The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-08-13


IN the Experiment Of dancing on nothing
/ with hemp tic under my ears; and had 20
50 cOnfoundedly sick Of that fore passage
with nothing to do but to think, that | wal
half glad when it did come. knew some
thing unusual was going on in the morning
over my head for 1 could hear saving anG
hanmering, and every few minutes somebody
would come down to the yeoman for one
thing and another that knew Just as we'll as
il they had told me, was wanted for building
my scaffold. There was kind of stiffness,
too, among the men, that was mt natural,
where two or three hundred are together; it
showed that something was going on that
they didn't like to talk about. Iheard the
bell strike every half hour that morning-you
may be pretty sure Of that--and the half hours
grew rather short after breakfast. About ten
O'Clock the parson came down, and had a
Longer sermon than usual to preach; aud as
was pretty quiet under it, reckon he thought
/ was getting all right.
"Well, at last, Seven bells was struck, and
then All hands were called. Thinks | to
myself, this is the last time, my boy, you II
eger near those whistles-now make the most
Of itl And / did; for they ring in my ears
now, Just as heard them then. And / can
see old Brown, one Of the bo' sn s-mates, Just
as saw him in my minds eye them
couldn't see him any other way-as he came
forward on the larboard side of the gun deck,
with the silver pipe in his mouth, one eye
squinted up and one cheek puffed out. /
could slways tell his call, for he had way of
winding Off the end of it with peculiar twist
that he bos n himself couldn t initiate. Then
there was rush of the men fore and aft for
minute, as they ran up the ladders-and
thGn--wasn it stillI IcOuldn' t hear nothing
harf hnl Df p4 rbo
stood as if he was a wooden soldier, looking
up the hatch and listening; aud a couple Of
men who were on the list, and not strong
enough to go ON the gun deck, had Crawled to
the foot OF the main hatch ladder on the
| berth-deck, and were sitting there like ghosts,
gazing up into the day light.
"Atter a few mmihutes heard the cabin
door on the spar deck open and then shut
lagain, The Commodore had come out. Then
Ian order was given and repeated in tones 50
-sIIil . Jlit EiS wolds, tnpugl
/ l kAt we'll enough what it was; for the nexi
mitait steps began to come down the ladder.
They we're coming down for me! | counted
every step. | knew when the foot was placed
upon the cOmbings of the main hatch-it made
a different sound from the thin boards. Then
| counted the steps again down to the berth
deck, and along the deck to the fore passage
| ladder-and then the whole man, as he stood
before me. The sergeant of the marines fol-
lowed him. The soldier on duty was released
| from his post; should need him no longer.
81 had been dressed up for the occasion in
clean frock coat and trowsers; and now my
arms were tied behind me, and q white cap
was put on my head that could be drawn over
my eyes, and then-the master arms on the
one side, and the sergeant of marines on the
other-I was marched up through the empty
and silent decks to the main mast. As went
up took last look at the two guns, between
which | had spent many pleasant hour
around our mess table. They seemed like old
friends and if hadn t been ashamed of play
ing the fool, should have been glad to stop
long enough to give them one hug for good
bye But I'm getting sentimental, my lads;
let eieb stopper on that.
"When reached the upper deck found
all the officers there in full tOgs, epaulets and
side-arms. The men were crowded together
in the waist and on the fOrecastle, and the
marines we're drawn up on the larbOard side
Of the poop, with loaded muskets. ! was, Of
course, the centre of attraction towards which
all eyes were turned; though as the marines
couldn't point their noses, without orders,
any way except straight ahead | reckon some
of them had hard work to get their eyes
straight afterwards, they had given them such
a tremendous twist to port.
When all was still again, the finding-as
Il they called lt-of the court martial, and the
approval of the President, were read so that
all could hear. | didn't pay much attention
to it, however, for | knew it all before and
had enough to do in trying to find out how
they had arranged things for my accommoda.
tion.
"But this was no easy matter. was il
pursuit of knowledge under difficulties, al
they say, | couldn't get any information
fr0in others, and couldn't venture to SHOW
J, too curiosity about things behind me-
a This would have been disrespectful to the gen
tlemenin gold lace and bright buttons on tn
} quarter deck. If had turned my back ol
, them they might have flogged me first AM
/, hung me afterwards.
Z" / soon had an opportunity Of examining
the arrangements, though; for when the read
ing was over, orders was given to take me for
ward, and then Isaw how things were DONE
!. Under the starboard fore yard arms was a lad
der leading to the top of the hammock rail -
| was taken up this ladder by the master-at
arms, and then we came upon pine platform
built outside the ship on level with tho up
per rail, and large enough to hold fifteen o
twenty men. On tho outer side Of the cen
tire ofthis platform, was trap door some thre
feet square, and directly over this was rope
WIN aAHginan moose IN 1t, hanging iron
the yard. ! was placed on the trap, and tn
moose was fixed all right under my ears, ant
that the kind Of neck cloth, ship mates, tina
never want to wear again After all wa
right, the parsOn came up on the platform ant
made apfayer, II may have been long enough
for anything ] know, but it seemed short Il
me- lneer had so little desire to hear the
Amen before or since. While he was pray
ing, had chance TO look round and see how
i sae thing was TO be wound up at last; for, some.
now Or other, had my wits about ine well
enough e understand whatI saw, and want
cd % be sure everything was done ship-shape.
We'll, III tell you how it was, They had
rove me rope through block on the yard over
my mead aad then spliced another into it; the
two then ran in-together to the mast and were
led down. one on each side Of it, to the deck, and
along both sides Of the ship, through couple
Of snatch blocks, as far aft as the mizen mast
Inc ropes we're lying on the deck, all tailed
out ready; and when was sent forward, the
men were ordered to range themselye BY them,
and 70 stand BY to take them up and run away
with them, e aoon as the word was glVen.---
The whole ships company was to lend hand
IN swinging me up to theyard'arm' The trap