Wichita eagle., 1889-09-01
THE TARRATINE'S CREW.


tine, with clearance papers for New York
and half cargo Of hides, had left her moor
ings and swung at anchor in the bay waiting
for the sailors to be brought on board. There
had been q new crew shipped, for the crew Of
the outward voyage had, as a matter of
course, deserted the ship on her arrival in
San Francisco, and those of it who had not
been ''shanghaed" in the dens of the city and
shipped of to various parts of the world had
gone to the diggings.
But the Tarratine had no difficulty in Sc
curing hands, such as they were. The famous
vigilance committee of 1856 was just then
holding the city with a grip Of iron, ard,
while a corrupt municipal government and
judiciary stood aside and trembled, was
reaching out searching, resistiess arms and
dragging malefactors from their most secret
hiding places to meet the swift justice of its
terrible tribunal Every criminal not under
arrest YVES seeking to leave the country, and,
asa consequence, the shipping offices were
crowded with men who desired to embark.
The ships full complement was twenty
men, but as several were entered as green
hands the crew was increased by four more
who desired to work their passage.
The crew were, as usual, rowed to the ship
in little parties, each under charge of a sailor
boarding house runner, and, in various stages
of drunkenness, were left with their kits on
deck. With the turn of the tide the anchor
was raised, the sails thrown loose and with
fair wind from OFF the shore the Tarratine
moved graudly down the bsrbor and through
the Golden Gate. Six miles beyond the pilot
left the ship, and tho next morning found her
breasting tho long waves of the Pacific a
hundred miles from land, making good
of1ing before turning her head to southeast by
south on her long path around Cape Horn.
1t was soon evident that the ship was more
than full handed. When the watches were
tolled off on the first night there were found
TO be two more men present than the ship
ping list called for, and later two stowawayS
appeared ON deck, raising the number OF men
before the mainInast to twenty-eight Out
of all these there We're not over half dozen
competent seanen, or twice that number
that had ever worked in any capacity on
board a vessel.
To keep such a number of green hands en-
ployed during the hours of the day watches
was next to impossible, and the evil effects Of
idlenesS in ships crew unavQidably ap-
peared So few of the crew were competent
sailors that extra work was thrown the
able seamen, and this created discomfort
among those who otherwise would have been
amenable TO the duties and restraints of their
position.
But a danger worse than idlaness or
grumblng arose from the character of most
of the crew. Many of them were of the
criminal class, whose sole reason for shipping
had been to escape the penalty of their mis-
deeds ashore, and it was evident from the
first that they had no intention OF submitting
i f,l
tons between officers and crew.
For the first few days while sea sickness
prevailed and the men were comparatively
strangers to one another they were fairly
tractable though mainly useless; but as they
gained their sea legs they became insolent
and defiant, and tended moro and more to
band together in common opposition to law
full government of the ship.
There waSa good and efficient set of officers
on board who asserted their authority with
pronptness and energy, but their patience
and temper We're tried to the utmost, and
they had 20 acknowledge to each other that
there was a dangerous, nutnouS spirit among
the men that they could not quell by any
means that seemed available.
The situation was well illustrated by the
account given by the first mate, Henry Her
bert, to Capt. ConyerS on the eighth day out
from San Francisco. The captain was a
clean shaveu, white haired man, naturally
pacific OF temper, and especially averse to
contention on this particular trip, as he in
tended to retire from the sea at the end of
the voyage Mr.. Herbert was short. dark,
thick set young man of great strength and
activity, excitable of temperament ana full
of pluck and energy. lie was speaking OF
the crew.
''It's the worst lot of pirates" he said,
shat ever came aboard a merchantmen ex-
cept 10 board her over the quarter rail with
cutlasses in their hands. There are burg
lars, pickpockets, tickeu of leave men, des-
peradoes from the mines, and the devils own
assortment generally. There are not SIX Of
them know uhe msinmast from marline
spike TO begin with, and those that do,
through bad example, are getting bad rs
the rest. There are more knives and pistols
in the forecastle than would stock an ar
Inory, and if there was one among them
could navigate they would seize the ship.
We have nice outlook between here ana
the Horn. / don't know whatll save the
ship if we get bad wesoher."
Mr. Herbert grew warm with Indignation
as he talked.
They're set of rowdies, he continued. |
Hear them now. Another quarrel over
cards.
The sound Of an alteration came oft from
near the foremost, followed by several pistol
shots and the crow6iug Of men about TIE
scens of the ARRAY. Several of tee crew who
were Estlassiy pretending 10 coli so-ae ropes
on the deck dropped them and ran forward
without hesitation, and one or two who were
At work in the rigging also stopped labor and
moved to positions whence they could vlew
the proceedings.
The third mate was On the rain deck and
went forward, not very willingly, 10 qael
the disturbance, without succesS. il scanned, /
Tor the alteration continued, and mingled |
with lis tones OF authority arose voices cSaal- !
IS loud, evidently giving in prcfIs.oH that I
.-39.-inatlon in clra mind o. sh'0is c-i~e- /
known as ''hack talk" Mr. Herbert Joined
the third mate, but even with his assistance
it was a considerable time belors matters
were at all quieteA
The two officers had 60 submit 70 much /
mo.e insclent language than was agreeable, /
and there had been an ugly and nieracing
display Of weapons by the men They came
back an pale and slleEt with anger OYER
situation 50 unpleasant, which they seemed
powerieSs 70 control
This was n fl'ee sean,s Te+~-. ,..9tt-rs-were