Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-04-20
Mlistrlloneous.
FlOgglng in a Man.Oi.War

Cclicnt service IN IeNCMlnR tnc Secrets Oh MS
prison-housc, and calling the public attention to
tho indcscribablc denominations Of the naval life,
rocking with the runkcst corruption, cruelty,
and blood. lie writes without ill-tcnper, or
prejudice, with no distcmpcrcd, sentimental
philanthropy, but wildly portraying scenes Of
which he was the constant witness. IL is not
often that an observer of his shrcwdncss and
penetration Is admitted behind tho scenes, and
still less often, that the results Of personal cxpc
ricncc arc presented in such high-wrought pic
turcs. A man of Molvillc's brain and en- is a
dangerous character in the presence of gigantic
hunbug, and those who arc interested in tho
preservation Of rotten abuses, had better stop
that "chiel from taking notes." The following
account of a Flogging in n L. s. Frigntc must
excite the rroioundcst indignation of every ono
who has q hcnit TO feel for human voc or sense
TO cxocratc the system which thus places man
in the power of his fcilow.-Ed Bugie.l
II you begin the day with a laugh, you
may, nevertheless, end il with sob and a
sigh.
Among the many who were exceedingly
diverted with the scene between the Down
Easter aud the Lieutenant, none laughed
more heartily tlan John, Peter, Mark, and
Antone-iour sailors OF the starboard watch.
The same evening these four found them
selves prisoners in the "brig," with u sentry
standing over them. They were charged
with violating n well-known law of the ship
having been engaged in one of those tnn-
gled, general fights sometimes occurring
among sailors. They had nothing to anici-
pate but floggiDg, at the Capiai,I's pleasure.
Toward evening of tic next day, they were
startled by the dread summons of the boat
swain aud bis mates at tho principal hatch
way-a summons that ever sends shudder
through every manly heart in irigate:
".9R hands iGitness punishment, ahoy!"
The hoarseucss of the cry, its unrelenting
prolongGiion, its being caught up at different
points, aud sent through tie lowerIuost
depths OF the ship; all this produces most
dismal effect upon every heart not calloused
by long habltuation 10 it.
However much you may desire to absent
yourself from the scene that ensiles, yet be-
hold it you must; or, at least, stand near it
YOU must; for the regulations enjoin the at
tendance of the entire ships company, from
the corpulent Captain himself TO the smallest
boy who strikes the hell.
".M hands ,oiiness punishment, ohoy'"
To the sensitive seaman that summons
sounds like doom. He knows that the
same law which inpcls 1.-THE same law by
which the culprits OF the day must suffer =
that by that very law he also is liable at any
time 10 lie Judged and condemned. And the
inevitableness of his own presence at the
scene; the strong arm that drags him in
view ofihe scourgc, aud holds him there till
oil is over; forcing upon his loathng eye and
soul the sufferings and groans of men who
have familiarly cousorted with him, eaten
with him, and baitled' out watches with
him = men of his own type aud badge
all this conveys n terrible hint of the
omnipotent authority under which he lives.
Indeed, to such man the naval summons TO
witness punishment carries thrill, somewhat
akin to what we may hnpute TO the quick
and the dead, when they shall hear the Last
Trump that is to bid them all arise in their
ranks, and behold the final penalties inflict-
cd upon the sinners of our race.
But it must not be imagined that TO all
men-of-wur's-men this summons conveys
such poignant emotions; hut it is hard 10 de-
eide whether one should be glad or sad that
this is not the case whether it is grateful To
know thai 50 much pain is avoided, OF wheil-
or IL is far saddcr to think that either from
constitutional hard-heartcdneSs or the multi
piled searines OF luhit, hundreds of meri-ol-
wars men have been made proof against the
sense of degradation, pity, and shame.
As if in sympathy with the scene 20 be en-
acted, the sun, which the day previous had
mcrriIy flashed upon the tin pan Of tho dis
consulate Down Easter, was now setting
over the dronry waters, yelling itself in va
pors. The wind blew hoarscly in tho cord
age; the seas broke heavily against the bows;
aud the fiigatc, staggering under white top
sails, strained us III agony on her way.
".qH hands D,tatss punishment, dhoy!"
Al tho summons the crew crowded round
the nan-mast; muiiiludes eager to obtain Il
good place on the booms, 10 overlook the
scene; many laughing and chatting, others
canvussing the case OF the culprs; some
maintaining sad, anxious cOIiEienances, or
carrying IA suppressed Indignation in their
eyes; a few purposeiy keeping behind to
avoid looking on IN short, among five hum
dred men, there was every possible shade OF
character.
All the ofiicers-lnidshipn included
stood together in a group on tie starboard
side OF the mnin-mast; the First Lieutenant
in advance, aud the surgeon, whose special
dfy il is TO be present VI such times, stand
ing close by his side.
Presently tho Captain came forward from
his cabin, and stood in the centre Of this SOL
emn group, with small paper in his hand
That paper was the daily report OF Offences,
regularly laid upon his table every morning
or evening, Ike tie days journal placed by u
bachelors napkin at breakfast.
Masier-aI-arms, bring up The prisoners"
he said.
A few moments elapsed, during which the
Captain, now clothed in his most dreadful
attributes, fixed his eyes severely upon tho
crew, when suddenly lane formed through
the crowd OF seainen, and tie prisoners ad-
Vanced-the inaster-at-arins, rattan ia hand,
ON one side, and nn srncd murine on the 9th
er--and took up their stations at the nast.
"Yon John, you Peter, YOU AIailS, you An
Tone said The Captain, "were yesterday
found fighting on the gun-deck Have you
anything TO say?n
Mark and Antoine, two steady midde-aced
men, whom J had often admired for their So
bnety, replied that they did not strike the
hrst blow ll'st they had submitted 10 much