San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-03-14
THE CAPTAINS DAUGHTER:


schooner Jessie, Capt. Martin, plying regu-
larly 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 captured by convicts from the
penal settlement, and when recovered after
two or three days, she had been supplied with
an arsenal
The trip which gave rise to the incidents
am about to relate brought the captain
daughter on board for the first time, she hav-
ing been away to school for couple of years
The schooner was named after her, and if a
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 a typical English girl, and
just as handsome as the best of them She
was then 10 years old, in the best of health and
spirits, and it was as good as medicine for a
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 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 mysteriously alb
sented himself, and on the day we were to
sail the cook walked ashore in a huff. There
was no trouble, however, in filling the four
vacancies. Indeed they were applied for as
soon as vacated. The cook was another col,
ofed man with good recommendation, while
the three sailors were English speaking and
of English nativity.
When crew is sent from a shipping Office
the master must not find fault with their per-
sonal appearance. If they are what they
claim to be that must satisfy him, no matter
if the whole lot are bow legged, 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
would not have trusted them not to rob me-
but 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 officers
Our crew was now composed of six sail
Ors, captain, mate and cook, and the girl
jess brought the number on board up to ten
1t is a run of over 800 miles almost 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
of a 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 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 matter"
Very well; what is it,
81 don't like them new men, sir"
For what reasonF"
| They've 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:"
well, sir, about pirates and islands and
treasure and such stuff. 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 tho wind"
wasn't startled-not even worried Sail
ors are always talking such nonsense among
themselves, and aboard of every craft there
is always tale bearer who wants to curry
tavors. Needham was distant and peculiar,
as 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 ia
keep his eyes open. Wehad 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 out fat and
dead, and all day long we hadn't sufficient tc
rufie feather. had been watching the
new men closely since Needham stated his sus
! piciOns, but not thing could discover tc
confirm his statements. They were cheerful