Middletown transcript., 1888-09-06
POOR JACK.

men could have navlgaGed snip !
any part of the world. I did not entt
upon the occupation through force
circumstances, but because I loved th
sea. had a fair education, stead
habits, and served my time with a
uncle who was a splendid sailor and
I God fearing man. should have beeI
his mate after receiving my rating
but he died while we were loadin
ship, and the owners kept me ashor
for couple of months to look owe
the papers and fix up accounts. The
/ could have berth as mate, but
strange notion had come over me
Several captains had been hauled u
for abusing their men, and had beel
present at the trials. My indignation
was aroused by the stories told by th
men, and, encouraged by half a dozel
philanthropists, I determined to be
come a sailors champion. 1t wa
very silly, / now admit, but at tina
time I earnestly believed it was m!
mission. 1t was silly for one man tt
hope to work revolution. Had {
hundred champions set out and beer
backed by owners and courts, some
thing good might have come of it.
My first step was to procure the ma.
rine entries of every country, with al
the laws and regulations bearing upon
sailors rights. I was very particular
in securing definitions Of the term
mutiny, and in reading laws concern
ing the rights Of sailors, to be quoted
at length before consuls in foreign
ports. I had the help of a lawyer in
this work, and he gave me many hints
of value. When I was loaded and
primed I slowed $500 in cash in my
pocket and shipped aboard the brig
Adventure" bound from Liverpool
to the West Indies. This ship had
been recommended to me as a good
one to begin on, as the captain had
been arrested several times for cruelty,
but always escaped conviction through
the influence of the owners and the
perjured testimony of the mates. I
was now % years Of age, 5 feet. IL
inches tall, weighed 160 pounds and
was afraid of no call on shipboard. l
was stout as bull, a good boxer and
wrestler, and had never seen days
sickness. AS 1 tumbled aboard the
" Adventure" with half dozen other
sailors, I was determined to do my
full duty as far as possible, and to
obey all rules and regulations to the
fullest extent. Before we were fairly
lnder way I saw that we were to have
floating hell. The captain was a
hard drinker and a brute, and the
mates delighted to curse and abuse.
Aboard my uncle's ship sailors were
treated like men, and drink and pro-
family were unknown. I was prepar-
ed for the change, however, and let moth
ing astonish me. I exhibited my ac-
tivity and willingness in getting away,
and before the watches were set it
must have been patent to the officers
that was a thorough seamen. This
should have counted in my favor, and
it did for little while. There is al
ways leader in every crew. He not
only governs the forecastle, but he sets
the pace of the men, especially those
in his watch. If he is active and will
ing, the men will pattern after him to a
certain extent. If he is growler and
a laggard, his disposition will effect
all. By tacit extent was made lead
er, and, to the great surprise Of some
of the old sailors, 1 informed them that
1 had come aboard to do my full duty
in cheerful manner, and that 1 want
ed no growing or shirking. This
gave them the pace, and yet it got me
into trouble. The officers could find
no excuse for abusing the crew, and
were evidently troubled over it. On
the third day out, as was taking my
trick at the wheel, I noticed that both
captain and first mate were in ugly
mood, having been drinking too much.
There was not the slightest excuse for
grumbling. We had a fair wind,
every sail was drawing, and every
thing below and aloft was tidy and
The watch on deck were
all busy, and wondered what excuse
The captain could invent for making a
break. 1t was evident that he was
fishing for one, and the mate was try
ng to help him. By and by, after
looking aloft, he roared out:
"Mr. Morton, what id lubber
nave you got at the wheel ? He is
three points off her course!
"It's Castle, sir, d-n his eyes |"
,eplied the mate.
The captain turned and ap-
preached the wheel, while the
nate, knowing that a row was
coming, skulked forward. [ was
steering as fine as silk, and as the cap
ain looked into the binnicle he had to
admit it to himself. This doubtless
added fuel to his anger, for after a
minute he growled out:
Blast you for lgbber, but how
Jared you ship aboard as an able sea-
nan p'' =
Because am one. sir, I quietly
~
"Oh, you are, eh ? Perhaps you
800 n -,ar,;r.o 80 o1co o,, I,o ,,,a1-oI