The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-03-13
THE RED JACKET.

It was q queer scene that our crew
I! presented, as we caroused, when our
schooner lay careened, in the cool
ground-hoor of the Hacienda de La
Rosaca, which we had turned into
| public house for the nonce. The hacien-
dero was so overjOyed at our having run
our eighty slaves safe into Cuban waters
| that he gave US the key of the cellars,
and roystering time had we. Fiercely~
mOustached Caspardo Chaco took his
turn at spinning yarn. He had been
drinking deep, and, glass in hand, he
began the following, in a mysterious
| tone, which he deepened into a doIeful
strain as he progressed:
Joseph Bolton, see you," said the
old school-teacher to one pupil of thir-
teen whom he detected mixing the nose
of sleeping sc5Ool>mate.
Joseph Bolton, though admonished by
the teacher, Was soon after guilty of
| blowing paper wadding through a 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
contrary, the teacher pounced upon the
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 pms
| 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
J scuttle without difficulty, and let in the
I 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 root, for q 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
( q hill, and the view from the open scuttle
was extensive. The top-masts of the
vessels lying about the wharVes about
Bristol hRrbor-for there were no steam
i ferries then-Were distinctly visible.
Sailors could be seen ct work on the rig
ging, on the yards, or engaged in scrsping
| down the tep-masts and topsgallants.
The masts of large brig, which seemed
very near, engaged his attention ; but he
| had not looked st 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 excessive,
| ly. I 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 fancy to go to sea.
He made a voyage to India in ship be-
longing to q firm much celebrated in
| -
been followed by his usual bad fortune
that of giving Offense to his supeTiors.
They had not yet reached the Cape of
Good Hope when Joseph was condemned
to be Aogged before all hands. He had
given mortal offe1zS 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
impetuous vengeance of the mate, and
} he gave orders accordingly that the
youth should be seized up in the rigging
The crew were assembled 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
- 1
scouTge in his hand, when the youth
begged leave to whisper something in his
private ear.
) " It's no use," returned the officer
sits too late tobeg now you've got te
take it
He drew back, and was about to give
! the first blow, when Bolton said aloud
I" If you won't hear me privately,
shall speak before all these people"
The mate paused and said:
What if you do What then ?'
You wore red jacket once" cried
the youth.
The mate approached Bolton, and ths
latter whispered a few words in his ear
] The mate became deadly pale.
{ What does he say 2" demanded the
captain, who bad appeared to be singu
larly interested by the turn which affair
had taken.
, It's only some of his nonsense
J returned the mate, but L suppose
) must let him off this time, as he hai
made an explanation" ?" de-
c " Well, well-what explanation
e manded the captain.
Z :" He says that when he sauced me, il
; the morning watch, he mistook me fol
( Ben Lowell; and now recollect that b.
did call me Ben,' though was so angr,
: that it had slipped my memory"
b The old tsrs did not accept this expla
t nation, and when Joseph met them a
s supper, they asked him whether tn
}, mate had reported his words correctly
/ The youth colored, thrust out his lowe
: lip, and ended by lifting his tin cup to hi
- countenance. No other reply could b
e got out of him. From that time forwar,
r It was observed that the first mate treaties
9 young Bolton with much kindness. h
J. seemed to have forgotten entirely tha
# the youth had formerly offended him
n and that they owed each other 8 grudge
o How long this would have continued,
II is impossible to say, had not Bolton beel
lost overheard in q storm of the cape
It There seemed to be something singuls
e about the manner of Bottoms death
II The mate came to the forecastIe ant
IS summoned sll hands at midnight.
4 'fThe watch is called" said Bolton
\ springing from his hammock and hasten
: ing on deck. His watchmates -followet
3 him leisurely. The ship was plungin
d badly, being sharp on a wind, and as the,
y came up the spray flew all over them
y Lay hold of the jib-downhauI here 7
u shouted the mate. Where's Bolton
y ! lust told him to"
5. :" It's his helm," interrupted an oil
sailor.