Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-10-30
I caught the brute at last.

with the vigor and regularity Of piston rod,
setting up at the same time squealing that
rose far above the rest Of the clamor and di-
rected every eye upon myself. Mr.. Pell,
think, enjoyed this, and to prolong it took no
notice Of me and sent no one to my assist
ance, though short time previous he had
found time and opportunity every few min
utes to give additional directions regarding
this marine boar chase.
In the midst Of this ridiculous situation my
eye fell on Blanche Seton, standing by
wharf post little apart from the crowd
Her face wore an expression of sadness.
There was some laughing and guffawing
among the crowd, and occasionally mock
directions were cried out to me in nautical
phraseology regarding the proper navigation
of the unruly animal One ancient salt ad-
vised me to 'luff," another ITO put her helm
hard down" while third told me to "haul
aft the spanker, wear ship and run for the
caboose" The climax was reached when a
jovial mariner raised the whaleman's heart
stirring cry, There she blows"
The boys bred in Eastport were In sense
half sailors, without having ever been to sea.
The atmosphere and sentiment Of a sea life
penetrated every family and permeated every
life. None Of US were In the strictest sense
''greenhorns." We came to "know the
ropes" sometimes earlier than we could read
Our principal sport was that Of going aloft
on the ships as they lay at the wharf. We
knew also of the strictness Of the sea dis
cipline, and that from the moment the fore
mast hand went over the vessels side he was
the slave Of the officers
knew this full well Indeed, was afraid
of Sam Pell had heard stories Of his hard
ness and cruelty to sailors. He was one of
your "knock down and drag out" mates, and
he reveled in this reputation.
felt In his present treatment Of me fore
taste of what was in store during the voyage.
| He might not beat me, but an officer who is
down on a sailor can make his life uncom-
Portable in hundred ways; and felt that
| Pell was down on me-"
Mr.. Pell on this occasion had, II seemed to
me- heaped the cup Of indignity upon me to
OVERLOOKING That is, from my point of
view From that of O sailor and an officer
the case was entirely different As to mari
time law, custom, usage, all the right lay on
his side. 1t was his place to order, mine to
obey ! was In temper-not the temper OF
cool bravery, which, having counted all
costs, determines what to do and adheres to
such determination Mine was the temper
Of mnatic
Ilet go the pigs legs and walked toward
the gang plank.
$50 back to your dutyin roared Pell.
All Eastport was looking at me- In
theatrical parlance, had the whole stags
to myself i said nothing and stepped upor
the gang plank.
'Go back TO your duty" again roared Pell
He stepped between me and the gangway
and laid his hand on my shoulder. brushed
it off CONTEMPORARY. He grabbed my hail
and swung me half round struck him ii
the face. Mr. Pell knocked me down Al
thai moment Capt Lauring eame out Of thu
cabin
4 whats all this aboutF= he demanded, a
'ls eyes fen on the situation then presenting
Z tself.
: Mr.. Pell had been struck pretty hart