The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-08-06
THE MISSING WHALEMAN.
BY ROGER sTARBUCK.

! ouf iISl mate Was III loNtTlDg z
passion.
The captains son, William Wren,
. fourth officer, and the mates boat
steerer, had called him a whitehead
ed old lubber, because he, (the first
mate) had struck the cabin bow
/ Tom Cutter-a favoritc with Wren.
In truth the poor youth had not de-
served the blow he received. He
had accidently split a cup OF hot cof-
fee which, in the cold latitude of the
Arctic ocean, was often the first thing
par;aken Of by the mate when he
came on deck in the morning.
But the poor cabin boy is often a
mark for the spleen Of all hands.
From the captain to the cook be is
kicked and cuffed wh,never his elders
happen to feel like exercising them
selves in this manner. :.
Aboard merchant Vessels bows are
often little better treated tbsn dog
with brutal masters. They are over
worked, not only BY the officers but
also by the old sailors, who make
them do the dirty work" aboard
ship. =.
That is the reason why a sensible
seaman will never advise, nor APP
prove of, boys going to sea
Besides these disadvantages, a lad
going away from kind, christian pa
rents, often becomes demoralized by
the coarse associates with whom he
mingles. The bad treatment alone
to which he is subjected has this ef-
feet.
Ii would have Jared much worse
with the cabin boy aboard the Ii
gress-of which vessel | am nov
writing-but for the kindness of Miss
Temple, the captains niece, beauti-
young lady of seventeen, who had
accompanied her uncle ostensibly for
her healty, but in reality, If the truth
must be known, that she might be
near William Wren, whom she deep
" loved and to whom she was en-
gagged
Marian Temple was indeed love
ly creature Her long, brown hair
fell down her shoulders in heavy
masses; her neck was as white as
marble, her eyes laIg and of a hazel
color, lighted her regular vet ever va
rving features with a scintillating
sort of glow, which was well calcula-
ted TO attract.
Often this young lady would inter-
fere where ropes end was about be-
ing applied to lite Jacks back.
On the morning in question Mari
an had not yet come up. William,
however, emerged from the compan-
ionway TO see the lad crying.
He questioned him, to learn that
Mr.. Barton had struck him.
- You are 4 white-heade3 old lub-
ber," said Wren, to the first mate;
how would you Ike to be struck in
that way. yourself" pointing at the
lads bruised and swollen lip.
1t is none of your business"
screamed BarktOn.
&" Yes it is; it is the business of ev-
cry humane man to prevent 4 lads
being struck by any person except
his own father
And so you-an officer heer,
yourself, wish to uphold that little
scamp above me ?"
As he spoke, he paced the deck, fu-
riously.
When the captain came up, q mo-
ment later, Barkton told him that
bis sCn had intcrferred:: between him
and his duty.
"How is that, Bill ," said the cap
tain.
Bill at once explained.
=" would not have blamed the lad
he added, had he picked up a hand
spike, and retaliated by striking the
mate over the head with it."
"You wouldn't, eh ?" screamed
Barkton- Just hear that, captain ~
You 90 too far Bill," said the
scipper.
Il will go yet farther" answered
Bill, and say that |, myself, have
mind to chastise hir1 for it,
The mate was now unable TO con-
tain himself
He shook his clenched fists at Wren,
declaring that he would kill him. if he
ever laid hands on his perscn
Wren laughed.
The captain here interposed.
Come men," said he, don't let US
have any more Of this. We are not
here TO fight among ourselves, but to
fight whales
Wren for his fathers sake, said no
more. He and the first mate. howev-
er, felt, from that moment, that they
were enemies.
Miss Temple soon heard of what
had occurred.
One evening she was by her low
er's side on the quarter deck, looking
very pretty in her thick fur coat,
round velvet hat, and red feather.
In the east the moon was Just ris-
ing, throwing food of silver light