The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-03-09

gan to dread an unfortunate termina-
ton 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 per
ennial 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 warf over the
side like SO much suspended ANNA
ton. Then we had been wrapped out
in the river, and were lying awaiting
the captain we found that he had been
taken suddenly and violently i'll so that
weeks delay followed, ending in a
fresh appointment, and coming out of
a new captain-a man of quiet, genial
| aspect, whose presence seemed to au-
CUR termination to our trouble, and
he was welcomed accordingly
For a merchantmen outward bound
is by no means the paradise existing
in the minds of arden school bows,
bitten with a longing for life at sea.
Twenty-four hours of the life on board
and it's discomftures etfectually sick
ened me; but then I 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 discontinued, but to bear all that
fell to my lot. had taken my passage
to Beunos Ayres, with the full intent
ion of roughing it for some years to
come, and therefore [ argued that it
wonld be cowardly to turn 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 des
pondent misery which succeeds state
of long dcba,ich, and, as if giving
the unfortunate passengers the
credit Of being the cause of
their sufferings, lost no opportunity of
visiting said sufferings upon their
heads. | said upon their heads, but
the feet as frequently suffered, buckets
of water being dashed upon them-of
course accidentally-if we ventured on
| deck during holy-stoning time. We
came to grief, the, verropes, over the
stowage of cargo, and in variety of
ways during those first days-our sea-
going friends locked upon t,g as an IN
ferier race Of beings, whom, as tubbers,
it Is their duty to af1iict. But by dint
Of good temper, this was all pretty well
got over, in time for the rough weather
we encountered down the channel, and
right away across the Bay of Biscay
sufficiently bad to contine us all, sick
and well, below matches, for many a
dreary day Of pitching and tossing, with
the ships tlmbers grooming and Creak-
ing to a degree that seemed to threaten
falling TO pieces,
Picture TO yourself, you who have
Tot been on shipboard, a gloomy, low
ing every here and there, the light
stealing feebly through the little win
dOws, the air you breathe hot, foul and
sitting, the hatch above you battened
down. SO that, save at special times,
there is no communication with Tie
deck, and nearly every fellow passenger
| either bemGanlng as he lies in the help
! leSs misery of sea-sickness. [ think
that If ali the miseries of a rough vow
age could be foreseen, those who take
| the trips to far off lands would be great
ly reduced in lumber
A couple of days rsssits came at last
| In the shape OF fine weather, and in the
reaction produced by the bright sun
shine and the free brisk air we breath
| ed on deck the troubles Ct this nast
were forgotten. The captain still
seemed all that was pleasant: but
| there was a flushed and heavy look in
his countenance that [ did not like. and
before long mad another opinion upon
the subject. for in conversation found
that the second mate had been Of thu
same school as myself, and together we
went 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, | con-
trlved to stay on deck, when, to my
surprise, found that the greater taft
of my duty was shifted on to the chief
mate, the captain seldom showing him
self CT deck.
Now, / don't think it's from COW
ardice, said my friend to me; az We
walked the deck that night, When the
gale had somewhat moderated. "Of
course this is III confidence
nodded.
Well" lie continued, 81 don't
know what to make of him; sometimes
[ think he is mad How he got ap-
pointed to this ship [ can't tell. Mr..
Ray don't say anything, but he is one
of those men who think all the more,
and of course he'll be particularly care
tul lest the captain should think that,
as first mate, he is jealous because
the command was not placed in his
hands,
No more was then said, but before
many days had passed we found that
the man who had been intrusted with
fine vessel, valuable cargo, and, more
than all, the lives of passengers and
crew, was one OF those beings who, not
content with the enjoyment of the
good things of this life, are in the habit
OF having incorporate outbreaks, when
the impulse to drink, commencing per-
haps with the stimulants taken in some
time Of peril. grows perfectly uncon-
troilable, and eliminates at length in
one OF those horrible fits of mania
known as dellrium tremens.
1t was enough to make any landsman
nervous as to our fate should the heavy
weather continue but there was still
the satisfaction of knowing that the two
mates were thorough seamen. who
would, no doubt, take upon themselves
the management of the ship should
there be any real danger The feeling
did not trouble me long, for, the wealth
er again frightening, hope rose, and
day after day glided pleasantly by. We
saw but little of the captain, and only I
learned that he was confined to his cot
by indisposition, the cause of this in
being only known to a few;
but could see that the first mate, Mr..