The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1885-10-14
THE CABIN-BOY.

In with two old sea-captains-John
Strcetcr and Asa Morton-with whom
had some Slight acquaintance. Street
er was about three-score, and had fol
lowed the sea during most Of his life.
Morton was considerably younger. but
still seaman of much experience.
The subject of the abolition of fogging
in our navy came up in course OF con-
versa,ion. and Captain Morton express
ed himself very decidedly in favor OF
keeping up that time-honored institu-
tion, the cato -nine-talls
II am not prepared to say" remark
ed Captain Streeter in reply, "that the
condition of our men-o'-wars-men will
be in every case benefited by the abo-
litiou of logsing. though l am sure
that it might be SO. I mean that the
officers have it within their power to
do away with nearly all kinds of pun
ishmcnt-that is, of course, for such
ofenss as are usually punished on
shipboard."
..For my part. returned Morton, II
should not care to take command of 8
ship if The power to punish refractory
seamen as I thought proper were taken
from me-"
well" resumed Captain streeter,
4.I 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 dam
ger from the vengeance of men whom
had abused. used the cat and the
rope's-end almost as freely as l used
my tongue; and often wondered how
it happened that l always had the luck
to get such bad mon.
when | ssa-sseSsak forty years Of
age tooESSmmand of t6esh!p Peters,
ham. She was an old craft, aH6~eao
seen full as much service as 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 were bound to Liv-
erpool, and nothing unusual happened
until about the eighth day out, when
we ran foul of small iceberg. 1t was
carly in the morning, before sunrise,
and not above six or eight feet OF the
ice. was out of the water, it having
been nearly ali melted away in the
warmer water of the Gulf-stream. l
did not think that we had sustained
any injury. for the shock was very
slight; butt was angry, and gave the
lookout severe punishment without
stopping to inquire whether he could
have seen the berg in season to escape
it,
aAIy eabin-boy was named Jack
Withcrs. He was fourteen years OF
ace, and this was his first voyage l
had taken him from widowed moth
or. and had promised her that would
sec him well srcated-that WAS, If he
behaved himself. He was = bright,
quick, Intelligent lad, but soon made
iryself believe that he had al awful
disposition. ifancied that he was the
iaost stubborn piece of youthful hu-
mainly that l hsd ever come across. !
made up my mind that he had mover
been properly governed, ana l forth
with resolved to break him in. told
him I'd curb his temper for him before
Ihad done with him. IN reply nc tolG
me that I might kill him If liked; and
I ioeocd him with the end OF the mlz-
zen-topgallant halliards till no could
hardly stand. asked him if he had
had enough, and he told me that l
might tioS more if l wished it / felt
3 strong temptation to throw the boy
overheard, but at that moment he
staggered back ag.inst the mlzzen-
mast from absolute weakness, and !;
left him to himself. When l reasoned
calmly about that boys disposition L
was forced to acknowledge that he was
one of the sssasge eand moStsJastatu!
lads | bal When I asked
him 80 ~ s 6e would start off
eqaSe rocket; but when I roughly or
red him to do it, then came the dis
$osition with whje, found fault.
- ..One day, when it was very, ,pear
y noon. I spoke to.him, and told SSiin to
60 below and bring up my quadrant.
He was looking over the quarter-rail,
and l-e,y that he did not hear me,
and the next time I spoke ripped out
an oath, and intimated that if he didn t
move I'd help him.
al didn't hear ye, he said, with
rather an independent tone
.' No words, said I.
al s'pose can speak. he rctortcd.
moving slowly towards the companion
way.
.'His look and his words, and the
slow. careless manner in which he
moved, fired me in moment, and !
grasped him by the collar.
- Speak to me again like that said
I. and I'll fog you within an inch OF
your lite!'
You can fog away he replied, as
firm and undauntcd rs rock.
land did fog 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 thas?' said I.
. There's little more life in me
yet tist you'd better tlog out, was his
reply.
And beat him again. l beat hlm
ill he sank from my hand against the
rail; and then sent one of the men
after my quadrant. When it came,
and had adjusted it for my observa-
-tion, found that the sun was already