Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-07
A SAILORS YARN.

$50 N~N SAAPPNA GIN SOU ID sSDIy OuU
OF him. Hewas bronzed, hearty veteran,
and began the talk as stood gazing at
one OF the French liners which lad lust |
come into port and lay off Staten Island.
He had brisk, direct way of speaking |
and used good language, rarely making a |
slip and never using an oath.
There was nothing on the water like |
that when first went to sea, over so years |
ago, F" he said. They are grand ships and |
do wonders -
"Ycs, I" said I, "a seaman's life is very
different now from what it was, as even 1
can remember
YES, it's different, no doubt, - he said,
but VIC don't turn out such sailors as we
used to do You can hardly tell a sailor
now from landsman or tramp"
After giving a wonderfully graphic pic
ture of an old time tar he stirred up some
memories and gave sketch of the first
vessel he ever commanded. she was the
Saucy Jack, a square rugged brig he
said, ''of 500 tons, which was a goodish
sized ship for those days She was built at
Sunderland for Barty Dowcll, great skip
owner about that time. Let's see. She
was launched in 1925 and she was over Is
years old when first knew her. She had
been good bit in the Mediterranean trade
and was once or twice freighted by the
government to carry stores to Gibraltar.
In those days they used to send q few con-
yicts to the rock to work on the fortifica-
tions, and if they behaved they were pref
ty well treated. / was first mate, and our
crew was as good as ever sailed. They all
hailed from North or South Shields and
were content to stick by their owners till
promotion came. The day before we were
going to sail on the homcward voyage the
captain went ashore to have good time
with some Of the officers, and he sent the
boat back, as the brig lay little over "A
quarter Of mile from the Shore and the
captains friends promised to put him
aboard. The night was pretty dark,
though tho stars were out A steady
southeast wind was blowing. The anchor
watch were huddlcd up by the bulwarks
for'ard asleep.
Il was aft, leaning over the compan-
ion hatch, enjoying pipe and watching
the lights ashore There was one light
on land throwing q long troubled line of
silver over the gentle swell, and my eyes
were fixed on this when / saw something
dark break it. / walked to the main rat
lines and stood there. Presently / was
sure that some ono was swimming toward
the ship. went below, got couple of
pistols from the captains berth and came
on deck again. l stuck one pistol in my
bolt and htid tho other ready for use in
case Of need. Standing by the backstay, |
distinctly saw the swimmer making APP
parcntly for the bow of the ship. / re-
moved my pipe from my mouth to my left
hand as / leaned over the bulwarks and
happened to turn my pipe so that the
spark fell out. Tho swimmer, no doubt
seeing the spark, stopped and turned and
swan toward me. | waited until he got
close alonsidc, and then I asked in n quiet
tone, Who are your He began to tread
water and said
" For Gods sake, throw me rope.
They'll murder tic captain
You may DO sure that l had a rope
over tho side in no time The fellow
caught It, and made it fast. He was up
the side in flash and sprang on deck.
Now what's tho matter" asked. Then
between frequent gasps he told me that
some rcnegades had drugged the captain
to rob him, and that as he was struggling
against tho effects Of the draft they would
probably murder him rather than let him
escape them.
" Give me some Clothes he said, for
he was shiyering, and III go ashore with
you and lead you to tho place.
II reused up the men, selected four of
them, told them to get out the boat and
be ready TO row me ashore at once, as the
captains life was in danger. That was
enough 10 make them bestir themselves.
Then / went below, bidding the fellow
follow, and routed out rig for him. He
was naked and MS 1.-the and sincwy fell
low rs you d sec in q month of Sundays,
As he was donning the toys | asked, Why
didn't you rouse up the soldiersF
III I'd attempted that, he answered,
Il should have been "a dead man in a min
ute
II went on deck while he was dressing,
telling him to hurry. There were few
cutlasses in the poop, and each man armed
himself By the time the boat was in the
water tho young fellow was on deck, and
in u short time we were dashing through
the water to tho shore. He directed us
where to land, and we were soon ashore
with the boat mado fast Now, then, l
said, lead the way But the fellow had
vanished as though the earth had swal-
lowed him up.
You may well believe that was aston
ishod, and SO were the men. We looked all
around, but could see nothing of him.
Presently we saw the glitter Of II bayonet,
and going in the direction were challenged
by sentinel, told him what had hap
pcned, and he said, Why, the captain is
with Major Dash and other officers not so
yards from here. 1t was on the scntincls
post, and he led the way, and in two min
utes found the captain alive and hearty.
AS soon rs / told him the story he babe his
friends goodby, and we rowed him to the
brig.
when we got aboard the first thing
the captain did was TO go to the cabin and
look around. On entering his berth, he
found that his desk had been forced and
a70 In gold taken. Besides this, he
missed a handsome gold watch and chain
presented to him by his owners and q sill
yer snuff box. Expecting something of the
kind, he had ordered the boat TO remain
by the side of the brig. He dropped into
her and was rowed ashore, There he learned
that though search had been made for
the man he could not be found, Next
morning it was discovered that young
convict named Mackay had disappeared.
Being a bright fellow and evidently well
educated, the officers had taken fancy to