The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-06-21
SECECT TALES.
A LEAP FOR LIFE.
NJ WILLIAM HURroS.

Aftcr my discharge from tho hospital at
IIavan,, shipped in the American barque
Independence, Captain Robert L -, bound
to Valparaiso, and thence round the Horn
to the WIS crn coast Of North America
She was large vessel, of some seven han
dred tons register, with a handsome poop,
top gallant forecastle, and all other points of
flash ship. The captain was nntive Of
Jersy, and the crew were mixture of Amer
cans, British and Spaniards, with sprink
ling Of woolly y-hcad., or asnow balls" MS we
called the negroes.
We had not been week out, ere very
great dissatisfaction, prevailed among the
crew, for the captain, with unaccoutable per-
versity, did not allow us half CROUCH junk
G. c. salted beef to our meals; and even
what we did g, I, was what sailors call sol |
horse" viz, hard, tough lean. stringy stuf, !,
devoid Of nourishmcnt The usual allo" =
auce Of junk on ship-board is one pound and
half for each man per diem :; but am sure
we did not get more than half that quantity
The captain used to como on d,ck every
weighed out the junk from the "h ,rncss
cask," to see that I'VE did not get an ounce
over what he had ordered. On the other
hand, this cupt,in allowed us thrice as much
grog rs il usual.* But sailors, although ve-
~ fond Of rum, can't live upon IL; andthrce
poartcrs Of pound of "old horse" and
few rotten biscuits, quite alive with "weevils"
was poor days allowance for n hearty fell
low. .H'slH
Our first mate often demonstrated with
the csfplnin on his conduct, ard plainly told
him that the men would not long submit to
it ;bnt the only reply the capt1in made was
20 Tell him to mind what he was about, or he
would 'Lrsak him aud hare him up,"-mean
iny that he would sen | the m te fnrw RI
n common sailer, and work him to death -
Atieagth, after a long and fierce discussion
in the forccashe, we all went aft one mor' :
ing in body, and compliance through the
carpenter, rs spokesman, that we had not
enough 10 cast Captain T.. listened without
interruption, and then cOOlIy turned round
and ssid---
Steward, 20 down in the cabin, aud bring
my pistols"
We looked at one another in silence.
In acouple of minutes the steward return
ed with the pistols, and, wi h a face ns pale
as death, handed them 10 the captain. The
liter coolly PLACED both on full cock, and
laying them side by side OF the top OF the
binnaclc, crossed his arms, and glared round
st every soul of US ere he spoke.
"Now, men," cried he at length, between
his teeth, all I've got TO say is, That you are
mistaken " you thin you are going to get
the upper hand of me. am your captain,
like. You didt ship to bully me. Go for
ward to your dnty, and tho first man that
hesita,es, or gives me any jaw, I'll shoot him
as would pigeon"
We tumLled to the forecastlc in body,
and for hours after the captain walked the
big with his achievement.
We had light battling winds for many days
nni the temper OF the captain grew perfect
~ savage. By-and-bye camo calm. and he
WIS complete madman. Tie stormed and
Swore from morning to night, aud shaved
ms all. from ths cabin boy up to the mate
Our allowance Of meat was worse than ever,
aad he stopped grog altogether and us on
haif allowance es water, nnd " prctenee .hat
no fsared to run short II the calm lasted -
Bot when breeze sprang up at the expira-
tlon Of four days, our allowance remained
Hhe ssrae--half meat, half water. no grog
The sailors grew half desperate, and curses
both loud and deep were banded from
puoth to mouth, sni ipdisiinct mcnaces
;muttered.
By-and-5ye 1t grew whispered in the ship
that the captsin bad conp-de-solciy, or sun
stroke, before leaving iIavan,, and that he
md drank freely Of brandy ever since, and
was consequently really insane TO certain
extent This wOsid explain his condse,
This Is a literal fact, The whims 6f sea-oC
hcers are oien vefy strange Indeed. once
made voyage in Swedish ship, and the cap.
tain being laid up in the deck.house, almost IN
q dying state, the rate was lord paramount. :
He was a gigantic fellow, and was always CON-
paiaing that the men didn't earn tiieis salt; ys,
he ireaied shem VERY vel, and gave them a 10,
erai allowance cf beef and pork CbosA most en-,
cellont In qualisy.) bat ncs drop of grog. He
himself never Touched meatl messed uisl
him In The cabin daily for nearly smpnth, and
the only food he ate was iersk dflsd tod-a.h
! This man wruid read bis shwediab Bible In
ioud monosonous voiee Coz an hour al speil
and then break OF 70 tod me nsors indesccn
stories. qf M