The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-05-02

Nuoic Aop-SuIiS, etIdlllcu as III agony Ou uCI
way.
"AH hands witness punishment ahoy"
At the summons the crew crowded round
the main-mast; mul,itudes eager to obtain
a good place on the booms to overlook the
scene; many laughing md chatting, others
canvassing the case Of the cuprils; some
maintaining snd, anxious coun,enances, or
carrying suppressed indignation in their
eyes, few purposely keeping behind to
avoid looking oil; in short, among five hun
dred men, there was every possible shade
Of character.
All the -midshipmen included
stood together in group on the starboard
side Of the main mast; the First Lieutenant
in advance, and the surgeon, whose special
duty il IS to be present at such times stand
ing close BY his side.
Presently the Captain came forward
from his cabin, and stood in the center Of
this solemn group, with small paper in his
band. That paper was the daily report Of
offences, regularly laid upon his table ever,
morning, or evening. like the days journal
plnced by bachelors napkin at breakfast.
"Master-at-arms, bring up the prisoners"
he said.
A few moments elapsed, during which
the Cnp,ain, now clothed in his mort dread
fnl attributes, fixed his eyes severely upon
the crew, when suddenly a lane formed
through the crowd Of seamen, and the
prisoners ad,anccd--,he mas,er-a.-nrms,
rattan in hand, on one side, and an armed
marine on the o,her-egd took up their sta
lions at the mast.
"You John. you Peter, you Mark, you
Antoine, "said the Captain, severe Yesterday
found fighting on the gun-deck. Have you
ANYTHING 10 saw"
Mark and Antoine, two steady middle
aged men, whom had often admired for
their sobriety, replied that they did no,
strike the first blow that they had submit
ted 10 much before they bad Yielded to their
passions; but as they acknowledged that
they had at las. defended themselves, their
excuse was oyerru!ed.
John-a brutal bully, who, it seems, was
the real author of the disturhaBce-w was
abon, entering into a long extenualion.
when he was cut short by being made 10
confess, irrespective Of circumstances, that
he had been in the fray.
Peter, handsome lad abont nineteen
wears cid, belonging TO the mizzen-top,
locked pale and tremu!ons. lie was
great fhvorite in his part Of the ship, and
especially IN his own mess, principally
composed of lads Of his own nge. That
morning two Of his young mess-mates had
gone to his bag, taken out bis best clothes,
and, obtaining the permission ofthe marine
sentry al the .'brig," had handed them to
him, to be put on against being summoned
10 the mast. This was done TO propiiiate
the Captain as most Captains love 10 see a
tidy sailor But it would no, do. To all
his supplich,ions the Capta!n inrned dent
enr. Peter declared that he had been
struck twice before he had returned
blow "No maiier," said,he Captain,"you
struck At last, instead Of reporting the case
,oan officer. ! nllow no man to fight on
board here but myself. do the fighting"
Snow, men," be added, ''sou all admit
the charge; YOU know the pensty. STRIP:
Quarier-mas,ers, ore the grs'ngs rlgged!"
/ The graiings arc square frames OF bar
red wood work, sometimes placed ever the
hatch .ways. One Of these squares was
1 now laid on the deck. close to the ships
bulwarks, and while the remaining prepa-
ra,ons were being made, The master-at'
arms assisted the prisoners in renewing
their Jackets and shirts. This done, their
shirts we're loosely thrown over their
shoulders.
Alta sign from the Captain, John, with
shameless leer, advanced. aud stood pass
lively upon the grating, while tho hare-head-
I'd old quarter-mas,er, with gray hair
streaming in the wind, bound his feet tothe
cross bars, md, stretching out his arms
over his head, secured them to the nam.
mock netings above. lie then reirea'ed
little space, standing silent.
Meanwhile, the hoa,swaIn stood soemniy
OF the other side. with green bag IN his
hand, from which taking four instruments
Of punishment, he gave one TO each OF ms
mates; for n fresh scat" applied BY a fresh
had, is the ceremonious privilege accoFdeo
to every mun-of-war culprit.
/ At another sign from the Captain, me
master-a,arms, stepping up, removed me
shirt IRON the prisoner. ~ .''s
a wave broke against the ships SIDE, ana
dashed the spray over his exposed back
But though the air was piercing cold "no M,
the wu,er drenched him, John stood s'ls',
without shudder.
The Captains finger was now li'ed' ano
the first boa-lswa AIMS mate advanced, conn
ing out the nine tails of his cat WITH ms
hand, and then, sweeping them rouno MS
neck, brough, them with the whole t'rce OF
bis body upon the mark. Again, and again.
and ngain; and every blow, higher and n'eh-
er rose the long, purple bars on the prison
ers back. Meantime, some OF the ere"
whispered among themselves in applause
of their ship.ms,e's nerve; but The greasef