The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-03-02
Asa II. knOIIin's Adventure
BY THE OLD 'UN.

Asa t. Knolin was genuine specimen
of Down East Yankee-a log chopping,
trading, fishing, sea going, amphibious an
imal, passing his time between the ocean
and the main land. In one of his voyages
before the mast he went to Porti Rico
and by some chance it happened that his
vessel sailed without him. Asa felt some
what homesick when compelled to pro-
long his visit, and watched eagerly for an
opportunity of returning to his native
land.
One evening as he was walking by the
sea side in melancholy guise, he was sud-
denly SURF ounded by gang of British sail
ors, belonging to the sloop. war Terrible
commanded by Capt Bigshot, and then
busy in taking in water, and other stores,
preparatory to continuance of her three
years. cruise. Asa was disposed to show
fight at first, but as the press gang were
armed with cutlasses, he concluded his pol
icy was to submit quietly, and so he enter
ed the barge without opposition, and was
taken on board the Sloop.
That night as he lay awake brooding
over his misfortunes, he chalked out his
conduct. which was no other than to feign
a simplicity, amounting almost to idiocy,
and to display as little knowledge Of sea
manship as possible. He knew how to
| throw into his countenauce an air of com
! plete vacancy and innocence, calculated to
throw the shrewdest observer off his guard
The next day dish of boiled beans was
set before him without any +" ixings y
| lpr fri of ba >f
the entertainment.
Billed beans and no porkD' lie ex-
claimed. "This is a leetle too mean, |
swow faint fit for dog
Hadn't you better complain to the
captain!" asked the black whiskered boats
vain, with sneer.
That's it, old sea hoss," remarked
Knolln. "That's bright idee. Cap'n
so / will"
And regardless of opposition, be bolted
into the cabin where Capt. Bigshot sat at
dinner with three or four officers.
"Who the deuce are you?' asked the
Captain, firmly fixing his savage eyes up
on the Yankee.
Who be II" calculated Knollin :;
why I'm Asa I. Knollin, Captain, hope
your well-and how's the folks to hum
pretty spry, eh 2"
"Your names Jonathan, l guess"
said the captain, mimicking the usual tone
Of Knollin.
"No, it amt, it's Asa T. Knolin, cap
tain"
"Well, what do you want of me ?"
"Seems to me you live pretty well here,
Captain said Asa, looking over the table
:. Pretty tall fodder chicken, hams, pine
apples and o-be-joyful. Your cook hain't
did the clean thing by us, though. S'pose
YOU know nothing about it, so | thought
I'd step up here and let you know how
the serve US down stairs. Why, Captain,
they give US beans without pork ~
Beans without pork Astonishing"
exclaimed the captain, Wiling to Lumor
| the character.
"Yes, Captain, beans without pork
Don't that beat all NATURE"
What do you live on when ou are at
home % asked the captain.
Pork and beans, billed chowder, fap-
Jacks and doughnuts," answered Asa.
What are flap jacks?" asked the cap
tain.
Don't you know what flap jacks arel
Why. | thought every fool know'd that.
They are made of -four, eggs, milk and
water, beaten up ker slap, and they re slot
tered into frying pan and done brown,
sarved up with butter and molasses, which
ever you choose, and if they don't go down
slick, there's no stones in Roxbury' ~
"You seem to like molasses," said the
captain.
'"Wal, guess do said Asa. "But
not raw, as YOU fellers eat It,"
How then ?"
Wal, like to run a stick into the
bung hole of hogshead, and then pull it
eout and drop it into my mouth. Amt
it good thoughe Wal, guess it is"
We'll, Johnathan."
Asa, Captain"
"Johnathsn, J. say you can 90 now, and
l will see about the pork to morrow"
Asa went back to his astonlshed ship
mates, reporting that the captain was "a
pretty slick sort Of a fellow"
One day when the men didn't tumble
up" from below with the requisite alacrty,
the boatswain, rattan in hand, gave each
| OF tQem q reminder VIII AIS SUCK aS uo
came on deck. Asa was last, as usual,
but, watching the boatswain's bamboo, he
caught TIE weapon in his hand, and dex
tel ously twisted it out Of the officers
grassy.
Halo, whiskersr' said he, 81 know
you did not mean to hit me, cause il
hurts a feIler No you didn't-wal |
thought sol forgive you;" and be
threw the rattan overheard, escaping to
the quarter deck, where bis originality
and supposed imbecility secured him im-
punity. In fact, he was treated as priv
LEGGED buffoon by the officers.
Taking up cannon ball one day, he
asked:
"What in the world is this yere, cap
tain ?" ....
"That's what we keep to pepper the
Yankees WITH" answered Captain Bigshot.
"Want to krow," said Asa; how do
they work j. z"
q We put them into those big guns and
fire them off,
"Swow! you don't say 80. Do they
travel pretty fast, Captain'''
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