Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1890-01-25

In 1855 I shipped "before the mast" on
the A first class clipper Wizard bound
from New York to San Francisco.
When l made up my mind to become a
sailor, had tried several Of this world
ca!linys and seemed to find none suitable.
had asked counsel of several elderly
gentlemen in my native village as to the
best way OF securing all things necdful
during my sojourn in this world. They
said many wise and good things They
looked wise and good. But really the
wordy help they offered was unsatisfac-
tory. So cut the knot myself and said
would tc sailor. Explained to my
male and female friends that felt my
self destined for maritime career.
needed more excitement than could be
got out of shore humdrum life. The
sea was the place for enterprising youth
full Americans. Tho American merchant
marine needed American officers and
sailors. All heard mo and agreed. No
doubt it was the best thing. And
talked on and they agreed with all my
arguments. How people will agree with
you when it's all one to them what you
do! was eighteen and in most respects
fool, including this--that l did not
know it.
The Wizard, on which I shipped with
five other boys from my native town.
was first class clipper. Sho was fine
thing to look at from II distance, either
as she lay at anchor, the traccry of her
WI r;r,ri,,r =, ,nlt,f
sky, or speeding along under st.lddiny
sails rugged out on both sides. But once
on board and inside her symmetrical
lines, things were not SO beautiful. Those
white, cloud like sails tore mems fingers
as, hard and heavy with ice or snow,
the sailors tried to furl them. Those
graceful. tapcrins yards, supporting the
studding sails, stra led and half crushed
mems backs when lowered and toteu
about the deck. There were wooden be-
laying pins, iron MARINE spikes and 9TH
CT miscellaneous things to fling at mems
heads by those in authority. Those cob
web like ropes had hard, thick ends ly-
ing coilcd on deck to lash mems bodies.
We, the six boys. were obliged to leave
our native heaths because there wasn't
..
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'Ao'V ~ .uo o''.' '''''t'' '''''.s' ina, wy
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The captain of the Wizard Was from
u ~ Wv -. ".'.'''e ~, sea- ','.
,'.e NV '',it' IVY '','' s"'pl''' "''''e'
.''"' 40 ~ '''o'. '
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A"oNs .ou' 'o.A' az nome. W, navy, ''
''' w nv mac
no CUISINES" ~ H'a.'' IT,
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~ "">o '"c .'"'i ,'' ~" io'"' ""
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t'H' oi''e', ''i'' o''S' 't'''"'' 'c."''Nc' VI
'"c ave VIZ" '.''" 37'i'' ~ ,"', "''''N''tu
nia'is "'''ei '',i'a' ".''e'' ''''S "'e''','
necessary ,of '''e u'c''''i' ~ carr Oh the
voyage 90 '!,'! pore """ II GA me VIA
'heti' ana "'"o most Oh '','s' goo"
people an 'a'iily l~''"ci' io''''ea "o"h'
III "u".''o" ~ Ia! o"" "ai''' " 40, al,
ASSORTED cargo CT CAKES SWct'n!caSS' lea
qni'!S' i'!o!eS. lritc'S ana one copy Z"
Dung NiSht thoughts Tor the boys
ale my last dinner as Tree nam at
broadway RESTAURANT anu tach went
t" the wharf where the snip lay Al