Saved by a Tattoo Mark.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 199, 25 August 1886, Page 4

Saved by a Tattoo Mark.

Rev. Thomas Nkkdham, the Baptist evangelist, whoso religious work is now exciting considerable attontion nmopg tho Baptists, baa had, according to hia own story, a very remarkable and interesting hifctory. Whon ho was but 10 years of ago ho went to sea on board an English vowel bound fur South America. Tho Captain was a vory brutal man and oven ill treated tho lad, and tho sailors, not slow to imitate tho oxatnplo of thoir superior, also made tho boy an object of all mannor of petty abuse. One of tho seamen, just buforo tho arrival of tho vossel at hor destination, look young hioodham, and tying him to a mast, proceeded to tattoo tho boy's arms and a portion of his body, tho crew regarding tho matter in the light of a joko. Arriving al South America, Needhain was placod on shoro and doeorted in tho midst of a howling wilderness. Left to roum at will in the midst of danger.*, it, was nut long beforo tho boy was captured by a baud of Patagonian Indians, a triba which, according to tho lovorend gentleman's statement, had a custom of serving up human iloth at elato dinners. This would certainly havo been his fate had not tho Indiana, on removing his clothes, discovered tho picturo un hia arm. Ono of tho lipurcs v.-as a cross. Thi3 em blem of tho Chri.-tian religion—for these rudo savages had, on one or two occasions, bocomo' intimately acquainted with missionaries- co touchod their savage hearts that they instantly determined to spare his lifo. Tho eceno must havo been very im- < prossive, fo>' Mr Needbam states that ho saw tenrs coming down tho cheeks of hiri captors. Aftor that tho lad was takon care of by tho I'atagonians—such good caro, in fact, that for nine years, although hia efforts wero coasoless, he was unable to oscapo from thorn. " Thoy iogardod mo,' ho says, "a.-? a god, though perhaps thoy i valued him as a work of art. At any rate, i his sojourn among thorn was of long duration, and when he was linully able to return i to civilisation it was as a man roady to ] servo hia Creator for tho protoclion affordod ' him amid such peril. Mr Noodham spoko at tho Fifth Baptist i Church a short limo einco, Ho is an Irinh- ' man, about 40 years of ago, and speaks with > a rich broguo. Ho is short of stature, has a round, red and fleshy faco, and looks not i unlike a New York ward politician. Hif i hair is very black and a heavy moustache ol i thceamecolour covers his mouth. In proach " ing ho speaks rapidly, uses good English, , and lenders his subject interesting bj ■ numerous illustrations and anecdotes. Hit manner is earnest and forcible. In his i sermon he spoke of the fair appearance ol - sin and tho impossibility of resisting il ; without tho aid of religion. "It is use v less," he said, "to attempt to curb the , human passion. You may pet this ole 3 Adam nature as much as you like, but tht , naturo remains tho same and will assert 3 itsolf in the courseof time. Theonlypowoi i that will change is that of Jesus Christ," 3 Mr Neoiham has been preaching foi 3 soreral year*, and has held meetings ir 3 moat of the large cities throughout thii - country aa well as in England. He ha: , been in Washington for some time, and ii well regarded by Baptist clergymen,