Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-03-08
THE RED JACKET.

It was q queer scene that our crew
presented, AZ we caroused, when our
schooner lay carecned, in tho cool
ground floor Of Hacienda de Ia Rosaca,
which we had turned into public
house for the nonce.
The haciendeo was so overjoyed ut
our having run our eighty slaves safe
into Cuban waters, that he gave us tho
key Of the cellars, and a registering time
had we.
Fiercely mustached Gaspardo Chaco
took his turn at spinning yarn. He
had been drinking deep, and, glass in
hand, he began the following in mys-
ferrous tone, which he deepcncd into q
dolcful strain as he progressed:
"Joseph Bolton, sec yon," said the
old school-teacher to one pupil Of thir-
teen whom he detected linking tho nose
Of q sleeping school-mate.
Joseph Bolton, though admonishcd by
tho teacher, was soon afterward guilty
of blowing paper wadding through n
quill, point blank at the head of the
school monitor, and it did not 10 happen
at this time that Providence favored
those who sported the heaviest artillery.
On the contrary, tho teacher pounced
upon tho young cannonier, dragged him
from his scat, and Joseph was soon sop
arated from his brethren, and placed in
DURANGO vile, and l must say that was
no great punishment Flo was put up
into close cockloft, where there were
sundry old pamphlets, letters, manu-
scripts; he was completely sheltered
from tho eyes Of tho master, and could
amusc himself in any way he thought
proper.
lie opened the scuttlo without diff
Guilty, and lot in the pleasant beams of a
summer afternoon, while the aperture
was SO low that when he stood upright
his head and shoulders were above the
roof.
Joseph amused himself by rolling
little paper balls down tho slated roof.
for while, and then he paused to OK
anime the various objects which came
within range of his vision.
Tho school house stood on the brow of
u bill, and theiyicw from the open scut-
Ito was extensive. The top-masts Of
vessels lying about the wharvcs about
Bristol Harbor--for there were no steam
ferries thcn--were distinctly visible.
Sailors could DO seen at work on the
yards, on tho rigging, or engaged in
scraping down the top-masts and top
gallants.
The masts Of a large brig, which SEEM
cd very near, engaged his attention, but
he had not looked at them long before
he was summoned to descend from his
lofty quarters, as the teacher was about
to dismiss the school.
When he came down into tho school
room, he was observed to be very pale,
and he trembled excessively. can well
remember how he looked--tho pallor of
his checks, and the wildness in his eyes.
Some of the boys said he was scared,
and one or two called him q coward.
When Joseph arrived near mans es-
tate, he took q fancy to go to sea. He
made voyage to India in q ship belong
ing to firm much celebrated in those
days.
Our hero appears to have been follow
cd by his usual bad fortune-that of
giving offense to his snperiors They
had not yet reached tho Cape Of Good
Hope when Joseph was condemned to
be hoggod before all hands. He had
given mortal offcnse to the first mate of
the ship, who insisted that it would be
impossible for him to preserve discipline
among the crew if young Bolton was
not punished.
Bolton was rather favorite OF the
captain, but he could not resist the i'm
petuous vengeance of the mate, and he
gave orders accordingly that tho youth
should be seized up in the rigging.
The crew were assembled to witness
the punishment, the younger portion
looking on with curiosity, and the old
sailors hanging back and scowling at
the preparations.
Everything being prepared, tho mate
drew near, hourishing tho scourge in
his hand, when the youth begged to
whisper something in his private ear.
"Its 10 USE" returned tho officer;
"its too late to beg now; you've got to
take it,"
He drew back, and was about to give
the first blow, when Bolton said aloud:
eff you won't hear me privately, I
shall speak before all these people,"
The mate paused, and said:
"What il you dof What Them
''You wore red jacket once" cried
the youth.
Tho mate approached Bolton, and the
latter whispered few words in his ear.
Tue mate became deadly pale.
"What does he sayp demanded the
captain, who had appearedto be singu-
larry interested by the turn which af-
fairs had taken.
cts only some Of his nonsense re-
turned the mate; "but suppose l must
let him off this time, as he has made an
explanation"
"Well, well-what explanation ~ de-
manded the captain.
"He says that when he sauced me in
the morning watch, he mistook mo fol