The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-09-03
MY MATES SECRET.

| was at Mobile. in command of the
ship Satellite, and was loaded for the
Mediterranean There haG been sickness
among my crew, and both my first and
second mates were taken down Ny first
mate died, aud the second matc became
So reduced by disease that he resolved not
to 90 out with me The fever had set
tied on his lungs, and he made his way
as soon as possible TO his home in New
England Three weeks had | laid idle.
with ny ship all ready for sailing. aud |
could wait no longer. even if | sailed
short handed. Seamen were scarce in the
gulf ports. had lost six of NV crew,
besides my two mates, and as yet | had
but four men to fill thuir places, and noI
one of them knew anything of navi igaton
| My third mate was with me, and | re-
solved that would sail as soun as could
find one more officer. One morning, just
as | was getting ready to leave NY ship
for the purpose of going up into town,
man came on board who wished 70 speak
with the captain. told him | was that
individual
He said his name was Gilbert Carboy.
He was a seaman by profession. and had
commanded ship He belonged to New
York State, but had for the past two wears,
been out iu Texas, engaged in grape cul,
ture. A partner, who had been with him
iu the business, decamped with all the
money, ard ne was now forced to seek a
livelihood at his old profession. He had
been informed that | wanted an officer,
aud he would like the situation
Carboy was about forty years of age,
tall and slim, but yet quite muscular,
with black hair and large black eyes, his
face somewhat too pale for robust health,
and with features Cf singular beauty. |
conducted him to MY cabin, where | ex
amined him in the various departments
Of our profession, and | found him as
thoroughly acquainted with all the prin-
ciples of seamanship and navigation as |
was myself, | was fully assured that he
was as competent to sail the ship as any
officer could be, and vet | he>itated about
engaging him. There was something in
his look and manner that led me to dis
trust him, but why it was So | could not
tell There was, at times, a sort of wan
dering uncertain look in his eve, anu |
fancied that he started once 10 while.
as though something frightened him. In
short, be appeared to be i'll at ease with
himself, and finally intimated that |
feared that all was not right There was
another start, as said this, and | could
see that be trembied. He gazed few
moments into NV face and then said
captain, | know what you mean. You
see something Odd in my behavior |
don't blame you-I can feel it myself !
know that act strangely sometimes, and
try to avoid it However, it will soon
wear off when | once get upon salt water
again. 1t must appear strange, but |
assure you there is nothing TO fear. You
think | act peculiarly. Perhaps you
might act the same if you were in my
place. | am sensitive-perhaps ton sen
sitlve. 1t does not agree with me to have
friend, whom have trusted as brother,
run away with all my money, leaving me
to meet debts to the amount of twenty
thousand dollars. How would you feel.
captain. if you could not appear abroad 10
daylight without fearing the approach of
creditor at every step? How would
you feel if you expected every minute to
find the hand of the sheriff clapped upon
your shoulder? Egad: I don't believe