The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1879-08-30
A Young Sailors Story

Three years ago I shipped on
board the Niger, Captain Phillips.
Our voyage was to Ililo, Sandwich
Islands, and back 10 Puget Sound,
whence We sailed. The captain,
officers and crew were, when !
Joined, Americans and West India
men; but rs another hand was
wanted besides myself, l persuaded
Jack Chester, an Englishman with
whom I had become friendly, to
fill up the vacancy. Jack was Il
fine looking fellow, jovial COM
panion, and had lots Conformation,
which he. knew how to use; but,
although he dressed and talked
like Il sailor, he had not been long
on board ship before it became
plain that he had not been brought
up q salt.
Our captain was q Tartar and no
mistake; and MS he had the eye of
q hawk, no fault committed by
man or boy escaped him. This
was especially unfortunate for my
English shipmatc. Ho had ship
ped on able seaman's wages, but
his DEFICIENCIES were so many and
glaring that our captain, seemed to
watch his movements more care
fully than those Of the rest Of the
crew. often inilicting upon him
pnnishments painful to witness.
Ihad a strong attachment to Chos-
teryand stood his friend whenever
| could, by taking some Of his du.
ties along with my own; but | was
not always on hand to help him,
so, he fell oftener than others be-
meath the captains displeasure.
One night, when ! was at the
wheel, the wind rose into n gale.
The captain came on deck and set
MI hands to reef the topsails. The
men were manning the halyards
to hoist away, when poor Chester,
instead of letting go the reef-tacklc,
let 50 the weather fore-topsail brace,
and away went the yard fore and
aft. BY luffiing up smartly, how
over, we managed to get checked
without carrying anything away.
But Captain Phillips, frothing at
the mouth, sworc he would tan the
foolish lubbcr's hide who had done
SO clumby;a thing. Saying which,
he rushed at Chester with q piece
of rntling, which he brought down
upon his neck and shoulders, Civ
ing them q fearful cut. lie was in
the act Of raising it again when a
voice FROM alott roarcd out: "1Iold
your handw
'Theivoice was wonderfully loud
and clear, seemingly coming from
the maintop. The captain fell
back, and, looking up, cried in
great rage :,"Aloit therc!"
"1Ialloa p was the answer back.
"Come down on deck" was the
captains imperious order.
"Come down, l say, on deck"
foancd the captain.
"Come up and fetch me-" return
cd tho voice from aloft.
"Who is up there, Mr.. Rassom?"
cried the captain, appealing to the
first officer.
mo one, sir" was the reply, $50
far as l can sec. All present on
deck"
The captains rage was now ter
riblc to witness. AL seem present
Mr.. Rassom2 What do you
mean by that, sir? l ask you
again, who is up thero?"
"No one known to me-" returned
the man. All are present. All
are on deck, in sight"
Such was the case. But the soc.
ond mate, without awaiting orders,
sprang up the rigging and looked
over the top-rim, then made the
circuit of it, looking all around the
masthead, and then reported him
SELF alone.
"Thon the ship must be hauntod! !
cried tho chief mate.
The captain hercupon dropped
the ropc's-cnd which he held in his
had, and went below. 1t was ovi-
dent that he was strangely affected
by what had occurred. And so my
fellow country man escaped fur
ther punishment that night,