Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-11-03
A SEA EPISODE

If some magic pen could pick up and
record the gallant deeds OF what are called
common sailors and lay III plain Ian
guage before mankind the noble narratives.
the history OF the deeds OF war would
be but tame reading and the records of
destruction would seem ignoble.
l have been familiar with them all my
life and they excite nv admiration and
surprise as much today a ever. Eloquent
pens have written of the facts and tictlOn-
OF the sea, but none have ever colored their
scenes too deeply nor has romance ever
equaled reality.
will give you one picture, sadly true,
and unknown to any but the actors III il.
IL 1875. a small bark. whose name might
have been the Leopard Gt was not but the
name will do. sailed from Boston with an
assorted cargo. bound from Guantanamo
and Santiago de Cuba. to leave the out
ward freight al these ports and load al the
latter ones Tor Iriest, al the head OF the
AdTiatic sea.
The Leopard carried Captain Hall First
Mate Brown, aged eighteen, Second Mate
Jones, twenty-four, Simon Billings. cook
and steward. and six men before the mast
ten in all.
a speedy and uneventfu! run brought
discharginC part OF the cargo, she ran down
to Santiago and dropped the rest
This port lies amid hills, III natural
amphitheatre OF great beauty The ell
trance is narrow and very picturesque. but
there is very little tide and the water IN the
bay is sluggish The elements of that
scOurge OF the Antilles, yellow fever. are
here, and the inhabitants are seldom free
from the disease.
The first mate ardent and ambitious,
worked his men early and late. He was
first out in the morning before sunrise,
while the dew was still falling Once,
before day, his light shirt was saturated by
the falling moisture, and the sun dried it
with its burning heat. At nine O'Clock he
was PROSTATE with a raging fever.
The captain was a veteran IL those parts
and knew what TO do as well as any doctor
Heroic measures were adopted, and the
young mans life was saved. Leaving his
sick bed TOO soon, relapse came OIL, and
it was several days before he could again
do duty.
popularity OF the West India ports is
that while in harbOr all the crew of a ship
may be we'll but as soon as she puts TO sea
the disease may develop, and one after all
other will be attacked.
Captain Hal knew this fact well. and
before sailing warned his officers and crew
OF the symptoms of the disease, and in
structed them that if any such were felt
the patient should report at once Tor treat
ment.
Early one fine morning a light land
breeze waited the Leopard TO sea, and at a
short distance from the land the breeze fe!l.
and the usual morning calm ensued. The
ship rolled laZily upon the long swells and
the sun beat tiercely upon the unsheltered
decks,
Sailing day is always a busy time on
ships, and so all were at work in the heat,
getting ready for sea life and the expected
incidents of the voyage.
About nine O'Clock, young man was
observed TO stagger on the deck, like one
intoxicated. He was quickly seized and
taken TO his berth i'll the forward house.
He was already delirious With difficulty
the usual remedies were administered, but
the fever had him III its grasp. and he
tossed about, raying wildly of home and
friends. The other men were removed
from the narrow house, and given quarters
elsewhere. The first mate and colored
cook took charge of the sick boy. Every
thing possible was done for him For two
days and nights he moaned and talked
his life burning out at q fearful rate The
third morning he was quiet Suddenly
his eyes opened, and he said mildly, 81
would like TO have you leave me for a few
minutes" The officer said. ''Why do you
wish this. William II wish TO say my
PRAYERS" answered the Door boy With
sad countenances they stepped outside, re-
turning in ten minutes Alas the delir-
ium had returned the fatal hiccoughs de
noting the presence OF the "black
vomit' had seized the wasted form and in
half an hour the struggle was over. The
poor lad was dead.
Al sunset the little group gathered with
saddened cOuntenances and dim eyes in
the port gangWay where a slender form,
with weights at the feet, lay rlgidiy upon
a plank with the union Jack spread over
H. one end Of the plank was upon the sill
of a port, while the other was supported
by a rest inboard. The courses were haul
ed up, and the main tOpsail lay ''aback.
With a voice choked with emotion, the
aged captain read the burial service two
men at the proper moment raised the end,
of the plank, the union jack was removed,
and the remains slid slowly into the sea
rested a moment upon surface of the water
and then sank out OF sight until the sea
shall give up its dead
The sails were slowly filled, and the shiI
proceeded upon her way, YEARLY beating
up along the coast of Cuba, towards the
Windward Passage. As darkness CLOSED
upon the scene, the commander said quiet
ly 10 the weary first officer, mi. Jones ma
the yellow fever
The captain and his mate stood alternate
watches, looking out Tor their sick mess
mate and the ship Prompt attention anC
good nursing saved his life, but before h'
could drag his wasted form on deck two
more of the crew were stricken down
The cOlOred cook was invaluable. How
and when he slept no one knew. Witt
his short pipe in his mouth he seem
ad ~ ha a vrave raadv m holm and WAS fbi