The Osceola times., 1882-02-25
"RuNylNG" COFFEE.


% or5 than the running of West India
goods, against the peace aud dignity OF
the United States.
On board the brig Andromacbe we
had cook of exceeding blaCkness, who
from his great stature, went under the
appellation of "Long john and Just
before we sailed FROM Matan2as for home
he slowed away forward a couple OF bags
of coffee, trusting to good luck for an op-
portunity Of smuggling them on shore
under the nose of Uncle Sans revenue
officers.
Now, all "tide-waiters' were not alike
in their COnceII ms of public duty.
Some were very pryiug and exactiug
going TO the very bottom of poor sail
or's chest, and searching every hole and
corner Of the forecastle. Others were
generous, and purposely blind--putling
a less severe cons, action upon the reyo.
nue. laws.
The Office, in cur little port, was re-
presented by only one individual at a
time but those who had suC, ed each
other in its discharge had varied much
in character
II happened at this period that the in
cumhent was n Mr.. Salisbury, man
high in favor with the sailors for his
iovial nature and the disposition he
showed to be- as easy with them as his
sense Of duty would permit.
Ifobli.el sometimes to seize upon the
coffee or sugar Of some needy tar, 1t WAS
very evident that he found little pleas
IRE in so doing. His natural generosity
rcvolted at il; and, though such course
was unqucstianably wrong, lac sometimes
had a convenient nearsightedness in re
gard TO petty 1iIenses.
Long Jof hoped much fIom this
known charat> rot this gaugcr, for he
was contidcft that Mr.. Salisbury would
be in no hurry to rummage the iorecastle;
but that, upon coming on board, hc
would manage to find business IN the
qfter.paft of the vessel until 'hc next
day. Then he might search and wei
come.
The good negro was right in his antici-
patlons Mr. Salisbury, on the day Of
our arrival, did not enter the forecastle
He stood about deck, talking with the
men and onicyrs.
Br-6r course it would not DO to at
tempt running the coffee in broad day
light, and 50 all hands went waddlng
on shore, the great black cook towering
John VAS the only man, rs it happen
cd, who had any venture at all; and, rs
he was a iavorite with us-a good M
cured, laughing fellow-we hoped he
N>nld get it safely ont Of the vessel, as
heintended to do, after dark.
81 knows Use got to be keerful" he
said kase if he sees me he'll hab 10 nab
me, wedder he wants to or no."
l. 4, 1T III al
went stealthily on boaId alone. lie was
giant, and the weight Of half his "yen.
ture' wonld be light on his AtldHtean
sS+auldeIs,
One of his two bags he secured, End
having conveyed il to a place Of SAFETY,
went back for the other, With this he
was less successful, for it somehow slip
ped from his shoulder as he was crossing
the deck, and fell with a dull, heavy
sound.
Lenient as Mr. Salisbury was, it would
not do for him to let people run away
with the yeSsel and cargo; and, leaping
from his berth TO the cabin, he stepped
up the companion way stains TO see what
was going on, his first thought being
that in case gomc sailor should be trying
to get of with trile which he lad
brought all the way from Mata0zls, the
delinquent should never know that
Uncle SANS officer had seen or heard
him.
To get the requisite view OF outs idc |
affairs, il would he necessary to push the |
two small cabin-doors slightly open. But
it happened that Long John, upon fist |
coming on board, had fastened them up |
on the outside
Mr.. Salisbury, with all his good ma |
tufe, was not a man 10 be imposed upon |
-The discovery that he was fastened in, |
stated him, and stepping little |
er, he placed his back against the |
above, forcing il off in an instant. !
IN had by this time leaped from the |
side, aud was making bee-l line |
wharf, hoping to conceal his iden- |
he lost his coffee. But salisbury |
4 him. and called out TO him to re- |
Had he done so, no doubt the |
ematter would have been quietly !
sted
rhe cook, however terrified by the !
.edicament in which he found himself, |
and feeling as If The whole revenue sys-
tenn of the United States were at his
heels, paid no attention TO the summons.
lie continued his career up into the
town and aut at its further side until he
had gone mile or two into the open
country.
In the meantime something about the
coilee-bag had given way when it fell, so
that the contents were scattered all over
the deck.
Salisbury saw that inquiries would be
made, and, moreover. was somewhat
vcxed At the thought Of Johns non
compliance with the order to return,
which had been given with the most
friendly intentions.
There was but one thing for him to do,
and with early morning he addressed a
note TO the United States marshal of the
district informing him of the cirCum-
stances.
This dreadful functionary ived'a few
miles, in seaport much larger than
ours, and he Immediately started on
setback for the scene of the dclin-
,cy, accompanied 10y his son, boy
ten, also mounted.
lad relatives in our village, with
he lad was to remain while his
hould hunt mp the colored man.
n lille these arrangements were in
- What had become of poor John2
eawful elements of law and
e were mastering against him, the
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