New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-23


So gently died my darling's tear
BY smiles and dmples chased away,
With no more thought or fear
Than dew-drop has of winter-day.
Dublin University Magazine.
from Chambers Joarnal.I
WITH VILLAINOUS SALTPErRE.
We had not been ten days at sea before my
mind misyaye me, and began TO dread an
unfortunate termination to our voyage, for
matters had gone wrong from the very be-
ginning There had been trouble with the
crew, who seemed to have an idea that Pc
rennial drunkenness was the proper state OF
mans existence; and who, as long rs six
pence lasted, Obstinately refused to 60 on
board, in many cases, having to be hauled
from the wharf over the side like so much sus-
pended animation. Then when we had
warped out into the river, and were awaiting
the Captain, We found that he had been taken
suddenly and violently i'll, so that weeks
delay followed, ending in a fresh appoint
ment, and the coming of a new Captain-a
man of quiet, genial aspect, whose presence
seemed to augur termination of our troubles,
and he was welcomed accordingly.
For a merchantmen outward bound is by
no means the paradise existence in the midst
of ardent schoolboys, bitten with a longing
for life at sea. Twenty-four hours of the
life on board and its discomfOrts eflectually
sickened me but then had chosen my ves-
sci for reasons of economy, knowing that
every fiye-pound note would be, perhaps, of
priceless value in my new home so l made
up nv mind not to be discontented, but to
bear all that fell to my lot. L had taken my
passage to Buenos Ayres, with the full inten-
ton of roughing it for some years to come,
and therefore argued that it would be cow
ardly 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
Respondent misery which succeeds long de-
bauch, and, as If giving the unfortunate pas
sengers the credit of being the cause of their
sufferings, lost no opportunity of visiting the
said sufferings upon their heads. I said upon
their heads, but the feet as frequently suf-
fered, buckets of water being dashed upon
them-of course accidentally-ifwe ventured
on deck during holy-stoning times. We came
to grief, too, over ropes, over the slowing o!
cargo, and in variety of ways during those
first days-our sea going friends looked upon
us as an inferior race of beings, whom, as
lubbers, it was their duty to af1ict. But by
dint of good temper, this was all pretty well
got over, in time for the rough weather we
encountered down channel, and right away
across the Bay of Biscay, sufficiently bad to
confine us all, sick and well, below matches
for many dreary day of pitching and tossing
with the ships timbers groaning and creak.
ing to degree that seemed to threaten fall.
ing to pieces.
Picture to yourself, you.who have not been
on ship board, a gloomy, low-ceiled prison,
with stout beams crossing every here and
there, the light stealing feebly through the
win no or hrao fI,a hot foul
and sitting, the hatch above you battened
down, SO that, save at special times, there is
no communication with the deck and nearly
every fellow-passenger either bemoaning his
hard fate or else groaning as he lies prone in
the helpless misery of sea-sickness. think
that if all the miseries of rough voyage
could be foreseen, those who take trips to
far-off lands would be greatly reduced in
numbers.
A couple Of days. respite came at last in
the shape of fine weather; and in the reac-
ton produced by the bright sunshine, and
free, brisk air we breathed on deck, the trou-
bles of the past were forgotten. The Captain
still seemed all that was pleasant; but there
was flushed and heavy look in his comte-
nance that l did not like, and before long 1
had another opinion upon the subject; for,
in conversation, found that the second mate
had been at the same school as myself; and
together We went over the old days and COM
pared notes, as walked the deck with him
far into the watch.
The weather turned foul once more, but
this time, through the mate, 1 contrived to
stay on deck, when, to my surprise, found
that the greater part of the duty was shifted
on to the chief mate, the Captain seldom
showing on deck.
mo, don't think it's from cOwardice -
said my friend to me, as we walked the deck
that night, when the gale had somewhat
moderated. "Of course this is in conf
dence."
nodded.
SWELL" he continued, 81 don't know
what to make of him; sometimes i think he IS
mad, and sometimes that he is given to
drinking. HOwhe got appointed to this snip,
! 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
careful, least the Captain should think that,
as first mate, he is jealous because the COM
mand 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 entrusted with fine vessel, val
liable cargo, and, more than all, the lives of
passengers and crew, was one of those unfor-
tunate beings who, not content with the
enjoyment of the good things of this life,
are IN the haDlt OF having incorporate out
breaks, when the impulse to drink, commence
ing, perhaps, with the stimulants taken in
some time of peril, grows perfectly uncon-
trollable, eliminates at length in one of
those horrible fits of mania known as delirium
tremens.
1t was enough to make any landsman
nervous as to our fate, should the heavy
weather continue but there was still the
satisfaction 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. These
feelings did not trouble me long, for, the
weather again frightening, hope rose, and
day after day glided pleasantly by. We saw
but little of the Captain, and only learned
that he was confined by indisposition to his
cot, the cause of this indispostion being only
known to a few but could see that the
first mate, MIR. Ray, looked more anxious
than usual and taking the opportunity of
being on deck one night, 1 had long talk
with my friend, to learn that the Captain
only recovered from one tit to seek the means
OF bringing on another.
Pity we did not leave him behind alto
gether," / said at last.
I've thought SO dozen tines.D said nv
friend, .tor this sailing with a mailman on
board does not suit my book