The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-06-07
A SEA SKETCH CAPTAINS
STORY.


s'Talking Of eircumatanGal evidence, ] can
tel you story, in point, Of an affair that
happened within my own personal knowledge
IL you wish 10 hear H."
The speaker was one Of a group that stood
on the promenade deck Of the Empire, one
day, two or three summers ago, as she gIdod
Amoug the glories ofthe Hudson,on her dswn-
wand pAaaage from the political capital Of the
State 20 the commercial and financial capital
Of the Union.
This group had been collected by an ami
mated discussion between two professional
looking disputAnu, respecting the necessity
and propriety Of killing men as punhhment
for murder
The conversation, at FIRST 20 spirited as TO
excite the interest and attention of a number
of ladies', who had moved themselves up 90
TO be within hearing, had begun 10 Dag, The
arguments for and against had been pretty
nearly exhausted, and the eombatans were
beginning, in the luil Of the battle, to draw
oil their polemical cohorts, preparatory TO a
peace, both parthcs satisfied with the NH pos
sidefs, although the spectators could disiin-
,,,,,.h 40 great difference hotKhen il and ihG
staiu gtio opie beiIup,.
II was at this opportunc moment that the
sneaker, q square built, red faced, comiorta-
bio looking man, proposed "a tell his story
OF course, there was general expression Of
ascent 50 clearing his throat with n prepar-
atnry "hcn," aud slowing his quid a little
more compsctly, afler shifting it from star
board 10 larboard, he began:
II am a sailor, or rather was for it is agood
many years since gave up ploughing the
deep and took 70 turning burrows upon The
land. just forty years ago was in command
ora little, full riggcd brig,called the Moresoo,
belonging 10 Baltimore. We were bound for
liverpool. and from thero TO Cape de verds,
for cargo Of salt, and thence home. My
crew consisted Of three men aud a boy--rath-
-t-r short hantl-,l, yof nrsy think for n hong
voyage but sailors were in demand, and my
vessel was n little bit Of a thing, and required
but few to manage her besides, was young
then,an felt myself about equal to the watch
Of q small frigate alone and in addition there
wus the mate who had come on board Of me
with the reputation of being as active an Off
Ger as ever stepped across ships lanEway
Mr. clark--Jamcs G. Clark, think, was hi.
uame--was young man about thirty, bat he
had been TO sea pretty much ali his life. Re
pert ssiAf,- elitlr1t know rurrrh hiIrf per
sonally---thAt he was a good shilor, but reg
ular marine Tartar a thorough going disci-
pie Of tho Hell -afoSt SYSTEM"
Here there was movement OF increased
- interest, espeeially tAssssss tls,sla.ltes as,t
one ofthe gentlemen, embodying the curiosi-
" Of the auditors, demanded of the Captain
an explanation Of the principles of the system
he had mentioned.
at isa system" replied the Captain, 'much
in vogue formerly, and which, | am sorry tc
say, has not been entirely done away with tC
this day. IL is a system, the Fundamental
principle OF which Is that sailor---I mean
regular fore the mast duiI-eater real Jack
nasty face, ,'--is the incarnation Of human de
Fpravity that, rs the phrase is, the better you
try. 90 serve him, the worse he tries to serve
YOU; and that it is necessary TO continually
work him, and curse him, and fog him, tc
make him earn the salt junk and rusty pork
upon which be is half starved"
&But, surely" exclaimed another of the
listening group, "such n system can find nc
advocates in the American service at the
present day ?"
The captain turned to the speaker, and de.
liberately eyed him with peculiarly benign
expression rendered somewhat quizzical by
slight pursing of the lips.
rYOu believe" at last exclaimed the cap
tain, an the progress Of humanity; in the
march of mind in the development Of the
genius of American ciyilization--don't you
Well, il is a comfortable belief; but il you
want TO keep it, never go to sea before the
mast; Il you do, ten chances 20 one you vii
have il knocked out of you with marling
spike or a Delaying pin, AS soon a. your Off
GERS get you into blue water l am sorry tc
say II, bu. have seen things at sea, that it
toldron shore, would make even the Judges
Of the Marine Court stare; and have pret-
" good reason +e knew tAsi -IaeS- Aas, e. d..
dAy, occasional opportunities of seeing somG
Of the devils doiPgs- when he can't help 1T
But | am going rather ..large !" so you set
I'll just board my iawing- lacks, and brace VI
20 my story,