The Odessa herald. (Odessa, Del.) 1888-1892, 1889-03-02
The Captains Daughter.

,s5iiat
For two years had been mate of the
schooner Jessie, Capt. Mastin, plying
regularly between Sydney, New South
Wales, and Hobartstown, Ven Dieman's
Land. We had trim craft, easily ham
did. and our crew never exceeded six
men. There was no second mate, and
the Captain stood his own watch. A
year before I engaged with her she had
been captured by convicts from thepenal
settlement, and when recovered, after
two or three days she had been supplied
with an arsenal. Fl
The trip which gave rise to the Incl
dents I am about to relate, brought the
Captains daughter on board for 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 anything then the jessie
would have been pulled up over the
good looks Of the girl whose name she
bore. Miss Martin was typical Eng
lish girl, and just as handsome as the
best of them, She was then 10 years
DID, in the best of health and spirits
and it was as good as medicine for
sick person to hear her sing and laugh.
As our voyages were short and safe we
had been able to keep the same crew for
a long time, but on this trip we were all
broken up. Two of the old men had
been taken ill while we were loading,
third had mysteriously absented him
self, and on the day we were to sail the
cook walked ashore in huff. There
was no trouble, however, in filing the
four 81 ,HEJatesanoies, Indeed, they were ap-
-r'frfcr fof as SOD Sateglst The cook
was another c9-s-aan with good re-
commendation, while the three sail
ors were English-spealSing and Of Eng
lsh nativity. They were hard
looking fellows, and I would not
have trusted them not to rob me,
but l took them just the same. At
sea they would have their stations and
their orders, and the discipline of YES
sci discourages all exhibitions Of impu-
dence towards officers. Our crew was
now composed of six sailors, Captain,
mate and cook, and the girl Jess brought
the number on board up to ten.
1t is run of over 500 miles almost
due south from Sydney to Hobartstown,
but until passing Cape Howe we had
the coast in view, and knew where shell
ter could be had in case of storm.
Our crew went cheerfully to work, the
weather favored us, and for three days
everything went as smoothly as you
please. had two of the old men and
one of the new in my watch, and on the
fourth night, as we just held Storage
way 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 matter"
every well; what is it,"
81 don't like them new men, SIR"
"For what reasonln
They've got their heads together too
often, sir, and they've talked to Bill and
Tom, my old mates, until they've upset
them.n
.'About whatp
''Well, sir, about pirates and islands
and treasure, and such stuff. didn't
take to 'em, 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"
wasn't startlcd-not even worried.
Sailors are always talking such nonsense
among themselves and aboard of every
craft there is always q tale bearer who
WhhbS W curly idfOIS' NeeSlHuu WIS
distant and peculiar, as l had heard the
men say, and that was why the trio had
not taken to him. l thought the matter
over for some time, and then thanked
tho man for his information and asked
him to keep his eyes open. We had
light breeze all night, and the
next day was very mild. We
got stiff breeze from noon to midnight,
and on the morning of the sixth day
were below the cape. Then the wind
died out flat and dead, and all day long
we hadn't sufficient to iufile feather.
/ had been watching the new men close
ly since Needham stated his suspicious,
but not thing could l discover to CON
firm his statements. They were cheer
full, prompt and respectful, and l quite
!, dismissed any thought of conspiracy. If
Needham had heard or seen anything
further he had not reported it, although
invited to do so.
The captains trick that night was
from to 10. At o'clock l was asleep
in my berth, the captain was lounging
and smoking, and jess was in the cabin
after some article of clothing. There