Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1894-11-08
ELoeelNe BRITISH seAMeN.
How the Cat WAS Formerly Used In the
English NAVY


The following graphic description OF the
manner ia which the "catn used to be adj
ministered 10 the royal navy is from the
pen Of an able seaman:
now gave look TO the poor fellow who
was logged yesterday. He is n Welsh
man, aged 90. and came from London to
the gold diggings in the Tynemouth, and
turned out a very bad fellow, spent his
money instead OF going to the diggings,
aud joined the ship as boy just when /
did. Well, he has been punished all sorts
Of ways. lie was imprisoned for month,
but still he was abusive to every one-the
essence of blackguard although well
educated and of a good family He was
hated by all on board. At length he at
tempted 10 desert, was caught, put in
irons-wrists and ankles-and kept lying
on the lower deck all night, just below my
hammock, swearing awfully.
Yesterday morning at 9 o'clock, we
heard the order, GAN hands clear for quar-
tersn
We knew directly the tragedy about to
be enacted. | cleaned, went TO the cabin
and quietly began to write. / saw the
marines putting on their cross belts, the
officers donning their best uniforms. Pres
emily the captain came into the cabin in
full uniform. Then he gave the order,
All hands aft They all crowded up,
the doctor among the rest, all in full
uniform and dress swords. The prisoner
was brought forward, scowling on all
sides. The officers and men removed their
caps, and the sentence was read. Then
two quartermasters stepped forward and
dashed the prisoners wrists and ankles 70
an upright gangway ladder Then he
was stripped to the waist, and canvas
cloth tied round his loins TO catch the
blood from his back. Now the boatswain's
mate appeared with the dreaded "cat' in
his hand. The handle was about Is inches
long, and the nine tails about two feet
long, Of whipcord the size Of quill pen
The mate measured the distance and
gave the "cat" a swift swing round his
head. The prisoner gave smothered cry,
and nine blood red streaks appeared on
his back. zone, " cried out the master
at arms. turned my head aside, and
saw the chief engineer bury his face in his
hands.
1.-TWO, three, four, repeated the loud
voice. dared not look, but heard the
sharp, shrill swish Of the scat" az, in
measured time, it fell upon the mans
back. His cries now became loud and ag-
onizing.
give" said the master at arms.
"Oh, meroyr' replied the bleeding pris-
oner.
"Six."
"Oh, heavenr'
"Seven"
"strike my ribs; oh, strike my ribs;
let's hive a change Of position"
Eight"
ooh. yon BRUTE" cried the prisoner
turning TO the captain, who stood looking
on at the tragedy with solemn eyes.
Mine cried the master at arms.
"Do your duty sir, " said the first lieu
tenant to the perspiring mate, and the
mate stopped for a moment to clean with
his fingers the clothed thongs of his "cat "
Then he threw the whole swing OF his
body into Item" The Welshman uttered
a yell that was heard by the sentry on the
forecastle Of the flagship, at anchor two
miles Off.
"Eleven twelvel Chanter, y cried out
the lieutenant, and the boatswains mate
OF that name took tho cat for 12 more
and so on, a fresh mate for every 12, until
the whole 4S lashes We're delivered leav-
ing the youth a miserable, bleeding spec
tacle.-London Tit Bits.