Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-07-01
MY CABIN BOY.


When WINS about 40 years of ngc, I took
sommand of the ship Potcrshnm. We were
bound to Liverpool, and nothing unusuai
happened until tho eighth day out, when
we ran foul of small iceberg
My cabin boy was named Jack withors.
He was IA ycars of ngc, and this was hls
first voyage iHlA lf
Ifancied that no was the most stubborn
piece of humanity had ever como ncross,
] made up my mind that he had never
been properly governed and had resolved
to break him in. l told him I'd curb his
temper before I'd done with him. In reply
he told mo might kill him IL I.likod.
One day, when it was very near noon, 1
spoke to him, telling him to bring up my
quadrant. Howas looking over the quarter
rnil, and knew he did not hear me. But
tho next time l spoke spoke sharply md
tntimatcd that II he didn't move would
help him.
81 didn't hear you, be said in an indie
pendent tone
mo words, ~ snid l.
81 suppose / can speak," lie retorted,
moving slowly toward the companionway.
His looks, words and tho slow, cnreless
manner in which no moved fired mo in
moment. grasped him by tho collar.
"Speak to inc again like that and III
Cog you within an ace OF your lifc," said I,
"You can fog away" no answered as
firm as rock.
And 1 did fog him. Icaugbt up the
end Of ropo and beat him till my arm
fairly ached. But he mover WINGED.
"How's thatp sold l.
"Therc's a little more life in mo yet.
You'd better flog it out" was the reply.
And beat him again. beat him till
he sank from my hand 10 the floor.
! sent one of tho men for my quadrant,
but when It cainc md had adjusted il
for observation found that tho sun had
already passed the meridian and that was
too late.
This added fuel to the fro of my mad
ness, and SELLING the lad by the collar l
led him to the main hntchway and had
tho hatch taken off. I thrust him down
and swore would keep him there till his
stubbornncss was broken.
About o o'clock went to tho hntchway
and called to him. But no returned no
answer. So closed the hatch and went
away. An hour afterward went again;
still no answer.
did not trouble him again until next
morning. After breakfast / went to the
hatchway and called to him once more. /
heard nothing from him, nor could SEQ
him. Yet the men told me they had heard
him that very morning. He seemed to be
calling on them for help. But he would
not answer me. meant to break him in
to it.
"He'll beg before he'll starye," 1
thought, and sodetermined to let him stay
there.
The day passed away, and when evening
camo began to be startled He Ind been
In the hold 80 hours, and 40 hours without
food or drink. He must DO too weak to
cry out now.
So at length / made up my mind to go
and see him. A little way forward / saw
q space where Jnols might easily have gone
down, and to this point crnwled on my
hands and knees. called out there, but
could get no answer A short distance
farther was a wide space, which had
entirely forgotten, but which l now re-
member hnd been left open ON account Of
break In the flooring of the hold, which
would let anything that might have been
stored there rest directly on the thin plank
ing of tho ship.
l heard the splashing of water, and
thought could detect sound like tho in
coming of n tiny jet or stream. At first
eohAh neo hbhhiHkt Dut uh hDOll US DerNflt
used to the dim light could distinguish
the faint outlines OF tho boy sitting ON the
broken floor, with his feet stretched out
against cask. rtt
Jack, are you theref"
Yes Help mel For mercy sake help
mel Bring men and bring u lantern. The
ship has sprung leak"
lwuitcd to hear no more, but hurried on
deck at once and soon returned with Ian
tern and three men. Three of tic timbers
were worm eaten to the very heart, and one
or the outer planks had been broken and
would have burst in any moment the boy
might leave 1.-THE boy whose feet We're
braced against the plank before him.
saw tho plank must burst tho moment
she strain was removed from II, SO / made
the men brace themselves against 1t before
lifted him up. Other men were called
down, with plapks, etc, and after much
difficulty we finally succeeded In stopping
the leak and averting the danger.
Jack Withcrs was carried to the cabin In
my own arms, and there he managed to
tell his story.
He had sat with his feet braced for four
and twenty hours with tho water squirting
all over him and drenohing him to the
skin. His limbs were raoked with pnin,
but he would not give up.
nursed him with my own hands
nnrsed him all through his delirium-and
when his reason returned and he could sit
up and talk humbly asked his pardon for
all the wrong had done him. He threw
his arms around my neck md told me II
would be good to him he would never give
cause of ofienso He added as he sat up
again; II am not u coward could not DO
IA dog"
During nine years have smiled In three
different ships with the same crew. Not
man could be hired to leave me save forun
officers berth. And Jack Withcrs remain
ed with me 10 years. --London News.