
the sails and got uniler way, when a
cloud of canvass rose out of the ocean
to the north. It was a large bark,
coming down with a tine breeze, and
was heading directly across my course.
Running to the guns, I discharged
them, one after another, and then ran
up the Union .lack, npslde down, as a
signal of distress. The stranger did
not answer me, either by flag or gun,
but kept 011 her course. In an hour
I could make out her hull, and in less
than another hour she was running
alongside me. not a hundred feet a way.
'What brig is that?" hailed a voice.
'The 'King George,' of London,
homeward bound." I replied.
"What do you want?" came the
voice again.
'The captain and all the men hut
meaiedead. I want yon to come 011
board."
The stranger seemed at first inclined
to accept my story, but after consulta
tion with ids officers, he hauled about
and went oft" on the new course, !
as if Davy Jones was at his heels. 1
have always believed that he was a !
slaver, and' that catching sight of my 1
guns, and thinking my story an ini- j
probable one. he gave me his heels as
soon as possible.
I was much cast down bv the incM
dent, having hopes that al! trouble wi "
passed, and I altered my course with j
the Intention ot overhauling and con-
vincing him. I had no sooner shoved
the helm over, (ban his shrouds were j
covered with men, and his upper
vards were whitened with canvass.
Seeing that he suspected a ruse, I put
the brig back on her course, and held
her there until sunset, when I Irtsl the
breeze from the north and felt the
trade winds. They were only moder
ate, and after 1 bad altered tin; course
of the brig. I bad nothing to do but
give the wheel a half-turn now and
then, to keep to the compass point.
I had taken such a run toward the
const tint St. Helena had been left to
the West, and I bad no chance to reach
it. The night passed without inci
dent. The wind held as steadily as if
the work of some machine, and every
sail felt it. I could catch little "cat-
naps" a. I sat on a stool ami minded
the wheel, and. having, as it were,
ran away from the dead erew. I w as
no longer afraid. 1 wondered greatly
that I alone had been spared out (if
tliat Sturdy erfW . hut the fact was be-
fore inc. and I came to the belief that
the vile ll'ptorand tainted fruits had
been the cause of everv death.
The next, seven days were without --
incident of any kind. ' The wind blew , FKATHEKEU.IlMMY McOinn. An
a fine breeze day and night, and 1 did i old toper went to sleep in a fence cor
liot so much as touch a rope. ly ncr. A buzzard spied him and thought
i., ,1.1 .!... ...i I r 1.11-.. :... .. .1 1 rpu ItlU Im
lasiiiu ine ivneei, i cetug icine it iwi
ten minutes at a time without (lie ting
Indus' a iKiint. and so I had time tn
eat and drink. When the cooked food
was gone I boiled more beef, and there
was no lack of hearty eatables. During
the week I saw no sail, though I many
times went aloft with tlie captains
glass. As I neared the equator, I had
great hopes of falling in with an out
ward bound craft, as homeward bound
and outward bound generally strike
for the same point, so as to change
trafle winds.
I was not seaman enough to tell
when I had crossed the line, but it was
certain that three more days went by,
aud I caught nosail. Then, one night,
about midnight, just as I had finished
a ten minute nap, I heard a loud voice
shouting :
"Ahov! What ship is that?"
Crossing my path, not twenty rods
behind, was a fine ship, tacking to tlie
southwest. I could count every sail
and spar, but before I recovered
from my astonishment she wag out
of sight in the darkness. Tlie guns
were not loaded, so tliat I liad no
chance to tell them my situation. I
kept a sharp lookout tlie balance ot
the night, but when morning tame,
tlie ocean was clear of even tlie speck
of a sail. The breeze came up heavier
as oaylight broke, and by eight o'clock
the sea was very bad and the wind
blowing almost a gile. The spars
were groaning and eompiahitng, but I
could not lower a sail, knowing that
if f cut the halyard. I .should be done
fm to make farther progress. At noon
the brig had all she could stand miller.
I looked every moment to see the can
vass iro. and thought some of the seas
would surely draw her down for good.
For an hour I fully believed that the
masts would 20 each moment, but at
two o'clock the storm abated, and the
worst was passed.
Before night I struck the other
trades, and then laid the brig tor I .on-
don. There was a heavy sea until fair
int.. the night, but next morning
everything was fine and steady. and 1
lmd a chance to leave the wheel again
at odd times. During the forenoon ot
this dav, I sighted two ships, but Isitli
were far away, and I kept my course.
Having bad such good luck 111 the past.
! and having weathered the worst day I
was likely to see. I made up my mind
i that a crew of one man could ana
should lake the "King George" over
i the balance of the course.
For six days I was alone again. I
suffered much for want of sleep, not
j securing over three hours out of twenty-four,
but otherwise my health was
; good and spirils tine. I now began to
'sight sails on this and that quarter,
but they were always hull down, and
I on another course, and any attempt
; for me lo wear ship and attempt to
j intercept them would have Ixen sheer
I folly. Days dragged away and weeks
j went by. My life was just the same
j each day. The breeze would be stron
; ger some days than others, but I liad
I only to mind the wheel, catching sleep
; as i could.
i On the morning of the fortieth day
! out from Cape Town, and when wiih-
in four days' sail of London. I found
, myself very weak, f fixed up some
j stimulants, changed my diet a little,
and braced inyself up to hold out to
I the end. I knew that tlie journey was
I almost finished and that I should soon
I get help. The wind was light, so that
; the brig did not make above four miles
j an hour. Almut noon, sitting by the
I wheel, I fell asleep. Nature had been
resisted so long that, a change of com sc
j did not arouse me. and for five hours
the brig sailed herself, walkingaroiuid
like a drunken man.
