The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-09-01
From Ballou's Dollar Magazine.
BREAKING THE PLEDGE
An Old Seamanss Story.
BIT ETHAN A. CRAWFORD.

By ETHAN A. CRAWFORD.
On a bright morning in September we
weighed anchor on board the good ship Three
Sisters, of New Bedford, and made sail from
that beautiful harbor of Honolulu, in the
South Pacific Ocean. The Three Sisters had
made a. .moss successful whaling voyage,
having a full cargo, besides having previously
freighted home seven hundred barrels of oil
in the unusually short time of fifteen months;
during which time we had not experienced
a single casualty of note, except the unfortu-
nate loss of our boatswain, poor Phil Harris,
who was struck from the bow of one of our
boats by the Aukes of sperm whale, and
never seen after. We had called into Hon.
olulu for water, stores and provisions for the
homeward passage, and while there our skip
per shipped man whom he found cruising
on the island, for the run hons, to fill the
berth poor Phirs loss lad made vacant. He
was an excellent seaman, and though usually
reserved and taciturn, soon won the esteem
aiiU soou WIN vi dh iiduuS- ilc Crew were
naturally enough little iublant over the
prospect of quick run home, and a profta
ble voyage, and being Saturday, after every
thing was made Snug allow and aloft---deells
cleared and sails trimmed-the hands prepar-
ed to enjoy themselves during the dog-watch
(from six, p. NJ, till eight, in the old fashion
OF Saturday night at sea.
Although the Three Sisters was ostensbly
Temperance ship, such joyful occasion as
the present might appear TO warrant sus-
pension of even the strictest rules, and when
the "kanaka' steward came forward with a
little demiiohn Of rum, and gave it to us with
a great atfectation Of secrecy, pretending
that he had stolen it from the medicine chest.
we understood the intended license and pre-
pared for regular jolliication. The liber.
ality Of the captain was duly extoIled, the
usual healths drank, and "Admiral Benbow," /"
"a Wet Sheet" and "The Mermaid" with
other old sea songs, chanted by chorus OF
voices, in which the performers seemed to
consider steutorian volume of sound AZ a
much more desirable requisite than melody
or tune. While we were thus making mer-
ry, Paul Farnham, our new boatswain, sat
amongst US, quietly participating in our
mirth but ciyilly declining the proifered bey.
erage as often as it went round.
why don't you drink, boatswain ~ cried
Sam Peters, the carpenter 'Tts prime stin.
go-try drop"
"No, thankee-I never drink, at least,
have not for five years; though don't want
to let my prejudice interfere with those who
do" replied the boatswain.
"Guess you've took the pledge, eh?" sale
one of the seamen; "well, took it four times
and broke it again."
$50 much the worse for you, my lad bu
ifyou had seen what / have--misery, death
and the complete destruction of as smart
little craft as ever sailed, and of all on boart
of her, except mysef-all caused by It'll,
demijohn Of brandy not much bigger thar
that one you are taking such hearty pull
at now, you'd think It would be better fo
you as well as for poor Bill Wainwright tt
keep the pledge" sa.as
'.Give us the yarn, Paul" said !. "Wh'
was Bin Wainwright"
''Ay, aY, yarn-a yarn. Heave ahead
Paul, start the WINCH" cried several voices
"Wen, my hearties," said Paul, "seeing
as how it's the only way | can help your en-
joyment, as can't sing no more'n quohoI
can, I'll spin you yarn, but you mnstn'
expect any kinks, thoroughfoots, or fame,
twists in it, for | can't reel off any yarn tina
amt laid fair and according to truth. So her
goes" And the boatswain proceeded sub
stantially as follows:
I'm the second year Of the war with Mex
leo, was working alongshore in Mobile, am
wages being high, I made good sum dur
ing the summer and fall. had got abou
tired Of shore. and wanted some excitemen
for change, but I never liked man-ol
wars life, and as for volunteering for a Ian
cruise in Mexico, could not think of sue
thing. was one day walking down Gov
ernment street, when who should meet bu
an old shipmate-Bill Wainwright-who ask
ed me If l wanted berth. Before goin
any further with the story, must tell 20
that Bill was chief mate Of q New Orlean
ship in which ! held the post Of second of
car, formerly, on voyage to Antwerp. Il
was remarkAbly fne-built, noble-lookin