Riverview Military Academy - Orbit Yearbook (Poughkeepsie, NY)

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us with tickets for a lecture on XX'omen's Rights and politics in general. That night, under guard, we went to the lec- ture. King' llethart came dressed in all his llnery, his face white with powder, and his at- tendants dressed in white suits. All the young' ladies sighed-I suppose hecause he was so cute and handsome. Lloyd E. Mayer opened the program with a vocal solo. There were many groans and some left. 'llhere was no encore so Russel Slocum arose and delivered a line appeal for women's rights. When he had tinished, the you ng- women if 'il clapped and V Y cheered. It could i easily he seen X ' that Slocum was - the most popu- lar ladies' man W on the island. ' 'i 'l5 'K T' 'ol ,X - IIHIIDII 1 l Q ' 1A 6 5 9 i gg1p'r111t.l 1 happened to looksat the King' and saw that an ominous scowl was on his mighty lm r o w and he seemed very jealous of Sloeum's popularity with the young' women. Lloyd Mayer sang' again at the end of the meeting, and before he had finished the lirst verse the janitor was turning' out the lights, as the audience had left as soon as his melodious voice permeated the vital air with his vociferous discords. The next day was Sunday and as the natives were very religious we were compelled to at- tend the service. The missionary's name was Austin and he appeared to he very devoted and -r'

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When I awoke great was my surprise to hnd that a large crowd of natives had gathered around us and were attentively watching every move I made. I gave one shout, l do not know if it was from fear or astonishment. My shout awoke my companions and they asked what I was eelehrating: 'l'hey too were astonished when they saw the throng of natives. -K A slender, u g l y man stepped for- ward and said that we were to he taken hefore the K i n g. He spoke 'English fairly well and was well tanned hy the sun. We asked this fierce looking per- son his name and race. Ile said his name was 'lJ'l..u- hosch and that he 'f . was a white man. He told us that there were many white men on the island and that they held all the political johs, hut now he must take us to King Hethart. The King' was a little runt who spoke English ahominahly. lle was almost white and seemed to rule his suhjects with an iron hand. Ile or- dered us to he thrown into prison and the native guard took us to our cells. Our only hope of freedom was to swear alliance to King llethart. This llag'gerty did and was immediatelv given a commission in the army. i 'l'he editor of a poor monthly paper called the Studento made us a call. We v ,V ' ix :W X told him ahout I fl .X Q . . , 'Y X-' ourexciting Ht ,I voyage and oth- 'E-I er things of in- 1'-7 5 terest in the 'W -. ln V ' f . U' outside world. I - ll - ' Q Frnest Nl' ' -' 'ii ' . . . ason. I A . . I 'Q i,V9n xl for that was his 1 'S - I name. was over- fy-11.1 I' joyed and told HU ' us that he would 1 Q A ! - have an edition I j, ' -r equal to the l 2 .V Q mm ones put out the last year. as the Studento was very poor this year. ln return for our kindness he presented

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everyone who did not know him thought him the noblist christian of them all. But I hap- pened to be taken down an alley, as the guard feared that we would escape in the crowds, and there I saw Austin and a few other ruflins shooting crap. When they saw us they feared that we would tell what we had seen and so they determined to put us out of the way. They rushed upon us and soon we were n of a battle royal. The guards fought savagely, and we thought that this would be a good time for us to make our escape, so we rushed toward the shore where we had left our boat a few days before. The hope of finding it still there was very slight but fortune being on our side it was still there. We had outdistanced most of the natives and were about a hundred yards from the boat when I stumbled and fell. A large native jumped upon me and was about to plunge an ugly look- 1 the midst ing knife into mc, when Quintard grasped his hand and by a quick twist, broke his arm. I jumped up and we ran to the boat. Quickly jumping in we rowed out to sea.' 'llhat night we were picked up by the vessel Delinquix, bound for New York. This vessel has the reputation of picking up all Wanderers and lost souls and bringing them back to civilization. At New York I had to leave Quintard and I made my way home. That is the story of the Shipwreck and I hope that I will never have to go through another. The remaining passengers of the Riverfuse were picked up and brought safe and sound to New York. I have written more than I had intended when I took up my pen, but the memories of that voyage Hood back to me and it is difficult to re- frain from writing a longer story. END.