The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-08-09
BIDDEFoRD, MAINE, FRIDAY

pound Of sold horse" and few rotten bis
cults, quite alive with "weeyils," wa, a poor
days allowance for a hearty fellow.
Our first mate often demonstrated with the
captain on his conduct, and plainly told him
that the men would not long submit to it;
but the only reply the captain made was to
tell him to mind what he was about, or he
would "bresk him and haze him up, mean
ing that he would send the mate forward as
common sailor, and work him to DEATH
At length after long and fierce discussion in
the forecastle, we all went aft one morning
in body, and complained through the car
penter as spokesman, that We had not enough
to eat. Captain l. listened without in
terruption, and then ccolly turned round and
said
Steward, go down in the cabin and bring
my pistols"
We looked at one another in silence.
In couple OF minutes the steward return
ed with the pistols, and, with face as pale
as death, handed them to the captain. The
latter colly placed them both on full cock,
and laying them side by side on the top Of
the pinnacle, crossed his arms, and glared
round at every soul Of us ere he spoke.
Now, men, cried he, at length, between
his teeth, 'all I've got to say il, that you are
mistaken IL you think you are going to get
the upper hand of me. lam your captain,
and the law gives me power to do what like.
You didn't ship to bully me. Go for'ard to
your duty, and the first man that hcsitates,
or gives me any jaw, I'll shoot him as would
apigcon"
We tumbled to the iorocastle in body,
and for hours after the captain walked the
deck, big with his achievement.
We hadlight battling winds for many days,
and the temper of the captain grew perfectly
savage. By-and.by came calm, and be was
a complete mailman. Hestormed and swore
from morning to night, and "hazed" us all,
from the cabin boy upto the mate. Our al
lowance Of meat was worse than ever, and he
stopped grog altogether, and put us on half
allowance Of water, under pretenco that he
feared to run short if the calm lasted. But
when breeze sprang up at tho expiration OF
four days, our allowance remained the same
half meat, half water, no grog! The sail
ors grew half desperate, and curses. both
loud and deep, were banded from mouth to
mouth. and indistinct menaces muttered.
By.and.by it grew whispered in the ship
that the captain had had a ooup.de-soleil, or
sun-stroke. before leaving Havana, and that
he had drunk freely of brandy ever since, and
was consequently really insane to certain
extent. This would explain his conduct, and
we were all inclined to accept it as the proper
solution; but the captain had certainly never
vet committed any act which would legally
be held proof of insanity; for all that he
did, although highly cruel and tyrannical,
was within the bounds Of that fearful amount
Of almost irresponsible power that the law
allows to sea captains.
We had been three weeks out, when it was
my morning watcht on deck.
Six bells (seven o'clock) had just struck,
and wis engaged coiling away the line OF
the log, which had been hove by order of the
mate, then in charge Of the dock, when Cap
tain l. unexpectedly came out Of the
cabin. noticed that he had wild nervous
look, for he glanced around and aloft. just
as man might do when suddenly aroused
from dream.
What's the course ? he abruptly demand
ed Of the man at the wheel.
South east by east, SIR
The captain then stepped up to the binna-
Gle and looked at the compass. Turning
round with an oath, he struck the man a
blow in the mouth that knocked him away
from the wheel, and thundered-
You take the spokes in band You know
no more about steering than your mother "
(Such were the exact words, for | distinctly
remember them.)
rhe poor fellow who was one of the best
helmsmen in the ship took hold ofthe spokes
again, the blood trickling down his chin,
and muttered-
Il was steering to hair's.breadth.'
What's that you say?'
u say was steering as well as any man
could, aud you're q - tyrant, captain.
The captain, face grew black with passion,
and the light foam few from his lips, as he
screamed
Mr.. Jackson, clap this fellow in irons
No seize him up-makea a ,prsaa-eagle Of him
I'll teach him TO toe the mark -
The mate, jackson, in vain attempted to
soothe the mailman, who compelled his Off.
GERS to 'seile up the unfortunate sailor that
", 10 lash his wrists 70 the shrouds, with his
back bare for punishment. This is called
making spread eagle. dare not diliate
on the sickening scene that ensued. Suffice
it that the captain with hisown hand logged
tho man most brutally in presence Of all
hands, and not soul Of us dared to speak.
That night we all signed round robin.
that is, paper stating grievance, or peti-
ton, with the names Of the men written in
circle, 50 that not one can bc pitched upon
as the Observation-Disclosures to the chief
mate, stating that We all felt that our lives
were not safe in the hands Of the captain, as
he was obviously insane. and requesting the
A. t.I r.. q l.. A