Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-03-28

IN A POWDER MAGAZINE.

fore my mind misgave me, and began to
dread an 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, OBJ
stlnately refused to 60 on board, in many
cases having to be hauled from the wharf
over the side like SO much suspended ami.
nation. Then we had been warped out
IN the river, and were lying awaiting the
captain; we found that he had been taken
violently ill., so that weeks delay fol-
lowed, ending in fresh appointment, and
the coming of new captain-a man Of
quiet. genial aspect. whose presence
seemed to augur a termination to our
troubles and he was welcomed according
]y.
For merchantmen outward bound is
by no means the paradise existing in the
minds OF ardent school-boys, bitten with
longing for \ life at sea- Twenty-four
hours of the life on board and it's discou-
futures effeclually sickened me; but then
had chosen my vessel for reasons OF econ
my. knowing that every f5 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
ronghing 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 determina-
ton. The sailors were soon in that pleas
ant state Of despondent misery which sue
cecds long debauch, and as If giving
the unfortunate passengers the credit OF
being the cause of their sufferings, lost no
opportunity of visiting the 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 yentured on
deck during holy-stoning time.
We came to grief, too, over ropes, over
the stowage of cargo, and in a variety Of
ways during those first days; our sea-go-
ing friends looked upon US as an inferior
race of beings, whom as lubbers it is their
duty to affiict. But by dint of good tenn
per. this was all pretty well got over, in
time tor the rough weather we encounter
ed down the channel, and right across the
Bay of Biscay; sufficiently bad to confinc
us all, sick and well, below matches. for
many dreary day of pitching and toss
ing, with the ships timbers groaning and
creaking to degree that seemed to
threaten falling to pieces.
Picture to yourself, you who have not
been on shipboard, gloomy, low-ceiled
prison. with stout beams crossing here
and there, the light stealing ieebly through
the little windows, the air you breath hot,
foul and sitting, the hatch above you bat.
70 fhafs ~
there is no communication with the deck,
and nearly every fellow passenger either
bemoaning his hard fate, or else groaning
as he lies 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
reaction produced by the bright sunshine
and the free, brisk air we breathed on
deck, the troubles of the past were for
gotten. The captain still seemed all that
was pleasant; but there was flushed and
heavy look in his countenance that did
not like, and before long had another
opinion upon the subject, for in CONVERSE
tiOn l found that the second mate had
been at the same school as myself, and
together we went over the old days and
compared notes, as l walked the deck with
him far into his watch.
| The weather turned foul once more, but
this time, through the mate, 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 cap
tain seldom showing himself on deck.
"Now don't think it's from coward
ice." said my friend to me. as we walked
the deck that night, when the gale had
somewhat moderated.
"Of course this is in confidence
nodded
WELL" he continued, II don't know
what to make of him. sometimes think
he is mad. How he got appointed to this
ship can't tell. Mr.. Ray don't say any
thing, but he is one Of those men who
think all the more. and of course he'll be
particularly careful lest the captain should
think that, as first mate, he is jealous. be-
cause 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 intrusled with fine
vessel, a 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 intem-
perate outbreaks, when the impulse to
drink, commencing with the stimulants
taken in some time Of peril. grows per-
fectly uncomfortable. and eliminates at
length in one of those horrible fits OF
mania known as delirium tremehs.
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 man
agement of the ship, should there be any
real danger. The feeling did not trouble
me long, for the weather again brighten
ing. hope rose, ard day after day glided
pleasantly by. We saw but little Of the
lcantain. and only learned that he was con-
fined to his cot by indispostion, the cause
of this indisposition being only known to
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