Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1888-09-15
\ CHAMPION OF TIL, SEA.

II tl11-n wv VI j IL II I>I.i.
When got my rating as able ~camon
J could have l,ayl.atcd a s~hil, to any
part Of thr world did not enter upon
III" occupation through force of cireunl
stances, but because lot cd the sea I
had = fair education. steady habits and
served my II" with an uncle who wl<l
81 cndld sailor anl { od frarinu man !.
! should have been Iii. mate after re
cclNlng my eating, bat he died while we
were loading ship and the owners kept
nae ashore for couple Of nonth, to look
over papers and Tx up accounts. Then
! could have had 4 berth as mate, vi It
strange notion had co.Ic over me several
Captains lad been hauled up for abusing
their mon, tind | had been present at
the trials w indignation was aroused
by the storie, told bv the men, and, en-
c"ura~ed by h.lIi i dozen pbianthrop
| determined to be ONE a sailors ch ;lu
pion. II Wits very silly. now admit.
but at that time earnestly bclie.cd ii
Wa> my mission. Il Was silly FOR one
niln TO hope 10 wosk Il revolution II ID
hundred hampions set out, and been
backed by owner> and . court, somc-
thing good nigh: hive come of it.
Ny frsf step VAS to proclrc the ma
rlne laws Of every country, with al tine
rules and regulation, bearing upon
sailors rights. was very particular IN
securing definitions of the term mutiny,
and IN reading avs concerning tho
rights OF sailor, to be quoted at length
brfolc eonsulS |. foreign ports. ] had
the help ot 4 lawyer in this work, and he
gave me many hints Of value. When I
was loaded and primcd slowed : 800 IN
cash III my pocket and shipped aboa,d
the brig Adventure. bound from Liver
pool to the West Indies. This ship had
been recommended to me as Il good one
TO tcgln ON, a1 the Captain had been ;,r
restcd several times for cruelty, but al
ways escaped conviction through the IN
fiuence oi the owners and the plr ured
testimony Of the mates. | wa, now -;
years OF aye; ) feet IL inches tall.
weighed 100 po,inds, and was afraid of
no call on shipboard was stout Is a
bull. good boxer and wrestler, and had
never sten days sickness As tum-
blcd aboard the Adventure with hall 4
ioIen other sailors, was determined to
do my full duty rs far as possible, and to
fullest extent Before we were fairly
under way saw that we were to have 4
! floating hell. The Captain was 4 haIi
4rnkcr and a brute, and the mates de
! lighted to curse aud abuse. Aboard Of
! my uncIes ship sailors were treated like
men, and drink and profanity We're uu-
| known. | was prepared for the change,
| however, and let nothing astonIsh me.
| ! exhibited my activity and Willingness
! IN getting away, and b fore the watche
/ were set 1t must have been patent to the
!. officers that | was thorough seaman
| This should have counted IN my favor.
! and it did fora littie while. there IS
| always i leader III every crew. He not
/ only governs the foreca>tIe, bat he sets
/ the pace Of the men. especially those III
/ his watch Ii he is active and wiling,
| the men will pattern after him 10 a Ger
! tam extent II he IS GROWER and la.
gard. his disposition Will affect al. Ey
| tacit consent | was made la3der. and, t.
! the great surprise OF some ot tn old
sailors Informed them Tint had cons
aboard to do nay full dlty III a cheerful
manner and shat ! wanted 10 gtoWlug
or Sinking his gave them The pace
aud vet It got me into troubfe. Tie Of
ticers could lind no excuse sfor abusi n1
the crews anl were evidently trouble,
over IT, On the Ihrd day out. a> | VA
taking my trek al the wheel, ! notice.
that both Cantain and first mate wer" |
ugly mood. having been drinking L.
much. There wasn't the al shtes' eNcn~
for grumblinr We h,d a fair wln.i
every sail wal drawing. and everything
/. above and aldft was t,iy aud sh!iShap
The watch m deck were ail hufy AMI
4 wondc.cd y hat excuse the tap.aln coolf
invent Tor making hrc.tk- II VA
evident that he Nts fishing Tor one. au'
the mate was irving to help him T.
aud l,v, after looking alott. he roare'
out:
,Er. Morton. what lubbcr have 20
got at the wheel? lie is three points q
her course
Its castle. sir, replied the maze.
lhc Captain turned and aProaehe
the wheel. while the mate. k""wln
that 4 row 1ya~ ming. >.lulAeti tors, II
WAS Steering H. t.uc - silk, a.d = n
Carslin 1oo5ed into the binnac.e he Ia
10 admit il 10 Inns II. This doubtle-
added fuel to his anger, lor after
minl,.e ae growle,l out:
BIAS. you f9r a luOber, hut he
dared Won ship aboard as al able So
manf"
Because I am one, SIT, | quictl
answered