The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1872-10-15
MISCELLANY.
THE BOATSWAIN'S MATE; OR, DUTY To
THE List.

Our fiigate-the Cosum6us-lay in the har-
Dor of Algiers, the broad blue pennant at the
main. with It's white stars, showing that the
ship contained the Commodore (Bainbridee).
One day went ashore with several Of the
midshipmen ON liberty that is TO say, we had
the day all to ourselves free of orders, TO do
what we pleased provided we were not up to
mischief
The Commodore CHANGED to be ashore at the
same time. As we walked along one of the
streets we saw him on the other side of the
way--a tail, handsome man, with clear eagle
eyes and decided countenance.
Coming from an opposite direction we be-
held youth of seventeen one Of the foremost
hands, walking as if intoxicated. Usually
Henry West-such WAS the name Of the boy
was a SOBER well-behaved lad, who had never
yet been punished for misbehavior
We OWNED at once that, for the first time
in bis life, he had, by older sbipmates, been
persuaded to drink. He was delicate youth,
who had just recovered from bad fever,
which, for several weeks, had confined him to
the Sick Bay'- apartment on the berth
deck for the accommodation of the sick. This
Lad was the son of Tom West---an old boats
wain's mate, whom the Commodore valued
more than any other petty officer in the ship,
as he had been with him on several voyages
and had the honor of piping whistle aboard
the old Co5astituiio.,, which cambridge COM
manded. during the action with the Jana.
Old West almost idolized his son. He had
never spoken cross word to him in his life.
In his turn, the boy would obey his fathers
slightest wsl--never do anything to provoke
him.
"Ah, ay, he'll be commodore yet" West
would mutter to himself. ''Elast his eyes if
he wou't!"
The Commodore being picoccupied with his
: own tlioueh5s, on this day, against the
youth, almost knocking him OFF bis feet.
s.You big lubberl' loudly exclaimed the
boy, pushing cambridge with both hands
.swhy didn't you get out of the way?"
Even as he spoke, the coxswain of our
boat came rushing out of public house hard
by, and catching the lad by the collar. drag
ged him off
ssAboard with him at once y sid Eain-
bridge, and, coIoing with displeasrre he
walked on.
The result of this insult to the commodore
was count martial, which sentenced the
youth to one hundred lashes.
s'Itll Kill him it'll kill him" mutteYed
old West, whose province it was TO admini,ter
the cato -nine-ts,ils.
The old fellows hesnt wss almost bIol,on.
Never before had Henry got intoxicated !;
he had been model for all the otlei sailors
mill now.
Often, during the night watches I would
see The old bOatswain's mate slowly walking
the deck, with tears glistening in his eyes.
Tt would be his duty to punish the lady,
his was the hand that must shower lashes up
on the bare back of his poor boy
Would he do so? Would not his heart fail
him as he lifted those sharp, cutting thongs
above his boy, who, little more than skele-
ton since his convalescence from the fever, had
grown vet more thin since his confinement in
the ship?
Sometimes I would glance at cambridge
when he would come on the spal-deck for his
afternoon walk, and wonder if he ever thought
of the lad in the ship. Occasionally it seemed
20 me that DIS piercing glance III thsaI uiieculoh
always softened little when it rested on the
old boatswain's mate not far off. / believed
he felt more SORROW for the father than for The
son.
At length the day fixed for the lads punish
ment arrived.
The boatswain sounded long call on his
whistle then his voice was heard ringing
through the ship;