Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-03-15
THE MATES ANTIPATHY,
It Results in His Death in a Ter
rible Manner.

It Results in His Death in a Ter
rible Manner.
was dining with a merchant who re-
sided in tho picturesque lite town OF
Port Louis, Mauritius, when ! first met
old Captain Brundage. He had just
brought his ship from Calcutta, with
cargo in the lower hold, and a between
\ deck load of Indian coolies, under con-
! tract to work for a term OF years on the
sugar plantations. The captain told us
: that cholera had broken out soon after
they got clear of the Hooghley, and that
not only had it carried off some fifty OF
h the coolies, but it had reduced his crew
\ by four of the best men; and this the old
\ mar evidently took to heart, He was 4
A pleasant, white-haired and grizzle-
bearded veteran, hale and full OF en-
ergy. well-iniormcd, with good man
"A ners and plenty OF conversation. After
4 dinner we rode over the island and en-
loved the view over the harbor and
n along the hillside, and, presently, the
talk drifted on the trustworthincss OF
first impressions, and the origin and sig
nificance OF those curious diversions to
strangers which sometimes crop up in
Il the best regulated minds. Captain
Brundage listened for some little time,
and then said, in a reflective tone:
"Some years ago, at this very port, or
close to it, | witnessed the conclusion of
as strange a case Of sudden proposes
sion as, ! think, was ever heard Of"
OF course we all expressed a desire to
hear the story, and the captain, who
was a good narrator, proceeded to tell it
as follows:
"Ten years ago" he said, 81 was sail
ing from Liverpool to Bombay, when, in
a heavy gale just before reaching the
Cape Of Good Hope, | lost my second
mate, who was washed overheard in so
heavy a sea that it was impossible to
lower a boat. !, therefore, ran into the
Cape and shipped another mate. He
was a likely-looking young fellow, an
Englishman from the north, very steady,
pretty well as far as ~seamanship went,
but slow and inclined to distrust his
own abilitics--not a slight fault in an
officer. My first mate had sailed with
me before. His name was March; he
was a dark man, in the prime of life, a
fine sailor, an excellent navigator, quite
iactive in mind and body, full of re-
a%source and thoroughly trustworthy. ]
had always regarded him as of a cheer
Jul and agreeable disposition. and he got
bn we'll with all the men in the fore
castle who knew their duty, though he
was inclined to be severe with shirks
and the kind of ~half-baked frauds that
sign articles as able seamen, though
hey don't know enough to pass a serv-
ng-mallet let alone take their trick at
he wheel.
"Young Norris-that was the new
econd mates namc-came aboard two
three days before we sailed, and went
No work. ! soon noticed that he and
March didn't seem to cotton to one
mother, and took the first opportunity
81 speaking to March about it. To my
urprise, his face dark3ned the momen,
mentioned Norris, and a curious ex'
preston, suggestive of strong dislike
ind equally strong perplexity, passed
over his features. He was silent for 9
noment, then turned to me and said
ute eagerly, as though he felt a relic
n expressing his thoughts:
~"'Captain, it's a very curious thing
nd I'm half-inclined to be ashamed o
/, though | can't help it-but from tn,
rst moment | saw that man, ] hav'
atcd him. As ] have said, ne reason
oes to this feeling. 1t is simply al
Impression which the sight of hin
treated. All | can say further is, tina
is associated with a dim suggestion
don't know what else to call it-tha
his fellow will do me great harm HI
Solorcd a little and continued: 4 dar
Fay you will laugh at me. ] feel in
lined to laugh at myself, but somcho,
am always checked by the cropping u
4 the original aversion, which reall
s Hio W " Inv " '"' VI WANING u
anger
vi COURSE observed lnc captain
ia my best 10 iaugh OH 'he ma'e
soodihess' toia MN ne mus De oii'ou'
n prescribed oiue.mass lor hiln' an
iorth. But could see tha' the III
'ression had really beer deep that h
as in serious earnest, and mat he wa
s3rooding over the matter. dare say
hould have forgotten all about IL had
ot soon become apparent that March
fmper was changing Tor the wors'
I'D also that he was getting into IN
hd habit OF trying to haze the secon
ate. In snort MS aversion 10 the Ia
er was growing every day' ana whil
orris qua not share H. ana was gel
any imperturnaoly good-natured, I
as certain to find out sooner or late
pat his superior officer disliked hi
hd was trying to make his duty haI
Pr him.
"At last March, by and of broodir
yer his prepossessions, got into a dal
prous state of mind, as the incident
% going to relate will show:
1--WE were in. the Indian Ocean, ar