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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Opinion

Tuesday’s loose thread

Doug Floyd

I’ve been reading  about the Napoleonic wars and came across an anecdote about a British sailor named Robert Jeffery, who got in trouble for stealing rum and was dropped off on a Carribean island and left there.  After several years, the captain who ordered him left to die of starvation, was court-martialed in England.  It was assumed Jeffery had died, and he almost did, but he was rescued after 10 days by an American ship and eventually took up a career as a blacksmith in New England. Ultimately he returned to England for a joyous reunion with his mother and friends. And, oh yeah, he got back pay plus a 600-pound settlement for agreeing not to sue the captain.

That’s what’s on my mind. How about you?