Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-03-22

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from the crew Of any other vessels, but
should pay enormus prices for the worth
less wares manufactured by them.
Whenever new passenger came on
board, they would surround him and
paint his belly blue, and fill his ears with
lying accounts of the rest Of the crew.
In that way they gained strength daily.
Now the portion Of the crew most di-
rectly and openly opposed TO these Blue
Bellies were called Dixies, from q tune
they we're in the habit Of whistling.
These Dixies were brave. joyial, whole
souled fellows, ready any time for fight
or frolic. Not being fond Of menial
labor, they had purchased from the Blue
Bellies few cages Of what the latter
called apes, and which they had Snug
gled on board surreptitiously. The Blue
Bellies had brought these apes on board
chained, manscled, bruised and stripped
stark naked They swore they were
apes, and not human beings, because
their heads were woolly, their skins black,
and they knew nothing of the art OF max
ing rattraps. Some they kept for their
own use, but perceiving that they did not
thrive under the cruel treatment that
Blue. Bellied policy inAicts on everything
in its power--seeing that what they called
apes failed to multiply under the tortur-
ing, ribroasting, mutilatng aud brand
ing that they had to endure-these Blue
Bellies sold TO the Dixies the wretched
remnant of the race they had dragged
from their native land, stark naked and
in chains. Under the kind treatment of
the Dixies the apes grew fat, slick and
greasy; multiplied exceedingly, and be-
gan to give many evidences that, after
all, they were human beings.
About this time the Blue Bellies began
to discover that it was an abominable
crime against God and man to held in
bondage the human beings whose ances-
tors they, the Blue-B Bellies, had dragged
from their homes and sold for apes. All
the new passengers land they came on
board by the thousands) were industri.
ously sought out and made to take this
view of the matter, and powerful party
was formed against the officers of the
ship and for the abolition of the late
Capt. Georges regulations - measures
which were warmly opposed by the
Dixies. When they were quite certain
that they we're strong enough to carry
the question rira Uoce, the ringleaders of
the Blue. Bellies summoned the whole
crew on deck, and proposed the ugliest
and tallest Of their own number for Cap
tain.
As matter of course he was chosen,
whereupon his first act was to smash the
compass into fragments, tear to pieces
the regulations of Captain George, and |
lock up in the ships sweat-boxes all who
ventured to protest
Very soon after this event the ship |
struck upon the rocks, and the waves
came sweeping over her decks. At this |
crisis the Dixies, launching raft they
had already constructed, got upon it with
all their baggage, bade fearful adieu to
the flag they had borne in safety through |
many storm, making it glorious by their
deeds, and committed themselves to the
great ocean.
. But even this sad alternative was not
allowed them. Clamorous voices came
from the decks of the stranded vessel.
g Come back you traitors, come back
You shall not insult our flag. You
shall not abandon the ship from which
we have driven you. Come back"
Boats loaded with armed men sp
preached to enforce this summons.
Dreadful scenes of carnage ensued.
Again and again we're the invaders of
The raft beaten back in ignoninious
rout They seemed to gather fresh
strength from every disaster, for they
had such multitudes to push forward to
he assault.
The brave Dixies after all their pro-
visions were exhausted and half their
number killed, surrendered to their enc
mics, who promised to restore them to
he same duties on board the stranded
1essel which they performed in days gone
~. The raft was sunk and the prisoners
aiken on board the vessel But instead
If being allowed to assist in getting her
float again, they were, to man, cram
ned into the ships hold, where all man
Ter of torture was applied to force them
nto acts that might be construed into
nutiny.
They are fools, say we, if they let a
,roan escape them.
The only comfort left them in their
Misery is from the knowledge that a
ommon ruin awaits them and their
ruel captors. They can now hear the
Of the waves against the
hips side, and the creaking of the tim
ers preparatory to their final separa-
ion.
Bear your woes, Oh prisoners, as Job
ore his, seeing there is @ chance that
GU may die the glorious death of Sam
nm - Nob;1e T5.ib9,9le