Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-20
THE LUNATfC CAPTAIN.
How He Charged Around the Engiish
Channel with His Vessel.

Channel with His Vessel.
lChicago News.l
The clear, clean click Of the con-
ductor's punch as it industriously clip
ped the little numbered squares from
the passengers tickets could be heard
growing palmer as the knight Of the
punch worked his way. through the
smoking-car toward the Owl Club seat
ed around the stove in the front end.
"Speaking of mutinies," said the ma
rine member Of the club, ashe filled his
pipe, lit il, and snuggled himself in the
corner of the CIR on top of the wood
box" speaking of mutinies makes me
think of a little trouble we had once
Just as we were nearing home off the
coast of England"
sit was long about '53 that we were
coming from Sidney with load of
guano in an old, played-out tub that,
with gale of wind blowing dead aft,
could only make five knots an hour.
We had large crew, thirty-five men in
all, GOOD wages were paid, and all went
we'll till we came to double Cape Horn,
and then we had it. Head winds, snow,
sleet, and hail accompanying them, and a
tremendous sea running. Well, we
were hove to there under double-reefed
topsails for ten days-l'll tell you the
particulars some time, it would take too
long now-and finally, when the wind
veered round and we were congratulatin'
ourselves that we had free wind, we
shipped two green seas, one right after
the other. They smashed the matches
off, broke most of the water-casks,
spoiled the bulk Of our provisions, and
broke us up generally. We were i'm
mediately put on short rations, our
allowance of fresh water being limited
to one quart a day per man, which was
to be used for both cooking and drink
ing. Well, to hasten on with the story,
we reached Queenstown after several
months, more dead than alive, although
wesucceeded in speaking several vessels,
from which we got some provisions.
When we reached the harbor the cap
tain went ashore and sent aboard
everything he could End in the way
Of grub, and for four days you can just
bet we lived on the fat Of the land.
We then weighed anchor for Liverpool,
with fair wind that sent us bowling
along on our course. The captain had
been drinking pretty hard, but we
thought nothing Of it until just about
eight bells, at which time we Tere
nearly off Barleycotton lighthouse,
the bright light being plainly visible
about four points off our bow. Sud
denly the old man appeared on deck in
his pants and shirt, and, with an oath,
pointed to the light, demanded to know
what kind of lookout we had been keep
ing, swore we were going on the rocks,
and ordered the helmsman to put
the wheel down, following with mum
Der of other orders, which we executed.
The chief mate heard the noise, and
coming on deck took in the situation at
a glance. The old man was crazy
drunk, having consumed in the four
days twelve pint-bottles OF brandy, be-
sides what he had drank on shore. The
mate came for'ard, told US we would
have to overpower the old man. and
then went aft with the crew at his back.
The old man was too quick for US, how
ever. He saw us coming, and, divining
our intentions, went aloft like q flash,
and climbed about the rigging like a
monkey, with the men after him, finally
disappearing in the cabin, whence
he appeared a moment later with
a revolver in each hand. Well. sir,
that deck was cleared in jiffy of
all except the captain and the man at
the wheel, who could not escape. The
old man drew a bead on him, and
swearing like marine ordered him to
first put the wheel down and then up,
and there the poor devil worked for the
whole time, scared out Of his life, twist
ing the wheel first one way and then an
other. The wind was fortunately light,
and no damage was done. The old man
kept yelling mean while for the sails to
be shifted, but no one would appear on
deck. At last we began to grow des-
perate, fearing a sudden change of
wind and every sail set, and a coun-
Gil of war was held. 1t was decided
the old man must be overpow-
cred, and upon drawing lots the
ships carpenter was chosen for the job.
He crawled out Of the forecastle,
through the hawse-hole, and then, by
the aid Of the tacks which were hang
ing along the side, worked over the bull.
wark, crept behind the captain, jumped
on him. and threw him to the deck,
where he lay till we had him fast. We
then bound him hand and foot, put him
| to bed, and set man to watch him. BY
the second day, however, when the
pilot came aboard, the old man was
able to take command, and after several
more mishaps we reached Liverpool In
safety"
The old salts station was called Out
here. he got off, and the club passed
the rest of the trip in the meshes Of q
political argument.