Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-12-12
LOST AND RECOVERED.

LOST AND RECOVERED.
In the year 1859 was employed as second
mate on the ship Lady Bliss, which voy-
aged between the Cape of Good Hope and
India ports. She was stanch, tidy and
well found craft, and Capt. Berry was part
owner. had made the trip from the cape
to Bombay twice when the adventures l
nm about to relate had their beginning.
The crew numbered twelve men, and as
is usually the case fresh lot of men was
shipped for each voyage. alone had made
the three trips without change, and this
was because Capt. Berry had taken a great
liking to me. l could have gone as first
mate, being perfectly competent to navi-
gate the ship, but had an operation per-
formed on one of my eyes and did not dare
to risk the responsibilities of the position
At each trip we had had a new first mate,
and a strange one came aboard at Bombay
to go back to the cape He was introduced
to me as Mr.. Hall, but it isn't at all prob
able that that was his name. He was a big,
strong fellow, Il thorough sailor, and | had
no reason to believe that we should not get
along together. The captain, too, seemed to
like him, and the crew as whole was above
the average.
We had been out three days before
found that Mr.. Hall was queer man. If
the word anarchist" had then been coined
it was not familiar to the public. The
ideas advanced by the masses today were
then unheard of. The mate began a con
versation which resulted in making me
suspicious of him. The ship belonged to a
company which owned five others. Each
craft was known to be we'll found and well
manned, and could always have its pick of
men for a crew. | was more than aston
ished to hear Mr.. Hall declare that the
company was making too much money
and becoming too much of power in the
land They were building up, he declared,
at the expense of the sailor. No man, firm
or corporation had any moral right to SO
much wealth and power. God had design
ed that all should share alike; one man had
no right to roll in wealth while another
wanted for bread, and SO forth, and so
FORTH He took the same line which all the
well known anarchists and socialists have
adopted and followed since, and | could
not doubt that he was deeply in earnest.
While the conversation led me to believe
that he was holding dangerous views,
there was nothing for me to worry about.
AS for repeating his words to the captain.
the idea never entered my head.
1t wasn't long before Hall sought occa-
sion to sound me again, and | suddenly
made the discovery that he had been tam
pering with the men. had not seen him
talking with them, but two or three of
them assumed such an independent bear
ing that it was plain the seed had fallen on
fruitful soil The crew was made up of
rovers = English, American, Dutch and
l4ascars. Not more than two could claim
fhe same nationality When we had been
out five days, and during my watch in the
evening, | overheard enough of a CONVEX
sation between three Of the men to satisfy
me that Hall had deliberately gone to work
to create dissatisfaction and Il mutinous
spirit had entire charge of the deck at
the time. and having given some necessary
order | watched and saw it obeyed in a
manner to prove that there was something
very wrong with the men-at least the
men in my watch. Sailors always growl
more or less, no matter how well situated,
but, unless on the point of mutiny, are
prompt to obey an order. In this case the
men lounged forward in an impudent way,
each one growing below his breath, and
plainly caught the words of one of them as
he said:
On the company We are just as
good men as they areP'
| did not let on that heard it, nor did
l reprove them for their want of prompt
ness. Had been sure of Mr. Hall it would
have been different. If he had been talk
ing to the crew as he talked to me then
had matter on hand to be handled very
carefully was veXed and worried, but
decided to wait.
Next day in my watch we had to break
out cask of beef from the hold. Even
with the captain on deck smoking his cigar
the men Jagged and exhibited their i'm
pudence. When the tackle was let down
through the forehatch one of the men de-
scended to make it fast to the cask. He
fused around for five minutes, growing
and swearing, and when | swung myself
down and sharply reproved him for his
want of energy he ripped out at me:
"Oh, yesl We've got to break our backs
to pileup the dollars for the nabobs ashore
They'd sell the hearts blood of every Jack
aboard for pound motel"
Acting under the regulations governing
any ship, should have knocked him down.
passed his remarks without word, feel
in my heart that the whole crew must be
dead ripe for mutiny. intended to go to
the captain as soon as my watch was over,
but | had waited too long just as we
hauled the cask on deck Hall came ont of
the cabin. His appearance was signal to
the men to knock off and crowd aft. Hall
walked over to the captain and calmly said:
Capt. Berry, do you believe that one
man has right to grow rich at the eX-
pense of another?"
"W what do you mean, sir?" gasped the
astonished captain.
81 mean that | am tired of watching,
working and shaving for the profit of
others The company is too rich and AFRO
gans It has its foot on too many sailors
necks"
go to your cabin, sirl l suspend you
from duty!" shouted Capt Berry, who was
both amazed and indignant.
mot so FAST captain" replied Hall,
smiling blandly. I'VE have concluded to
take charge of the Lady Bliss. We have
decided to strike for our rights. We have
been slaves long enough"
The captain was speeches. with amaze
ment. 1t had come upon him SO suddenly
that he could not collect his wits. AS he
stood like one bereft of ear and voice Hall
continued:
"As you are part owner you belong to
the class which is eating out our lives. We
have no use for you. Men, get the gig
ready. Now, then, Mr.. Refer, are you
with us or no?"
"Do you mean that you have taken pos
session of the ship?" asked.
Exactly" :.
"And what is your programmed"
1--WE have shaved for the company long
enough. We Will now go INTO business on
our own account"
''How?"
"We have been robbed; we will rob
Others"
At this the crew set up loud cheer, and
it was evident that they were with him to
man. 1t was no time for argument-to
point out Inconsistencies. They had com
planned of being oppressed; they now
proposed to Cypress others. They had COM
planned that the company was piling up