"Hello! Here! wake up!" said a
voice; in my ear, and I struggled up to
find a dozen men on board and a steam
er alongside. From a lotjg way off
they bad watched the erratic course of
the hiig. and catching sight, of my sig
nal, lmd come aboard, supposing the
brig deserted.
Of course there was great surprise.
They would not believe my story at
first, but had to at last. Men were
put on board to sail her into London,
and I believe I got all the "hero-lug"
due me. besides a testimonial from the
owners of l he "King George" which
would have made any man happy,
... -
A GlJMPSK OF THE OTHER WORLD.
Mrs. Gardiner, wife of a Michigan
farmer, recently died under Jre un
stances the most extraordinary. Two
of her sisters were dead, one but lately,
only a few weeks ago. The cause of
Mrs, Gardiner's death was a conges
tive chill, and after she had been con
sidered dead for six hours, and was
being prepared for the grave. lie re
turned to consciousness and talked
freely with her attendants. She stated
to those around her that she habooii
to the better land and had seen both
of her departed sisfers. with other
friends; that it was a most beautiful
land bevond all description ! She said
! that she had permission to return to
i tell living friends of what she bad
; seen, but that she was anxious to again
I return. She passed away soon after
making her s.atement, and seemed
j overflowing with joy and happiness.
I'lte Detroit Tribune savs there can lie
no question as to the eircum-tauces
above stated.
n was mhiici imi tieao
Die turd cir
cled slowlv around, comiii!: nearer to
the man with each circuit. Finally it
alighted on the fence over him. and
surveyed the body. Still uncertain, it
raised Its great "wings and swooped
down to the ground beside the mtn.
Then it eyed him intently for some
time, and seeminely satisfied, struck
the mini's cheek a sharp blow with its
beak, taking a small mouthful of meat.
At this the man elevated bis head and
looked the oll'al bird square in the fair.
'See here, now.'" said he, "ain't you
jestaieetle too smart ? "
The wealthiest woman in England,
in point of real estate, is the Hon.
Mrs Mevnell Ingrain, a widow about
2 years of age. She is the daughter
of "Lord Halifax, and her deceased
husband bequeathed toiler $250,000 a
year In land absolutely. She has no
children. Speculation is already rife
as to the man on whom lier second
choice will fall.
Memphis belles drink cod liver oil
to induce plumpness,
1MAX0S-OROANS.
PIANOS.
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CELEBRATED PIANOS
Take the IlitfSum Rank.
HAi.i.r r, nivis a . i'iwo
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Franz XSoxicLol,
! The irrciitcst living Pianist, who was i
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Call mill examine and see for yourselves,
or send for Price Lis. ami Circulars.
W. K, UAMtKlf, B010 V.'i nt,
at Snow A Rons' Ar! (taller',
7:1 First street, Portland.
ORGANS.
IEV. J. W. IMMIN. PIUMDIM4 I I.
V cler of I lie Mel ho list ( lun ch, Sun
Francisco, says : "In Illy opinion, Ml Org
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for richness and sweetness of tone, with
great power. 1 am IniuUinr with all Hw
most prominent Oirans in tliu musket,
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Woods to any 01 her.'1
Bend for Price List and Circulars for tl
finest OriAW in tlie world.
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ut Snow t Boos' Art 1 iitliery,
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A IIIU YHTORT I
Foit Tin:
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Inderfecd Senilis? Machine !
IT WILL ni'MUHT THE MA NT
friends of the
S E W
Wilson landed Sewing Mate,
To know that in the stubborn contest for
superiority in samples of work, hi thefrrrat
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carried off the two great premiums th
Me tal for in'st mn Kpuciniuns niuehin
work) and the Diploma for hest embroid
ery. Asiheareai competition was in the
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There is no talking down I bo fuel Ihftl tin
New Wilson is I he lies! Family ScwtllK
Machine now manufactured curable of
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under all circa Distances.
This award of tlie highest premium
should and will silence ibe lalk of tlm!
large class of sewing machine men who
have nude this machine t ho object of their
special enmity, simply l-cau-e ii isa mod
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(So and see the Premium New Wilson
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BT Agents wanted
MINEU A PEARSON.
July 10, 72-46
BLACKSMITIIINU
-AND -
General Repair Shop.
rrWIE tJNPERSIGJfRn IIAVINfl 1IK
l turned to Albany, and taken his old
Shop On corner of Kllsworfll and Second
streets, announces Ills readiness lo nit u4
to nil kinds id'
BLACK9MITHINO. jtnx A MACIUKI
rUKU'NU, ETC.
! Also, lias on hand and for sain, tha
I
COQUULARD WAGON,
Strayor Porce-teed
GRAIN DT. ILL,
star mounts,
and other PtOWS
WOOD'S KB- PER & SIOWSR,
, which ht, vill sell on the most rrasonabte
t terms,
, HORSE SHOEING Al! rcund,$9i
Resetting, $1.
IVE HE A CAM,.
j All work entrusted lo ine Will reern
i prompt intention, Wt be executed in tttm
i bertt possible manlier, w Mb good mitleriul.
A ulL.r.w.f iniltli., ,,! ;v, r. u,.li,.!til
BriTShopon corner Ellsworth and second
street, opposite i'ierce's t'orry.
iovi r, WOOIl.
Albanr Collepiutc Institute,
Ai.iiAW, om ; .
rplftj INSTITUTION Wil l. RKOPKK OJf
1 Monday, Septemlier 1, H71, with a corps
of teachers capable and earnest. Instruc
tion will be thorough and practical, and
tho Hvfi'cm of order uiisurpaswd. For par
tleulartraddrefw K. K. WARRKN. A. M President;
Or, Rev. K. R. GEABY, D. U., Albany.