Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-06-23

and Tor hours alter the captain walked the
deck big with his achievement.
We had light battling winds for many days
aud the temper Of the captain grew perfectly
savage. By-and.byc came a calm, and no
was a complete madman. lie siOrmsd and
swore from morning to night, and "hsred"
Us all, from the cabin boy up To the mate
Our allowance Of meat was worse than ever
and he stopped grog altogether, and put US on
half allowance Of wafer, under PEeieneo that
he feared to run short II the calm lasted Bot
when breeze sprang up at the expiration Of
four days, our allowance remained the samO
half meat, half water, no gros The sail
ors grew half desperate, and curses both loud
and deep were banded from mouth to mouth.
and indisiinct menaces multered.
By.and.byc it grew whispered in the ship
that the captain had had a eoup-d,Ioisii, or
sun stroke, before leaving Havana aud that
hO had drank freely ofbnndy ever since, and
was consequently really insane TO certain
extent. This would explain his conduct and
We all we're inclined to ,cc-p, il a. tie prOPsr
solution but the ssptlln had certainly never
yet committed any &C, "i,ich would legally
be held proof OF insanity Tor ~ that he did
although highly cruel aud tyrau.,eal. va,
within the bounds Of that fearful amo.n, Of
almost irresponsible power 'ha, the law a..
lows to sea captains.
We had been three week, out, when twas
my morning watch on deck Six bells tso'-
en- o'clock) had just struck, and ! was en-.
gagged coilne away the line n the log, which
had been hove by order Of the mate, then in
charge ol the deck, when Captain l. un.
expectedly came ou, OF the cabin. noticed
that hs had a Wild, nervous look. for ho
glanced around and alon, just as a man migh
do when suddenly aroused from a dream.
What's the course'' no abruptly Dc.
manded Of the man At the wheel
"South east by cast, sir
Tn. captain then stepped up TO tie binna.
Gle and look.i u tho compass. Tuning
round with an oath, h. struck the man blow
in the mouth, that knocked him away from
the wheel, and ihundsrcd-
"Youiake the spo.e' IN hart! You know
no more about steering than your mother ~
(Such were the sIac, words, for distinctly
remember them.)
Tie poor fellow who VAS one of the best
hclmsmcn IN the ship took hold Of The spoke,
again, the blood iFckling down hi' -hin, and
muNlered--
81 was steering to a hair',.brealsh."
What's that you say ~
/ IL was s,ecrin. as we'll a, any man could.
and you're A. yrant, captain"
| The captains face grew black with P's'io'.
and the ligh, foam hew from his lips, as he
screamed
"Mr. Jackson, clap this fellow into irons
No, seize him up-make sPread'eagIe Of
him III tc,ch him to toe the mark
The mate, Jackson, IN vain attempted to
.oo,Ls the mailman, who compelled his oil.
Gers to 'scile Up tie unfortunate sailor
that is, To lash his wrists to the shroud,, with
his back hare for punishment, Thi, i, called
making ",prcad eagle Jar. not dllalo
upon III, s.ckrning scene that ensued Suf
fee il lha, the captain with his own hand
Goesed the man most bruiaIly, in presence Of
all hands. and no, a soul " Us dared to speak.
That night we all signed "round robn."
that is, paper stating a grievance, or petit
ton. with the names Of the mea written ia
circle, 50 that not one can be pitched bon =,
the ring leador-addrcsscd to the chief mate,
stating that We all lrlt our lives unsafe IN tho
hands Of such a captain, IS he was obviously
insane, aud requesting the nate to tako
command OF the ship, and place the captain
in confinement. We sent this To Mt Jaek-
son by one of the boys, and IN 4 quarter Of an
hour the mate came forward
"Men, 4" flid he, edo you know what ysu
are about You are in open mulIny-and
you know what the penalty for that is. For
Gods sake let US have no more Of this.
. Captain - is captain, aud his will is law.
We mus, all submit to it. Were | to do my
duty strictly, should show this" pointing
to the round.roLin, ia the captain; but don'i
want to make matters worse. let Us get To
port, and then complain as YOU please Bot
for your own sakes-and fOE my sake--don't
mutiny."
We all respected the mate, and h.1 Uord'
made a Crca, impression. We consulted to-
ge,ler aud the prudence ofllre majority over.
came the fierce impulse Of the bolder spirii,.
1t was, however, tacilly understood, that II
matters grew much worse We would rex tbs
dreadful penalty Of mutiny by ,eiring the
captain. for We now considered he was un-
doubtedly insane, although the mate acted
rightly enough in holdirg alOoi a, present, as
the captain had no; ye, evincsd himself inca.
psble Of m,nacing the ship.
Whether any whisper had leaked out ~
the cabin, through the steward or officers, !
cannot tell, but the captain undoubtedly SOS.
pee,ed what had passed. At noon the next
day he came on deck, with doubled.bauel.
led gun in hi. hands, aud deliberately loaded
/ it with ball in our presence, When he had
done this, he called all hands oft, and IN Ian
puace ,ha, sufficiently indicated. from lis
Wild incoherency, that he was undoubtedly
insane, he addressed the crew, winding up