Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-04-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE FET OF the
F O r T. G. A S T L E d.

The tale lay before you is no -omance--
the facts have actually occurred some ten
years since ON board Of a. Boston lndisman.-
was then young to the lie Of sailor, and
eac scene at the time witnessed, is eHsier
! brought tc mind than the occurrences o!"the
last voyage" Never. in the eyes other crew,
was there a Graf that could compete with
her, though so rapid and many have been the
improvements since, that, in sober truth,
cvuld she be placed side by side with ship of
the present day, our opinions would be over
RI led OF her master, never better man
broke bread or trod shoe leather one Of the
neither were her officers wanting in those
qualities which endeared them to those under
their commaud-and there were sterling old
tars in her furecustle, who, in the very sense
of the word, belonged to her; voyage after
voyage found them still in the same ship, at
the same station, growing, sailor like, tor the
same imagined cause, and denouncing In
round terms some fixture, which for halt doz-
en- years, they daily had pronounced worthy Il
situation in tophet.
Don't imagine these warm wishes resulted
in any i'll feeling; twas bat sailors character
istics--for did the new conner dare to look
ugly when they condemned. the old salts
would raise a breeze directly. Well mann
ed, beside her compliment were to he found
the carpenter and sailmaker, whom Jack ra.
ted, together with cook steward, rs petty ofti-
GERS, that always gave rise to discussion
never yet settled which party white or
black, shall be considered in the ascendant.
In those days and in that trade there were
articles to be found in :he inventory, ana con-
sidered as an essential part Of the materials,
now seldom carried by the Merchantmen
These are big guns and small arms, boarding
pixies and netting, arm chests in the topi and
/ in short in a small scale, the tout ensemble"
of the man oi-war.
Every Saturday, the weather permitting,
We went through species OF manual exef-
cise working our guns, repelling, boarding,
cxtnguishing fires, singing yards, duckng
chips as he in the mock combat. was lower
ed over the side to plug shot hole, and do
ing up nautical engagement surprising any
one of Cooper's. Guns again ran in and Sc
cured, rammers and sponges becketed; the
shot laid in the rack, and all things arrangedi
then followed m early supper: aud then, tor
a time, discipline was aived, and Iun and
irclic ruled the hour The Saturday night
of other days at sea--aye! where is the sailor
who can look back of his past life, anG not
wish for an hours enjoyment, OF the seeming
happiness of that short time devoted weekly
TO sweeihearts and wives: the grog and The
toast; home and friends recalled the pledge
TO the absent wife. or dearly loved girl, the
old song sung upon the occasiohi the chorus
of which all hands joined in, till space rang
again
"Bu the standing to1st which pleased the most
| Was the wind that blows, The ship that goes
| AMI the lass that would wed saior"
The promo n,ory squeak Of the fiddle ban
| shed sentiment, and lively strains OF some
hornpipe, put music into our very heels, as we
shufiied, broke down, and changed in our lore
and Alters When the ships bell proclaim
ed eight o'clock, the fiddler came up with his
screws, the dancer laid aside his puInps and
every man returned to his place and duty
withouta word.
Our happy routine like all earthly enjoy.
:nents, was at times interrupted. One Satur'
day, while repeliing boarders. mere lad, a
son of the Captain, in melee, tell overheard
We were going some six knots. As quick as
thought, another boy, the pet Of the foreeas'
tie, threw himself into the sea to save him.
The father did not forget he was master
of the ship, and with the coolness OF hero
he hove her to, and pursued the usual steps,
HIS example inspired others, and both lads
were soon safe again, and the pet of the fore
castle had his ears boxed by the skipper
whose sons life he he'd saved, for cursing the
luck because he had wet his tobacco. Cuffet
as the pet was, it was evident that his bra
very was appreciated, and this step raiset
him in the estimation OF all. There was less
OF noise, more of grog, and as much enjoy
ment that evening as on any previous
Months have psssed-the pets popularl,
still continued, and from being rated boy
he was now classed 'ordinary seaman. More
he was appointed captain OF gun, the crew
of which reJoced in the sobriquet OF tht
awkward squad Where is there an instanc,
of the rise of any one, unattended by the ere
alton of enemies! Our pet found one in th
cook, who was the awkwardest Of the nwk
O ward and reproof from 'he young gunner q
him was doubly harsh.
II We were now upon our return home. Th
fair weather face of the Captain had bscom
s stern and forbidding: the mandates of the off
GERS were issued in tones harsh and petulenl
,. while the crew, catching the contagiog
lcbeyed because they had to, A Ssturds