Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-04
STORY OF A SLAYER.
San Francisco Call.

San Francisco Call.
He was leaning against pile of
lumber, the sunshine dropping its
warm blessings upon his rudy face,
which was fringed with silver whjs-
kers. He was an ancient tar, too old
now for work, but not too aged for
reminiscent reverie. His keen eyes
were fixed upon the dancing waters
before him, upon the lazy ships that
lay at anchor here and there, and up
on the distant hillsides. He was
perfect picture of contentment, and it
was quite obvious that, like all old
men who have passed q life of hard
work and usefulness, he was now iv-
ing the past. It seemed almost q sac
rilege. to disturb him, but the pleasant
features Which shone from beneath
the tarpaulin, which he still insisted
upon wearing, as if out of respect for
days gone by, assured the reporter
that the old man would not resent an
abrupt intrusion upon his self-com-
munings. So he advanced and sal
uted him with genial Happy New
Year"
"And many to you, young man,
many to you. This is fine day, sir,
and / alters love 10 creep down by the
water when the sun shines like 1t does
to-day and the winds come in brisk
and clipper. [ don't mind the bit O
chill that's In 'em, either, for old as [
am don't feel the cold nigh as much
as do the young 'uns who'ye never bin
outside o. Californy."
After chatting pleasantly with the
old sailor for short time. the scribe
noticed that he kept his gaze almost
constantly on ship that was riding
at anchor not far distant. Finally
curiosity prompted the question as to
why he seemed so particularly inter
ested in the vessel, which resulted in
the recital of g story that proved deep
~ interesting.
"Well, nay boy" he began, "that
there ship recalls many things that l
love to think of now. [ made three
passages around the Horn in her and
crossed from New York to Liverpool
twice Old her decks. But it isn't par
ticularly OF the voyages I think of
when I look at her. although they had
their ups and downs, their sunshine
and their shadow; but lookin' on that
ship makes me think O. one o the best
masters that ever walked quarter
deck and one o. the best sailors ever
gave command He was alters a
sticker for dis'pline, but he never bull
lied sailor man, nor turned his back
on him whenever he had anything to
say. / don't think there was any
thing in his life he ever regretted save
one thing"
''And what was thatl" inquired the
reporter.
.'Well, it's long yarn but if you
want to hear it I'll tell it. It was
away back in 80, just before the war
broke out, that | shipped aboard a
rakish little craft that was billeted for
the Indies. The shippers name was
Gordon-a dapper little fellow, full OF
pluck and nerve and frst-rate sailor.
His first mates name [ shan't tell, be-
cause as you will see, | took an oath
to myself once that I wouldn't. But
he was the man who afterward COM
manded that there ship out there that
you seen me lookin' at. Well, we
cleared from New York in due time
on the vessel | was speakin' about
Just now, but instead o. goin' to the
Indies we headed straight for the coast
o. Africa. Though was 3 young fell
Ter, knowd well enough what that
meant, but of course, as we were all
in for it, couldn't say anything, and
didn't. We dropped anchor in the
quiet little bay O some town whose
name I forgot It wasn't much O. a
place for there was pothln' there only
lot O. matched huts, with niggers
hangin' round 'em. There was one
hut that was bigger'n the rest, and
afterward learned that the governor
of the place lived IN it. The day after
we anchored Skipper Gordon went
ashore and was gone three or four
days, leaving the first mate in charge
of the vessel. One day while [ was
loafin' aft trying to catch a breath o
fresh air, for it was hotter'n HI on
that coast, the mate came along and
says to me: Tom, how do you like
the Indies9 There was smile on
his face as he spoke, so I said, oh,
pretty well, and I gave him wink.
He didn't say anything more, but
walked for'ard as If thinkin' hard
about somethin'. It set me to thinkin
too, for knowed we was there to take
on cargo of niggers, and I thought
about what might come If we should
get overhauled By United States cut
ter on the high seas goin' back. But
there was 40 use kickin' agains
things then or thinkln' about the fu
ture. Matters couldn't be mended no
how, and so I quit hopin' and settled
down to take the chances.
ION the fourth day Skipper Gordon