Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-08-30
THE CAlSIN.BOY.

i hAu some snSnt acquaintance. Strcet-
er was about three-score, and had fol-
lowed the sea during most of his life.
Morton was considerably younger, but
still a seaman of much experience.
The subject of the abolition of logging
in our navy came up in course of con-
vsrsation, and Captain Morton express
ed himself very decidedly in favor of
keeping up that timc-honorcd institu-
ton, the cato '-nne-tals.
81 am not prepared to say" remark
ed Captain Strecter in reply, "that the
condition of our memo '-wars-men will
be in every case benefited by the abo-
liton of logging, though am sure
that it might be so. 1 mean that tho
officers have it within their power to
do away with nearly all kinds of pun
ishment-that is, of course, for such
otlenses as are usually punished on
shipboard.
''For my part" returned Morton, al
should not care to take command of
ship If the power to punish refractory
seamen as | thought proper were taken
from me"
''Wcll," resumed Captain Streeter.
'I used to think just so. In fact, there
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
| had abused. used the cat and the
ropes send almost as freely as | used
my tongue; and often wondered how
it happened that | always had the luck
to get such bad men.
"Whcn l was about forty years of
age took command of the ship Peters
ham. She was an old craft, and had
seen full as much service as she was
capable OF seeing with safety; but her
owners were willing to trust "A valuable
cargo in her, so | would not refuse to
trust myself. We were bound to Liv-
erpool, and nothing unusual happened
until about the eighth day out, when
we ran foul Of small iceberg. 1t was
early in the 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 Gult-strcum. 1
did not think that we had sustained
any injury, for the shock was very
slight; out WAS angry. and gave the
lookout 4 severe punishment, without
stopping to inquire whether he could
have seen the berg in season to escape
it.
''My cabin-boy was named Jack
Witners. He was fourteen years OF
age, and this was his first VOYAGE. |
had taken him from II widowed moth
er, ami had promised her that | would
see him well treated-that was. if he
behaved himself. He was bright.
quick, intelligent lad, but | soon made
myself believe that he had an awful
disposition. fancicd that he was the
most stubborn piece of youthful hui
manty that l had ever come 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 done with him. In reply he told
me that might kill him if liked; and
! logged him with the end Of the miz-
zcn-topgallant halliards till he could
hardly stand. | asked him if he had
had enough, and he told me that
might ilog more if wished it. ! felt
a strong temptation to throw tho boy
overheard, but at that moment he
staggered back against the mizlen-
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
one of the smartest and most faithful
lads had ever seen. When ! asked
him to do anything he would start off
like rocket; but when | roughly or
dered him to do it, then came the dis
position with which l found fault.
"One day, when it was very near
noon, spoke to him, and told him to
20 below and bring up my quadrant.
He was looking over the quarter-rail,
and | knew that he did not hear me,
and the next time ! spoke | ripped out
an oath, and inlimated that ii he didn
move I'd help him.
81 didn't hear ye,' he said. with
rather an independent tone.
No words, said !.
81 s'pose can speak, he retorted.
moving slowly towards the companions
way.
'lIis look and his words, and tho
slow. careless manner in which lie
moved, fired mo in II moment, and !
grasped him by the collar
Speak to me again like that, said
]. and III Hog you within an inch OF
your lite"
You can Hog away he replied, as
firm and undauntcd as rock.
"And did ilog him. | caught up
the end of the first rope that came
handy, and beat him till my arm
fairly ached. But he never even
WINGED.
"'How's thatP said !.
There's u little more lifc in me
yet that you'd better nos out, was his
reply.
"And ] beat him again. beat HIM
ill he sank from my hand against the
rail; aud then ! sent one Of the men
after my quadrant. When it came,
aud had adjusted it for my obscrya-
ton, | found that the sun WAS already
past the meridian, aud that | was too
late. This added fuel to the fire of my
madness. and quickly scizing the lad
by the collar. | led him to the main
hutchway and had the hatch taken oil,
] then thrust him down, aud swore
that | would keep him there until his
stubbornness was broken. The hatch
was then put on, and went into the
cabin. ! suffered II good deal that al
ternoon-not with any compunctions
for what had done, but with my own
temper and bitterness. 1t made me
mad to think that could not conquer
that boy--that ! could not break down
his cool, stern opposition But will
do it, said to myself. by the heay-
ems above me. I'll starve him into 1t, or
he shall die under the operation
"Aiter supper ] went 10 the hatch