Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-12-17

sSO Wv "
the last dozen years have been in tho habit Of
visiting the ports Of Matanzas and Havana,
will recollect John Williams. or. as he was ia.
miliarly called by the sailors, Long John, the
Rhode-Island cook. He was the largest, the
blacklist, and the most shrewd native Of the
Bahamas. that ever found his way from those
islands to this country, and he possessed q
character for industry, temperance, and dar-
ing, seldom found in q negro. The Inspectors
Of Customs, at home as we'll as in the West
Indies, will bear him in mind to the latest day
Of their lives, as tho most skilful in running
his little adventures, and in assisting his COM
rades to evade the laws imposing duties. For
q number Of years past, he has sailed from the
southern ports in this State, in the employ of
i~nolasses importers (; and while there was no
man on ship-board go lively as he, there was
none other who refused his allowance of grog,
and evinced a like regard for a temperate life.
While in the ports Of Cuba he was the plague
and detestation Of every Spaniard. Not a fish,
pot was set during the day. that he could not
find in the course Of tho night-not 4 lime-or-
ehard, up and down tho creek whore the crew
went for wood and water. escaped his notice
or his visits-and not 4 bum-boat came along.
side, il lie owner knew Long John was on
board. Once in svery year the islanders have
. practice Of changing Judas" in sfigy on
ship-board, a. . kind Of punishment for his
breach Of confidence towards his master f; and
once every year. since John has been in the
habit Of going there, he has chuckled not q
little at the superstition Of the Spanish Catho-
lies, who, he said, "bung dead men," 1t SO
happened that they once solicited from the
Captain Of the brig in which John officiated as
cook, tho privilege Of hosting Judas up to his
yard-arm, which it would have been almost sa-
crilege to refuse. John had long been on
the look out for an opportunity to play off his
FRANKS upon this superstitious assembly, and he
thought the time had now come. About the
deck Of the brig there had long played a mis-
chlevous billy-goat, who was no more in
Johns good grsces, than John was in the
Spaniards'--for no would put his head into the
camboose, and his beard into the dishes, or he
| would steal potatoes and cabbages from out
the pot. in despite Of boiling water, and a hot
ladle. When tho cook heard Of the request Of
the master Of the port, he was observed to
mark the goat with q look Of moro than com.
mon affection, but he SAID nothing. On the
appointed Friday, a long procession of boats
were seen in a kind of funeral array, moving
from the shore to the brig. which lay at an
ofing in the harbor. They came to the side,
| and from the side to the deck, bearing the
identical Judas, and all the sacsrdotal furni-
ture Of a Catholic Church. "A takls was rig
ged TO the yard, and the crew ordered to man
the fall. The efigy was laid at length on the
deck. with a rope around it's neck. Where
10 the cook ~ said the mate. Here" quoth
John, from the camboose. "Bill has got his
nose in the Captains Cruel, and I must tic the
rascal up" "Come this way" answered the
mate ; "bear a hand and clear way this
fall" John soon appeared, leading his
dumb companion by a piece Of spun-yarn ;
he proceeded TO examine the moose, and
with his hand between the rope and the
neck Of tho culprit, awaited further pro-
cesdings. Is all ready, there" bawled
the Captain from the quarter deck. faye,
aye, Sir" returned the mate. "Then hoist
away upon that fall" No sooner was the or
der given, than with the quickness Of thought
John slipped the rope from the neck Of Judas
to that Of the goat, and as a four FOUNDER fir
cd over the bows, spoke the death Of The trai-
tor, black Billy went dangling upward. TIL
spaniards on board, as we'll as those who
crowded the shore, were horror struck tho
| Captain and crow gazed in silent astonishment
land the silence of a moment was broken by
the harbor-master, who, turning to the Cap
tain. said, 80 Guerra pegarme un purche." As
quick as the goat had travelled to his airy sta
ton, he came down again tho assembly re-
strained their wrath until Judas was in his
place ; and after the whole cercmony was
over, the officers had 4 task to clear tho
brig without giving up the cook.
This fact, and q hundred others, has given
Long John a notoriety among Americans who
frequent Cubs, which will not soon be forgot
ten. In September last he shipped on board
the brig Phebe, Of Bristol. commanded by
Captain Jones. which vessel has not since been
heard or She probably fomdered at sea, or
fell into the.hsnds OF pirates, and was destroy
cd, together With her officers and crew.