Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-09-30

u its pains ana highways 'DldZe
:. out" not on trees, but upo
4 parallels and meridians whlc
t commerce follows as readily q
:. the traveller the road-waysT q
5 land. Recognizing these fact
: Scmmes sought these highway
: and making of the Alabanla
7 portable toll-gate stopped q
r passers-by. Without charg
went by those who displaye'
! ! and proved complimentary i
the shape of a neutral flag, bsl
from those wearing the Fedora
: colors, both ship and cargo wer
sexactcd as a toll.
: 1t is a belief among sailor
, that the constellation known a
'fthc Southern Cross was a broocl
the Virgin Mary lost from he
) breast in the daylight when sh'
went up to heaven. Anons
many true seamen of the Ala
bama this superstition was
blended with the tangible fac
that they were enlisted under
the Southern Cross, and omenl
of good fortune augured from
it, which found confirmation il
the capture during the first
three weeks cruising of prize:
valued at more than $3.50, 600, ol
more than the entire cost of
their vessel armed and equipped
WATERING THEIR GROG.
l. With a crew presenting SC
many incongruous elements, il
would have been surprising had
there not been acts of insubor-
dination, but SO strict was the
discipline and rigid its enforce
ment that at the first indications
fof disorder it was promptly re-
pressed and the offenders pun
ished. Only once was there any
thing like a mltiny, and this
occurred just after leaving one
of the neutral ports, where the
seamen had been allowed Glib
crty" in usual numbers, and re-
turned or We're brought on board
full of freedom and fire-water.
About third of the crew
managed to getrecklessly drunk,
and were disposed to defy all
authority. Learning of this,
Semmes had the battle-rol!
sounded, and so powerful is the
influence of discipline that in a
moment all of the crew, drunk
and sober, stood at quarters
Then, Semmes, with some OF his
officers and Quartermasters, all
armed, walked down the line of
guns. AS he went along he had
the ringleaders pointed out and
Immediately placed under ar
rest. This was continued until
about a score were in durance.
Calling some Of the more able
bodied Quartermasters, the mu-
tineers were taken, one at a
time, and drenched with water
drawn on board by the bucket
full. The offenders did not know
that this was the most ingenious
torture evolved out of prison
discipline, and laughed heartily
as the water was first poured o.
yer them. They asked for moro
of the "bloody Quartermaster's
soup," told them to bring on
more of "Semmes' liquor" but
IN few moments the tune was
changed. They at first damned
their eyes and Semmes and the
Quartermasters and things gen.
orally, now they wanted to dam
the water off Of them, but it
came steadily by the bucketful,
and now they wanted to know
if they were to be drowned, and
later plead for mercy. AT this
stage the water was shut off. |
The ducking was continued till
all the refractory ones had been
punished. The affair lasted two
hours, the crew standing at
their guns all the while. 1t
worked OH era in the ships his
tory, and reference to past e.
vents was dated from before or
after the time when "Old Bees
wax watered their grog |
A MARINE ELEPHANT.
The California steamship A.
riel speeds along, her decks
crowded with men and womenI
watching the approach of what
they believe TO be a United !
States man-of-war. This ves-
sci, with the stars and stripes
at her gaff, her crew at quarters
and the "Old Persuader," as the
rified Blakeley is styled, tower
ing above the heads of its squad,
passes the Ariel astcrn, wheel, /
substitutes the Confederate col
ors,. and, from growing gun,
lemandsa halt. What a changed !,
The Ariels decks are deserted
with more rapidity than deco
rum, and hastily added pressure /
drives her forward with 'impet- /
lous speed, A few moments
rial indicates that she has the
speed of the Alabama, 'Old I
Persuader" is trained. "Ready,
ireY" A tongue of smoke and
1,D,a laane from the iron throat.