Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1847-02-04
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A Tale of the Deep.

lnthe year 1880, said Captain Miller, I
was bound in a fine, stout ship from the
port Of Philadelphia to Liverpool. The
ship had la valuable cargo on board, and
about nineteen thousand dollars in specie.
was prevented by other business, from
giving much Of my attention to the vessel
while loading and equipring for the voy-
age. When we were about TO sail, the
chief mate informed me that he had ship
ped two foreigners as seamen, one ma
i've of Guernsey, and the other French
man. was pleased however with the
appearance Of the crew generally, and
particularly the foreigners. They were
both stout, able bodied men, and attent-
i've to orders.
The passage commenced auspiciously,
but to my great sorrow, I soon discovered
change in their conduct for the worse.
They became insolent TO the mates, and
appeared to DO frequently under the in
fluence of liquor. Their in,emperance
soon became insolerable, and it was evil
dent that they had liquor on board with
them, and l was determined on searching
the forecastle and depriving them of it,
An order to this effect was given to the
mates, and they were directed 10 60 abou,
it's execution mildly and firmly, taking
no arms with them.
1t was not without much anxiety that
sent them forward upon this duty. In
a few moments loud and angry dispute
was followed by sharp scuffie around
the forecastle companion way. The
steward, at my call, handed my loaded
pistols from the cabin, and with them
hasteasd forward. The Frenchman had
grabbed the second mate who was mere
lad by the throat, thrown him across the
bowsprit, and was APPARENTLY determined
to s,rangIe him to death. The chief
mate was calling for assistance from be.
low, where he was assailed by the Guern.
sey man. Ipressntsd a pistol at the head
Of the Frenchman, and ordered him 10
release the second mate, which he did,
The steward then brought another pair
of pistols, with which armed the second
mate, directing him to remain on deck
and went below into the forecastle my
self. found that the chief mate had
been slightly wounded BY the knife Of
his antagonist, who however ceased to
resist as made my appearance, and we
Immediately sec ured him in irons with
his comrade. The search was now made
and quantity Of liquor found and taken
into the cabin. I then sxpostulated with
the other at some length on their improp
er conduct, and expressed the hope that
should have no further complaint during
the voyage. This remonstrance, l tho
had the effect. a. they were contrite and
promised amendment. They were
then dismissed, and order was restored.
The next day the foreigners strongly
solicited pardon, with the most solemn
promises Of future good conduct-and. al
the rest Of the crew joined in their reqaes
I ordered that the irons should be taken
of For several days the duties Of the
ship were performed to my entire satis
faction-butI discovered, in the counter
anccs Of the foreigners, expressions Of
deep rancorous luminosity to the chiei
mate, who was prompt, energetic sea.
maH, requiring at all times ready obedi.
ence to his orders.
A week passed in this way, when one
night, in the mid watch, al hands were
called to shorten sail. The night wa.
dark aud rainy, but the sea was not high
and the ship vas running about nin'
knots. The weather being veFy unpron
ising, the reefs were taken out Of the for