The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1871-11-01
WITH VILLAINOUS SALTPETER

NTH VlLLkIN0US SALTPETER
We had been ten days at sea before nv
lind misgave me, and | began to dread al!
nfOrturato termination TO our voyage for
kattCrS had gone wrong from the very be-
inning. There had been trouble with the
lew, who seemed TO have an idea that
%erennial drunkenness was the proper state
mans existence, and who, as long rs a
xpence lasted, ~obStinately refused to 90
b board, in many cases having TO be hauled
ON the Wharf over the side like so mucl,
appended animation. Then when we had
arped ont into the river, and were living
waiting the captain, we fonnd that he bad
zen taken suddenly and violently ill, SO that
weeks delay followed, ending in a fresh
,pOintment, and the coming Of Il new cap
INA man of quite genial aspect whose
resence seemed 10 augur 4 termination of
ir troubles, and lie was welcomed accord
gly.
For a merchantmen outward bound is by
means the paradise existing in the minds
ardent school-boys, bitten with a long
g for q life at sea. Twenty-four hours Of
c life OH board and IFS discomforts effect
lily sickened ME !; but then L had chosen
V vessel for reason OF economy, knowing
lat every tive-pound note would be, per-
BPS, of priceless value in my new home ::
l made up my mind not to be discomfort
but to bear all that fell to my lot. | had
ken my passage to Buenos Ayres, with
fstull intention Of roughing it for some
e~arsrQcome, and therefore | argued that
would becJwardly to turn tail at the first
ouble that fell TO my share. But really it
as trying work. il spite Of the strongest
Termination. The sailors We're soon in
at pleasant state Of Respondent misery
hich succeeds a long debauch, and. as il
wing the unfortunate passengers the cred
of being the cause of their sufIerin@s.
st no opportunity of visiting the said suf-
rings upon their heads but the feet as
fquently suffered, buckets of water being
shed upon them-of course accidentally
we ventured on deck during h~oly-stonInr
mes We came to grief, toe, over ropes,
er the slowing of cargo, and in 4 variety
ways during these first few days-our
hgoing friends looking upon us as an in
FiOr race of btidgs, who, as lubbers, it was
cir duty to afIlict. But by dint of good
nper this was all pretty well got over, in
ne for the rough weather we encountered
wn Channel, and right across the Bay of
Ecay, sufficiently bad to confine us all,
K and well, below matches for many a
fary day of pitching and tossing, with
ships timbers "roening and creaking
q degree that seemed to- threaten falling
pieces.
Picture 10 yourself, you who have not
In on shipboard, a gloomy. low-cciIed
son, with heavy beams crossing every
Fe and there. the light stealing feebly
ough the little windows, the air YOU
Fathe hot, foul and sitting, the hatch
Pve you battened down, so that, save at
Fcial times, there ia no communication
h the deck; ard nearly every fellow
seDger either benz oaning his hard fate, or
2 grooming as he was prone in the help
misery OF sea-sickneSS. | think that if
the miserieS of a rough voyage could be
eseen, those who take trips to far-off
DIS would be greatly reduced in num-
couple of days respite anne At last, in
shape of fine weather and in the rcac-
4 produced by the bright sunshine, and
D brisk air we breatlied on deck, the |
)lbles of the past were forgotten. The
tain still seemed all that was genial and
asant but there Was a flushed and heavy
X in his coun:cnancc that | did not like,
before long i had another opinion upon
subject; for, in conversation, | found
/ the second mate had been at the same
Dol As myself; and together we went
r the old days and compared notes, as |
ked the deck with him far into his
ch.
he weather turned foul once more. but
time, through the mate, l cOntrived to
on deck, when, to my surprise, | found
the greater part OF the duty was shifted
10 the chief mate, the captain seldom
wing himself on deck.
No, l don't think it's from cowardice,"
my friend 10 ne, as he walked the
k that night, when the gale had some
It moderated. "Oi course this is in con-
nce."
nodded.
Well," he continued, II don't know
i to make OF him /; sometimes | think
mad, and sometimes that he is given to
king. How he got appointed to this
}, cam tell. Mr.. Ray don't say any,
x, but he is one Of those men who !
X all the more; and Of course he'll be
ieularly careful, lest the captain should t
X that, as iirst-mate, he is jealous be- {
e the command was not placed in his
more was then said; but before many n
had passed we found that the man /
mad been intrusted with 4 fine vessel. q
able cargo, and, more than all, the /
OF passengers and crew, was one of
unfortunate beings who, not content |
lle enjoyment CT the good things of I;
aie, are In the habit of having intcm- il
&c outbreaks, when the impulse to drink
nencin2, perhaps, with the stimulantS re
= IA some lime OF peril, grows perfectly h;
nsI0iiaDic, and eliminates at length in
y lhose horrible fits of mania known ca
iiriIm tremeBs. H.