Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-06-10
a TArAL SUPERSTITION.
Carpenter Jones' KEiiA a ssasothc,
Gnrer,n ohlchan.,,

II was reading an interesting story in
tho 1tu tho other day, said we'll
known business man, "about the pccu.
liag beliefs and srperstitiens Of miners.
II minors are superssitious, what are
gailorsi Ia my younger days followed
the sea for Hon1e ten years, and during
that time became almost as supersti-
tons as the average run OF seamen.
There was one case that came un-
der nay notice that would fully
explain tome strange beliefs and
would also throw some light on the end
Of the life Of poor Tom Jones, who died
az The United States Marine Hospital
some ten years ago from what the phys
icians there termed congestion OF the
brain. Poor fellow Had the truth
been known the record would have
shown that he died from the effects Of
frequent beatings received at sea. Would
you like TO know the story? Very
well; | shall commence at the very be-
ginning.
a moro trim or faster sailing craft
than tho good ship Light Wing never de-
parted from. the port Of New York. The
nafaeg OF the officers and crew do not
sigaiiy. Many OF them are now in COM
mend Of vessels or are mates, and the
publishing OF their names might be to
their detriment. | was member OF the
crew, who on the whole were as good
eeamen RS ever trod the deck of vessel.
The ship was loaded with cargo OF gem
eral merchandise and bound for San
Francisco. Our passage was unusually
pleasant, and we had rounded the
llorn without any of those fierce
storms so common in that locality.
The men were all in the best Of spirits,
and almost hilarious at the prospect Of
speedy and guecessful termination Of the |
voyage. 1t must here be explained that |
Tom Jones was the ships carpenter. He |
was also something OF taxidermist, and |
consequently very fond OF killing and |
stnhing sea-fowl. You know how fond |
sailors are OF Mother Carey's chickens, a
species Of seagull. Well, Tom in a mo-
ment OF enthusiasm forgot what might be
the dire consequences, and stuffed one OF
the chickens. He had hardly placed the
bird carefully away In his bunk when
the whole aspect OF the weather changed.
Great clouds gathered, and in less
than half an hour the wind was
blowing hurricane. To make
matters worse, someone heaved the pet
cat overheard. Then followed the most
terrible time | ever experienced at sea.
For thirty-nine days and nights the ship,
under bare poles, was driven along at
the mercy of the waves. No fires could
be lighted, and we existed on little else
than hard tack and cold water. We did
not know to what end the mad waters
were rushing us, and few seemed to care.
All had become aware that the carpenter
had killed the chicken, and he was also
given the credit OF throwing the cat
overheard How did we know the cat
was overheard? That is the most pe-
culiar and terrible part Of the whole al
fair. Through the whole tempest the
cat was seen following in our wake like
some evil spirit. Its eyes blazed like
fire, particularly at night, when they
looked like burning Goals. Those eyes
made one shudder and feel that our end
was near at hand. A eat will swim at
sea until it dies of starvation, but whether
this cat was swimming or driven along by
the storm don't know. Tom had COM
mitted a terrible act OF indiscretion, to
say the least, and all his companions
their vengeance. This chance came at
the end OF the thirty ninth day, when the
storm abated and we sailed once more in
smooth water. Poor Tom was utterly
of the punishment in store
for him. He had no sooner appeared on
deck than some dozen of the sailors
jumped upon him. The Captain winked
and went below, while the mate, with
an oath, shouted Kill the hound
No one interfered, and Tom was
beaten and kicked until he was
carried below, unconscious and bleeding |
profusely from his wounds. Int a week,
however, he recovered sufficiently |
to come on deck, but he had |
no sooner done so than the beating
was repeated. Every sailor on board
seemed to have personal grudge against |
him, and all had an opportunity to salts
fy their lust for his blood before port was
reached. In fact the beatings were re-
peated so often That finally the carpenter
was unable 10 lsaya his berth. When the |
Light Wing arrived at this city Tom was
sent to the Marine Hospital and the |
cause Of his illness and injuries attributed |
to fall from aloft. He soon died, with
ont heving uttered one complaint at the
treatment ne had received. The story of
OF his mortal wounding never leaked out,
and only tell it to you now to illustrate
to what extent the average seaman may
he infuriated by the violation Of any OF
the many beliefs they hold SO sacred"