The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-11
SAILORS FARE.
A Young Tar Who Gould Not Got
used to It.
IIo Accordingly Stolo tho Ship Cat's I;a-
tions and Got Into Trouble Ovor 1t
Rough Experience of
Runaway.

colors do not bring them under my pet
aversion. but black cats! Ugh! And |
this is why:
A dozen years ago, perhaps, shipped
as n boy before the mast aboard large |
clipper ship bound for San Francisco
via Cape Horn. l aul mentioning no
names for obvious reasons, as will APP
pear later on. Nor will I enter into
particulars regarding the trials and
horrors (for me) of that voyage. Enough
to say that ran away from comfort
able and luxurious home to partalSc Of
the alleged joys (?) of u life on tho
ocean wave" had rather be many
things now than sailor.
The captain, u stern, austerc, old
shell back" was part owner of the
vessel He hailed from Cape Cod
"If you want poor grub" the sailors in
formed me, lust ship under u Cape Cod
Yankee skipper, an you've got it."
may say right here that 1 had every
reason during the voyage to accept the
above statement without any roscrva-
ton whatever.
The captain had on board as pets two
enormous black cats of the male per-
suasion. Tom and Jerry wcro their
names These fclines werc given the
freedom of the ship from the start, and
by the captains strict orders they en-
joycd an immunity from all Interference
or molestat;on that the ancient cats OF
| Egypt might have envicd. From tho
captains table they were fed daily just
in front of the cabin door Oh scraps and
sundry delicacics. 1t used to stick In my
gorge somewhat after going to she galley
for my allowance Of link" and lob
scouse," to watch those Gets quietly
feeding On fried chicken nnd other
things that my own daily diet led mo
to think belonged to the dead past
On several occasions, when no one
was looking, had driven the Gets away
! from their meals, which dcvourcd with
intense relish l had invariably been
scratched on these occasions, and this
by no means increased my lovo for the
captains pets.
had succeeded one day In capturing
mess of corned-bccf hash. when was
detected by the captain in the act OF
transferring the same TO my own di-
gestive apparatus 1t only amounted
to few ticks with ropes end and be-
ing deprived of my watch below for that
night; but my hatred for those fclines
now knew no bounds. Besides, they
were fed in the cabin after this, which
was, of course, tabooed ground for me-
All! thought I. If could only catch one
of you chaps some dark night /. 1t
was dark and stormy that evening.
was stationed aft near the poop steps,
and more wretchcd specimen of hui
mainly would be hard to imagine than
l was as the seas broke over tho side
and drenchcd me to the skin.
My foot struck against something
soft, There was u plaintivc meouw.
Locked out, by thunder" said L
"lIerc, puss, puss!" It was Tom. no
other. With q sudden movement had
the creature by the back of the neck.
Here's for that last scratch, Tom"
said l. and Tom was forthwith launched
out into the storm. There was com
motion on board the following morning.
The captain eyed INC susp!ciously and
remarked carclessly TO the mate: IF
thought that cub had hand il this I'd
heavc him overheard"
After this jerry was great pct of
the captain and steward. Once l occi-
dentally stepped on Jcrry's tail and was
bitten and scratched on the leg.
"Scrvcd you right. you young Shclp,"
|
near, by way Of consolation. Once
again was 1 scratched by Jerry, who
had wandered by me with q chicken
bone In his mouth. The GRUB" that
day had been particularly bad, nnd the
sight of the chicken bone was more than
/ could stand. l didn't capture the bone,
but received instead another walloping
from the captain, who had witnessed
the occurrence.
We were only n weeks distance from
port. The ship was being general
ly scrapcd and painted and it had fallen
to my lot to manipulate the tar barrel
This consisted of stirring the mess
about, with n heavy bar, as one would
churn butter. Both the captain and
mate had gone below for dinner. The
sailors were all busily occupied for'ard
The tar barrel was about amidships-
looked around and discovered Jerry
quietly sleeping, spread out on the
main hatch.
l don't know what put it into my
head, but wondered how Jerry would
like it if. There was u sudden move.
mcnt on my part, q sound of scufiling,
which brought the mate out to SEQ what
was the matter. WIS pounding away
ut the tar barrel for dear lifo.
'Ilcrc, don't work so hard at that tar"
exclaimed the mate. then relaxed my
efforts. There were three feet of soft
tnr in that barrel, and l have since
wondered whether they ever found the
remains of Jerry at the bottom. They
certainly didn't during this particular
voyage, and left the ship as soon aa
we reached San Francisco.