Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-08-28
JACK WITHERS.

When was about forty years of age,
1 took command Of the ship "Peter-
sham." 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 valuable
cargo i'm her, SO would not refuse to
trust myself. We were bound to Liver
pool, and nothing unusual happened
until about the eighth day out, when
we ran foul of a small iceberg. 1t was
early in the morning, before sunrise,
and not more thai six or eight feet Of
ice was above water, 1t having nearly
all been melted In the warm waters OF
the Gulf Stream. | did not think we
had sustained much injury, for the
shock was light; but | was very angry,
and gave the lookout a severe punish
ment, without stopping to inquire wheth-
er he could have seen the berg In time
to escape it.
My cabin boy was named Jack With
ers. He was fourteen years OF age, and
this was his first voyage. l had taken
him from his widowed mother, and
promised her that would see him we'll
treated-that is, if he behaved himself.
He was a bright, quick, intelligent lad.
I soon made myself believe he had an
awful disposition. fancied that he
was tire most stubborn piece Of human
ity had ever come across. | had made
up my mind he had never been properly
governed, and resolved to break him in.
l told him I'd curb his temper before
I'd be done with him. In reply he told
me might kill him if l liked; and l
flogged him with the end of the mizzen
top gallant halliards till he could hardly
stand. / asked him if he'd got enough,
and he told me might fog him more
if wished to. l felt strong inclisa-
ton to throw the boy overheard, but at
that moment he staggered back against
the mizzen-mast from absolute weak
ness, and left him to himself. When
reasoned calmly about the boys dis
position, was forced to acknowledge
that he was one of the smartest and
most Intelligent and faithful lads | had
ever seen. When [ asked him to do any
thing he would be off like rocket; but
when | roughly ordered him to do 1t,
then came the disposition with which |
found fault. ..--
One day, when 1t was very near noon,
l spoke to him to bring up my quadrant.
He was looking over the quarter-rail,
and knew he did not hear me; the
next time l spoke | ripped out an oath,
and intimated that if lie did not move
I'd help him.
II didn't hear ye," he said, with an
Independent tone.
"No words" said |.
"I suppose can speak, he retorted,
moving slowly toward the companion
way.
His looks, word, and the slow, care
less manner in which he moved, fired
me in q moment, and | grasped him by
the collar.
"Speak to me again like that, and I'll
fog you within an inch OF your life"
said |.
"You can fog away" he replied, as
firm as rock. -f''
And / did fog him. l caught up the
end of rope and beat him till my arm
fairly ached; but he never WINGED.
"How's that?" said 4.
"There's little more life In me-
you'd better fog 1t out" was the reply.
And l beat him again. beat him till
he sank from my hand against the rail |;
and sent one of my other men for my
quadrant. When it came and | had ad-
justed it for observation, I found that
the sun had already passed the merid-
ian, and that was too late. This added
fuel to the fire of my madness, and,
quickly seizing the lad by the collar, l
led him to the main hatchway and had
the hatch taken of. ! thrust him down
and swore would keep him there till
his stubbornness was broken. The hatch
was then put on, aud l went into the
cabin. l suffered great deal that af-
ternoOn, not with any compunctions Of
conscience for what had dones but
with my own temper and bitterness. 1t
made me mad to think that i could not
conquer that boy-that could not
break down his cool, stern opposition.
"But will do IT," said to myself,
"by the heavens above me; l will starve
him into it, or he shall die under the
operation"
After supper. / went to the hatchway
and called out to him, but he returned
me no answer. So / closed the hatch
and went away. At ten O'Clock went
again, and again got no answer.
might have thought that the flogging
had taken away his senses, had not some
of the men assured me that they had
heard him, not an hour before, talking
to himself. / did not trouble him again
until morning. After breakfast went
to the hatchway and called to him once
more. / heard nothing from him, nor
could / see him. i had not seen him
since l put him down there. / called
out several times, but he would make
no reply-yet the very same men told
me that they had heard him talking
that very morning. He seemed 20 be
calling on them for help, but he would
not ask for me. meant to break him
into 1t. "He'll beg before he'll starve,' y