The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-06-11

w no Is that man 0en1anucu
ofa seaman, as soon az had passed
forward.
tWhat-that boatswain't mate yon-
der Why, that's Big Dobbins. and"
"Big Dobbins - cried I. Scan it
be possible that was ini<enformed, or
was he cut down before life was ex-
tinct ?''
"Cut down % exci:imed the sailor,
staring in his turn and then after
moments reflection, lie added : s'Oh,
know what you are thinking of now
he had brother that drove a cart in
New York who hung himselt''
sBut this is the exact likeness of his
brother. / could not tell them apart :;
and he locked at me as though lie
knew me-"
"Well," replied tho mariner, "I
would not advise you to cultivate his
acquaintance. There may be worse
meii in the world than Big Dobbins !;
but if SO they've never crossed my
hawse. When he tiogs a man he
strikes with all his migI: you'd think
he was going to cut you in two. He
does this TO curry favor with the Of
ticers, and every man on board bates
him. lie never daIes to go on shore
with any of the crew. IT he should go
ashore, and the boys had caught him
! away from the ship, he'd stand no
more chance than a cat in ratp;t
without claws"
Time passed on. / saw many men
fiogged, both with the cats and the
colt. Those that were fogged with
the cats tod me that, after few blows
had been given, the back felt as if mel
ted lead was poured upon it; aud yet
,hey said they preferred the cats to the
colt. The latter is a single roIe about
as thick as mans finger. Generally
no more than six blows were given
with the colt, the victim being ccm-
pelIcd to take off his jacket only. The
cats Lave nine strings, which do no
more than take off the skin, and leave
the back raw aud bloody !; but the colt
is said to bruise, as we'll as cut the flesh.
Experienced hands would, when posi-
BILE, put OH bacher. Hearing their
names called by boatswain's maze,
and expecting to gel fogyed with the
colt, they would hastily get friend
to shove several thickne-scs of cloth un-
der their shirts. The hacker deadened
the blows, and thus makes the punish
ment more enGnrable.
One day went down on the berth
deck to get something out of my bag
The place was solitary, except the mas
ter-at-arms i'll the other enc OF the ship
there seemed to be nobady on the
berth-deck but myself. While / was
leisurely orerha"ling my bag, heard
strange smotIered sound, as of some
one in great distress, aud this sound
was followed by the slirill cry OF ''mur-
der % which rang through all the fri
gate aud startled every one on the gun
deck. turned hastily, and saw two
men-both of them noted pugiliste-
beating Big Dobbins in the most furi-
Gus manner.
These two men had seen the giant
descend from the gur-deck to the berth
deck they had quietly slipped down
after him, siezed his jacket by the COL
lar, drawn it over his head and fare,
and then given 1t to him right and left,
with their fists.
As soon as Dobbins yelled murder,
halfa dozen Midshipmen came running
to tt,e rescue, while the two as<ailants
darted up the ladder to the gun-deck.
but they were not quick enough to es-
cape recognition by the foremost Mid
shipmen. Their names were immedi.
ately called by bcatswsin's mate, the
rufffes were placed on their wrists, and
they were consigned to tie brig to
wait trial by a court-martial. The
otfensc was serious one attacking
your superior officers is called mutiny
in the navy.
These two men were tried and SEN
fenced to receive 100 .ashes each. on
the bare back, with the cat-o'.nine
tails.
As for Big Dobbins, both eyes were
BACKED, aud his face was swelled to
twice it's usual size.
The two calpfits bore their punish
ment without f1inchi,g or complaining.
and, two days afterward, Big Dobbins,
on going to his chest, found it full of
coal tar. ALI his cloths were CON-
pleteIy ruined. No one knew who
committed this dastarlly act, but every
@ox.IJ T1<,1~ .ot