Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-12-28
rLooclNa BRITISH seAMgN.
now the Cat Was Formerly Used In tn
Eu.-IIal. NM

How the Cat Was Formerly Used In the
English Navy.
Tho following graphic description Of the
manner in which the "cat" used TO be ad'
ministered in tAe royal navy is from the
pen of an able seaman;
now gave a look to thep oorfello who
was logged yesterday. lie is u Welsh
man, aged 60, and came from London to
the gold diggings in the Tynemouth, and
turned out very bad fellow, spent his
money instead of going to the diggings,
and Joined the ship az boy just when
did We'll, he has been punished all sorts
of ways. lie was imprisoned for a month,
but still he was abusive to every one--the
essence Of blackguard although well
educated and of good family lie was
huted by all on board. At length he at
tempted TO desert, was caught, put in
irons-wrists and anliles-and kept lying
on the lower deck all night, just below my
hammock, swearing awfully.
Yesterday morning, Mt q o'clock, we
heard the order, GAN hands clear for quar-
tors"
We knew directly the tragedy about to
be enacted. | cleaned, went to the cabin
and quietly began to write. 1 saw the
marines putting on their cross belts, the
officers doBuing their best uniforms. Pres
emily the captain came into the cabin in
full uniform. Then he gave the order,
AN hands aft" They all crowded up,
the doctor among the rest, all in fall
uniform and dress swords. The prisoner
was brought forward, Sowing on all
sides. The officers and men removed their
caps, and the Sentence was regd. Then
two quartermasters stepped forward and
dashed the prisoners wrists and ankles 10
an upright Rangway lndder. Then he
was stripped to the waist, and a canvas
cloth tied round his loins to catch the
blood from his back. Now the boatswain's
mate appeared with the dreaded "catn in
his hand. The handle was about IS inches
long, and the nine tails about two feet
long, of whipcord the size of quill pen.
The mHto measured the distance and
gave the "cat" IA swift swing round his
head. The prisoner gave a smothered cry,
aud nine blood red streaks appeared on
his back. Zone" cried out the master
ut arms. l turned my head aside and
saw tho chief engineer bury his face in his
hands.
"Two, three four" repeated tho loud
voice. dared not look, but heard the
sharp, shrill swish OF the "cat," rs, in
measured time, it fell upon tho mans
back. His cries now became loud and ag-
onizing.
give, " soid tho muster at arms
ooh, mercyln replied the bleeding pris-
oner.
"Six."
ooh, heaven"
"Scvcn.n
"strike my ribs; oh, strike my ribs;
let's have change Of position"
"Eight."
"Oh, you brute" cried the prisoner.
turning to the captain, who stood looking
on at the tragedy with solemn eyes.
"Nino,n cried the master at arms.
"Do your duty, sir, " said the first leu
tenant to the perspiring mate, and tho
mate stopped for moment 10 clean with
his fingers the clotted thongs Of his "cat "
Then he threw the whole swing of his
body into "teu." The Welshmnn uttered
yell that was heard by the sentry on the
forecastle of the flagship, Mt anchor two
miles Of
"Eleyen twelvel Chanter," cried out
the lieutenant, aud the boutswnin's mate
Of that name took the cat for l2 more
and so on, fresh mate for every IL, until
the whole 4s lashes were delivered leay-
ing the youth miserable, bleeding spec
tacle.--London Tit-Bias.