Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-04-02

could have some of the same kind Of
teachin' ashore as they have at sea.
There's many of 'em as would be made
men of as now grows up to be poor use
less trash.
"A peculiar thing about boys aboard
of ship were the animosity they man.
ifested toward the cook. never Snow'd
cook yet as we're able to Git along
with boys, and it were giueraily open
warfare between EN-. In the ship New
York, when were into her, there were
an old darby for cook as could play
the fiddle equal 10 any man that ever
made duff. There were two boys
aboard rs was the most perfect imps of
mischief as ever crawled through lub-
ber.hole. They were onto their second
voyage, which are the most villianous
time OF boys life aboard ship, and
bein' some sort of relatives of the old
man they had extra privileges. The
| life they led that old cook was dreadful.
Frequent they'd git on the galley and
clap a paunch mat over the funnel, 50
as to fill the galley with smoke, after
havin' first fastened the doors, SO as old
George rs the cook WAS called, couldn't
git out. Frequent if the cook was aft
for any purpose, they'd put lot of
pump tacks along on his seat, and then
watch for and enjoy the old mans wrath
when we SAL down on ON. Old George
on his part neglected no opportunity to
git even with the boys, and many dip
per of bilin' water he managed to chuck
over 'em. A visitation of this kind one
day struck boy Bill full in the face, IS
he went by the galley door, and howl
| in with pain he came runnin' TO the
forecast swearin' he'd be revenged.
"That evenin' in the last dog-watch
we was reachin' along on wind with
all three royals set, headin' about west
nor'west, and this here boy Bill he
comes to me and says he, tom, ask the
doctor" for to Civ us tune; he wont
do it if l ask. So says Come, doc
tor" get out the old cremona, and Civ
us tune 'All right says he, 'sposin
you gifts me bucket of water to put
the beans in soak
This bein' done, Old George brings
out his fiddle, gives the strings screw
or two, and after an artistic flourish he
drew the bow across the strings. No
music followed, and Old Georges face
growed nearly white rs, after passing
his hand along the bow, he shouted,
What houn' grease my tiddle?' Jist
then he caught sight of boy Bills grin
MIN face, and jumpin' for him he
caught him and afore any of us could
interfere had flung him over the rail.
Then instantly repentin' Of the act he
rushed aft and went over the tatfrail
like shot.
"Ofcourse there was the usual excite
ment. At the cry, Man overheard the
helm were put down, and as the ship
come in the wind the lee main braces,
main sheet and tack were lei go and
she were brought to with the maintop-
sail to the mast. The boats was carried
onto quarter davits which was swingled
in ana the boats was rested on chocks,
the falls bein' racked at the davits and
the ends coiled snug in the boat at each
end. So you see it took matter of ten
minutes for to swing the boat out and
git her into the water, and all this time
the ship, with malntopsail to the mast,
was forgin' ahead. I've always thought
that if they'd a-let her come all the
way round when the cook and the boy
fust went over and then braced about
the after yards, leavin' tho bead yards
square, we should have found 'em,
cause the drift of the ship would have
been towards 'em all the time. As il
were, bein' after dark, the second mate,
what had charge of the boat, got con-
fused, and likely rs not pulled
away from 'em instead of to-
wards 'em. Anyhow, arter an
hours unsuccessful search it was Civ
up and the boat returned to the ship
and were histed up. Even then we did
not give it up entirely, but after film
away we tackled her and reached back
and forth over the spot where the cook
and boy had gone overheard for over
two hours. We seen nothin' of 'em but
IN one Of the reaches to the south'a ard
we come within an ace Of runnin' down
iishin' schooner as was bound to the
west'ard. AS we passed her the skip
per Of her hailed lis and seemed to be
givin' vent to considerable indignation
cause we came 80 nigh him, which
were cheeky to say the least, we havin'
been on the starboard tack and entitled
for to hold our wind, and he had no
business to try to cross our bow. Only
but that we had her right up in the wind
and deadened her entirely we'd a hit
this here schooner sure.
swell, we couldn't understand what
the skipper of her said, but our old man
not to he outdone in politeness cussed
back at him long arter We got out of
hearin'. Then we tackled went on our
way to the west'ard, all hands very
mournful on account Of the loss OF the
cook, for the loss of cook is next 10
the loss of the rudder. We took fel.
Ter out of the port watch and put HIM
in the galley, but he wasn't no more
for to be compared with the old niger
as had gone overheard than nothin' at
all. The duff that this chap turned out
next Sunday we're more like lump Of
putty than Christian puddin', and the
scouse that he tried to make weren't fit
to eat I've no doubt he did ais best,
but cookin', sir, can't be took nat'ral
like swearin'; il are high art, and like
other high arts requires fust Of genius
for it and then long and patient APP
,,ticat;op EADI onoLo 80 ,S,,tt o,.YIra