Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-22
Gales aud Sketthes.
A SEA CAPTAINS YARN.
QUICK PROMOTION FROM CABIN Boy TO
THIRD MATE.

trim clipper ship of about 1000 tons,
which lay at an East river pier, was pac-
ing up and down on the after house, and
occasionally glancing out upon the mist
covered river. The ship was to have set
sail for Australia that morning, but owing
to the fog the captain had preferred to re-
main at the dock.
NO, | won't take any chances" said
the captain to friend who had come
aboard few moments before, and stood
leaning against the taffrail. Although
Pm young man, stop and think before
run any risk that is. when there's any
time for me to stop and think. And yet,
when was boy was the most needless
youngster going. / did whatever came
into my head, and never thought of the
consequences. But once. just in the nick
of time, it flashed through my mind that
ought to stop and think. did stop and
think. and if hadn't | wouldn't be alive
now. nor would the ship under me be
afoat was brought up on farm in
the interior OF this State" continued the
captain, 'but when | was about l6 wears
old | grew tired of farm life and ran
awav, and came to New York. found a
place in grocery store, but | soon got
tired of that sort of work. Then it struck
me that would like to 90 to sea; so off |
hurried to a sailors boarding house, the
keeper of which got birth for me on this
very ship. She was then only about a
couple of years old, although | don't
know that she looked any newer then than
she does now. / signed articles tor "a
voyage from this port to China, by way
IA, 10
hadn't been out many DAYS before found
that the life Of a boy on hoard ship WASH t
a very pleasant one. The second mate.
in whose watch was, often kicked and
cutfed me- and the mate struck me when
ever he tad a chance, while the old cap
tain, who always hated boys, would look
at me as if he wanted to throw me over
board. The sailors used to swear at me.
and some of them thought nothing OF hit
ting me when none of the officers were
looking All this made me wish that
had never even heard OF the sea. After
we had passed the equator we were car
ried along by the southeast trade winds
until we got about off Rio Janeiro. The
first evening after we lost the trades, when
the watch went to the pumps they would
not work. There was some obstruction
in them, but the carpenter could not find
out what it was. As the ship was leaking
a little the captain decided that it would
never do to 60 around Cape Horn with the
pumps in that condition, so he said he
would put into Rio Janeiro and have them
overhauled was, of course, delighted
at the prospect of seeing q foreign port.
The night after we had headed toward
Rio heard the sailors in nv watch talk
ing about the captain. One OF them said
that the cook had told him that the captain
was going to do some trading on his own
account when he got out to China, and
that he had considerable money with him.
paid no attention to this statement at the
time. All thought of was about getting
into Rio Janciro We got within about a
days sail of Rio when the carpenter. who
was tinkering about the pumps, dscov-
cred the obstruction and succeeded in re-
moving il. Then there was no need of
putting into port. and the captain gave
orders to head toward Cape Horn
again. did not Ike this al all. 1t was
late in the afternoon when we
put about. | noticed during the dog
watch that the men were talking very
earnestly among themselves in the tore
castl" Eight bells struck, and the watch
to which belonged went on deck. kept
the lookout for two hours, and at four
bells, when | went down on the main
deck, one of the sailors who was known
as Big Pete came up to me and began
to talk very pleasantly. This surprised
me, because generally he had seemed to
dislike me. Big Pete was tall. brawny
and was the wickedest looking
man in the crew. and that was saying a
good deal, for they were hard looking
lot of sailors. After talking about things
for few minutes, Pete said
Nov. Young fellow. know that you
don't like it aboard this ship. No more
do we. You're always getting knocked
about by the mates, and don't see how
YOU stand it. Now, if you had chance
to get ashore at Rio Janero. you would
not throw it away? Wages is good in the
high country. A smart young fellow like
you could get a job on some ranch and
make a fortune in few years
Il wouldn't like anything better said |,
but can't get ashore. The captain amt
going to put into Rio after all.'
But we'll iix that, my lad, if you'll go
in with us said Pete.
You don't mean to mutinyp' asked.
starting back in alarm.
No, not mutiny.' replied Pete; "that
is. not the bad kind of mutiny. But we
cant stand ii on this boat any longer, and
what we want to do is to get into Rio, and
we can do it without huring anybody or
robbing ANYBODY. few minutes before
eight bells the second mate will 90 into
his statero0m to write it in his log book
You know he always does that before
eight bells. instead of waiting until after
the watches are changed. as ne ought to
do. Then all we've got to do is to fasten
the forward cabin doors on him. At the
same time the man at the wheel will just
fasten the door of the after companion
way. Then we'll nail up the window
shutters all around the cabin on the out
side, and we'll have all the cabin people
tight without having so much as struck
one of them
And what then p asked.
why then said he. i know enough
about navigation to take the ship into the
harhor of Rio. There are twelve of us
beside YOU. and the cook will work with
us. We can get along without the cap.
tain. the two mates. the carpenter and the
steward They'll he locked up in the
cabin. where they'll find plenty to eat and
drink. Wen manage 10 strike the harbor
along in the evening. Then we let 90 the
anchor and take few of our clothes and
row ashore. Wen leave the boat at the