The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1885-11-18
THE CABIN-BOY,


On my way across the Sound | fell
In with two old ea-captains-John
Strecter and Asa Morton-with whom
had somo slight acquaintance. Street
or was about thrcc-scorc, and had fol-
lowed tho sea during most of his life.
Morton was considerably younger, but
still seaman of much experience.
The subject of the abolition of floggino
in our navy came up in course of con
vcrsation, and Captain Morton express
cd himself very decidedly in favor of
keeping up that time-honorcd institu-
ton, tho t-o-ninc-tails
81 am not prepared to say" remark
cd Captain Strcetcr in reply, that the
condition of our memo -wars-men will
be in every case benefited by the abo-
lition of logging, though | am sure
that it might DO SO. mean that tho
officers have it within their power to
do away with nearly all kinds of pun
ishmcnt-that is, of course, for such
oifenses as arc usually punished on
shipboard."
"For my part. " returned Morton, 81
should not care to take command of a
ship if tho power to punish refractory
seamen as thought proper were taken
from me-"
"Well. " resumed Captain Strcctcr,
IL used to think just so. In fact, there
were few masters more passionate or
severe than was. Men used to run
away from me, and, on more than one
OCCASION, my very life has been in dan
ger from the vengeance of men whom
l had abused. used tho cat and tho
lfNr, "a mi ,l, 81 \
my tongue; and l often wondered how
1t happened that l always had the luck
to get such bad men.
"Whcn was about forty years of
age | took command of the ship Peters
ham. She was IN old craft, and had
seen full as much service rs she was
capable of seeing with safety; but her
owners were willing to trust valuable
cargo in her, SO would not refuse to
trust myself. We wcrc bound TO Liv-
erpool, and nothing unusual happened
until about the eighth day out, when
we ran foul of a small iceberg. 1t was
early in tho morning, before sunrise,
and not above six or eight feet of the
ice was out of the water, it having
been nearly all melted away in the
warmer water of the Gulf-stroam. |
did not think that wc had sustained
any injury. for the shock was very
slight; but was angry, and gave tho
lookout 4 severe punishment, without
stopping to inquire whether he could
have seen the borg in season to escape
il.
"My cabn-boy was named Jack
Withcrs. He was fourteen years of
age, and this was his first voyage. l
had taken him from n widowed moth
or, and had promised her that | would
sec him well trcated--that was, if ho
behaved himself. Ho was u bright,
quick, intelligent lad, but | soon made
myself believe that ho had an awful
disposition. fancicd that he was tho
most stubborn pieco of youthful hui
manity that | had ever como across. l
made up my mind that he had never
been properly governed, and | forth
with resolved to break him in. | told
him I'd curb his temper for him before
/ had donc with him. In reply he told
me that might kill him If liked; and
1 floggcd him with the end of the miz-
zcn-topgallant halliards till he could
hardly stand. asked him il he had
had enough, and no told me that |
might 1og more il wished it. l felt
n strong temptation to throw tho boy
overheard, but at that moment he
staggered back against the mizzen-
mast from absolute weakness, and l
left him to himself When | reasoned
calmly about that boys disposition l
was forced to acknowledge that he was
ono Of the smartest and most faithful
lads had ever seen. When asked
him to do anything he would start of
like rocket; but whom i roughly or
dered him to do it, then came the dis
position with which l found fault.
"Ono day, when 1t was very near
noon, spoke to him, and told him to
go below and bring up my quadrant.
He was looking over tho quarter-rail.
and knew that he did not hear me,
and the next time spoke ripped out
an oath, and intimated that il ho didn't
move I'd help him.
81 didn't hear ye,' he said, with
rather an independent tone.
(" No words, said |.
Il s'pose can speak, he rctorted.
moving slowly towards tho companion
way.
ellis look and his words, and the
slow, careless manner In which no
moved, frcd mo In moment, and /
grasped him by the collar
" Speak to mo again like that, said
], and I'll fog you within an inch OF
your lifef
" You can fog away he replied, as
firm and undaunted as rock.
"And i did aog him. 1 caught up
the end OF tho first ropo tEat camo
handy, and beat him I'LL my arm
fairly ached. But ho never even
WINGED. -
" ,How's thatP' said /.
" There's little more life In mo
yet that you'd bottor dog out was his
reply.
"And I beat him again. j beat hinl
till he sank from my hand against the
rails and shon sent one OF tho men
after my quadrant When is came,
1ss4 4 ~. A s.dfuAfcd N fat. my sRhaarva~