Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-05-06
The Last Man Flogged.

STORY OF THE AMERICAN NAVY.
Peters Featherstone was an English
criminal. He was one of that large class
who are criminal by instinct, by inheritance
and by requirement BON Of criminal
parents, he soon took to the streets of
London, and by the time he was off his
mothers knee he had been imprisoned
and iogged for theft.
Before be was twenty-five years old he
had served five terms in prison; he had
been transported to Van Diemen's land,
and had there suffered, more because of
his good qualities than his bad ones-the
horrors Of the absolute despotism of
martial law governing a criminal commu-
munity.
In 1851 he set foot upon the docks Of
New York, free man fer the first time
since his boyhood. The inhumanity of
society's laws had embittered his mind
against society. Still, wishing to be hon
est he enlisted as a common seaman in
the U. S. Navy.
The United States war vessel North
Carolina was then anchored at the Brook
lyn Navy Yard, having been converted
into a receiving ship. Peter Feather
stone was placed aboard cf her, and there
he entered upon his first attempt at re-
folm. He had some experience as d
sailor, was strong, brave and willing, and
soon gained the favor of Lieutenant En-
shaw and the boatswain.
Glittering opportunities to return to
crime always present themselves to the
reformed, and Peter Featherstone was
not exempt. He had been known to the
sporting fraternity of London as a
"clever boxern and a s'hard hitter
Among his old time friends there was
John McGraw, at one time light weight
pugilistic champion of England. Nc
Graw had come to New York and
opened free and easy" at So Division
street, which he had called the cold
House at Home" By some chance he
learned that Featherstone was aboard
the North Carolina. Knowing him 10
be valuable adjunct to boxing resort,
he planned Peters escape from the YES
sci, and after some correspondence the
sailor yielded to the promise of a gay
life.
Among the other visitors to the North
Carolina one afternoon, was tailor. By
arrangement he met Peter Featherstone
between decks and secretly measured
him for a suit of clothes. A week later
another visitor smuggled aboard the
vessel a package which Peter Feather
stone received. 1t contained a suit of
clothes Of fashionable make, silk hat.
a pair of fine boots, white shirt, silk
necktie and large handkerchief.
In the afternoon of the same day a
New York swell paraded the deck of the
North Carolina and mingled with the
visitors. One of his eyes was evidently
sore, for whenever sailor approached
him he bowed his head and pressed his
handkerchief to the side Of his face.
Shortly after he appeared on deck party
of visitors left the vessel. and among
them was the dapper gentleman with the
sore eye. As be descendsd the stairs on
thu essel's side and was nearing the
small boat below, sailor en- deck hur-
riedly approached Lieutenant Enshaw,
who was looking over the side.
"Doyou see that man with silk hat?n
inquired the sailor, pointing below.
"Yes.'
Well, he's a messmate of mine and
belongs to this boat. His name is
Peter Featherstone.
Haltp' cried the officer. Every
member Of the party descending the
stairs stopped and looked up, except the
young man in the silk hat.
It is true, muttered the officer.
Bring back that man with the hand
kerchief in his hand, ordered the lieu
tenant.
The young man clinched to the deck,
looking cool and defiant.
"You are Peter Featherstone and be-
long to this vessel, said the lieutenant.
i am not, ]" was the bold response.
The unusual scene attracted ssCommo-
dore' Wilson, chief officer of the boat.
He was commander Of squadron and
carried his title Of Commodore by cour-
tesy only, that Office not existing then in
the United States Navy. He was an
efficient officer, but passionate. and had
been dubbed Bully" Wilson BY the
sailors.
''Who is this manf' he asked.
He is suspected Of being sailor at
tempting to escape, replied the lieaten-