The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-08-24

because no other berth was open al
the time.n
You are cussed liar!" shouted
the enraged man You came aboard
to show off your smartness and make
trouble. I've had an eye on you, curse
you, and Tn going to work up your
old IRON
He drew back to strike me, and /
looked him fair in the eyes and said:
Captain Strong, If you strike me l
shall defend myself
He held his arm ready for moment,
and then let it fall, seeming to realize
that he was in danger. Then it oc-
CURED to him that he was being
bluffed before his mates, and he
shouted to the steward to bring up his
pistols. The weapon was soon handed
him, and he cooked it and turned to
me with:
Now. then, you mutinous dog, get
down on your knees and beg for your
life.H
do you know what mutiny is?" I
asked of him, as quietly as possible.
'Mutiny is refusal to obey orders nee
essary for the working of the ship. If
you kill me, you will go to trial for
cold-blooded murder"
W-whatP'' he gasped.
'And let me tell you something
more, Captain Strong. You and the
mate are the worse for liquor, as the
whole crew can testify. Your licenses
can be revoked for this. This morn
ing you refused medicine to Brace,
who is suffering with cholera morbus.
! can have you fined or suspended for
that. Have you medicine chest
aboard, as required by law? No.
There is a fine or suspension for that.
You have threatened my life without ex-
cuse, as even your mates must testify,
and can make you stand trial for it. Y
| said all this in q low voice, and
looking him full in the face while /
kept the brig on her course. His face
grew the color of liver, and then as
white as snow. He stood holding the
pistol for moment after / had fin-
ished, and then turned and walked to
his cabin, where the mate was soon
summoned to counsel with him. The
men forward had caught ON, and half
a dozen of them signalled to me that
they would stand by. I shook my
head 1t was not a mutiny. ], plain
Jack Tar, had certain rights which
Captain Strong must respect. 1t was
fight between us two Before the
Captain reappeard / was relieved at
the wheel, and | went, forward and
armed myself with revolver from my
chest | also took the papers bearing
on the case and placed them in my
bosom. Then / urged the crew to
stand aloof and let me fight it out
alone. | defined mutiny until they
thoroughly understood what not to do.
But there were only two or three
brave fellows in the lot; the others had
been bounded until they had no spirit
left. They might have gone into
mutiny, for even towards do that, but
when it came to standing up for their
rights they were ours.
The deck-watch were all at work
when the Captain came on deck again.
He had his pistol in his hand, and the
mate also had one, and the steward
followed them bearing several pairs Of
handouts.
"Call the men aft to witness. punish
ment!' shouted the captain, and at the
order of the mate all moved aft, while
the watch below came tumbling up.
When we had all assembled the captain
pointed me out and said:
MEN, we have dangerous fellow
aboard. He shipped to stir up mutiny
and get us all into trouble ashore
Fortunately for all of us | have spot
ted his game at this early date, and
shall now give him his just reward
Castle, stand out. !"
I stepped out in front OF the men.
Steward, put on the handouts. :"
The steward advanced with pair in
his hands, but / waved him aside and
said:
Captain Strong, you dare not put
those on me until refuse to obey le-
| ultimate order concerning the care OF
the ship. You have certain powers
under the laws of the high seas, but
| the meanest sailor also has certain
rights"
He was livid with passion, and it was
only after a great effort that he said:
II will have you triced up and
logged to death! Steward, put on the
| ironsm
| But the steward dared come no near
or. The captain then ordered the crew
to seize me, but not man moved. The
second mate was then ordered forward,
but he had the sense to keep his foot
out OF it, and he replied:
If Castle has the law, let's hear it.
I've sailed twenty years without know
ing the rights of sailor, and want
no trouble in the courts. -
| saw captain and first mate look al
each other, and prepared myself for
a rush. They were determined to dc
for me, and as the captain handed his
pistol to the steward called out:
MEN, you are my witnesses that
have not refused to do duty or obey
necessary orders. No captain has au.
thority to trice man up, and he car
be put in irons only for disobedience o.
legitimate orders. If they lay hands
on me, it is at their peril
They came with rush, but botf
!, were knocked off their feet inside O
ten seconds. The mate was satisfied
with that, but the captain came at mi
again, and this time gave him all h,
! wanted Not man raised hi
, hand or voice, and gave tn,
brute such a drubbing that he dit
} not get out of his cabin for five days
Then it was to signal an English man
. of-War. We were boarded by an off