The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-06-17

it needs strong hand over these fellows.
If once you begin to palaver with 'em
they'd demand cabin stores within a
week"
@But the meat was horrible"
aWeu, I've seen better; but they had no
business to kick up arrow about it. They're
lucky to get meat Of any sort"
I went below realizing that l had
shipped aboard floating hell, and that
my position was precarious one. AS Tor
following the example of captain and
mate I would not, and if was degraded
and sent Forwards matter which lay en-.
tirely with the captain-1 had better go
overheard at once. Had the captain been
o Just and mild-tempered man the mate
would have been under restraint. AS the
captain had taken the lead and shown
that he intended to govern by kicks and
blows, the mate felt free to exercise his
brutal nature. Within half an hour after
had left the deck he forced an excuse for
knocking one Of the men down, and an
hour later he reported to the captain that
he had never sailed with such a gang OF
mutinous dogs.
During my night watch I saw and heard
enough to realize feeling of deep lndlg-
nation had taken hold of the crew, and
that it needed only another act OF brutal.
ity to incite rebellion. The man ut
the wheel invented an excuse to speak to
me and presently observed:
"Some of the men feel pretty sore, Mr..
CARING, and hope they won't be driven
TO-"
He did not finish the sentence, and
said:
aLet them take their grievances before
the first American consul. There are
laws to protect the sailor as well as the
officer"
"But who of us ever saw those laws en-
forced, sir? Jack is a dog at sea, and q
nobody ashore The captain tells his
story to the consul, and if Jack follows
after, he's more likely to be sent to prison
than to receive justice"
could not gainsay it, and I, as an Off
Ger of the ship, had no right to encourage
O. spirit of complaint. Sailor men will
stand poor rations and the most brutal
abuse so long as they are without a
leader. What had happened during the
day might have been passed over and for
gotten had not the scenes been renewed.
The mate came on deck i'll bad temper,
and as my watch turned in he was abus-
ing his for their tardiness in answering
the call, though Inever saw quicker
change on any craft. 1t happened that the
man who had acted as spokesman in re-
gard to the beef was the last one out OF
the foTcastle. It was no wonder for sew
eral of his teeth had been loosened and
one of his eyes closed by the blows, and he
was probably stiff and sore. AS l went
down the companion heard the mate
shouting:
"Ah you Internal skulker, but I'll cure
you of this! If you've come aboard this
bark to sojer and live on sweet cake, you
want to look out for mel"
turned in sick at heart, now realizing
that there would be no let up on the part
of captain or mate to the end of the voy-
age. 1t did not seem as it I had been
asleep half an hour, though in reality
three hours had passed, when some one
pulled at my arm, and voice said:
"Mr. CARING, you are wanted on deck,
sir"
"Who Is it!" asked.
"It's me, sir--James Martin. Will you
come on deck at once?"
knew that the man was common
sailor, though did not know any of them
by name as yet. I reached the deck O
minute behind him.. The bark was on o
course, but the breeze was very light. To
my astonishment found most Of the men
aft, and was no sooner on deck than l
saw that something was very wrong.
"Mr. CARING" said the man who had
complained Of the beef, and whose name
was Johnson, "the Medway is in our pos
session. We have been driven to NUT
my"
ut can't bell exclaimed, as looked
about.
But it is true, sir, and now we want to
know whether you are going to stand by
US or side with the captain"
"Where IS the captain?"
Lying over there in the lee scuppers,
bound hand and foot, The mate went
overheard half an hour ago"
- walked over to where the captain was
lying. He was securely bound, but no
harm had come to him Us yet. He was,
however, in mortal terror, and as soon as
he set eyes on me he called out in broken
tones:
"Mr. Carling, for Gods sake save my
life! Don't let them murder me in cold
Blood"
AS 1 looked from captain to mutineer,
johnson said:
"The mate was among US with belay-
ing pin, seeming bent on murder, and we
had to do for him. Then we reasoned that
we might as we'll be hung for Il sheep as a
lamb, and we secured the captain"
"Men, you have done a terrible thing!
Don't you know every one of you will
swing for this?"
awe want no preaching, Mr.. Carling,"
replied johnson. "What we want to know
is, how you stand? The mate has gone,
and the captain must follow. If you will
navigate the bark for us, no harm shall
come to you. If you refuse, then We shall
set you adrift. We've gone too far to back
water
Talk to 'em, MI Carling," gasped the
captain, who was greatly broken down.
"Tell 'cm that if they will spare our lives
they shall not be punished for what they
have done. give my word they shant."
"NShat will Won do with him." 7 asked