The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-07-09
TALES OF THE BORDERS,
THE MAN OF WARS MAN.
BY JOHN HOWBLL.

How long my mind continued in this
state | know not; but | was soon reused
to fuller sense of the situation in which
had 50 rashly placed myself l soon saw
enough to make me weep. Six of the gang
entered, swearing, and threatening two
young sailors, whom they dragged in with
them, and VITO, as well as several of their
captors, were severely cut, bruised, and
bleeding They had, doubtless, fought
stoutly to escape the gang. was there a
voluntary victim, and any little fortitude
that had until now sustained me fled, as
gazed upon the painful sight. They we're
both about the same age, and stout, active
young men they spoke not one word but
their oountenance we're sad, gloomy, and
desponding and, at times, could perceive
shade of sullenness, bordering on ferocity,
pass over their faces, as they lifted their
eyes from the floor towards the men who
were busy removing the stains Of the con-
/ f1lct. In a short time after we were taken
to the Ferry Stairs, and put into their boat.
1t was now, for the first time, that began
to doubt if my father was correct in his
eulogiums Of British liberty. | soon under
stood that the cases Of these lads were
peculiarly hard yet, after all, not so very
hard as that of many afterwards knew
They we're brothers, and belonged to Leith,
where their parents still lived. They had
been absent three years upon a whaling ex-
peGition IN the South Seas and, anxious
to see their father and mother (the former
of whom was stretched on sck-bed) bad,
with circumspectiOn, and in disguise, reached
their home, when, only after few hours,
some unfeeling wretch, for the paltry reward,
became informer, and the gang secured their
prey. The sick, if not dying, parent en-
treated in vain and the mothers tears and
groans, as she saw her loved and manly sons
struggling against an overwhelming force
(for what, my father oft had said, was the
birthrigbt of every British subject, were
equally unavailDg. / kept my eyes on the
two youths who, for no offence, were thus
treated as felons, and compelled, against
their wills and interests, to leave their
homes, and all that they held dear; yet, so
strangely are we constituted, this train of
thoughts passed off, as surveyed the clear
night, with the fool noon shining in a
clOudless sky, and reflected by the waters
of the placid Firth. Ny young heart even
felt glow of pleasure hoped the worst
of my life was past, and that would soon
be again with my father, to recount to him
the sight had seen.
When we reached the tall dark sides Of
the (to my inexperienced mind) gigantic
tender, all my regrets we're fled, and expec-
tation again filled my breast. Having
hailed, and been answered by the watch on
board, the two pressed men were forced to
ascend from the boat, which they did with
an ease and facility that astOnished me-
attempted to stand up, but fell across the
thwarts-the motion of the boat, incon.
siderable as it was, throwing me of my
balance at every effort. Forced to hold on
by one of the gang, had my ears filled
with a vOlley of oaths. A rope was at last
lowered from the deck, and made fast under
my arms, and thus partly climbed, and
was partly hoisted up, until | could hold on
by the misunderstanding merriment tc
those on board, and greeted BY no kindly
voice, my feelings were again damped. Fol
the first time in my life l felt that was
alone in the world, and must rely upon my
own energies for protection. Ordered
below, | staggered, as | moved upon the
deck, like one intoxicated, still grasping al
everything to prevent me from falling, and
bewildered at all saw and heard. How
unlike we're these things to what | haC
found in books, or dreamed Of in my en-
tEusiasm, of the noble navy of the country
My mind was all confusion. My native
language, spoken by those around me, wal
mixed with such terms and phrases, that j
was all but incomprehensible. When ]
reached the hatch, and was in the act o
descending the ladder, missed my hold
fell to the deck, and laugh sounded in my
ears-all the pity / received, though lay
sick, stunned, and bruised among my fel
lOw-creatures. l craw led out Of the way, les
should be trampled upon by those who haG
occasion to pass up and down. No kindly
hand was held out to me and there upor
the bare boards passed my first night from
home. Youth and health triumphed, and
soon fell sound asleep.
Well, not to be too circumstantial, thi.
rough initiation into my naval adventures
was Of immense advantage to me. Follow
out my course | must, whether / now HilleC
or not. l had the consolation Of my father
prophecy, that the war would terminate
before the winter commenced; and if
wished to see the world, must take thing
as they come. 1t has ever been my natur,
to look upon every event on the sunny side
anticipate pleasure even amidst privation
and discomfort; and | have thus enjoyed
hours and days Of happiness, when thos,
who suffered with me have been driven al
most to despair. When day dawned, wa
awakened by the noise and hustle arounc
me. | looked at the murky den in whicl
had passed the night close by a gun car
riage. Some were extended on the decl
here and there a greater number snugl,
hung in their hsmmocks were the regula
seamen the others were landsmen like my
self, unprovided with anything-tbeir al
on their backs, and as ignorant of life at SCI
as their purses were empty. will not sa..
that was pleased with the turn my a1vcD
ture had assumed yet / was not discour
aged l knew that thousands passed thei
lives in the navy, and would not be wors'
! off thai my equals in rank. | arose, and
seated upon the guncariage, began 70 b
amused by what was passing around A