Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1895-07-25

m Romance Of oid-rime Scattering Lits
No Longer Exists.


Of seafarink life we're gained by watch
ing the evolutions Of her majesty's ship
Pinafore while she lay in the dry dock
In Philadelphia, and, although my ide-
ais have been somewhat shakeh by soc
ing the deck hands Of the transatlantic
steamers, I retained the notion that the
counterparts Of my old friends would
be found aboard sailing vessels. But
tit dream Is over. The first shock
came soon after leaving port, when
told the captain that he was 10 teach
me how to dance the hornpipe. He said
that he didn't know how, and, more
over, had never seen anyone who did.
I replied that I was not from the coun-
try, but he solemnly assured me that
ho was telling the truth. and called
upcn the second nate TO bear him wit
ness The latter, after much refiec-
tion, recollected hat he had once
known a sailor who could dance a horn
pipe, but couldn't remember whether II
was on a voyage to the East Indies or
while he was sin steam on the Missis-
sippL Further inquiry proved that no
one else had ever witnessed such a per-
Torrance.
This was not the most bitter disap-
pointment however. I am not a great
lover of music, but it seemed 10 me 70
be a necessary part OF a sailors expert
nee that he should scamper merrily
about and pour forth the gladness OF
his heart in song. To be sure, they
do make n noise when they pull on the
ropes, and occasionally burst into a
1twn. hill - .... H-.N - 18th ~
these performances the cry Of the PEN
gum is cheerful by comparison.
Indeed, I have come TO the melan-
choly conclusion thrt the flavor of
"A evaporated with the last gem
GRAFTON OF anne There Is none of
that picturesque idleness which ! was
led to believe was as essential as the
song and dance. We're one Of them 10
write his daily life, II would be express
sive Of more energy than Mark Twain's
famous diary, but would partake Of
the same simplicity. II would read;
Worked, ate and slept" Work be-
gins when they are driven aboard by
their respective keepers and ceases
when the vessel arrives at her destina-
tion, so hat the time occupied In eat
ing and sleeping Is their only respite.
In heavy and squally weather there
are the constant pulling Of ropes and
the furling and unfurling Of sails IL
Is then that their abilities In hat mon
key-like accomplishment of climbing
the rigging are tested. As you stand
OF deck in a heavy gale and watch all
hands upon one Of the yard-arms furl-
ing n sail, you begin to put some faith
In Darwin's theory concerning the
origin Of mankind. In fine weather
their duties are of n different sort
they then turn painters, carpenters
and Observation-Disclosures. "Holy-ston-
ing, scraping, painting and vanishing
go on until the ship looks as II she
were just off the dry dock.
Sometimes in an idle moment, or in a
fit of temporary insanity, a sailor de-
cides TO wash a shirt or a red bandana.
One day during a heavy rain this mad.
ness became epidemic. and after clos
ing the "scuppers' all hands got upon
the deck and proceeded 10 wash their
clothes with a small piece Of soap with
a large question mark. occasionally I
would hear hat a man had taken {
bath, but Of the truth OF these reports
/ have no actual knowledge
We're they as we'll treated on all YES
sells as they were on the Standard they
might possibly learn to take care OF
themselves when ashore. II Is, indeed,
n case Of out Of the frying pan into the
fire, for when they escape from the rule
of more or less Eve shipmasters they
have not the 10 keep out OF the
way OF boarding house runners and the
like. II they would only keep their
wits about them and make up their
minds TO defend themselves in an hon
est way, they could not fail to better
their condition. They sometimes en-.
terrain themselves by shirking work at
the latter part Of the passage and by
damaging the rigging just before say
ing farewell.
Their only other amusement Is de-
rived from weighty arguments about
nothing. IL was 4 very frequent occur
renee to hear a heated discussion con-
corning the exact latitude and longi-
tude of smithville, and 70 find that each
Of the disputants had different Smith
Vile In mind. Sometimes these arQu-
monts ended with a black eye or two.
They never lose the sheep-like APP
pearance with which they come aboard,
going about in a iock o. the beck and
call OF the officers The watch may be
forward pulling at some ropes when
they hear Come aft two o. YER" and
Immediately replying Come aft, two
O. yer" they shuttle in a body In that
direction In nothing are sailors more
obliging than in regard to their
names. IL matters not what they are
called-Tom, Dick, Harry are all the
same TO them as long as each has a sep
arate N When two happen 10 claim
the same name OF their arrival, each
tries 10 Guido the other In nobly sacri-
fciug II 10 his companion. Truly, they
are believers In the poetical theory con-
corning the rose, and can see nothing
In a name.
While the crew are by no means TO
be envied, their lives are happy COM
pared with hat of the cook. lie has
always TO contend, Of course, with the
absence Of fresh provisions, and in
rough weather his existence Is made
miserable by his efforts TO keep his
pots and kettles on the galley range.
The captain, however, Is the one
most TO be pitied- Even more than
sailors u he be a Observation-Disclosures,
and besides that a master one. To his
other duties are added the 20 less
perilous one Of a dispenser of patent
medicines and Of a justice Of the peace.
IL Is the responsibility Of his position
that makes his life uncomfortable. The
first aud second mates stand watch
and watch" and OF course relieve him
from the actual work, so that In fine
weather, II II so pleases him, lie need
do nothing but eat and sleep. But In
rough or squally weather he must sleep
with his shoes on-and II he be of q
temperament, with his heart
in his mouth-ready for a sudden call.