New Orleans Republican., 1875-11-07

ana IOllOWlug Dln1, IOunu the cOnVlcGS
drawn up in lines, barefoOted. My inspec-
tion of them was q mere form, for, of
course, they were sent on board sound and
clean, but l made certain suggestions with
regard to the sanitary arrangements be-
tween decks, where their hsmmocks were
slung, and these we're promptly attended to
where practicable. When had done, Mac
Nab challenged me to game of chess, and
fortunately we proved to be very evenly
matched. He was quite right in relying 80
much upon it as q resource; how we should
have got through the weeks without it 1
can not imagine; we played at least six
hours daily out Of the twenty four.
When We got into the broad swell of the
Atlantic had a weeks seasickness, during
which MacNab had the best of me at chess,
and after / was we'll / began to have some
trouble with the convicts. What schemers
they were! Their one great object was to
get glass Of grog or wine, which could
only be done at my order And they regu-
larly studied the complaints for which /
prescribed such medical comforts, and
either simulated or managed to produce
them artifcially. Greenhorn as l was, they
imposed upon me easily at first. and Just
as l was getting up to their lodges we
passed the Equator, and there was q good
deal of real sickness, which gave them the
advantage again. As time went on l be.
came familiarized with the rognes, and
learned to look upon them as fellow-men
whe had gone wrong, rather than as wild
beasts. l talked to them freely, and learned
many of their histories-at least their own
versions of them-and took considerable
interest in some of the narrators. Most
of them were ignorant, debased creatures,
either born and bred to prey on their
fellow creatures, or recruited from the most
neglected ranks of society; but there was
one or two exceptions-notably, man who
passed under the name of Williams, who
was gifted with rare abilities, and had the
manners and address of gentleman. His
face would have afforded an in erestipg
study to . physiognOmist, the upper part
being highly intellectual, the lower part
betokening unbounded sensuality. His
crime was forgery of bank notes. This
man never cOndescended to try and trick
me as others did; neither did he sulk like
some Of the better-class convicts, nor pro-
test his innocence, which was the almost
universal custom. He was civil, some
what subdued in manner, and glad of
my conversation. He mad yielded to
the temptation of trying to make his
fortune in too great hurry, had tailed
and was content to pay the penalty
he said. Though a ''lifer," be by no
means despaired Of his future. He was in
soon be free man within the limits of the
colony, and had perfect confidence in his
ability to earn a comfortable livelihood if
he had that chance. And what did the
country mattera Life could be made as
enjoyable in one place as another. He
would not go back to England. to be cut
by all his relations and former friends, if he
could.
Plausibly as Williams always talked,
mistrusted him. l noticed that he had
established o considerable influence over
the other cOn viRta and nnDstan Iu anrpriaad
him speaking earnestly in corners to groups
OF five or six of them. On my appearan ce
these conferences broke up, and in spite of
all sffectaton OF Indifference / was certain
on more than one occasion that anxiety was
,telt lest l should have caught sone word in
passing. And knew, without being able
to prove it, that secret signs were ex-
changed between Williams and at least a
score, whom l could have pointed out i,
habitually.
Another convict who evidently had some
power with his fellows was Lloyd, Welsh
sailor, who had stabbed another in quar-.
rel and narrowly escaped the gallows.
But it was natural enough that an expe-
rienced sailor should should obtain the
leading OF landsmen doing voyage of such
length, and / never suspected him of striv.
ing to influence others with any sinister de-
signs, as l certainly did Williams.
But soon had no time for idle spocula
tion and suspicion; the sickness, fever.
attended by symptoms which were un-
familiar to me, increased. Soon1there were
a score OF cOnvicts, several seamen, and one
of the marines down with it.
A man died, was sewn up in his hammock
and launched from the gangway with shot
at his feet, MacNab reading the service
over him. During the ceremony one of
those phenomena which make aaiOrs so
superstitious occurred. As the body touched
the water the wind sank, and IN half an
hour there was q perfect calm. In many
minds . Calm at sea is associated with III
that is peaceful and beautiful: in mine it is
horrible nightmare.
For q week we lay on the broad, smooth
sheet of glass without speck in sight to
break the mOnOtOny. Glass Molten sll-
yer, rather, for the heat was &c fearful that
l sometimes imagined it would seethe. The
sun seemed like Q mass. of white-hot iron
close above us, and the pitch Ocsed and
boiled between the planks. Poor Phipps
could not 70 on with his sketching, for the
PRECIPITATION dropped from his forehead and
blOtted his work, and even MscNab's srdor
for chess relaxed. But had little time to
play with him-under such aggrayatinp
conditions the fever ragged Deaths were
OF daily, sometimes hourly occurrence. We
eften had to cast the bodies overheard with
out ceremony.
his mates sickened, and the shattered CON
stitutiOn of the former caused him to sink
at once. Then Phipps took the fever, and
though it was Q mild attack, he was so
feeble as 20 be unfit for duty.
Such of the cOnvicts a. escaped the fever
began to hold their heads erect and look
you full in the eyes as they passed, as
though they felt that death was bringing us
all to an equality.
The sixth dsv vss the most opnress;ve of
all--it was literally difficulty to draw
breath, and though escaped the fever l
was knocked up for the first time. To do
my work among the dying and the dead
WAS physical imp0ssibility for me; threw
myself down under the awning on the
quarter deck and lost all consciousness,
probably remaining in Q state Of tOrpOr for
hours.
1 was reused by the most tremendous
crash have ever heard, and found myself
in darkness, but only for q moment; the
next, sea, sky and ship were lit up by vio-
lent glare, while zigzag line of fire, so
intense that the eye ached at il, flashed,
and left the gloom more profound than ever.
And again came that awful thunder, COM
pared with which the loudest over heard in
Europe is whisper. That moment of fierce
light revealed 70 me men in tie rigging,
taking IN sail which had been spresd to
catch the elightest breeze; and O. spar hang
ing awkward and all awry; also Mon ID
and the mate, who now acted - captain,
standing near me.
1--WE shall never be sble to manage with.
out help, We are 30 terribly underhanded,n
said the latter.
"Weel, them" replied MscNab, 1--WE will
pick half dozen of tho deevils, nae more.
One ken has been sailor. and"
/. Another flash and deafsning roar, which
drowned his voice.