Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-12-15
CHAPTER L.

| CHA PIER i.
It ig an episode of ocean life, now a
| good many years old; but human ma
ture was the same then as it is now, and.
indeed, the older I grow the more find
human nature the same now as it was
then.
Business had carried me TO the East
Indies. had visited Madras, whence I
had proceeded to Calcutta, and from
Calcutta had made my way to Rangoon.
I stayed IN that place a month, by which
time my health had suffered so greatly
from the climate that I made up my
mind to. return to Europe in a sailing
ship that I might spend many long weeks
among the fresh breezes of the sea and
get all the benefit could out of the in
cessant changes of climate which a
voyage down the Indian Ocean and
round the Cape of Good Hope and up
the Atlantic provides you with.
There was full-rigged ship lying at
Rangoon, called the Biddy McDOugal, 1
heard, that would suit my convenience,
and as she looked comfortable, stout,
ship, I inquired the name of the agent,
called upon him and asked if L could get
a passage to England by his vessel. He
answered YES She was bound to
London; she was not a passenger ship.
but the captain would no doubt be glad
to accommodate me with a cabin. The
charge would be so much. I forget the
figure, but recollect that it was moder-
ate, something short of e40. For this
money was to live on such provisions
as were served up at the captains table,
but the spirits and wine I might need
must myself lay in.
Next day I went aboard the BiddY
McDougal to inspect her cabin accom-
mediation. On climbing over the gang
way 1 was received by tall, rather
good-loOking man, with face remark
able for its expression Of sternness. His
skin was blackened by exposure to the
sun and weather, and another shade Of
dye would have qualified him to pass
for a native. He frowned as he survey
ed me, and inquired my business on
board.
4 am going to England in this ship, &"
I said, "and I have come to see what
sort of a cabin I am to sleep in.
-Oh, beg pardoni" he exclaimed, but
without relaxing his stern expression.
I thought broke off and muttered
behind his teeth.
Who are you?" said I; "the mate?"
No, sir, L am the captain"
-Oh, indeed" I exclaimed. Pray,
what name?"
Mr.. Wilson, he answered. 1T Is a
fashion among the merchant seamen
who obtain command to style them
selves captain. It is piece of imper-
thence. The only captains at sea are
in the royal navy. A merchant skipper
is a master mariner. All merchant cap
tains are misters. am plain Mr. VIII
son, at your service, sir.
He spoke with considerable heat, but
I was willing to attribute his temper to
the weather, which was certainly very
trying. And then, again, his men might
have given him trouble, for numerous
and deep are the worries and anxieties
OF the British shipmaSter. Much is ex-
pected Of him and little is given. His
crew is slender and ignorant; it charge
upon him every outrage that is perpe-
trated by the owner, and often would
the men be glad to cut his throat before
the land is out of sight; he has no pro-
fessional prospects, and when at last he
runs his ship ashore or loses her in a
gale Of wind or by fire and is compelled
by court Of inquiry to withdraw from
the vocation which he has pursued, if
not adorned, man and boy, for perhaps
forty years, there is no other port under
his lee for him to bring up in than the
establishment at Belvedere, which, re-
greet TO say, is always in want of funds
and always inconveniently full.
Therefore it was that when Mr.. Will
son spoke with heat about ship-mas-
tiers styling themselves captains made
allowances, as the phrase goes, and,
after briefly aquiescing in his views, re-
quested to be allowed to see the cabin
the agent had offered me. I viewed
that cabin, and found it small and ILL
lighted, but, on the whole, it was a bet
ter cabin than had expected to find on
board such ship as the Biddy McDou-
gal. The staterOom in which the meals
were taken, was tolerably cheerful in
terror, very plainly furnished, with a
large skylight over the table, stove for
cold weather, a lamp, a clock in the sky
light, and big telescope in the com
panion-way. There were three cabins
forward and two cabins abaft. NV
cabin was forward, on the starboard
side.
Mr.. Wilson and I went on deck. and
we stood conversing while under the
shelter OF an awning. 1 inquired as to
the number of the crew, the time the
ship had occupied in making the out
ward passage, and so on, and then went
ashore, understanding that the vessel
would not sail for another week.
Three days later paid a second visit
to the ship, for by this time had pur-
chased what I needed, and wished to
see where the cases and parcels had
been slowed. On stepping on board I
beheld an immensely stout, red-faced
man with a white straw hat on his head,
| dressed In white drill, seated in a chair
with poles attached to it under the short
awning, which sheltered portion Of the
quarterback. Two or three sailors were
Longing in the fore part of the ship.
There was no work apparently doing. I
looked for Mr.. Wilson, the master, and
seeing nothing Of him, directed my
eyes in search of any man who might
resemble the mate.
Pray, what's your business" called
out the stout, red-faced man, without
attempting to rise.
I wish to see the captain, said I.
Well; you are looking at him." he an
swered.
4 do not see him, exclaimed, cast
ing my gaze around.
why, he can't be as blind as all
that. cried the stout, red-faced man, in
noisy, roaring, yet greasy voice, which