Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1890-01-29

so soon to be misera-
bic, gathered in cluster on deck. Jed
Coles proposed that We "spin yarns" 1t
was the nautically correct way of pass
ing tho time. So We 'spun yarns" or
Mt least Jed did. He had batch ready
for the occasion. He sat on n tub, put
an enormous chew Of tobacco i'll his
mouth, hitchcd up his trousers and felt
every inch II sailor. noticed the second
mate, that incarnation of evil and bru-
tality. lowering about US, dark rs it was.
saw his fiendish grin and the glare Of
his grecnish eye. A precious lot Of
young fools we must have seemed to
him. A little after our yarn spinning
was interrupted by shrieks and cries Of
distress proceeding from tho forward
part of the ship. We had then our first
exhibition OF the manner Of enforcing
American merchant service discipline.
The second mate was beating Cum
mings, simple being, who, having
sailed only III "forc and aft coastin2
vessels, had made the mistake Of ship
ping as an ordinary seaman on a square
rugged craft, and was almost rs much ut
sea in his knowledge Of the ropes as the
boys" This officer had singled out
Cummings for his awkwarlncss as the
proper man to "haze." lie was shower
ing upon him blows. thick and fast, with
the end of one of the forcbraccs. 1t was
the first time had ever seen a man
beaten by one in authority. The cring-
ing attitude, the cries. sobs and suppl
cations of full grown man. and the
oaths and terrible ferocity Of his casti
gator, were incxpressibly shocking to
mo. The incident, which was often re-
peatcd during the voyage, broke up our
amateur EARNING and made us very
thoughtful.
Jedediah Coles was not at all nautical
ly loVuacious the next night. Then the
Gulf Stream gave us u touch of its tam
trums. All during the afternoon the
sky grew moro and moro threatening.
BY dark it was blowing hard. The
lighter sails one by one were slowed.
Then it blew harder. The mate swore
the harder. The captain came on deck
and sworc at everybody. One Of the
boys" asked him if he thought it would
he stormy. He considered himself priv
LEGGED to ask the captain that que. ton.
He was native of the same village.
His father and the captain were friends,
and his mother and the captains wife
visited each other. So Ec deemed it
advisable to establish, himself Oh socia-
BILE fo.cing with the captain ut the com
menccmcnt of the voyage. Poor boy!
Never again during the trip did he con-
salt the captain meteorologically. He
learned speedily the great gulf which
yawns between the cabin and the fore
castle.
1t grew dark. the waves became big
ger and bigger, and the ship seemed
taxed to her utmost trying to gambler
them one after another as they presented
themselves. The mates came out in
their uilshins.
When the order came to reef, and
saw the men clamse.ins up the fore and
main rigging | added myself to their
number, though | felt | should never
come down again at least in one piece.
1t was my debut aloft off soundings
Many time had clamhercu about the
rigging Of the Oil wlialers Is they lay nj
the village wharf. but they were not
roaring. kicking aiid l.!unging like this
vessel. Heavy ~amen's boots kicked
me- in til" face rs followed their wear
CTS up this awful ascent; ether heavy
boots trol on my fingers: they shook the
ratlineS. t,o. III i most uncomfortable
manner. The mast strained ant, Yroaned
fearfullv. Somehow, after climbing
over some awful ci,asns. got on the
yard with the mon. dared not go out
far. The foot rope wohbicI. jcrked and
gave way under me ut times with the
weight AMI motion az the men upon it,
The great sail seemed in no humor To Ike
furlrL. 1t hauled away from US. bcllie,l.
pulled and kept upa gigantic series OF
laundering tl,ps. Laying over Oh tn,
yard the men would gather in as much
ot the hard. wet. wire!inc canvas as pos
s.blc and then together haul back on it,
This objected to Ii VA, risky enough
to lay Olit On an enormous stick sixty
feet III the mir, while the wind tore our
voices from us and seemed to huri the
words tar away ore they had we'll got
out Of our mouths. and the white topped
waves. dimlv sr,n below. seemed leap
lag up and snaiching ct Us. But ut that
hight. and anil all that motion. to bal
| a,,ce ones body Oh the stomach. grasp
| With ou:s;rc.shcd arms q bard roll al