The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-31
THE OLD WHALING DAYS.
Things as They Used to Be On Thi.
Coral Strand.

FIR IN "reminiscences which are being
printed in the New Bedford Standard
the following is taken:
"rhe Sandwich Islands always have
been a refuge for the worst class of
human beings; { men who have made
their way thlther from the haunt OF the
bleach combers' in China and from
the prison pens Of Australia. When
from time to time the Arctic bound
whalers make harbor at these islands
exchanges are made through force OF
circumstances and the men who started
away from home port and who have
had all they want Of life on a whaler
willingly make room by desertion for
those who have become satlateS with
lfe on the islands, and right here the
| trouble Of the officers begins They
are obliged To receive among their
crew men who cannot bear the slightest
RESTRAINT, save WHEN fitted with ball
and chain, aud who take especial de
light in stirring up trouble among their
new mates who are generally ignorant
AID weak h. AIDED and ready for any
thing to change the mon t ny of their
Iexistence When the Montreal reached
the Sandwich Islands, on her cruising
about the South Pacific, she had jast
1.-THE same sort of eXperienC with de-
serterS and ex convicts, and when she
bore away for the Arctic sea a much
less able and confident man than Cap
tain Fish might have had reason to be
fearful OF results But he was man
Of powerful physique, If fine executive
ability, and his experience had taught
him that the only way to handle crew
Of the kind now under his care was to
inform them by the most direct meth, d
, lthat he was master of the ship. The
Montreal had not been out from Ho
nolulu twenty. four hours when he was
called upon to show his hand. Some
Y Of the contents of the hencoop had
been served forward by the cook the
r afternoon the snip sailed and m.re was
given as an extra dish in the morning
Consider bic noise was heard in the
? fOreCaStie on the occasion Of the hrS
\ meal, and an extensive and annoying
| imitation OF rooster Growing came tt
1.-The captains ears. He said nothing
but when it was repeated in the m m
l ing he sent one of the mates forward
= to see who was doing it. The author
boldly acknowledged his action, anc
swure that his voice was his own anC
( lhe'd do what he liked with it when he
-, was off duty He was called aft, ordered
t. st astride the spanker boon
y and IT, 60 right on with his Growing
y He refused and became ugly. Captain
T. Fish touched him up with ropes enc
until he opened his mouth aud CroweC
ike 90 d fellow, and he was hears,
when he got through but COM leteI.
cowed. This ST !ptd the funny bnsl
t ness until a few days after the morning
d watch was ordered by the officer IL
y charge If tn delk TO bend a ne>
= foretopsail. They refused, say'n
there wasn't enough men t. handle III
sail. In a moment there was first
class row going on, and in the midst q
t it the captain appear, d, Taking tn
g leader by the neck he dragged i'm aft
r. put bovine about HIM under III
! arms, and deliberately threw him owe
the side He was soaked long emo g
i to feel like promising better fashion
h and then brought On board, and wit
h his mates triCed up III the rigging INT
, they begged to be released. From tina
g., time ont Captain Fish had no sort {
" bother with his men, and they woke
'e night and day Ike machines, the natur
Al of their calling demanding II. Tn
y captain, in his l. g DO k, speaks oi
vessel that came int Margaretta ba
while he was there, in about a mont
after this, with the rem st hands /
l. complete possession of her. Their
lc were st vera whalcrs there at the tmt
al and the cIptaln of the ship went o
board the Montreal, and ali the otht
~ captains were signaled on board fC
S consultation. The result was that earl
te the next morning the captains, wit
e. their officers, proceeded on board tn
D, stricken vessel, disarmed the crew an
carried them to San Francisco, whel
they were handed over to the author
IN ties. Some hands were taken frol
r each Of the other vessels, and III
afflicted captain managed to piece OF
his quest for whales, but it is not know
whether his b. ckbYne was stlffene
~ after that experience or not"
he
Sc