Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-01-24
IN A POWDER MAGAZINE.


We had not been many days at sea be.
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 mans existence; and VINO, as long
as sixpence lasted, obstinately refused to 60
on board, in many cases having to be hauled
from the wharf over the side like so much
suspended animation Then we had been
warped out in the river, and were lying
awaiting the captain; I've found that he had
been taken suddenly and violently i'll, 20 that
weeks delay followed, ending in a fresh
appointment and the coming Of new cap
taiu-a man Of quiet, genial aspect, whose
presence seemed to augur a termination to
our troubles, and he was welcomed accord
ingly.
For merchantmen outward bound is by
no means the paradise existing in the minds
of ardent school boys, bitten with longing
tor life at sea. Twenty.four hours of the
life ON board and its discom6tures effectually
sickened me but then had chosen my YES
sci for reasons of economy, knowing that ev-
cry G5 note would be, perhaps, Of priceless
value in my new home; so | made up my
mind not to be disconnected, but to bear all
that fell to my lot. had taken my passage
to Buenos Ayres, with the full intention Of
roughing it for some years to come, and
therefore l argued that it would be cowardy
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
sailers we're soon in that pleasant state of
respondent misery which succeeds long de.
bauch, and, as if giving the unfortunate
passengers the credit of being the cause of
their sufferings, lost DO opportunity of visit
ing the said suferings upon their heads l
said upon their heads, but the feet as fire..
quently suffered, buckets of water being
dashedhpon them-of course accidentally-if
we ventured 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 afHict. But by dint of good temper, this
was all pretty well got over, in time for the
rough weather we encountered down chan
mel, and right away across the bay of Bis
cay; sufficiently bad to confne us all, sick
and well, below matches, for many dreary
day of pitching and tossing, 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-ceied pris-
on, with stout beams crossing every here and
there, the light stealing ieebly through the
little windows, 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 the deck, and nearly
every fellow passenger either bemoaning his
hard fate, or else groaning as he lies in the
helpless misery Of sea.sckness. think that
if all the miseries Of a rough voyage could
be forseen, those who take trips to far.off
lands could be greatly reduced in numbers.
A couple of days respite came at last in
the shape of fine weather, and in the reaction
n.oI,,onI h., tka kr;OhN sunohina and n
free, brisk air we breathed on deck, the
troubles Of the past 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 be.
fore long had another opinion upon the
subject, for in conversation found that the
second mate had been at the same school as
myself, and together VIC 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, 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 himself on deck
Now | 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
denee."
nodded.
well" he continued, 81 don't know what
TO make Of him; sometimes | think he il
mad. How he got appointed to this ship
can't tell Mr.. Ray don't say anything, but
be 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 because the command
was not placed in his hards."
No more was then SAID but before many
days had passed we found that the man who
had been intrusted with fine vessel, valu,
able cargo, and more than all, the lives o.
passengers and crew, was one of those beings
who, not content with the enjoyment of the
god things of this life, are in the habit o.
having Incorporate outbreaks, when the i'm
pulse to drink, commencing, perhaps, with
The stimulants taken in some time of peril
grows perfectly uncomfortable, and cu
inmates at length in one of those horrible fit
Of mania know as dolirium tremens.
1t was enough to make any landsrnan ner
yous as to our fate should the heavy weather
continue but there was still the satisfaction