The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-06-07
Select Storm,
TARTAR All SEA:
ALOyT SOUL FOUND.
A sHIPMAsTER's STORY.
by sYLvNIUs COBB, JR.

WHEN | was about one-and twenty,
was spending season in New York out
Unemployment. Seamen were scarce, and
| had refused several offers of good
wages 10 take station before the mast,
home from the Indies, and | was resolved
not to 60 to sea again, except l could
have a berth in the cabin, for was CON-
petent to do the duties of an officer, and
meant to have the pay. At lengtht |
had a call from the shipping agent, who
offered me the berth of second mate on
board the ship Melancthon. knew the
ship very well. She was new vessel
OF nearly fifteen hundred tons burden,
and was loaded Tor Canton. | asked who
was TO command her, but the agen! did
not know, or at any rate, he told me he
did not; but he informed me that Walter
Thayer was going as first mate. Now |
knew Thayer well, for had sailed with
him, and | knew him not only to be an
exec ut seaman, but true-hearted man.
The aagos offered me were good, and as
/ Supposed TO owners would Of course
see that q cod captain was put on board,
shipped al once, and signed the papers
The ship now lay down by Staten Is
land all ready for sailing, and on the next
morning went on board with chest and
baggage, where found Mr.. Thayer in
charge and the crew oil shipped. Many
OF the men | had sailed with before, and
know them to be good seamen and faith.
full at their duty. Thaycr was glad to
see me and so were the men have no
desire 10 sound my own fame, but was
much graiifed by the greeting ofihe men
who knew me, and soon found that they
had told the rest of the crew that ! was
"a noble fellow.
'But the captain, said to Thayer, af
Ter my luggage had been slowed away in
my state-room. 'Where is he?'
That's more than can tell, returned
he. 1The owners have gone to Phla'
delphia after him, and believe he is TO
come off at Sandy Hook
'And are you to take the ship outP !
asked.
'Yes-as far as there
thought nothing more Of the affair
supposing of course that all would lie
right, and at noon one of the owners came
off and directed US to get underweish.-
One anchor was already up. and we were
but a few moments in heaving up the
other. The wind was favorable, and al
three o'clock we hove TO off Sandy Hook
under direction of the owners who had
run down with us. In few minutes af
ter this, boat put off from the shore, and
our captain was soon alongside. His
chests, and boxes, and bags were passed
up first, and upon one Of the chests
saw the name of abel Bunkton.' Ny
teeth were closed, and for a few moments
was strongly tempted to leave the ship
but this could moi easily do.
'By heavens we've caught tartar!
whispered Thayer, as he read the name
Il never would have shipped on board
this craft in the world, if had known
this
Nor neither returned. but i'll
loo late now. We have no help for it,
Just then Captain Abel Bunkton came
over the side, and | could see the mel
start in a moment. They looked disap
pointed, and they began to whisper
among themselves. Bunkton was darl
looking man, standing six feet and 81,
inches tall, and stout and muscular il
proportion. He was in reality perfec
giant in frame, and his breast and arm
were all cord and muscle. His face wa
shaven with much care, leaving only
small whisker extending down to the cor
ners Of the mouth. His hair was je
black, short and curly, and his eye blacI
and piercing. His fame was wide-sPra'