The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-05-21
TAINTED MEAT.
It Causes Mutiny and the Death of
a Brutal Captain.

a Brutal captain.
When you come to speak of dreadful
things, you may set it down that a mu-
tiny at sea can be classed first. 1t is
in most eases the turning of the worm.
Men who have had it drilled into them
for years that they must put up with
such food as hogs would refuse. obey
every order without question, peril their
lives at the word, cringe and tremble
before one of their own species because
he is in authority, are not to be driven
into mutiny on the high seas without
extreme provocation. When the worm
turns, then look ont? Your cringing
foremost hand, who. only the day be-
fore. thanked the mate for knocking
him down, may be tyrant in 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
to the crime.
In the year 1856, after having served
on coasting vessels for several years,
and made one voyage from New York
to Liverpool, shipped as second mate
on the bark Midway, bound from San
Francisco to the Sandwich Islands, and
thence on trading voyage to the is
lands of the southwest. The bark was
a small one, but good sailer and dry
ship, and l believed l was in luck in Sc
curing my berth. The captain, whose
name was Burrows, seemed a very
pleasant man, making use of no pro-
Zane language, and appearing to be as
mild-tempered as a parson. Mind you,
i am giving my first impressions as l
sized him up while we yet lay at the
wharf. l shipped at Honolulu. the bark
having already completed the first part
OF her voyage. l 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 gave the matter no investiga-
ton, though l saw that she was ship
ping a fresh crew. We left Honolulu
with twelve men before the mast. and
We were not off soundings when trou-
BILE began. The meat which had been
boiling away in the cooks coppers dur
ing the forenoon gave out strange odors.
From the whiffs ! had caught now and
then knew something was wrong, and
VIXEN 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 / was
surprised such meat should be placed
before the men on a voyage just begun,
and he growled:
Its 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
seemed quiet, even-tempered man,
and l had said to myself that there
would be no bullying aboard of the
Midway. The watches had not vet
been set, but the bark was on her course
before a light breeze. and things were
being made ship-shape. The captain
was already at dinner, and soon after
uttering the remarks quoted above the
mate went down to join him. l was
thus left in charge of the deck, but the
crew, with the exception of the man at
the wheel, were forward with their kids
As the beef made its appearance there
was a movement of surprise, and l
heard several of them utter expressions
of disgust The meat was picked up
and closely examined. and then all faces
were turned in my direction. Then,
after brief consultation, an old sailor
whose every look and action proved the
Tow yn;aGa1 x,,h
and came aft with it. He was going to
make a complaint, which he had per-
feet right to do, and 1, as officer of the
deck, had no right to refuse to listen.
He put down the tub. dotted his hat,
and very respectfully said:
MIR. CARING, the meat isn't hardly
fit to bait a shark. 1t is probably the
fault of the cook. Will you kindly for
ward our complaint TO the captain?''
AT tina: moment Captain Burrows ap-
peared on deck. Taking in the situa-
ton at a glance. he walked straight up
to the sailor and thundered:
''What does this mean. you dog?
Finding fault with your provisions be-
fore the first meal is begun! Get for
ward. You internal whelpr'
The man retreated without a word in
reply. but left the tub behind him. I'm
telling you the solemn truth when say
that the odor of it was enough to turn
my stomach in seven or eight feet away.
Its Just like 'em, the hounds roared
the captain. '.It's the beef they find
fault WITH. Ell? Here, every mothers
son come aft"
The men slowly obeyed, knowing that
storm was at hand. The captain
picked up the tub, held it out toward
them, and said: as there any thing
wrong with this meat? Who saws this
isn't as sweet beef as was ever placed
before sailors? Who is the man?'
For minute not one of them answer
ed him. Then the man who had brought
the tub aft stepped out. made respect
full salute, and replied: Captain Bur-
rows, we didn't find fault with you, but
with the cook. The meat is SO far gone
that no man aboard can eat it,
'4Oh, it's bad, is it?'' sneered the cap
tain. as he placed the tub in my hands.