The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-01-30
THE TARS ON SHORE

heartily tired of the dull monotony of
our California life ere we had been in
Monterey three months To be confined
on board ship in harbor is wearisome
enough at any time, but more especially
IN 30 hfeless a port as Monterey wa
then.
In places Of so great resort for men-of
war as Rio or Valparaiso various it,l-
incidents kept the mind excited an
caused time 10 pass quickly if not plea>
antly.
At different times some saluting took
place in the harbor, and the cause Of j.
formed topic for general conversasion
among the men But n Monterey bay
there were none Of these things-no
bumboats, no strange vessels coming il.
or going out, nothing to see or TO do o.
to think about
A more tedious life than ours coulc
not therefore well be. This experience
was that of all the crew. not excepting
even the officers, and heartily glad we.e
we when it began TO be whispered abou'
that our sailing day was not far distan,
The bOatswain's hoarse summons =
all hands up anchor for the Unise-i
States" was received with three cheers
The capstan bars few around. the ancLo->
were quickly at the bows and the toy
sails sheeted home and hoiSted, and a
the ships head swung TO the breeze We
manned the rigging and gave three time
nh ~-A;1h @ov.3i1 ~
TUNED by the crews Of some half dozen
men-of-war then II port
With favoring winds all the way. no.
being detained by the usual calm In
crossing the line, we arrived. after e
forty-ix DAYS In. at Valparaiso.
Here al hands were given a run OF
shore-a privilege of which we were 10;
sss-ry "a avail ourselves
As -omeward Founders we were
looked up to ashore and among the crews
Of the other men-of-war m the harbor ~
fortunate beings, and it was with feel
ing of pity that we looked down uyr,s,
tie poor fellows who were doomed IL
Iass another year or two upon the sta
ton" and presumed not little upon our
superior fortune
The ships company was divided into
tour shore parties. each division being
allowed three days liberty.
Il was usual TO make the division
IN such cases by watches or quarter
watches, but In this case it was made
up from good behavior book kept by
the captain and commander, those who's
e%ro1 h-.xl-% %hSc H-a5v1S~
United to 60 first On shore, while those
whose previous conduct had placed them
lower were reserved for the last party
Among this last party were of course
included ali the worst drunkards anG
Wild fellows, and as often happens a;
sea, those whose characters for sobrie;y
and general orderliness Of behavior stool
lowest on the captain book were at the
same time the smartest men In the ship
the very best seamen.
Having no liberty men TO follow them
this last party determined upon having
a grand spree. and agreed not TO come
Of to the ship until they were fairly
driven On board Accordingly, whe-
their allotted three days were ont. bu;
very few came off: the rest stowing
themselves away where there was every
thing which a sailors heart desires
awaited the turn Of events Such actor
was hardly prepared for on board. an
one days grace was given them In which
20 render themselves q. Scarcely &
man ayailed himself of this. those who
still remained having organized them
selves into a hand determined TO resis,
any attempt at forcible capture and Il
return On board voluntarily when they
had their spree out
The second day after the expiration o.
their liberty notice was given the vlSl
iantes ashore that twenty shilings re
ward would be paid for every man o.
the crew returned on board
Several who had carelessly strayet
shout town were brought aboard in th'
Z course Of the day, the reward for theil
capture coming of course, as it Away
1 did In such cases, out Of their OWL
pockets
The third day came, and now the re
1 ward for each man taken was raised I,
1 forty shillings. This set the entire po
leo force Of Valparaiso agog, as it wa
known that there were still nearly 10
men ashore, and the reward for thei
rAufure would prove neat little sum
TIE fars by this time had had their spre'
ont md were quite willing to return OIL
Iaoard, but not as captives. and, wors'
80 with the prospect of paying TO
: Ter own capture. The vigilantes, how
y e.ysr. were unwilling to allow their pre-,
a escape 30 easily. and refused to lie
8 sien 40 except as prisoners.
ssWeIl.- said one Of the party whel
~ 80 news had been brought TO them b,
q - az their number who had been Il
i,oId : psrley with the police. ''if the.
nk Is let iem come and get rs. AM
80 = be ready for 'em. boys. for W
net aboard today somehow.
AIl hands DUw armed. some havin;
-. some hammers, others oil