The daily Panola star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1871-1872, 1871-11-02
WITH VILLAINOUS SALTPETER

We had been ten days at sea before m,
mind misgave me, and began to dread al
unfortunate termination to. our voyage fo
matters had gone wrong from the very be
| ginning. There had been trouble with tn
crew, who seemed to have an idea tina
| perennial drunkenness was the proper stat
of mans existence, and who, as long as
sixpence lasted, obstinately refused to 2,
on board, in many cases having to be haulet
| from the wharf over the side like 80 muc)
suspended animation. Then when we hat
warped out into the river, and were lyins
awaiting the captain, we found that he had
been taken suddenly and violently Ill, so tha
weeks delay followed, ending in a fresl
appointment, and the coming of new cap
tain--a man of quite genial aspect whose
presence seemed to augur termination Of
our troubles, and he was welcomed accord.
ingly.
For merchantmen outward bound Is by
no means the paradise existing In the minds
Of ardent school-boys, bitten with long
ing for life at sea. Twenty-tour hours Of
the life on board and Its discOmsorts effect.
ually sickened me ; but then had chosen
my vessel for reason Of economy, knowing
that every flve-pOund note would be, per
haps, of priceless value in my new home /;
so / made up my mind not to be discomfort
ed, but to bear all that fell to my lot. had
taken my passage TO Buenos Ayres, with
the tull intention of rouShing It for some
years to come, and therefore argued that
It would be cowardly to turn tail at the first
trouble that fell to my share. But really 1t
was trying work, In spite OF the strongest
determination. The sailors were soon In
that pleasant state of despondent misery
which succeeds long debauch, and, as If
giving the unfortunate passengers the cred
1t of being the cause of their sufierings,
lost no opportunity of visiting the said suf.
ferings upon their heads but the feet as
frequently suffered, buckets Of water being
dashed upon them-of course accidentally
II we ventured on deck during holy-stoning
times We came to grief, too, over ropes,
over the slowing of cargo, and In a variety
OF ways during these first few days-our
scagoiDg friends looking upon us as an In
ferior race of beings, who, as lubbers, 1t was
their duty TO afilict. But by dlnt Of good
temper this was all pretty well got over, In
time for the rough weather we encountered
down Channel, ard right across the Bay Of
Biscay, sufficiently bad to confine us all,
sick and well, below hatcbes for many
dreary day Of pitching and. tossing, with
the ships timbers groaning and creaking
to a degree that seemed to threaten falling
to pieces.
Picture to yourself, you who have not
been on shipboard, gloomy, low-cciled
prison, with heavy beams crossing every
here and there, the light stealing feebly
through the little windows, the air you
breathe hot, foul and sti1ing, the hatch
above you battened down, go that, save at
special times, there is no communication
with the deck; and nearly every fellow
passenger either benz Gaming his hard fate, or
else eroaning as he was prone In the help
lesa misery OF sea-slckness. think that II
all the miseries Of a rough voyage could be
iorct cen, those who take trips to fsr-of
bands would be greatly reduced In num-
bers.
A couple of days respite came at last, in
the shape OF fine weather and In the reac-
tion produced by the bright sunshine, and
free brisk air we breathed on deck, the
troubles Of the past were forgotten. The
captain still seemed all that was genial and
pleasant; but there was flushed and heavy
look In his countenance that did NOT like,
and before long had another opinion upon
the subject; for, in conversation, found
that the second mate had been at the same
scnoUt as uiyscu, huu pokctnct Wo Wcut
over the old days and compared notes, as !
walked the deck with him far into his
watch.
The weather turned foul once more, but
this time, through the mate, contrived to
stay ON deck, when, to my surprise, found
that the greater part OF the duty was shifted
on &C the chiei mate, the captain seldom
showing himself on deck.
mo, don't think it's from cowardicc, /"
said my friend to me, AZ he walked the
deck that night, when the gale had some
what moderated. "Of course this is In con-
fidence."
nodded.
"Well," he continued, ~ don't know
what to make Of him; sometimes I think
he's mad, and sonnet mes that he Is given to
drinking. How he got appointed to thil
ship, Ican't tell. Mf. Ray don't say any.