The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-02-10
A SAILORS APOLOGY,
OR THE CONSCIENTIOUS CAPTAIN.
BY HANSEN MARTINGALE

"at oouy Al the time knew hun, he com
manded the ship Ouronda,es. of Boston, and en-.
joyed the reputation of being guod sailor.
straightforward h0nest man--une who was mol
backward 10 express his sentiments ON all occa
slons, with but too little regard to time or Mace
HIS feelings were kind, but his temper bordered
little on the chvleIic.
One mnrning. Captain Cringle was STANDING
in frnnt of D-l.rin-'s Coffee House in Marauz IS
a place where Yankee ship masters in days pssl-
especially those who INDUCED in a hahl of lnai
lng-were wont To cungregate He had been
c"nverSng with some frIeads. and was in the
act "i telling an interesting story of an advrmur.
he once met with in the unmuahiipd Island ui
Cfnckat"n. IA the straits of Sunda, where he once
landed during Il calm. and was CHASED 10y "A mon
s,tnuS serpent while exploring among the hushe,
Mr.. Mayduke, a we'll dressed grnlem,n. we'll
Known IN Cuba, having resided inr several years
In tiivana aud Alatanz,s, came up. without helng
P-rc-ived 10y the cpnpanv. aud tapped Captain
Cn"gie gently an the sh"ulJer, saylny--wilh
concIatory smile-
Captain word with you, if YOU please
Criogle turned around. and when he saw Nav
duke beiire him, started back if he had suddenly
chue IN c"ntact it'll the identical serpeGt rou,
which he mad escaped in the East Indies.
purple hue "VerspIead his visage, has eyes hished
win more than ordinary fire, and a dark ir,wn
rapidly gathered TN his brow. He returned
II
nation of the head, and dryly said, Mr.. Nav
duke. what is your wish 2
Oh, only wish To speak to you about a little
matter-a tTfiing thing, perhaps; but II is an ai.
TAR which deeply concern me- my characer,-
i should say my reputation hut which | dare
say ynu will be able to explain satisfactorily
Wen, sir, what is il 3 demanded Cfinge
with i'll suppressed Indignation
Why, Capt. Crngle, have no doubt that i,
a ,yll ha
tn hear II; hnt-hut-in these Gases -"
Here Mayduke wasOso eInba rrassed that he couId
not proceed. He evidently did not like the Looks
OF Crngie, who was lntently cycling him all the
while
MIR. Mayduke,' exclaimed Cringle. in clear
ana decided tone, don't understand you. What
is the mistake!'
oh! said Mayduke, who saw the necessity
OF forthwith bringing the matter to a crisis, il
is rumnred in Havana, but | don't believe il
Capt. Cringje, that you have on more than one
occasion, said some rather hard things about me
Indeed !! said Cringle. musngly, and what
hard things, according to rumOr, have said on
these occasions p
Why replied Mayduke, who seemed to he
gathering courage from the quiet manner ut the
worthy seaman-' | have been told. and no nrei,v
good authority tou--but it must he a mistake
that on one occasion, at dinner given by Ma
rlaiagn. Knight & CO., you denounced me "a a
swindling blockhead! Hard words, those. Can,
CrngIe, to apply To gentleman
Any thing else I? inquired CringIe in oue,
tone.
. On another occasion. if have not been gross
y mIslnformed, yon applied to me the eplthets oil
thick headed scOundreLr
: II is all true, Mr. Mayduke.' said CrinoIe
bavs applied such epithets to you.'
Mayduke was taken all aback at this candid
avowai. Do understand, then, Capt Crinule
SAID he, that you are prepared tU Justify vour
language in relation to me p
By no means.' said Cringle, 8 am Glad thai
yon have directed my attention to The subject.
that we may come TO a fair UNDERSTANDING. I have
always regretted that used such language on
those occasions when was speaking of you
Pray listen To him. gentlemen! said Mayduke
pnrenthelieally. addressing the bys,auders
consider IT ungen'emanly,' continued Grin
gle, to apply abusive epitheis To Il man behind
his back. Bat fell unpleasanlly at the time
and lost tor the moment the command of my lem
per- and avn willing to apoluazn fpr it,
Hear him. gentlemen! = cried Mlyduke with
smile "f exHtaion. He apolu.izns for the in
Jlry ne mas done me- expected no less. Capt
Crngle, from man.of y0nr noble naInre'
What's all This 2 exclaimed old Can't. Dad
eye. rough looking sea dog, who had Just lined
the group. DOES Capt CringIe ap,log u 10 you ,,
10 he sure he dups,' replied Mtydnke, like
gent eman az he is. He acknnwledrcs tbe
scufrII0RS epithets he used IN connection with
my name, to ne undeServpd, and he apolnrise
accordingly. ] accept your apology. Capt Grin
gle, with all my hearth and M Offered his hand
Avasi therep cried Cringlp, ydu are gonU
too fast, my god fellow: Let rs understand
each other fully. did not say that The dspat.
agInglng ePlthets applied to you were unde.
servedr
Then what do you mean 2 enquiped Nav
duke. turning pale,
WHAT ] said. exactly y exclaimed CtingIe
IN an emphatic manner. Itis an unrpntleuao
Iy aud cowardly act To say bPhind mans back
what yUu are afraid or unwilling to saw To b,s
face. said at dinner table IN presence If soue
thirty or forty gentlemen, that believed you. 4!
Timothy Mfyduke. ESD as you call Yourself. to
he swindlng blockhead.' and ON another oc- ,
cason. subsequently remarked IN the course Of
conversation with some gentlemen that Won we're ,
thick headed scnundrel' was VERY wrong in
saying ~ al time when you were not preseot 10
hear inc. | have acknowledged my error and
have apOlngrzed accordingly. BIT now say
To your face, and, continued Cringle, raising
his volre, wish all present to hear me. il Is
my deberlte aud solemn conviction that vnu. |
Tunnthy Msyduke. Of Havana. are a s,oiadliao |