News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-05-20

When you come to speak of dread fu
things, you may set it down that mu
tiny at sea can be classed first. 1t is il
most cases the turning of the worm
Men who have had it drilled into then
for years that they must put up witt
such food as hogs would refuse, obey
every order without question, peril theil
lives at the word, cringe and tremble
before one of their species because he is
in authority, are not to be driven into
mutiny on the high seas without ex
treme provocation.
When the worm turns, then look out
Your cringing foremast hand, who
only the day before thanked the mate fol
knocking him down, may be tryant ir
turn.
The ship becomes floating hell The
slaves of yesterday are the masters to
day. If once they take the step which
render them mutineers, they will not
hesitate to go further and add murder tc
the crime.
In the year 1856, after having served
on coasting vessels for several years, and
made one voyage from New York to
Liverpool, l shipped as second mate on
the bark Medway, bound from San Fran
cisco to the Sandwich Islands, and
thence on trading voyage to the islands
of the southwest. The bark was small
one, but q good sailor and a dry ship,
and | believed | was in luck in securin o
my berth. The captain, whose name
was Burrows, seemed a very pleasant
man, making use of no profane language.
and appearing to be mild tenn T,ered
as a pnEzon.. Mind you, 2fI giving my
first impressions as / sized him up while
we yet lay at the wharf. | shipped at
Honolulu, the bark having already com
pleted the first part of her voyage. |
heard rumors TO the effect that her whole
crew deserted her on her arrival at the
islands, but rumors among sailors are
not to be depended on, and l gave the
matter no investigation, though l saw
that she was shipping a fresh crew. We
left Honolulu with twelve men before
the mast, and we ere not yet off sound
ings when trouble began. The meat
which had been boiling away in the
cooks coppers during the forenoon gave
out strange odoTs. / rom the Whiffs
had caught now and then knew some
thing was wrong, and when the meat
was carried forward in the kids at noon
the stencil was enough to turn ones
stomach. The mate, whose name was
Berry, saw that l was surprised such
meat should be placed before the men on
a voyage just begun, and he growled:
"Ah! it's too good for such as they.
Just let me catch 'em making fuss over
it, and I'll work up their old iron in a
way to open their eyes,"
l was astounded. Mr. Berry had seem
ed quiet, even-tempered man, and
had said to myself that there would be
NO bullying aboard OF the Medway The
watches had not yet been set, but the
bark was on her course before light
breeze, and things were being made
ship-shape. The captain was already at
dinner, and soon after uttering the re-
marks quoted above the mate went down
to join him. was thus left in charge
of the deck, but the crew, with the ex-
ception of the man at the wheel, were
forward with their kids. AS the beef
made its appearance there was move
ment of surprise, and heard several OF
them utter expressions of disgust The
meat was picked up and closely ex-
amined, and then all faces were turned
in my direction. Then, after a brief
consultation, an old sailor whose every
look and action proved the genuine tar,
picked up the meat tub and came aft
with it. He was gong to make a COM
plant, which he had perfect right tc
do, and /, as officer of the deck, had nc
right to refuse to listen. He put down
the tub, doffed his hat, and very respect
fully said:
''Mr. CARING, the meat isn't hardly
fit to bait a shark. 1t is probably Tho
fault of the cook Will you kindly for
ward our complaint to the Captain?"
At that moment Captain Burrows ap
peared on deck. Taking ill the situation
at glance, he walked straight up tc
the sailor and thundered:
"What does this mean, you dog2'
Finding fault with your provisions be
fore the first meal is begun! Get for.
ward, you internal whelp"
The man retreated without word in
reply, but left the tub behind
him. I'm telling you the solemn trutf
when l say that the odor of it wa!
enough to turn my stomach seven OF
eight feet away.
ats just like 'em, the hounds" roar
ed the Captain. It's the beef they fine
fault with, eh2 Here, every mother.
son come aft"
The men slowly obeyed, knowing tha
storm was at hand. The Captain pick
ed up the tub, held it out toward them
and said: SIS there anything wrong
with this meat2 Who says this isn't a.
sweet beef as was ever placed befor,
sailors? Who is the MANI"
For a minute not one of them an
swered him Then the man who haC
brought the tub aft stepped out mad
q respectful salute, and replied:
"Capt. Burrows, we didn't find faul
with you, but with the cook. The mea
is so far gone that no one aboard cal
eat it."
"Ch, it's bad, is it?" sneered the cap
tain, as he placed the tub in my hands
"NO one can eat it, eh2 Let's see abou
that"
With his naked fingers he lifted up
piece and bit off mouthful and swal
lowed it. At that moment the mate an
peared on deck, and the captain called
''Mr. Berry, the men declare this mea
unfit to eat. Come and taste it an,
give me your opinion"
The mate came forward and tasted ii
saw him vince as he chewed at tn
stuff, but he bravely swallowed it dow
and exclaimed:
''The best beef ! ever saw aboard