Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-03-09


spent at sea. This is one of the best and
/, finest ships under the "stsrry fag," and a
Christmas here is about the same as on
board of all other American ships of this
class The day is usually given at sea as
holiday, wherein there is nothing done
except the work needed In the sailing Of
the ship. The sailors sometimes get up
private theatricals upon such occasions.
some of which are laughable at least. My
crew consists of twenty men representing
ten different nations, only two Of the
ships company being native born Ameri
cans, myself being one Of these. This
day all are in clean clothes, and look like
what they really are, very good lot of
sailors. as sailors in American ships are
found now days. We have the worst, and
best. of all nations seamen. Our better
food and better pay attract the seamen
of other nations merchant marine to ours.
l once heard of an "old shell" who
said that,
"For many years,
He gaily sailed whaler.
And when he wanted exercise,
He gaily wbaled sailor"
This custom of whaling a sailor" for
simple pastime, like many other customs.
has passed away--if 1t ever existed but
the fact that American ships are noted all
over the world for the neat seamsnlike
style in which their spars and gear are kept,
their cleanliness, laying far over all other
ships, and the severe and exact discipline
on buSrd of them-ueeded more from the
mixed character Of their crews-make it
necessary TO occasionally resort to a little
of the exercise above mentioned. There
Is one exception to the ships of other
nations. The ships of the British Prov
inces are so much like American ships In
those charac cteristics mentioned, that the
sailor doesn't know which flag flies over
him.
say my crew is very good crew be-
cause, in the last nine months, there have
not been more than hve or six little
"shindes" on board, aud none Of them of
a serious nature. Olt Of n tiock Of six
dozen hens, when left Manila, | had kept
fourteen. some of which were furnishing
eggs for the cabin, with the intention Of
giving all hands chicken stew Christmas
and New Years. But thing do not al
ways pan out as We propose; in one Of the
severest gales ever encountered of that
delectable corner of the creation known
as the Cape OF Good Hope, though the
SHIPS rail Is twenty ynne feet above the
water level, she was thrown down low
enough under close reefcd ID ZZen and
lower main-topsail to Ill her waist. and
drowned eight hens in one coop amid
ships; which means no chickens New
Years for US. The other six will have
passed away before night.
The mems Christina, dinner began at
break fast time, | having told the steward
to give them Mrce of the best meals he
could during the day. All have seemed TO
be- happy. even the last refractory member
OF the ships company, who took 1t into
his silly head one night about four weeks
ago 10 the Indian Ocean. that he could run
the show more to ms satisfaction than the
powers that were coull d. il, and was
foolish enough 10 try the job In about
l20 seconds he looked a. though he had
been In the hands of all artist aud he had
become firmly convinced that be had bit
D. i
retired to q part of the ship where there
was no danger of his getting wet when it
rained, and with Il set of glittering steel
bracelets on. he meditated upon the past,
and possible events Of the future. After
three days meditation and wrestie with a
bill Of fare tnat was represented by three
characters & w.-he concluded that
there were other things he could do better
than run the ship, thereby showing his
good judgment for once in his life, and
accepting the terms which | required,
gladly returned to his duty and his share
Of this Christmas dinner. As he tips the
beam to about go pounds avordupos it
goes without telling" that his will be a
whole share.
This letter upon being looked over seems
to touch upon rather too many subjects to
be called Ramble in England. 1t rather
seems to be one continual rambIe from one
matter to another with little sensible con
nection or relation one with another. But
am little disconnected myself this pas
sage ION the wrong side too learned
at St. Helena that three ships-two of
which | was in company with of Good
Hope-passed St. Helena few hours
ahead Of me. They have beaten me in this
light S. +. trade wind belt, they being
light loaded from China, and my ship deep
from Manila. hope to make connections
before reaching Sandy Hook if the N, E.
trades blow hard enough. Z. V. L.
South Atlantic. Christmas. 81.