Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1871-09-13
INA POWDER MAGAZINE.

IN A POWDER MAGAZINE.
We had not been ten days at sea before
my mind misgave me, and began TO dread |
on unfortunate termination to our voyage, |
for matters had gone wrong from the very |
beginning. There had been trouble with |
the crew, who seemed to have an idea that
perennial drunkenness was the proper state
of mems existence; and who, as long as
sixpence lasted, obstinately refused to go
on board, in many cases having to be hauled
from the wharf over the side like so much
suspended animation. Then when we had
been warped out into the river, and were
living awaiting the Captain, we found that
he had been taken suddenly and violently
i'll, so that weeks delay followed, ending
in fresh appointment, and the coming ola
new Captain-a man Of quiet, genial as
pect, whose presence seemed to augur ter
mination of our troubles, and he was well
coined accordingly.
For O merchantman outward bound is by
no means the paradise existing in the minds
of ardent schcSl-boys, bitten with longing
for life at sea. Twenty-fours hours of the
life on board and its discomiorts efiectually
sickened me; but then | had chosen my
vessel for reasons of economy, knowing that
every five-pound note would be, perhaps, Of
priceless value in my new home so made
up my mind not to be discontented but
to bear all that fell to my lot. / had taken
my passage to Buenos Ayres, with the full
intention of roughing 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 it 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
credit of being the cause of their sufIerings,
lost no opportunity of visiting the said
sutIcrings upon their heads. | SAID upon
their heads, but the feet as frequently
suffered, buckets of water being dashed
upon them-of course accidentally-ifw we
ventured on deck during holy-stoning times
We came to grief, too, over ropes, over the
slowing of cargo, and in variety OF ways
during those first days-our sea-going
friends looking upon us as an inferior race
of beings, whom, as lubbers, it was their
duty to afilict But by dint of good
temper, this was all pretty well got over
eountered down Channel, and right away
across the Bay of Blscay sufficiently baC
to confine us all, sick and well, below
hatchos for many dreary day of pitching
and tossing with the ships timbers groan
ing and creaking to degree that seemed
to threaten falling to pieces.
Picture to yourselves, you who have no
been on ship board, gloomy, low-ceile'
prison, with stout beams crossing ever.
here and there, the light stealing feebl,
through the little windows, the air yo
breathe hot, foul, and sitting, the hate
above you battened down, so that, save a
special times, there is no communicate
with the deck; and nearly every fellow
passenger either bemoaning his hard fate
Or else groaning as he lies in the helples
misery of sea-sickness. think that II a
the miseries of rough voyage could b
fOreseen, those who take trips to faro
lands would be greatly reduced in MN
bers.
A couple of days. respite came at last
the shape of fine weather: and in the rca'
ton produced by the bright sunshine, an
free brisk air we breathed on deck, u
troubles of the past were forgotten. III
Captain still seemed all that was pleasant
but there was a flushed and heavy Look
his countenance that | did not like, an
before long had another opinion upon IL
subject for, in conversation, | found th'
the second mate had been at the same scho
as myself; and together we went over Il
old days and compared notes, as | wake
the deck with him far into his watch.
The weather turned foul once more, b
this time, through the mate, contrived
stay on deck, when, to my surprise, fouI
that the greater part of the duty W
shifted on to the chief mate, the CAPITA
seldom showing on deck.
"No, don't think it's from cowardict
said my friend to me, as we walked t
deck that night, when the gale had som
what moderated. "0f course this is
confidence"
nodded.
"Well," he continued, 81 don't knc
what to make of him; sometimes | thu
he's mad, and sometimes that he is CIV
to drinking. How he got appointed to e
ship, can't tell Mr.. Ray don't say an
thing, but he is one of those men W
think all the more and OF course he'll
particularly careful, lest the Captain shol
think that, as first mate, he is jealous
cause the command was not placed in
hands,"
No more was then said but bef
many days had passed, we found that
man whe had been intrusted with
Fl vessel, valuable cargo, and, more Il
all, the lives of passengers and crew,
one of those unfortunate beings who,
Fl content with the enjoyment Of the g
E things of this life, are in the habit of h
4 ing incorporate outbreaks, when the
j pulse to drink, commencing, perhaps, W
q the stimulants taken in some time OF pt