The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-05-07
THE CABIN BOY.

and Asa Morton-with whom had some
slight acquaintance. Capt Streeter was
about three score, and had followed the
sea most of his life Morton was consid-
erably younger, but still seamen of
much experience. The subject of abol.
ton of fogging in our navy came up in
course of conversation, and Capt. Morton
expressed himself decidedly in favor of
that time -honored institution, the cato
nine-tails.
>"I am not prepared to say" remarked
Capt. Streeter, in reply, "that the condi.
tion of our man. of wars.men will De in
every case benefited by the abolition of
fogging, though | am sure it might be
so. I mean that the officers have it in
their power to do away with all kinds of
punishment. | mean, of course, for such
offences as are usually punished on ship
| board.
"For my part" said Morton, 81
shouldn't care to take command of a ship,
if the power of Furnishing refractory sea
men as l thought proper were taken from
me"
"Well," said Capt. Streeter, "I used to
think just so. 1n fact, there were but
few masters more passionate or severe
than | was. Men used to run away from
me, and on more than cne occasion my
life has been in danger from the violence
of men whom | had abused. used the
cat and the ropes end almost as freely as
| used my tongue; aud | used to woD-
der how | had the luck to get such bad
men.
When I was about forty years of age /
took command of the ship Petersham.-
She was an old craft and had seen full as
much service as she was capable of seeing
with safety But her owners were will
ing to trust a valuable cargo in her, so
wouldn't refuse to trust myself. We
were bound to Liverpool, and nothing
unusual happened until the eighth day
out, when we ran foul of small iceberg.
1t was early in the morning, before sun
rise, and not above SIX or eight feet of
ice were above the water, it having near
y all been melted in the warm waters of
the Gulf Stream. | did not think we
had sustained much injury for the shock
was light; but was very angry aud
gave :he lookout severe thrashing
without stopping to inquire whether he
could have seen the iceberg in time to
escape it.
My cabin boy was named Jack With
ers. He was fourteen years of age and
this was his first voyage. | had taken
him from his widowed mother, and had
promised her that | would see him we'll
troated-that was, if he behaved himself.
soon made myself believe that he had
an awful disposition. l fancied that he
was the most stubborn piece of humani-
ty had ever came across. I made up
my mind that he had never been properly
governed, and resolved to break him in.
[ told him I'd curb his temper before l
had done with him.
In reply he told me I might kill him
if | liked and | fogged him with the
end of the mizzeu-top-gallant halliards
till he could hardly stand. | asked him
if he had got enough, and he told me L
might fog him more if wished it. |
felt strong inclination to throw the boy
overheard, but at that moment he stag.
gered back against the mlzzen-mast from
absolute weakness, and [ left him to HIM
self. When | had reasoned calmly about
the boys disposition, | was forced to &C.
knowledge that he was the smartest and
most faithful lad had ever seen. When
| asked him to do anything he would be
off like rocket; but when | roughly or
dered him to do it, then came the dlspo-
.ition with which l found fault.
One day when it was very near noon
| spoke to him and told him to 60 below
and bring up my quadrant. He was look
ing over the quarter rail and | knew he
did hear me, and the next time spoke.
| ripped out an oath. and intimated if he
did not move | would help him.
81 didn't hear ye," he said in an inde-
pendent tone.
"No words" said |
81 s'pose I can speak," he retorted,
moving slowly towards the companion
way.
His looks, words, and the slow careless
way In which he moved fred me in mo-
ment and | grasped him by the collar.
"Speak to ME like that again and I'll
fog you within an inch of your life"
said |.
"You can fog away" he replied, firm
as rock
And I did fog him. I caught up the
end of rope, and beat him until my
arm fairly ached; but he never WINGED.
"Hov's that ?" said /.
"There's little more life in me you'd
better fog out" was the reply.