Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-06

the provisions IN klu, anu we ioiio"ou
him to the mainmast. AS | told you, 1t
was evident the captain and mates looked
for protest, for all were on deck. The
name of our spokesman was Herbert, and
he was English born. The captain came
forward to meet us as we grouped
around Herbert with hats off, and after
looking us over he shouted out:
''Well, d-n your eyes, why don't you
speak up' What is wanted of me-"
''If you please, sir, said Herbert, I'VE
can't eat the grub"
'sOh. you can't? You are probably dis
appointed You expected oyster soup,
Java coffee, hot biscuit and honey, and
yorr stomachs have gone back on you.
~ our honor, but will you please smell
of this beef?n asked Herbert, advancing q
step
Smell of the beef, you hounds, you?'
howled the captain. 'Did the owners en-
gage me to sail the ship or to smell Of the
forecastle beef? / sized you up on the
start for a lot of skulking sojers, and
here's proof that I was right. You are
lot of id mutinous dogs, and noW's
the time to give you a lesson"
With that the three officers began the
attack, never minding who they hit, and
GTlNtDG Lie Hc.IIn O1 tSNA 1oA wan 'tSAA
the other. The man at the wheel was,
believe. the only man who escaped blow,
while not sailor raised his hand ip reply.
The ship was running off before light
breeze, and for fifteen minutes the three
men had it their own way. Then the cap
tain's watch was called, the other sent be-
low. and as we came on deck Capt. Nc
Kay said:
''There, curse you for a lot OF dock loaf
ers. hope you have found out who sails
this ship. The man VINO dares come ait
with another complaint viii get his brains
knocked out "
There were nine of us in the captains
watch, which, as l told you, was really
the second mates watch-no captain
standing a watch at sea unless he SO wills
Every one Of us had been struck or
kicked, and two Of the men had been say
agcly beaten on the head and We're COW
cred with blood. The name of the first
mate, who now went below with the cap
tain, was McLogan. The name of the
second mate was Andrews. lie was a
Younger man than the others, and per-
haps had more heart, for after bit,
while Herbert had the wheel, he stopped
near him and observed:
1.-The old man is little rough, but one
( of the best seamen out of Glasgow. You
complained too soon"
But, Mr.. Andrews, what are we to do
for grub?'' asked Herbert. 'There isn't
a man in the fo'castle as Can eat such
stuff
''Well, it's not my lookout what the
owners furnish. Unless you men want
HI to pay you will turn to and make the
best Of it,
That closed the conversation. Not a
man of us spoke of mutiny or even the
slightest resistance to lawful authority.
When our watch was up we turned in
and went TO sleep. |, for one, cherished
the hope that the provisions would be bet
ter in the morning. The officers had only
TO taste them 10 realize that they were to-
tally unfit, and l hoped the captain would
do this and thus do away with all cause
for further complaint. As the kids were
brought forward ct breakfast time, how
ever, we scented the sinking beef long
before it reached US, and we found the
biscuit and tea as vile as ever. Having
eaten nothing since the previous noon, and
all of US being hearty men, you can imag-
inc that we were sharp set. Not a man
Of US, however, could swallow that food,
and the kids and pannikins were LETT
standing at the windiaSs for the COOK to
carry back with their contents untouched
The men looked at each other with
troubled faces, but there was no threat OF
mutiny. We went 10 our work on empty
stomachs, as also did the other watch,
and: though the officers knew it, not q
word was said. The men cheUed an extra
quantity of tobacco, and hoped that noon
would soften the captains heart.
Noon brought no change, and wher
sumner was served and we found the same
grub placed before us, the men broke ou
with curses If the food had been eat
able, don't you suppose that sailors, wh(
had been from twenty-fOur to thlrt.
hours without eating a mouthful, woulC
have at least nibbled at it? ] an telling
YOU what | afterward made affidavit to
made repeated attempts to worry down
some of the meat, but each time II was re
iected Some OF the men who got few
swallows of the tea down were mad
dreadfully sick. Again we went supper
less, but now the men began to asser
that no law of the high seas permitted
captain to starve his crew. We woult
wait until morning, and, if the IoOd wa
not changed. something must be done.
am sure the captain expected something
to occur that night, for he was frequeDtl
on deck, and the three officers were NOR
than once in consultation. The cook ha
reported, as we afterward learned, tia
none of the supper had been eaten, an
the captain had replied:
well. the burned sojers will either &c
such grub as / set out, or live on their oW
fat ~
] am telling you truthfully that not
word OF mutiny was whispered during tn
, night. We made no threats, and had 4
plan, but yet we all felt that the mOrnin
would bring a crisis of some sort. Dul
ing the night. in the case OF both watche;
: the officers were very abusive, and tn
Een were struck or kicked without III
, shadow of On excuse. When dayHgf
, came. and we began TO scrub down, ii
; breeze died quite away, and we lay b
, Gained. We were at this time about s
or 100 miles from the British coes
, When it was time for breakfast bot
: watches were on deck, and as the me
went to the cooks galley to receive the
, kids and pannikins all three officers Shove
= UP on deck. ] was Ak the wheel, and
{ saw that the captain and first mate ia
: their revoivers. The KIDS were taken 70
: w2rd without word The food had m
r been changed, and the men pushed Il
/ dishes away. II there was any growth
7 couldn't hear it. The captain waite
|, about ten minutes, and then seeing TIL
3 the men were not going TO eat, he told u
+ second mate to order them aft All can
d in body, and all bore themselves respec
r fully.
, Look here. Herbert" said the captain
r addressing the sailor who had acted ;
+ spokesman on the previous occaSlo
/, ..Mhnt Is the matter with the grub