Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-05-22
The Last Man Flogged.
A STORY OF THE AMERICAN NAVY.


criminal He was one of that large ella IS
VIII are criminal By instinct, by Inheritance
and by requirement. BON of criminal
London, and by the time he was off his
mothers knee he had been imprisoned
and logged for theft.
Before he was twenty years old he
had served five terms in prison; he had
beea transp )rtcd to Van Diemens 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 criminal commu-
munity.
In 1851 he set foot upon the docks of
New York, free nan r the first tim I,
since his boyhood. The inhumanity of
society's laws had embittercd his mind
against society. Still, wishing to be hon
est, he enlisted as comm On seaman in
the U. S. Navy.
Carolina was then anchored ut the Brook
lyn Navy Yard, having been converted
into a receiving ship. Peter Feather
stone as placed aboard f her, and there
he entered upon his first attempt at re-
fo:m. He had some experience as a
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 boxer" and "hard hitter. :"
Among his old time friends there was
John McGraw, at one time light weight
pugilistic champion of England Nc
opened "free and easy' at 81 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 to
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 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 suit of clothes. A week later
another visitor struggled aboard the
vessel a package which Peter Feather
stone received. 1t contained 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 q
New York swell paraded the deck of the
North Carolina and mingled with the
visitors. One of his eyes was evidently
sore, for whenever a sailor approached
him he bowed his head and pressed his
handkerchief to the side of his face.
Shortly after he appeared on deck a party
OF visitors left the vessel. and among
them was the dapper gentleman with the
sore eye. AS Re descended the stairs on
the vessels side and was nearing the
small boat below, sailor on deck hur-
ricdly approached Lieutenant Enshaw,
who was looking over the side.
"Do You see that man with silk hat?"
inquired the sailor, pointing below.
ayes"
"Well, he's messn1ate of mine and
belongs to this boat. His name is
Peter Feathcrstonc.
"Halt" cried the officer. Every
member of the party descending the
stairs stopped and looked up, except the
young man in the silk hat
at is true, " muttered the officer.
Bring back that man with the hand
ke7chief in his hand" ordered the lieu
tenant
The young man clinched to the deck,
look 'ng cool and defiant.
''You are Peter Featherstone and be-
long to this vessel" said the lieutera ant.
81 am not, was the bold response,
The unusual scene attracted "Commo-
dore' Wilson, CHI eff officer of the boat
He was commander of a 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 MANI" he asked.
Gle is suspected of being sailor at
temrtngto escape" replied the lieuten-
ant, looking curiously at the defiant face
tefo"e him, which he recognized.
''Call the ROLL" ordered the Commo-
do-e.
In moment the long roll of the drums
was heard and six hundred sailors poured
out of the vessel upon the upper deck.
They formed themselves around the YES
sells sides in regular lines.
The call of the roll brought response
to every name but one. When "Peter
Featherstone" was called no voice said
'Herc!n
The officers looked at the culprit
silel tly, as if waiting for his defense.
He stood in the centre of the deck, his
arms folded, still erect and defiant. He
saw that he was trapped and his only
desire was for revenge.
"Who is the man who reported me9"
he asked, quietly.
"John Simmons" called the lieu
tenant.
GAY, ay, SIR" replied young sailor,
stepping forward in front of mast and
saluting.
Featherstone appreherded lin:
"Do you say my name is Peter Fcath-
erstone?"
"Ido."
"Well, take that, you," and, with tho
ppjckness Of the skilled pugilist, Feaths