New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-05-29
The Captains Daughter.

or Two years L -nad Deen maIe OF
the schooner Jessie, Capt. Martin,
plying regularly between Sydney,
New South Wales; and Hobart Town,
Van Dieman's Land. We had a trim
craft, easily handled, and our crew
never exceeded six men. There was
no second mate, and the captain
stood his own watch. A year before
[ engaged with her she had been cap
tured by convicts from the penal
settlement, and when recovered after
two or three days she had been sup
piled with an arsenal.
The trip which gave rise to Incl
dents | am about to relate brought
the captains daughter on board the
first time, she having been away to
school for a couple of years. The
schooner was named after her, and
if vessel could feel proud of any
thing, then the Jessie would have
been pulled up over the good looks
of the girl whose name she bore.
Miss Martin was typical English
girl, and just as handsome as the
best Of them. She was then nineteen
years old, in the best of health and
spirits, and it was as medicine for a
sick person to hear her sing or laugh.
AS our voyage was short and safe
we had been able to keep the same
crew for long time, but on this trip
we were all broken up. Two of the
old men had been taken i'll while we
were loading, a third had mysteri-
ously absented himselfa and on the day
we were to sail the cook walked
ashore in huff. There was no troub-
lie, however, in filling the four vacan-
cies. Indeed they were applied for as
soon as vacated. The cook was anoth-
er colored man of good recon-
dalton, while the three sailors were
English speaking and of English ma
tivity.
When a crew is sent from ship
ping office the master must not find
fault with their personal appear
ance. If they are what they claim to
be that must satisfy him, no matter
if the whole lot are bowlegged, cross
eyed, bald headed and hump backed
1t is the same when the mate engages
men at the wharf If they satisfy
him that they are sailors, he does
not find fault with their looks. The
three sailor men | engaged for the
trip were hard looking fellows, and
l would not have trusted them not
to rob me, but I took them just the
same At sea they would have their
stations and their orders, and the
discipline of a vessel discourages all
exhibitions Of impudence toward Off
GERS. Our crew was now composed
of six sailors, captain, mate and cook,
and the girl Jess brought the num-
Der on board up to ten. 1t is run
of over 500 miles due south from
Sydney to Hobartstown, but until
passing Cape Howe we had the coast
in view, and knew where shelter
could be had in case ola storm. Our
crew went cheerfully to work, the
weather favored US. and for three
days eyerythin-,, went as smoothly as
you please. had two of the old
men and one c. the new in my watch,
and on the fourth night, as we just
held steerageway during my watch,
the man at the wheel, whose name
was Needham, and who had been
with us several voyages, fused
around for time, and finally said:
"Mr. Loring, I'd like to speak with
you about a matter"
every well; what is it?''
81 don't like them new men, SIR
"For what reason?''
"They We got their heads together
too often, sir, and they've talked to
Bill and Tom, my old mates, until
they've quite upset them
.About what?o
"Well, sir, about pirates and is
lands ana treasure ana Such Stu1. L
didn't take to EN-, and they didn't
take to me, and SO they don't trust
me, but can't help but think there's
something wrong in the Wind
| IWasn' tstartled ot.even worried.
Sailors are always talking such non
sense among themselves. and aboard
of every craft there is always a tale
bearer who wants to curry favors.
Needham was dimdent and peculiar,
as I had heard the men say, and that
was why the trio had not taken to
him. thought the matter over for
some time, and then thanked the
man for his information and asked
him to keep his eyes open. We had
a light breeze all night, and the next
day was very mild. We got a stiff
breeze from noon to midnight, and
on the morning of the sixth day were
/ below the cape. Then the wind died