350 APPENDIX 



asked them how long I had been in the Hold. They told me 

 five days. I thought I had only been Three. While I was in 

 the hold I was as strong as a Lion but when I came on deck 

 I could scarcely stand. While I was in the hold I could hear 

 a Kind of suction in my shoulder & I knew then that I was 

 badly hurt. It smelled very bad. My shirt being bloody, 

 cold & stiff I shifted it round and put the soft side on the lame 

 shoulder, the same day I was found. When I got on deck I 

 could not stand. I looked so bad they had pity on me. The 

 foremast hands said that if there had been any other person 

 with me they could not have told who it was. I was so much 

 altered. My hair stood upright from fear of being shot. 

 They took me aft. Bert Cartha came up to me with a pistol 

 cocked and a hatchet raised & struct me on the Lame shoulder 

 with the Hatchet. & said I am going to shoot you. He then 

 made motions with the Tatchet and said I will cut your nose 

 off and Kept stiking near my face. Plumer told him to keep 

 still and not shoot me. But had hard work to hold him back. 

 Plumer told me if I'd take them ashore where they wanted to 

 go. I should not be hurt, but might have the ship. & said 

 you never misused me & I shant shoot you. But my thougs 

 were that as soon as they made land they would Kill me. My 

 sufferings are indescribable. They took me forward and 

 told me that Mr. Lord was all right. My heart was overjoyed, 

 and said speak let me see him. I was then sent aft and he was 

 kept forward in irons. They then made irons for me out of iron 

 hoop and made them so small that I could hardly get them on, 

 the Irons were made of Heavy iron Hoop. & in the shape of 

 an ox bow with an iron bolt running through and a Pad lock on 

 the end instead of a Key. I then asked them to put them on 

 my feet and not on my hands on account of my shoulder. 

 They then Kept the irons off and let me free thinking. I'd 

 have a better chance to navigate the ship. Yours very Re- 

 spectfully 



Nelson Provost. 

 First Officer of the Ship Junior of 

 New Bedford. 



