Evening journal., 1889-09-13
THE TARRATINE'S CREW.

The time was September. 1855, the scene
San Francisco harbor The good ship Tara
tine, with clearance papers for New York
and half a cargo Of hides, had left her moor
ngs and swung at anchor in the bay waiting
tor the sailors TO be brought on board. There
had been a new crew shipped, for the crew OF
The outward voyage had, as a matter of
course, deserted the ship on her arrival III
San Francisco, and those of it who had not
oeeu "shanghaed" in the dens of the city and
shipped Off 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 1855 was just then
holding the city with a grip of iron, and
while a corrapt municipal government and
judiciary stood aside and trembled, was
reaching sut searching, resistless arms and
dragging Indicators from their most secret
hiding places to meet the swift justice of it,
terrible tribunal. Every criminal not under
arrest was seeking 10 leave the country, and,
as 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 of the shore the Tarratine
moved grandly down the harbor and through
the Golden Gate Six miles beyond the pilot
left the ship, and the next morning found her
breasting the hong waves Of the Pacific o
hundred miles from land, making a good
otfing before turning her head to southeast by
south on her long path around Cape Horn.
IL was soon evident that the ship was more
than full handed. When the watches were
tolIed of 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 mainmast to twenty-eight Out
Of all these there were not over a half dozen
competent seamen, 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 ia ships crew unavoidably ap-
peared. So few Of the crew were competent
sailors that extra work was thrown on the
able seanen, and this created discomfort
among those who otherwise would have been
amenable to the duties and restraints of their
position.
But danger worse than idleness or
grumbling arose from the character of most
Of the crew Many of them were of the
criminal class, whose sole reason for shipping
bn4 co. Nbu rs,ff
deeds ashore, and it was evident from the
hrst that they had no intention Of submitting
TO any Of the discipline essential in the rela-
lions 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
Tactable though mainly useless but as they
gained their sea legs they became insoleni
and defiant, and tended more and more &c
band together in common opposition TO law
ful government Of the ship.
There was good and efficient set Of officers
on board who asserted their authority with
promptness and energy, but their patience
and temper we're tried TO the utmost, and
they had to acknowledge 70 each other that
there was dangerous, mutinous 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 shaven, white haired man, naturally
pacific of temper, and especially averse tc
contention on this particular trip, as he in
tended to retire from the sea at the end OF
the voyage. Mr.. Herbert was a short, dark
thick set young man Of great strength and
\ activity, excitable Of temperament and full
Of pluck and energy. He was speaking Of
the crew.
ats the worst lot Of pirates he said
"that ever came aboard a merchantmen ex
cept 70 board her over the quarter rail with
cutlasses in their hands There are burg
lars, pickpockets, ticket Of leave men, des
/ peradoes from the mines, and the DEVILS owl
assortment generally There are not six O
them know the mainmast from a marlin'
spike to begin with, and those that do
through bad example, are getting as bad a.
the rest There are more knives and pistol
in the forecastle than would stock an ar
mory, and If there was one among then
could navigate they would seize the ship
We have nice outlook between here ana
the Horn. don't know what'll save tn
! ship If we get bad weather.
Mr.. Herbert grew warm with indignation
as he talked.
"They're a set Of rowdies, he continued
Hear them now. Another quarrel owe
/ cardsn
The sound Of an alteration came aft iron
near the foremost, followed by several pistc
shots and the crowding Of men about tt
scene of the ARRAY. Several of the crew VIII
were lstlessly pretending TO coil some rope
on the deck dropped them and ran forwar
without hesitation, and one or two who wer
at work in the rigging also stopped labor an
moved 70 positions whence they could yie'
the proceedings.
The third mate was on the main deck an
went forward, not very willingly, to que
the disturbance, without success, it seemed
for the alteration continued, and mingle
with his tones OF authority arose voices G ia
ly loud, evidently giving in prosusion tia
sbomination in the mind OF ships Office