Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-07-29
\ Ibrillilla 5kcttI).
From Shnrpc's London Magazine
A LEAP FOR LIFE.
BY WILLIAM lIURToN.

After my discharge from the hospital at
Havana, shipped in the American barque
Independence, Captain Robert l.,
bound to Valparaiso, and thence round the
Horn to the western coast OF North Amer
ca. She was large vessel, Of some seven
hundred tons register, with a handsome
poop, top gallant iorecast!e, and all other
points of flash ship. The captain was
native OF Jersey, and the crew were mix
ture OF Americans, British and Spaniards,
with a sprnking Of wooIly-heads, or
"Snow ballS," as we called the negroes.
We had not been week out, ere very
great dissatisfaction prevailed among the
crew, for the captain, with unaccountable
perversity, did not allow US half enough
Junk ii. e. salted beef to our meals; and
even what we did get, was what sailors
call sold horSe," viz, hard, tough, lean,
stringy stuff, devoid of nourshment. The
usual allowance of junk on ship-board is
one pound and a half Tor each man per
diem; but am sure we did not get more
than half that quantity. The captain
used TO come on deck every morning, and
stand by the steward as he weighed out the
Junk from the "harnasS cask," to see that
we did not get an ounce over what he had
ordered, On the other hand, this captain
allowed us thrice as much grog as is usua.f
But sailors, although very fond of rum,
can't live upon il; and three quarters of a
pound of sold horse," and a few rotten bis
cults, quite alive with "weevils," was a
poor DAYS allowance Tor hearty fellow.
Our first mate often demonstrated with
the captain on his conduct, and plainly
told him that the men would not long sub
nit to it but the only reply the captain
made was TO tell him to mind what he was
about, or he would "break him and haze
him up,"-meaning that he would send
The mate forward as a common sailor, and
work him to death. AT length, after q
long and fierce discussion in the forecaste
we all wen, an one morning 10 body, and
complained through the carpenter, al
spokesman, that we had no, enough 10 eat
Captain r. listened without Interrupt
iion, and then cooly turned round and
said
"Steward, 60 down in the cabin, and
bring my pistols"
We looked at one another in silence,
In couple OF minutes the steward re-
turned with the pistols, and, with face a.
pale as death, handed them 10 the captain
The latter eoolly placed both on foil cock,
aud laying them side BY side on the top Of
the binnaeIe, crossed bis arms, aud glared
round at every soul Of ~ ere he spoke.
"Now, msn," cried be at length, be-
tween his teeth, "all I've go, 10 say is, that
you are mistaken II you think you are gO-
ing 10 gel the upper hand Of nae. ! am
your captain, and lhs Law gives me poweI
10 do what like, ion dldnt ship 10 bull
" me. Go loF'aId 10 your duly, aad the
hTd nan that he,ilales. oT gives me any
aw 'll shoot him a. ! would a pigeon %
We lua,hled ~ The iofseaale 10 a body
and ioE hours aiisg the eaplaia walked lhs
deck b's With h's ashlssslAsal.
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