The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1855-05-18
81 Baulltiful 5tarll.
J he 9et OFFS esscast!e.

the facts having actually occurred some ten
years since, on board ofs Boston Indiaman.
was then young to the life of a sailor, aud
each scene ut that time witnessed is easier
brought to .snind than the occurrences of
The last voyage Never, in the eyes of her
crew, was there craft that could compete
with her, though so rapidly and many have
been the Improvements since, that in sober,
truth, could she he placed side by side with
ship OF the present day, our opinions would
be overuled. Of her master, never better
would man broke bread or trod shoe-leather;
one of the old school, he was both sailor and
gentleman ;neither were her officers wanting
in those qualities which endeared them to
those under their commaudA-and there were
sterling old tars in her forecasde, who.sin the
very sense of the word, belonged to her: voy-
age 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 half dozen years, they daily had
pronounced worthy situation in tophet.
Don't imagine these warm wishes resulted in
any i'll feeling; twas but sailors charac
.teristic-for did the new conner dare to lool:
ugly when they condemned, the old salts
would raise breeze directly. Well man.
ned, besides her complement were TO be found
the carpenter and sail-maker, whom Jack
rated, together with cook and steward, as
petty officers, that always gave rise to a dis
cussion never, as yet settled, which party.
white or black, should be considered in the
ascendant. In those days, andin that trade,
there were articles, to be found in the inven-
tory, and considered as an essential part Of
the materials, nowS seldom carried by the
merchantmen. These were big guns and
small arms, boarding spikes and nettlngs,
arm chests in the tops and, in short, on a
small scale, the 'fout ensemble, of the man
of war.
Every Saturday. the weather permitting,
we went through a species Of manuel exer-
else, working our guns, repelling, boarding
extnguishing fires, singing yards, ducking
chips as he, in the mock combat, was low
cred over tho side to plug shot hole, and
any one of Cooper's. Guns again run in
doing up nautical engagement surprising
any secured, rammers andsponges becketed,
the shot laid in the rack, and all things ar
ranged, then followed an early supper; and
then, for a timc discipline was waived, and
fun and frolie ruled the hour. The Saturday
night of other days at sea-aye! where is the
sailor who can look back on his past life,
and not wish for an hours enjoyment, or
the seeming happiness of that short time de
voted weekly to sweethearts and wives; the
grog and the toast home and friends re-
called the pledge to the absent wife or dear
ly loved girl; the old song sung upon the
occasion, the chorus Of which AL hands Joined
in, till space rang again,
'But the standing toast which pleased the most,
Was the wind that blows, the ship that goes
And the lass that would wed q sailorp'
The premonitory squeak of the fiddle ban
ished sentiment, and the lively strains Of
some hornpipe put music into our very
heels, as we shuffled, broke down and
changed in our "fore and ALTERS" When the
ships bell proclaimed eight o'clock, the id-
der came up with his screws, thedancer laid
by bis dumps, and every man returned to
his place and duty without a word
unhappy routine, like all earthly enjoy
ments; was at times interrupted. One Sat
urday, while repe!ling boarders, a mere lad,
son Of the captain, in a melee, fell overheard.
We were going some six knots. As quick
as thought, another boy, thepet ofthe fore
castle, throw himself into the sea TO save
him.
The father did not forget he was master Of
a ship, and, with the GOODNESS of hero, he
hove her TO, and pursued the usual steps,
His example inspired others, and both lads
We're soon safe again, and the pet of the fore
castle had his ears boxed by the skipper,
whose sons life he had saved, for cursing the
luck because heihad wet his tobacco. Cuffed