The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-04-28

pressed to the contrary, could not but en-
lertain strong suspicious thatNthe. unfortn
nate man had met with violent dssth I
The second mate was protege of mine
and. as I have before observed, was q very
young uan Of not much experience as n sea,
man. therefore felt that, under critica
circumstances, my main support had faller
from me. II Is needless to add, that q ieeT
sense of furlornness and insecurity was ths
result Of these reflections. rA
Nv first step w4s to load and deposit In
my sta.s--Com all the firearms on board
amounting to several muskets and four pairs
of pistols. The steward was faithful mu
atto man, who had sailed with me several
voyages To him | communicated nay sus
picions. and directed him to be constantly
on the alert, and should any further diff
Guilty with the crew occur, to repair imme-
diatcly to the state-room and arm himself
His usual berth was in the steerage, but
further directed that he should, on the fol-
lowing morning, clear out ard occupy one In
the cabin, near my own. The second mate
occupied small state-room opening into the
passage which led from the steerage to the
cabin. | called him from the deck, gave
him pair Of loaded pistols, with orders Il
keep them in his berth, and, during his night
watches on deck, never to 60. forward Of the
mainmast, bat to keep as constantly IS pos
sible near the cabin companion-way, aid call
me upon the slightest occasion.
After this, Law down in my bed, order
ing that should be called al four O'Clock
for the morning watch. Only few minutes
had elapsed. when ] heard three or fcnr
knocks under the counter Of the ship, which
is that part Of the stern immediately under
the cabin In minute or two they wcr,
distinctly repeated. arose, opened the
cabin window and called The mate answer
cd. gave him the end of rope to assist
him up. aud never shall forget the food
Of gratitude which my delighted soul poured
forth TO that Being who had restored him &c
me uniniured His story was soon told
lie had gone forward upon being ordered by
me, after the calling of alt hanfs, and had
barely reached The forecastle, when he was
seized by the two foreigners, and hefbre he
could utter more than one cry, which was
drowned IN the raarng Of the winl and
waves, was thrown over the bow. lie was a
powerful luian and am excellent swimmer
The topsals Of the ship was ciewed down tc
reef, and her way, of course, was consider
ably lesscned and in an instant hc found
the end Of a rope, which was accidently tow
ing overheard, within his grasp, by which hs
dragged in the dead water or eddy, that Is
always created under the stern of vessel
while sailing, particularly II she is full built
and deeply laden, as was the case with this
By desperate effort, he caught one Of The
|rudder chains, which was very low, and
drew himself By it upon the step or jog o.
the rudder, where he had sufficient presence
Of mind to remain without calling out, unit
the light had ceased to shine through tn,
cabin windows, when he concluded the search
fer him was over. lie then made The sigma
to me.
No being in the ship bat myself was ap
prised Of his safety for the gale had in
creased, and il had completely drowned th,
sounds OF the knocking, opening the win
dow, etc, before thsy could reach the quar-
ter deck and there was no one in the cabir
but ourselves, the steward having retired t.
his berth in the steerage II was at ono,
resolved that the second mate only shoulC
be informed Of his existence. He immedi
ately betook himself to large vacant state
room, and for the remainder or the passage
all his wants were attended to by me Ever
the steward was allowed to enter the cabir
as rarely as possible.
Nothing Of note occurred during the re
mainder Of the voyage, which was prosper
Gus. 1t seemed the foreigners had only beer
actuated by revenge in the violence they haC
committed, for nothing further was attempt
ed by them. In due season we took pilo
on board in the channel, and in day 0r twt
we entered the port Of Liverpool. AS soor
as the proper arrangements were made, W.
commenced warping the ship into dock, ant
while engaged in this operation, the mat
appeared on deck, went forward and attend
cd to his duties as usual.
A scene occurred which is beyond descrip
ton; every feature Of it is as vivid in my
recollection as though 1t had occurred bu
yesterday, and will be so to my latest breath
The warp dropped from the hands Of tn,
horror-strickcn sailors, and had it not beer
taken up by some boatmen on board,
should have been conn pelled to anchor again
and to procure assistance from the shore
Not word was uttered but the two guilty
wretches staggered to the mainmast, wher
they remained petriied with horror, unit
the officer who had been sent for took then
both into custody. They then seemed in
measure to be recalic.. to a sense Of thu
appalling predicamehs md uttered the mos
piercing expressions 81 lament and despair
They were soon tried, and, Hpon the testi
mony OF the mate, capitaily convicted an
executed.