The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1868-12-14
s STEWARD
ETRENIONT.

Captain Cn,uinIngs. her commander, in.
srnded to rccrrit, after having discharged
part Of his cargo. which then amounted
to eight hundred barrels of sperm oil
As great rascal as ever trod ships
deck was this Cummings. During the
whvle cruise he fed his men miserably.
allowing each Of them but half cake of
hard lr:ad and one thin slice Of salt horse
ut meal Sometimes, in sudden fit of
generosity, he would give them a It'll.
tea (vulso dish water) to wash down their
scanty, and by no means palatable allow
ance. The Captain, however. lived like
prince; he had the incest and most
tempting dishes prepared for his own Ia
bic. which he devourcl with the grecdi-
ness Of a wolf and without allowing HIM
self one sympa;'izing thought for his
crew.
The fremont had been fitted cut for a
three years voyage by a certain slip
owner of New Bedford. quaker, whose
uoblenrss and gen 'rosity Of character has
won the love and esteem Of whales,ncD
generaly-I mean such Of them as are
before the mast. The captains and their
officers are not included; with but few
exceptions they are generally a vulgar and
tyiannical horde Of men, who are devoid
OF all principle and honor, and wholly
incapable of approaching good qualities
in another. As previously remarked,
there arc few exceptions; but it is my
opinion-and | speak from experience
they are very scarce. The name Of the
sbip.owncr to whom have alluded it is
not necessary to mention :. but when !
say that he fits out his vessels with an eye
to the comfort Of the foremost hands, as
we'll MS the officers, it will be readily rec
ognized by sailor readers and the citizens
Of New Bedford.
The Trcmont had been stocked by him
with plentiful supply of bread, flour and
meat, together with many other articles
which would have greatly contributed to
the comfort of the crew. The good qua
ker then charged Captain Cummings not
to put his men on allowance, but to make
their condition as comfortable as possible,
by freely distributing among them that
which he put in the ship for their benefit.
The captain promised, bu. it was the prom
ise Of w6aier captain, and the reader
has alr"ady:percci,ed how he kept it.
Captain Cummings was thirty years of
age when lie came in command of the
fremont. lie wished to acquire the rep
utation of careful ami economical officer,
and likothe generality ofhis kind, thought
the bes: way to accomplish this was to
half starve his crew, which he according
lya.tcmpted. We say attempted, because
the william did not succeed in his design;
lie was thwartel by his own stcward-a
noble-hearted youth, who went BY the
name Of Charles Warner This young
man secretly conveyed provisions from the
cabin to the forccastlc every night after
the captain had retired BY this and
many other acts Of kindness, he won the
love and esteem of the men forward, any
one of whom would have periied life and
limb in his cause. 1t was owing mainly
to his influence that they were restrained
from breaking out into open mutiny against
the captain.
The personal appearance Of young
Warner was as progressing as the quail
tiles ofhis mind With his slight, grace
full figure, and dark tinglcts curling about
a finely formed head, small feet, aud deli
cate, white hands. he looked anything
but like that which he was-the steward Of
a whale ship.
Captain Cummings frequently wonder
ed that his men submitted so patiently to
the treatment they received Mt his hands.
although it Of course pleased him that
they did, and caused him to apply the rod
Of tyranny with sill greater vigor. Ilav-
ing gradually sounded his crew, in order
to see how far he might venture, and pei
ceiving that they offered no resistance, he
still continued to keep them on n short
allowance Of food, and to kick and thrg sh
such of them as he could with IMMUNITY.
Instead, however, Of growing thin and
pale, as he had anticipated, Captain Cum
ming's was surprised to see his crew
maintain as sleek and healthy condition
as though they subsistcd on roast chicken
instead of the scan,y allowance W ,ich it
was his pleasure TO provide them. Little
did he suspect that they lived nearly rs
well as himsclf-that whole baskets Of
provisions were conveyed nightly from the
cabin to tue fcrecastle by the very man
in whom he placed too much confidence.
Thus matters went on day after day,
and MS Captain Cummings observed that
his crew continued as strong and cheerful
as ever, he began to entertain suspicion
that something was wrong, and therefore
dcteruincl TO watch them narrowly. 1t
is with the result Of this scrutiny that |
nm now about to make the reader ac.
quainled.
As was previously remarked, the Ire
mont was within two days sail Of Wi pa
raise. twas beautiful moonlight night.
and with good strong breeze directly on
her stern, the gallant vessel sped swiftly
upon her way. Every rag of canvas
which could be Of advantage had been
spread 10 catch wind which promised TO
L. oE Inn, nnnt;,,,un,o SI.JI;n,, ell,