The New York herald., 1877-09-24
LOVE BEFORE THE MAST.

.
THE FoREcAsrLs BY HIS YOUNG wIYE--sHE
SLOWS HERSELF AWAY IN MALE DIsouIsE-o
FATAL FALL PROM yARDAnM-rHx HUI
BAND COMMITS SUICIDE By JUMPING INT.
THE SEA.
From the San Francisco Mail. Sept l41
Tho Captain Of an English ship just arrived In pol
relates singular story which Is worth adding to the
already extensive budget OF marvellous tales OF the
ocean, The OF Captain and ship are not given.
as sailors are provsrbalv sensitive about their
rac.ty and there is strong flavor Of romance the
skipper's anccdote.
The Official log contains this entry:-"August Is
latitude -, longitude -, James Cotton. stowAway,.
fell from the foretopgal!ant yard 10 the deck and
instantly killed"
"August 16, latitude -, longitude -, William Bean,
an ordinary seaman, while the funeral service was
being read the body OF Cotton jumped from the
topgallant rail and sank Immediately. Ship hove ~
at the time. boat was lowered, but no traces OF
man was discerned."
''rhst," said the Captain, ''s ON entry that gives
key 10 tho yarn I'll spin you, as Mail reporter
III his cabin yesterday afternoon after the noond
~ shipped Bean IN Liverpool He was a tall. goo.
looking young fellow, and did not appear TO be muc
OF a seaiarng man by his appearance. but he had
coupe OF good discharges and took him. Alter b
went forward among the men Fdid not notice hir'
again until the second day out The mate came Al
uggng along little bit Of a fellow with short cur y
hair and a round face, whom he had found stowe
away under the fore hatch lot Of tho men 60
around to see what was going to say about It.
"'what the blozes made you hide away In my ship
said. He didn't answer word, and seemed scar
TO death. Then Bean stepped out and said
al know that young man, Captain; he Is an o.
chum Of NINE He wanted to xet passage to Cailios
mia aud had no money
al swore some at them both and then scnt Cotton or
in charge OF the third mate, who soon got HIM 10 wor
on broom he handled tho broom pretty well,
took sort of to polishing up the brass work and see
so inclined to be industrious that TOOK him out OF
mates watch and gave him odd jobs about the cab
lending the steward = hand ana SO on. He had .
night in and better grub they got the forecs
tie, but he used to always slip some OF II forward
Bean: Those two were good deal together on Boa
with him. Then he got to like gong alott, and ue
10 handle the royals as well as any ordinary St
board. Que day the mate said 10 me, Il hea
those two men, Bean and Cotton, talking together la
night, sir, and there was something queer about
Bean telling him that bis mother anu brothe
would never forgive him, and the best thing 10
when no got to San Francisco would be 10 write II
where he was. Cotton was crying ana seemed to tee
very bad. Then they saw mo and shut w. l thu
Bean has made that boy Cotton run away from school
-. told the mate 10 make work light he could fol
him, once when he brought mo up cup OF tea On
the poop, asked him his friends knew that he ~
started ior California
.On, no. he said, but could not get along well
at home, and thought It best 10 70 away
You knew Bean well at home, uidn't your
asked.
yes, SIR said he, and looked red and confused.
'Did he induce you TO run awayT
NO; NO, sr,' said he; but he told me he was
coming in this snp That was all said about 1t then
cabin ne got hold OF photograph OF my wife, whlcl
artist III Liverpool mad undertaken to color am
had made u botch Of IT,
Did you ever do any paint,ngs' asked He sal,
he could paint little, and got box OF water colo
pants the third mate and some brushes and CAV,
him lew photogr.phs 10 color. You see how we'll he
did H. He surprised me-"
Then the Captain opened his album and showed the
reporter photographs which very skillully
aud artisticaily retouched.
IL saw him once" continued tho Captain, .'painting
the photograph Of lne looking old lady He told me
II was Beams mother Well, tO come TO tho day the
accident occurred. l was on deck Al tho tme and
Bean and Cotton were sitting ior'ard. was just gong
10 the young chap ait 10 help the sailmaker who
was working Oh the poop, when squsll camo along.
Tho sang OUT the royal halyards were let 90 aHd
stow tho ioreroya Tor II was darkening up wind.
ward. Bean also got into The rigging ana seemed 70
want 70 get up, but Cotton got ahead Of him.
He laid the yard, got hold OF the canvas, and
the next thug we knew something came VIII rim
down on deck Win thud that made me shuddef. ~.
hrst AZ the poor fellows sldc Bean. He
over, for the lace was toward the deck, amt shs
he lell down ind NJ, and the ooatswain sttended
HIM. The watch carried Coltons body alt. His
was broken. pulled OIL the shirt aud then knswt
whole Story" and tho skipper took glass OF shev.
aud his eyes were moist
Nv hat was the mystery" (" asked the reporter.
'Well," said tho Captain. 'Just tins Cotton did NO,
belong 10 our side OF the deck The body that wa
sswed up and launched into tho deep youn 4
woman and she was Beams wife, for found the M
rage certificate Beams trunk with letters
partally explained the matter But pll tell you
tina. aiterwatd. As soon Bean got right he CANE
alt looking like ghost and he know by my lace Iha
l had discovered the secret
"Captain, said he, taxing Oh his hat, would voc
havo any objection 10 letting me stay alone with Il
this mighty
II let him stay all night by the body, and i'm
agine what The poor fellow suffered never sucI
q oespairing lace on man IN my Ne as that whic'
mot me when opened the cabin door and the hand
were summoned lor the funeral services He stood
until the last moment ana when the body slipped
into sea, aud the shot carried IT down. down mi
the blue depths, ho watched It until II disappeared
Tnen he jumped ON The topgallant rail, and beors
any ono could grab him he Was gone" {
'And the lcttersS"
81 hunted through his trunk" said the skippt
''and found bundle OF letters which am going
close TO his friends at home. From what could lea
from them II appears that Bean (Which was assume
name) was u young fellow Of good family but yer
wild rhe girls people were also well or and reputab
She knew him IRON boy and ran away with him, al
they wero married He went TO sen alter that ana
went back school. When he returned they trIef
make 1. up with the old folks, but they would not
It. SO the young fools, without u sxpence 10 4,
themselves WITH come on board my ship. Sou. y
like novel, but Il is all just as told you and h~,
the proofs"
"Havc you any objection to my giving the nams
the ship ?" SAID the reporter.
SWELL" said the SKIPPER" 81 don't like that sort
OF sensation, and the owners don't want these
things about the snip IN the paperG Here Is the boz
along sde i" SAID the Captain, and the reporter took
he ter hee waA n