Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-09-14
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AN ANCIENT MARINER.
Two Hundred and Six Years OF
the High Seas.

yes, Iserved my time in the Ar
Iethusa.'
what age were you when you went
to sea?'
Il was sixteen
Put down sixteen, Bill.
The scene of the present dialogue
was the fOrecastle of a collier brig at
anchor in the Thames, the speakers,
an old seaman and three others scarce
ly arrived at middle age, one of whom,
behind the old man, acted as clerk,
with piece of chalk, using the lid of
his chest as desk.
Put down sixteen, BILL whispered
one, and the number was put down.
'Then how long were you in the Ar
lethusa?
Il served five years. said the old
man; then I stopped by her another
three; was eight years in her alto
lgether. liked the ship very well, but
/ did not like the owner
Bill, who was all attention, put down
an eight below the sixteen.
But you would be young fellow
; then; should think you would not be
long out of a ship
Il got ship directly, and sailed for
North America. Well, as it happened,
we were water-logged as we were on
cur passage home; all hands took to
the rigging, where we remained days
without bite ofanything, or as much
as drink. On thefourth day, goth
of dead bird of some kind that was
floating past-ate it feathers and all.
Well, have not yet told you, all the
hands died but myself, and the only
way 1 could keep myself alive was by
sucking the grease out of the ropes. /
knocked about upon the rigging for a
month. AT last was picked up by an
American vessel, and taken to Ameri-
lea. The Americans used me very well.
, lso traded back and forward .among
the American ports for long time.
How long do you suppose you were
lin America altogether
Il was away ten years from leaving
home
Didn't you go into the Greenland
trade after that?'
No: it was not till some time after.
1 was on board of man of war before
1 was in the Greenland trade. Some
how other the press-gang got scent of
me; a good run we had; I was nimble
on my feet then; If l had not slipped
and fallen souse into an ash-midden, l
believe they never would have taken
me; but take me they did. Well, l
was seven years in his Majesty's ser
vice, and like the service very well;
but one day the captain and l had a
few words, and slid I to myself. The
: sooner we part company the better, old
fellow So ran away-it was in the
, West Indies. knew they would all
be after me, so l got myself slowed in
: to a hogshead of sugar, and sent aboard
Iof a merchantmen, and got clear off
that way
4. Bill, who was listening in silence, put
ldown. 'On board man-of-war. seven
years.
'Then did you get home all right?'
fYes; and then went to Greenland.
NY eyes! what sport we had there the
/ first ten years was in the trade! 1
was there that year when there wasn't
/ whales to be seen, and we loaded the
lship with seals. A weary job we had;
? the ice was short and hummocky, and
the seals as shy as foxes. Somehow
, we always found one or two fellows,
who'd been fuddled the night before,
) that forgot the way into the water.
When the brutes make a dive, they
: are out of sight in minutes?
'How long were you in the Greenland
trader
Il was nineteen years altogether.
Then I fancied would like to be in a
warmer climate; so got into an East
Indiaman, and traded to East Indies
for long time
How long do you suppose?'-
5 About thirteen years. At last the
ship was taken by pirates, and most of
D the crew had to walk the plank; only
three US saved our lives by consenting
l to be pirates with the rest. I never
liked pirates life; so one day, when
ashore watching, / took 1egbail and
ran away. I'd been with them three
years, which was quite enough. Well,
I got among the natives of the place
who were mighty kind in their way:
, land, as was brisk young fellow,
wasn't long in finding wife among
them, so lived there just like a saw
age for sixteen years; fer there was no
y chance of getting away, and it was just
as well to make myself happy. But at
/ last an English ship put in for water,
and the longing came over me to get
! back to my native land; so I smuggled
myself on board just as she was ready
for sea, and glad was that my wife
didn't follow me- =
Did you get alright and tight?'
All right and tight my boyI'
"Then | suppose you would not lie
, up any time at homer
Il didn't lie up at all. When got
home found my brother had gone to
America; so nothing would serve me
; but would go seek him, as l had not
seen him for long time. So 1 got a
ship, and off 1 went; but never saw
, him from that day to this, although 1
wandered through America for five
: years seeking him. turned. tired of
wandering, and got into little vessel
) trading between Prince Edwards's Is
land and mainland; and 1 can assure
: you that 1 traded in her for ten years
ten long years can assure you
'Havn't you been long time in the
coal-trade?
Il was thirty years in the coal-trade
before went to China
How did you like the China trade?'
Il liked it very well, but l was only
in it about five years. After that got
s into the Baltic trade. [ was seven
D years in it, but tired of it, so got a
: -lship and went off to West Indies,
t where was put ashore sick, and lay
< in the hospital for three years. When
q l did get better, / was a better man
J; them ever, so started negro-driver on
+ plantation, where !: whipped thepoor
:. fellows for nine years, till at last the
t old fit came on me, and would be of
! to sea again.
Y WAS that before you were captain Of
f the old Clinker?'
Yes; that was just before / got to be
captain of the Clinker.'
Weren't you long time captaiffOt
, the Clinker?'
Il was captain of the Clinker for nine
Z teen years. was captain of her till
; she was lost in the Gun 1eet Sound,
! it was as much as we could do to save