Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-07-29


stormed and swore from morning 10 night.
and "hazed" us all, from the cabin bow I'D
TO The mate. Our allowance of meat was
worse than ever, and he stopped grog alto
gether, and pnt US on halt allowance of
water, under pretence that he feared 10 run
short ii the calm lasted. But when
breeze sprang up at the expiration of four
days, Our allowance remained the same
hall meat, half water, no grog The sail
ors grew half desperate, and curses both
loud and deep were banded from mouth
to mouth, and indiStinct menaces uttered.
By-and-bye it grew whispered in the
ship that the captain had had a coup-de-
Sotiet, orsun stroke, before leaving Havana,
and that he had drank freely Of brandy
ever since, and was consequently really
insane TO a certain extent. This would
explain his conduct, and we all We're in
clined TO accept ii 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,
although highly cruel and tyranical, was
within the bounds of that fearful amount
of almost irresponsible power tha, the law
allows to sea captains.
We had been three weeks out, when il
was my morning watch + on deck. Six
bells (seven o'clock) had just struck, and |
was engaged coiling away The line OF the
log, which had been hove by order of the
mate, then in charge OF the deck, when
Captain l. unexpectedly came out OF
the cabin. l noticed that he had wild
nervous look, for he glanced around and
aloIt, ust as man might do when sudden
ly aroused from dream.
"What's the course 2" he abruptly de-
manded OF the man at the wheel.
"South east by east, SIR"
The captain then stepped up TO The bin
racle and looked at the compass. Turning
round with an oath, he struck the man a
blow in the mouth that knocked him away
from the wheel, and thundered-
"fOu take the spokes in hand You
know no more about steering than your
mother" !" (Such were The exact words, for
distinctly remember them.)
The poor fellow who was one of the best
helmsmen in the ship took hold of the
spokes again, the blood trckling down his
chin, and muttered--
81 was steering 10 r's-breadth."
"What's that you say 20
81 say was steering as well as any man
could, and you're - tyrant captain
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 a Spread-eagle OF
/ him I'll teach him to toe the mark ~
The mate, Jackson, in vain attempted to
Soothe the madman, who compelled his
officers TO "seize up" the unfortunate sailor
that is, TO lash his wrists to the shrouds
with his back bare for punishment. This
is called making "spread eagle" | dare
not dilate on the sickening scene tha, en-
sued. Suffice il that the captain with hi.
own hand tlogged the. man most brutaliy il
preGence of all hands, and not soul Of Il.
dared to speak.
That night we all signed ''round robin
that is, a paper stating grievance, or peti
iion, with the names of the men written il
a circle, so that not one can be pitcheC
upon as the geader-addresSe TO th,
chief mate, stating that We all felt that ou
lives were not sale in the hands of tn,
captain, as be was obviously insane, anl
requesting the mate TO take the commanC
OF the ship, and place the captain in con
fnement. We sent this 10 Mr.. jackson b,
one of the boys, and in quarter of al
hour the mate came forward.
"Men," said he, ''do you know wha
you are about You are in open muliny-
aud you know what the penalty Tor that is
For Gods sake let US have no more OF this
Captain l. is captain, and his will
law. We must all submit 10 it. Were
to do my duty strictly, | should show this,
pointing to the round-robin, 'ao the cap
, tain; but | don't want 10 make matter
worse. Let us get to port, and then CON
plain as you please. But for your owl
sakes-and Tor my Sake-don'! mutiny."
We all respected the mate, and his word
made great impression. We conSulie
! together, and the prudence OF the majorit'
overcame the fierce impulse Of the bolde
spirits. II was, however, taeitly under
stood, that II matters grew much worse, "
would risk the dreadful penalty Of mutin
by seizing the captain, for we now cousid
cred he was undoubtedly insane, althoug
the mate acted rightly enough in holdin
aloot at present, as the captain had not y,
eylneed himself incapable OF managing tn
ship.
Whether any whisper had leaked out i
the cabin, through the steward OF officers,
eanno, tell, bat the captain undoubtedl
suspected what had passed. Al noon N
next day he came on deck, with doubl
barreled gun IA has HANDS, and deliberalel
loaded il with ball N our presence, Whsl
he had done this, he called all hands al
and IA language thai ,uaieisnlly indicated
from ia Wild ineoheTsney, that be was un
douhiediy insane, be addressed the crew
winding up wilh the words
"fou lhlnk 10 gel the upper hand oi ms
do you ion vail mullny-y0u wall iak
the ,hip away ffom ne pll make sn "a
smplewlll ,how yog whom sou have 4
deal wdh AlT, IaekssA sl lhoso two lae
bs sslsFd np tbs ~ mute, iof l'll max
spIsaa eagles ~ 'em sue a. liye,"
A. be spoke tbs esrislE pointed "a ~
! ~ lhs neaffd men--ens "a Amegifan, IA
4 A N.