The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1854-08-03

| We had light, battling winds for many
days, and the temper of the captain grew
perfectly savage. By and by came a
calm, and he was a complete madman,
He stomed and swore from morning to
night, and "hazed" US all, from the cabin
boy up to the mate. Our allowance ol
meat was worse than ever, and he stop
ped our grog altogether, and put us on
half allowance of water, under pretence
that he feared to run short if the calm last
ed. But when breeze sprung up at the
expiration of four days, our allowance re.
mained the same-half meat, half water
and no grog The sailors grew half des-
perate, and curses both loud and deep
were banded from mouth to mouth, and
indistinct menaces muttered.
By and by it was whispered in the ship
that the captain had had coup de SOlieL,
or sun stroke, before leaving Havana,
and that he had drunk freely of brandy
ever since, and consequently was really
insane to certain extent. This would
explain his conduct, and we were all in
clIned to accept it as the proper solution
but the captain had certainly never yet
committed any act which would legally
be held proof of insanity; for all that he
did, though highly cruel and tyrannical,
was within the bounds of that fearful a.
mount of almost irresponsible power that
the law allows to sea-captains. We had
been three weeks out, when it was my
morning to watch on deck Six bells, Il
O'Clock J had just been struck, and l was
engaged incoiling away the line ofthe log,
which had been hove by order of the
mate, when in charge of the deck, when
Captain II unexpectedly came out Of
the cabin, noticed that he had a wild,
nervous look, for he glanced around and
aloft, Just as man might do when sud
denly aroused from dream.
"What's the course ?" he abruptly de-
manded of the man at the wheel.
Southeast, by east, sir"
The captain then stepped up to the bin
racle and looked at the compass. Turn
ing round with an oath, he struck the man
a blow in the mouth, that knocked him a.
way from the wheel, and thundered-
"You take the spokes in hand! You
know no more about steering than your
mother T.
(Such were the exact words, for | dis
tinctly remember them.
The poor fellow, who was one of the
best helmsman in the ship, took hold of
the Spokes again, the blood trickling down
his chin, and muttered-
II was steering to hairs BREADTH"
"What's that you say?"
al say was steering as we'll as any
man could, and you're a - tyrant, cap,
tain"
The captains face grew black with pas
sion, and the light foam flew from his lips,
as he screamed
"Mr. Jackson, clap this fellow in irons.
: No, seize him up-make Spread-eGgle
of him !! Ill teach him to toe the mark. .
The mate, Jackson, in vain attempted
! to soothe the madman, who compelled bis
; officers to seize up" the unfortunate sail
or-that is, TO lash his wrists to the
shrouds, with his back bare for punish.
ment. This is called making spread.
,, !, eagle | dare not dilate on the sickenine
scene that ensued. Suffice it that the cap
tain with his own hand fogged the mar
most brutally in presence of all hands
and not soul of us dared to speak.
That night we signed round robin,'
! that is, paper stating grievance or Pc
tition, with the names Of the men written
in circle, so that no one be pitched up
> on as the Observation-Disclosures to the
chief mate, stating that we all felt tha
our lives were not safe in the hands o
' the captain, as he was obviously insane
y and requesting the mate to take command
of the ship, and place the captain in con
: finement. We sent this to Mr.. Jackson
!, by one Of the boys, and in quarter o
an hour the mate came forward
: 'Men,' said he, do you know what yot
! are about7 You are in open mutiny-ant
I /, you know what the penalty for that is
i i Captain lis captain, and his viii
:, is law. We must submit to it. Were
to do my duty strictly, | should show
Il this pointing to the round robin ito th'
u captain; but don't want to make matters
worse. Let us get to port, and then com
d plain as you please. But for your owr
J sakes, and for my sake, don't mutiny.'
o We all respected the mate, and hi'
> words made great impression. W.
T. consulted together, and the prudence o
n the majority overcame the fierce impulse
e of the bolder spirits. 1t was, however
q tacity understood, that if matters grew
a much worse we would risk the penalty o
$ mutiny by seizing the captain, tor w
y now considered him undoubtedly insane
IS although the mate acted rightly enough
o in holding aloof at present, as the cap
!, tain had not as yet evinced himself inca
u pable of managing the ship.
Whether any whisper had leaked ou
d in the cabin though the steward or off
GERS, cannot tell; but the captain I'm
doubtedly suspected what had passed
3 AT noon the next day, he came on decl
Is with double brrelled gun in his hands
4. and deliberately loaded it in our pres
IL ence. When he had done this, he called
e all hands aft, and in language that sut
d icientlv indicated, from its wild incohe
e rency, that he was undoubtedly insane
he addressed the crew, winding up witt