Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-01

didn't extend to checker-boards, for he un-
derstood me to say that would find .
chance to "chuck 'em overboard;" so down
he came with FIRE in his eve, and in a
minute there was the livliest kind of fight
in progress. Science is of no avail in q
forecastle, with the floor all saturated with
grease and the chests leaving only passage
way. Anything is falr-kick, bite or
scratch-and too often a knife finally and
seriously enters into such affairs. On this
occasion we were pulled apart by the rest,
and the mistake was explained, but we
never became very friendly, and both car
ried some ugly bruises for some time.
One of the "gees" was bright young
chap, and when he came on board at Brava
the mate asked his name, as is customary,
to enter it in the tablets of his memory for
use when the youths services were re-
quired. The little chap responded glibly:
Juan Ignacia de Francisco
The expression on the mates face was q
study for painter. He let out a string of
his choicest oaths, and, pointing to the fore
castle, finally ripped out:
go to the devil-your name Is John
Smith,
And John Smith it was from that day.
A few days after my trouble with Enos q
large school of porpoises came under our
bows and the second mate struck one with a
harpoon. We had an agreeable change
from salt meat, for while porpoise steaks
would hardly equal tenderloin, they tasted
very delicious to poor Jack. The brains
were fried in meal for the cabin, and are
really delicacy. 1 secured the lining of
the porpoise's stomach, and with the aid of
our carpenter and an old cheese box manu-
factured a rude but serviceable banjo, which
beguiled many weary hour In the dog
watch. There were four of US Americans
who made very fair quartet, and often
when 'tgamming" another vessel we were
sent for to come to the cabin and entertain
the shippers with our music Our reper-
toire was very extensive, if not choice, and
we always received unbounded applause,
and, to Offset the satisfaction it gave us, we
were often treated by some of the crew in a
manner which showed US how jealous they
felt of our popularity.
By this time we were all we'll up in our
duties on shipboard, and all our watch
could take 'trick" at the wheel in fine
weather. 1 was gaining in health and
strength. In fact, was in splendid condi-
tion, and must have weighed 200 pounds, at
least. Our duties were light. We had
watch and watch" always, and the only
break in the monotony was to hoist up
cask OF water once week to fill the "scut-
tie butt" and once month the "slop
chest" was opened and the goods displayed
to tempt us. Brogans which on shore
would be dear at 80 cents were 50 80. Thin
cotton shirts, 50. Flannel shirts, So 80 and
poor tobacco 81 per pound. Each man was
allowed to draw one pound per month. and
those who had no use for it took it just the
same and traded it with the others for
clothes, knives, etc. Being an inveter-
ate consumer myself, I was obliged
to develop a talent for tattooing,
and many sailor to-day carries
rhe indeiible results of my labor
in various portions Of his anatomy.
1 had monopoly and worked it for all it
was work. My fee was one pound of to-
bacco. paid in advance, and reaped quite
an harvest. Later in the voyage, when no
one cared to be butchered further, set up
in marine painting, and with some old
water colors and unbounded confidence
embellished the inside covers Of the chests
with terrific battles with whales, boats shoot
ing into the sir, etc, while the sea was always
blood red in the foreground.
1 was in the first flush of success at tattoo
ing when We had our first exciting adven-
ture with the sperm whales, which will
serve for another chapter.
To Be Continued Neat S,snday1