Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-05-24

ing nose, III the midsbipmenrr
berth.
This was, in that ship, a narrow
compartment in the steeragc under
the quarter deck. You reached II
by a manhOle called the BOBBY
hatch, down which sauk a perpen.
dicular ladder. All was gloom
aud misery aud evil smells when !
went below for the first time, and
for loug afterward did this state of
wretchedness last.
The emigraDts were of the poor
est and shabbiest. They were
lodged IN this part of the vessel,
and they quarreled all the day, aud
their babies cried all night.
No one Can imagine IN this age
of the steamship the su6erlngs
which the emigrants underwent in
the times of the saili ing ship. They
cooked their own food, and L have
seen a crowd fighting like drunken
seamen at the galley door for a
place for their saucepans or kettles.
Not that the emigrant of today is
particularly we'll fed, well berthed
man, but he is transported quickly.
If his sufferlngs are keen, they are
soon oyer. la my time they
were uncommOnly sharp, and they
lasted four or five mOaths.
The mldsbipman's tertb was
fitted With II bunks in double tiers.
A narrow slip of table ran down
the center. The edge of this table
was like saw from the action
of the knives of the "yOung gentle
men," who used 1t for cutting up
plug tobacco. Every bunk was to
be filed this first voyage of mine,
so that we were II midshlpmen
worth some G700 Tor the voyage
to the owner, irrespective of the
value of labor.
Moreover, each lad subscribed IL
gulneas for what was termed mess
money. 50 here was another 12C
odd pounds to add to the cost OF
the hire of a dirty little sea parlor
10 the bowels of a ship stuffed with
cargo, bulkheaGed off in that part
of her of which the emigrants made
a WhItechapel alley.
A boy is young at 134, and | felt
myself to be very little fellow III
deed when / stood 10 the door OF
that mid hipmen's berth, peering
into the gloom with eyes brilliant
with fear aud astonish Wa:
this 10 be my home until | returned
to England Was yonder rude
shelf to replace the white, soft bee
[ had been used tO2 1t was th'
mildle of the day. Yet but for th'
flame of a sputtering lamp. dang
ling like coffeepot from the center
of the upper deck, it would have
been difficult to see. In fact, thi
compartment was lighted by thre'
scuttles, or portfolios, only, roun'
bulSeyes Of Immensely thick glass
which were sunk low to the SCI
surface by the weight OF the cargo
that when our cabin was on the LEI
side these windows were always
under water.
This is not an inviting picture
am drawing. It is the truth never
thelesS. Tue apprentice nowadays
goes to sea at much less cost and !
far better used than was the heavily
charged midshipman of my day
"Everything good comes when IL
too late" mnrmurs poor, heart
broken little jane Eyre when shC
rejects the coveted willow patterI
plate. | have often wished that
much of what Is good on boar
ship nowadays had been invented
= 10 the rough fittles.
should have been glad, for ex
ample, to be shlpmates with doubl
topsail yards. | hear of apprer
tices fed from the captains table
| hear of apprentices instructed il
navigation by the master and mate
J of the ship. Had 1T depende
upon the captains served unde
| never should have lifted sel
: tant to my eye.
l did not choose my bunk. |
D had been chosen for me. It Wa
l. tue most uncomfortable bunk
3 tie berth. 1t was consistent wit
:, sea tradition, therefore, that I'll
: youngest aud weakest sh Ould o
cdpy it. On entering to look f
1t found it an sth wartships upp,
Q lux. The lower bunk wIs to b
u occupied by lad little Old'
e than 1, just little stronger, an
like myself, a first vOyager.
o knew my bed place by th
V token-to the bundle of beddln
II was attached label bearing m