The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-03-06
THE RED JACKET.

It was a queer scene that our crew
presented, as we caroused, when our
schooner lay cGreened, in the cool
ground-Eoor of the Hacienda de Ia
Rosaca, which We had turned into q
public house for the nonce. The hacien-
dero was so overiOyed at our having run
our eighty slaves sale into Cuban waters
that he gave us the key of the cellars,
and roys tering time had we. Fiercely~
moustached CaspardO Cisco took his
turn at spinning yarn. He had been
drinking deep, and, glars in hand, be
began the following, in mysterious
tone, which ne deepened into doleful
strstn as he Progressed:
Joseph Bolton, see yOu," said the
old school-teacher to one pupil of thir-
teen whom he detected linking the nose
of a sleeping sc5ool>mate.
Joseph Bolton, though sdmonished by
the teacher, was soon after guilty of
blowing paper wadding through quill,
point blank at the head of the school
monitor, and it did not so happen at the
time that Providence favored those who
sported the heaviest artillery. On the
OOnbldIy IIlC ICdCuCl uBOu LuC
young cannonier, dragged him from his
seat. and Joseph was soon separated from
his brethren, and placed in durance vile,
and must say that was no great pun>
ishment. He was up into a close cock
loft. where there were sundry old PAM
phlets, letters, manuscripts; he was
completely sheltered from the eyes of the
master, and could amuse himself in any
way he thought proper. He opened the
scuttle without difficulty, and let in the
pleasant beams of 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
the slated roof, for 8 while, and then he
paused to examine the various objects
which came within range of his vision
The school house stood on the brow of
a hill, and the view from the open scuttle
was extensive. The top-mssts of the
vessels lying about the wharves about
Bristol harbor-fOr there were no steam
ferries then-were distinctly visible.
Sailors could be seen at work on the rig
cling, on the yards, or engaged in scrsping
down the tep-masts and tOp~gallsnts.
The masts of large brig, which seemed
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 the school-room he was observed to
be very pale and he trembled excessiveo
ly. l can well remember how he looked
the pallor OF his cheeks, and the wild-
ness in his eyes. Some of the boys said
he was scared, and one or two called him
a coward. When Joseph arrived near
mans estate he took a fancy to go to sea.
He made voyage to India in a ship be-
longing to a firm much celebrated in
those days. Our hero appears to have
been followed by his usual bad fortune
that of giving ofense to his superiors.
They had not yet reached the Cape of
Good Hope when Joseph was condemned
to be fogged before all hands. He had
given mortal offense 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 a favorite of the
captain, but he could not resist the
imperuOus vengeance of the mate, and
he gave orders accordingly that the
youth should be seized up in the rigging.
The crew were assem- bled to witness the
punishment, the younger portion look
ing on with curiosity, and the old sailors
hanging back and scowling at the pre-
paratiOns. Everything being prepared,
the mate drew near, fourishing the
scourge in his hand, when the youth
begged leave to whisper something IN his
private ear.
cts no USE" returned the officer:
q it's too late tobeg now you've got to
take it
He drew back, and was about to give
the first blow, when Bolton said aloud:
off you won't hear me privately, l
shall speak before all these people"
The mate paused and said:
"What if you do2 What then 7"
You wore q rel jacket once" cried
the youth.
The mate approached Bolton, and the
latter whispered few words in his ear.
The mate became deadly pale.
What does he say ?" demanded the
csptain, who bad appeared to be siugu~
larly interested by the turn which sHairs
had taken. =,
OTIS only some of his nonsense"
returned the mate, "but | suppose l
must let him off this time, as he has
made an explanation" Z! de-
: Well, well-what explanation sa=z...----i
manded the captain. .......
"He says that when be sauced me, in
the morning watch, he mistook me tor
Ben Lowell; and now | recollect tfat he
did call me Ben though l was 10 angry
that it had slipped my memory"
The old tars did not accept this expla-
nation. and when joseph met them at
supper. they asked him whether the
mate had reported his words correctly.
The vouth colored, thrust out his lower
in and ended by lifting his tin cup to his
cnuntenance. SO other reply could be
cot out OF him. From that time forward
It was observed that the first mate treated
voung Baton with much kindness. be
seemed to have forgotten entirely that
The youth had formerly offended him,
and that they owed each other grudge.
How long this would have continued, IL
is impossible TO say, had not Bolton been
lost overheard in storm OF the cape
, There seemed to be something singular
shout the manner of Bottoms death.
| The mate came 70 tie forecastle ano
summoned all hands at midnight.
| "The watch is called" said Bolton
springing from his hammock and hasten.
inc on deck. His Watchmates followed
him Ieisurely. The ship was piunging
badly. being sharp on wind, and as they
! ,,,ra., Luz all over them