San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-05
SCRAP OVER SEA YARNS.
Fearful Ruction on the Lady Jane
Because the Cook Doubted the
Shippers Veracity.

| Because the Cook Doubted the
Shippers Veracity.
| From the New York Star.
"Mike" Smith, battle SCARED vet
eran of the late war, was the COM
plainant before United States Com.
missioner Shields yesterday against
Capt. Anderson Colworth, whom he
charged with having cruelty treated
| inn, "cussedn at him, and otherwise
ill-used him, during recent cruise OF
the fishing schooner Lady Jane, of
which Captain Colworth is owner as
we'll as master.
Capt. Colworth Is also a veteran of
| the war. To make matters more in
| teresting, 1T appears that the veteran
plaintiff and the veteran defendant
served at different times during the
war as midshipmen aboard the fri
gate Brooklyn, under Commodore
Thomas Craven, AMI both witnessed
the memorable engagement between
the Merrimac and the Cumberland,
and the subsequent destruction of
the Cum berland.
After the war Capt. Colworth
bought the little schooner Lady Jane,
and. styling himself Captain" he
hired a crew of five and started in
the fishing business, in which he has
since oeen engaged. During all
these years he has been the COM
mander of the same Lady Jane, which
has proved herself to be stanch lit
tie sailer in all kinds of weather.
When Capt. Colworth was arraign-
ed before the commissioner, the
whole story of his alleged cruelty
came out, and resulted in his being
honorably discharged.
Itappears that on last Sunday the
captain hired mike" Smith, the
plaintiff, as cook. The Lady Jane
was to sail on that day, and as the
other cook had gone off and got full
ed to sail without him and take in
his place Mike, the veteran. Mike
was shown to the dingy kitchen of
the Lady Jane, which was then lying
at the Fulton Market fish dock, wait
ing for a favorable tide. At length
the Jane put out into midstream and,
catching a stiff breeze, was soon
bowling through the narrows. When
off Barnegat, the crew began to haul
in the fish, of which large school
was encountered. The success of the
crew pleased Capt. Colworth, and
when supper time came he ordered
all hands below in a jovial manner
to partake of a "boilin" good sup
PERI which he said he had request
ed the cook to have especially well
prepared for the men on account of
their good work.
The supper was a good one. Capt
Colworth was pleased beyond meas
ure, and in his jolliest mood, SO that
when all had squeezed themselves
about the little supper table, the old
captain began to recite some of his
favorite sea yarns, much to the de-
light of the men. During the cap
tian's narratives he was repeatedly
interrupted by the cook, who init
mated in respectful way that the
captain was deviating from the beat
en- path of truth, and that although
he (the cook had no objection to
some exaggeration in the recital of a
story, he did object to q downright
and unnecessary fabrication. Capt
Colworth got somewhat angry, and
said he would not let any ''landlub-
Der" say that he lied, but finally he
allowed the matter to pass. Cook
Smith shortly afterward renewed his
accusations, and at length the cap
tain boiled over with indignation and
locker and stay there until doomsday.
"Blast your brazen old 5innacle,"
yelled the sea dog; Ego talk to your
equals"
The cook retorted with a well de-
livered flight of nautical oratory, but
oil was thrown upon the troubled
waters. The affair was soon forgot
ten, and Capt. ColworUh again began
his story telling. When he was tell.
ing the crew of an old sea captain
who had killed at least score of
sailors, and fed their bodies to the
sharks, and how this same old cap
tain had lately murdered two sailors
off Sheepshead Bay, il was too much
for Cook Smith, who again informed
his captain that he was DEPRESSING
from the truth. This proved to be
TOO great for the captains patience,
and, picking up bowl of steaming
hot coffee which stood on the table,
he hurled it in the cooks face.
Then hostilities commenced in ear
nest, and there was such an exchange
of dishes, stove lids, coffee Kettles,
! cups and saucers between the captain
and the cook that the crew fled to the
deck for safety. The honors were
even between the captain and the
cook at the termination of the affray
That did not settle it, however,
and when the Lady Jane put back
to Fulton Market Cook Smith got
out q warrant for the captains arrest
Deputy Marshal Cooper went down tc
i the dock gathered I'm the old skippeI