The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-17
TIE CARPENTERS MATE.

Twenty years ago I commanded one of
their vessels, the Norseman, of the old Al
lesworth line of Liverpool. She was in the
East India trade at the time, and was
about TO make my first voyage as master.
had been with her the previous voyage in
the capacity of chief mate, and was more
than pleased when the firm called me into
! their private Office and offered me the com
mand of the ship.
/ had just been married, and il is need.
/ less TO say that l accepted the firms offer,
/ at the same time arranging TO have my
/ wife accompany me on the voyage.
~ have favor to ask of you, Capt.
Thornton" said Mr.. Burlingame, the SEN
/ Tor partner, when we were alone, "and I
/ rely upon your honor to keep the matter
/ confidential"
/ l bowed, and Mr.. Burlingame went on:
My daughter Evelyn has become infat-
uated with one of my clerks, and he has
/ had the assurance to ask her hand in mar
riGge. He has been dismissed from our
! employ, and I have seen nothing of him
since. Ny daughter has taken the matter
TO heart, and | have decided to send her
out with you on voyage, in the hope that
the change of scene and the companionship
of your wife and yourself may bring back
the roses to her cheek. Anything you can
do to assist in having her forget this
wretched infatuation will be appreciated. 4"
I had little faith in my ability to cause
Miss Evelyn TO forget her lover; besides,
rs l had just entered the married state N.Y.
self, could hardly be expected TO sympa-
thize with plan for the separation Of two
loving hearts, but | Promised to care for
the shipowner's daughter as far as was in
my power, and the interview terminated.
The following morning my wife and
went aboard the Norseman, which was iy-
ing at anchor in the Mersey. at o'clock
Mr.. Burlingame and his daughter came
aboard. The latter was a handsome Young
lady of % years, but her sweet face was
pale and sad, and although she said moth
ing, it was evident that the thought of
leaving home affected her deeply.
Farewells were over, the anchor was
aweigh and Mr.. Burlingame, after part
ing grasp of the hand, and a whispered adj
monition to take good care OF Evelyn"
stepped aboard the tender and returned to
shore. We were towed down the Mersey,
CROSSED the bar, and dismissing our tug
pilot, bore away for the Cape of Good
Hope.
After we were well under way all hands
were called aft TO choose watches As the
crew fled by one Of their number, a fine
looking young fellow, attracted my atten-
ton.
"Who is that young mani" 1 asked,
pointing him out 10 MIR. Eyerson, my chief
mate.
Kenneth Gardner; he shipped as car
penter's mate" was the reply.
Just rs the crew ranged themselves in a
line, little abaft the mainmast, the ladies
came on deck and walked forward to where
was standing.
As turned TO greet them l was startled
by scream from Miss Burlingame, and
the next moment l was holding her limp
form in my arms. She was at once taken
below and soon recovered consciousness.
but could give no explanation of her faint
ing fit.
We were scarcely two weeks out before I
noticed great change in Miss Burlin-
game. The roses had returned 70 her
cheeks, and she seemed well pleased with
her situation aboard the Norseman
She went all over the ship, sometimes
accompanied by my wife, and sometimes
alone Several times l noticed her in con-
versation with the carpenters mate, aud,
my curiosity being aroused, walked for
ward one day and got into conversation
with him.
| found Gardner an intelligent fellow.
possessing a surprising familiarity with
the rules of navigation and all matters
pertaining to the merchant marine. I
thought it a little singular that a man Of
his intelligence and apparent ability had
no better position than that OF carpenters
mate on an English merchantmen, and
told him SO.
His reply was that his limited resources
had prevented his gratifying in any other
way his passion for travelling and seeing
the world. The explanation was not sat
isfactOry, but look into the handsome,
manly face convinced me that whatever
his reasons were for being or the Morse
man in his present capacity they did not
concern me, and l asked him no further
questions on the matter.
In due time we doubled the Cape of
Good Hope, ran the castings down. and
crossing the Bay Of Bengal sighted one
morning the low sandhills and later the
fat, sandy coast at the mouth OF the Hoog-
ley. We took aboard q native pilot. and
were soon lying az anchor AZ Garden
Reach, about seven miles below Calcutta
! went ashore, accompanied by my wife
snd Miss Burlingane.
During the voyage the Young ladv had
regained her health and spirits, and had
become well acquainted with the carDen-
tiers mate While he took 10 Liberties I
began 10 feel anxious about tie matter.
and regretted that the handsome youth
was a member Of ny crew. / pitied the
poor clerk left in old England and medi-
lated on the fickleness Of woman.
At Calcutta we loaded a cargo o. jute
for Melbourne and put 20 sea On the
morning Of the sixth day out the barome-
ter began 10 fall rapidly, and as the
.yphoon season was at hand felt little
anxious. although there was 10 indication
1f danger in he clear sky and the light /.
breeze which famed the surface OF Us I
Indian ocean
About 2 O'Clock IN TIE afternoon TIE sky
to windvsrd showed signs o, a gathering
storm Professional PRIDE tod ne too1ovd .
on all sal so long a. TIE vieG continued .
fair, bet experience whispered thst the
hives OF tie ships Crew, ny wife ana Miss
depended 20 a great extent
upon nv seamanship snd good judgment
considered the matter few MINUTES. and +
then. sunmouing the chief mate. said.
Mr. Eve-sou. cal sIl hands. take IN the .
light sail. send down the srudciuzssil 4
yards and Ooons, skysail- ROYAL and TOP
gallant yards fore ana aft, and close reef
he topSsiis and courses"
t. -..aA -A.-. A.f. 81 h..~a -.