West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-08-30
A CHAMPION OF THE SEA

A CHAMPION OF THE SEA.
I When goI my rating as able seaman
could have navigated a ship to any
part Of the world did not enter upon
the occupation through force of circum-
stances, but because / 10 ed the sea.
had fair education, steady habits aud
served my me with an uncle who was
sp'endid sailor and Cod fearing man.
j should have been his mate after re
ceiving my rating, but he died while we
were loading ship, and the owners kent
me ashore for couple Of months TO look
over papers and Fix up accounts. Then
i could have had berth as mate, hut a
strange notion had come over me. Several
Captains had been hauled up for abusing
their men, and / had been present nj
the trials. My indignation was aroused
by the stories told by the men, and, en-
couragcd by half dozen philanthropists,
j determined to become a sailors cham
pion. 1t was very silly, / now admit,
but at that time / earnestly believed it
was my mission. 1t was silly for one
man to hope to work revolution. Had
a hundred champions set out, aud been
backed by owners and courts, some
thing good might have come of IL.
My tirst step was to procure the ma.
Tlne laws of every country, with all the
rules and regulations bearing upon
sailors rights. was very particular in
securing definitions of the term mutiny.
and in reading laws concerning the
rights OF sailors, to be quoted at length
before consuls in foreign ports. had
the help of a lawyer in this work, and he
gave me many hints Of value. When l
was loaded aud primed / slowed $500 in
cash in my pocket and shipped aboard
the brig Adventure, bound from Liver
pool to the West Indies. This ship had
been recommended to me as a good one
TO begin on, as the Captain had been mr.
rested several times for cruelty, but al
ways escaped conviction through the in
huence OIL the owners and the per,ured
testimony of the mates. / was now 23
years OF age, feet ii inches tall.
weighed 100 pounds, and was afraid Of
no call on shipboard. was stout as a
bull, good boxer and wrestler. and had
never scel days sickness. AS tum-
bled aboard the Adventure with half n
dozen other sailors, was determined to
do my full duty as far rs possible, and to
obey all rules and regulations to the
fullest extent. Before we were fairly
under way saw that we were to have n
floating hell The Captain was hard
driDker and brute. and the mates de-
lighted to curse and abuse. Aboard OF
my uncle's ship psai.ors were treated like
men, and drink and profanity were un-
known. ] was prepared for the change,
however, and let nothing astonish me.
! exhibited my activity and Willingness
in getting away, and before the watche
were set it must have been patent to the
officers that / was thorough seaman
This should have counted in my favor,
and it did fora little while. There is
always lender in every crew. He not
only governs the foTecastle, but he sets
tho pace of tho men, especially those in
his watch. IL he is active and willing,
the men will pattern after him to GER
tam extent. If he is a growler and lag
gard, his disposition will affect ALL BY
tacit consent / was made leader, and, TO
the great surprise of some Of ths old
sailors, l informed them that had come
aboard to do my full duty in n cheerful
manner, and that ! wanted no growing
or sinking. This gave them the pace,
and yet it got me into trouble. The Of
fcers could find no excuse for abusing
the crews, and were evidently troubled
ovor IT, On the third day out, rs / was
taking my trek at the wheel, I noticed
that both Captain and first mate were in
ugly mood, having been drinking too
much. There wasn't the slightest excuse
for grumbling. We had fair wind.
every sail was drawing, and everything
above aud aloft was tidy and shipshape
The watch on deck were all busy, an /
wondered what excuse the Captain could
inveat FOR making a break. It was
evident that he was fishing for one, and
the mate was trying to help him. Ey
and by, after looking aloft, he roarod
out.
"Mr Morton, what lubbor have You
got at The wheels Hois three points of
her coursew
'1ts Castle, sir, " replied the mate.
The Captain turned and approached
thc wheel, while the mate. knowing
that a row was coming, skulked forward.
] was steering rs fine as silk, and as the
Captain looked into the binnac'e he had
20 admit It to himself This doubtless
added fuel to his anger, Tor after a
minute he growlod out
''Bast you for a lubber, but how
dared you chip aboard as an able sea
manW
becnH8o am one SIR, j quietly
answered.
"Oh, you are, ehl Perhaps you are a
navigator alsow he snccred.
II can take this ship out and back.
cir. I answered
''The-tho deuce you can :" he Kissed
after moment '1f you arc anavipator.
what arc you doing forward among the
monY
81 shipped as an able seaman, sir. be.
cause no other berth was open az .he
time"
"You arc q cusscd liar" shouted the
cnraQod man. "You came aboard TO
show of your smartnoss and make trou.
bic. I've had an eye on you. and I'm
going 10 work up your old iron
He drew back 20 strike mo, and Il
locked him fair in the eyes and said