Butte record., 1854-08-26

it was my morning to watch on deck =
Six bels q o'clock) had just been
struck, and | was eng ged colling away
The line Of the log, which had been hove
BY order of the mate. then in charge of
the deck, when Captain L unex-
pectedly came out of the cabin. | no.
iced that he had a wild ner, Gus 10, k,
lor he glanced around and and alofi. Just
as man might do when sudden y
aroused from dream.
whats the course ~ he abruptly
demanded Of the man at the wheel.
Southeast by east, sir"
The captain then stepped up to the
binnaele and looked at the compass
Turning around with an oath. he struck
the man blow in the mouth that knock
ell hia away from the wheel, and thun-
dered-
You take the spoke in hand, You
know no more about steering than your
mother ~
(Such were the exact words, for l dis
tinctly remember them
The poor fellow. who was one of the.
best helmsmen in the ship. took bold of
the spokes sgain, the blood tringling
down his chin, and mattered-
Il was steering to a hairs BREADTH
WHAT'S that you say II
say | was steering as weH as any
man could, and you're tyrant,
captain"
The captains flee rev pale with
passion, and the light fam flsw from
ms lips as he screamed
"Mr. Jacskon, clap this man in irons,
No, 81 z him up--nlake a spread eagle
OF him I'll teach him totoe the marktl'
The mate, Jackson, in vain attempt-
ed TO spoths the madman, who compell-
ed his officers to "seize up" the unfor-
tuna'e sailor-that is, to lash his wrists
10 the shroads, with his back bare to
punishment;-This is called making
spread eagle | dare not dilate on
the sickening scene that ensued Suf-
fee it that the captain with his own hand
fogged the man most brutality in pres
ence of al hands, and not soul Of us
dared to speak
Taat night we all signed "blind rob-
in,2 that Is, 4 paper stating grievance,
OF petition, with the namss OF the men
written in circle, so that not one can
be pitched upon as the rIaglead r--ad-
dressed to the chief mate, stating that
we ali felt that our lives were not safe il
the hands of the captain, as he was OBJ
viously insane. and requesting the mate
to take commend of the slip, and place
the captain in confinement. We sent
this to Mr. jackson by one Of the boys,
and in quarter of an hour Inc mate
came forward.
Men, said he, "do you know what
you are about ? You are in YOUR mu.
tiny--and you know what she penalty
for that is Captain l. IS captain,
! and his will is law. We must submit 10
it. We're to do my duty strictly, l
should show this" pointing to the round
robin, ''to the captain but / don't
want to make matters worse. Let US
get to port, and then complain as You
please. But for your own sakes-and
| for my sake-don't mutiny''
We all respected the mate, and his
words made great impression. We
consulted together, and the prudence Of
the majority overeame the fierce impulse
OF the bolder spirits. Ii was, however
tacitly understood that, if matters grew
much worse, we would risk the dread
full penalty Of mutiay BY seizing the cap
tam, for we now considered he was un.
doubtedly insane, although the mate ac.
It'd rightly enough in holding aloft at
present, as the captain had not vet
eginced himself incapable of managing
the ship.
Whether any whisper had leaked out
in the cabin, through the steward or Of
6cers, cannot tell but the the captain
undoubtedly suspected what had passed.
At noon thu next day he came on deck
with doubled -barrelled gun in hi
hands, and deliberately loaded it with
balls in our presence. When he had
done this, he called all hands aft, and
in language that Sufficiently indicated,
from Its Wild incohereney, that he was
undoubtedly insane, he addressed the
crew, winding up with the words
''You think TO get the upper hand Of
me, do you; sou will mutiny-you
IL -,