The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-10
fLoeoIne BRITISH sEAMnN.
How the Cat was Formerly Used IN tho
English Navy.

How tho Cat was Formerly Used IN tho
English Navy.
The Following graphic description OF the
manner Ia which tho ''cat', used to be adj
ministered in the royal navy ia from the
pen of an able snaman:
now gave look to thepoor fellow who
was fiogged yesterday. He Ia a Welsh
man. aged 20, and camo from London 70
the gold diggings In tho 1'yncmouth, and
turned out very bad fellow, spent his
money instead OF going 60 the diegiugs-
aud Joined the ship as boy just when I
did Well, he hns been punished all sorts
OF ways. Ho was imprisoned for n month,
but still he was abusive to every onc--the
essence Of hlackKuard although well
educated and OF a good family He wac
hated by all on board. At length he at
tempted to. desert, was caught, put in
irons--wristB and Rnkles--and kept lying
on the lower deck all night Just below my
hammock, swearing awfully.
Yesterday morning, at 0 o'clock, we
heard the order. "All hands clear for quar-
ters.n
We knew directly the tragedy about to
be enacted. l cleaned, went 90 the cabin
and quietly began 70 write. saw the
marines putting on their CROSS belts, tho
officers donning their best uniforms Pres
DhNtN INV NADltlth NtAAllt INV Attt ttbAn LA
full uniform Then he gave the order,
aAli hands aft.h They all crowded up,
the doctor among the rest all in full
uniform and dress swords. Tho prisoner
waa brought forward, scowlihg on all
aides, The officers and mon removed their
caps, and the sentence was read. Then
two Quarternnssters stepped forward and
dashed the prisoner'a wrists and ankles to
an upright gangNvay ladder. Then he
was stripped 10 the waist, and a canvas
cloth tied round his loins TO catch the
blood from his hnck. Now the boatswain's
mate appeared with the dreaded .tcatl in
his hand. The handle was about is modes
long, and tho nine tails about two ress
long, OF whipcord the size OF n quill pen.
Tho mate, measured tho distance and
gave The "cat's a swift awning round his
head. The prisoner gave n smothcred cry,
and nine blood red streaks appeared on
his back, Zone, cried out the master
al arms. / turned my head aside, and
saw the chief engineer bury his face in his
hands.
1.-Two, three, four, repeated tho loud
voice. dared not look, but heard ths
sharp, shrill swish OF tho "cat, . as, In
measured time, IL fell upon the mans
back. His cries now becanie loud and ag-
onizing.
"Five," said the master nc arnie,
"oh, ,ncrcyI'' replied the bleeding pris-
onsr.
nsix.r
"oh, heaveni'
"Seven.n
"strike my ribs; oh. strike my rfbst
let's have change of position"
Eight"
''Oh, you brute.p cried the prisoner,
turning to tho captain, who stood looking
on at the tragedy with solemn eyes.
Nine, cried the master at nrIps.
"Do your duty, cir, said the first lieu
tenant TO the perspiring mate, and the
mate stopped for a moment TO clean with
his fingers the clotted thongs OF his "cat.r
Then he threw the whole swing OF his
body into "ten.n The welshman uttered
a yell that was heard by the sentry on tho
iorecastlc OF the flagship. at anchor two
miles off.
Eleven ~ eiye Cbanter," cried out
the lieutenant, and the bontswain's mate
Of that name took the cat for ie more
and 20 on, a fresh mate for every ln, until
the whole As Iashes were delivered. leav-
ing the Youth miserable bleeding spso-
Tit Bits.