The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-02-11

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Capt. William Belchior was more thar
amartlnet. He was known as "Bucko'
Belchlor IN every port where the Bri
tlsh language is spoken. having earn &c
this prefix by the earnest readiness
with which. in his days as second anG
chief mate, he would whirl Delaying
pins, beavers and handspikes about
the decks; and by his success in knock
ing down. tracing up, and working uI
sailors who displeased him. With a
blow of the fist he had broken the jaw
OF man heplessty ironed in the
'tween-deck, and on the sand voyage
armed with simple Delaying pin, had
sprung into circle of brandisiing
sheath knives and qrelled a mutiny.
He was short, broad, beetle -browed
and gray eyed, of undoubted courage,
but with the quality of sympathy left
ont of his nature
During the ten years in which he
had been In command he was relieved
of much Of the executive work that
had made him famous when he stood
watch, but was always ready to ratify
his reputation as "Bucko' should
friction with the crew occur past the
power of his officers to cope with.
His ship, the Wilmington, a sky sail
yard clipper, was rated by sailor men
as the hottest" craft under the Ameri-
can flag, and Capt. Belchior himself
was spoken of by consuls and com
missioners, far and near. as man
peculiarly unfortunate in his selection
of men, for never a passage ended but
that he was up as complainant against
one or more heavily ironed and badly
used up members of his crew.
His officers We're, in ths Ian guage of
one of these defendants, 90 the same
breed o dOrg." None others could or
would sign with him. His crews were
invariably put on board in the stream
or at anchorage; never at the dock.
| Drunk when coerced by the boarding
masters into signing the ships articles,
kept drunk until delivery for no sober
men able to run would boin herr, they
We're driven or hoisted up the side
like animals in stupor from
| drink or drugs, some tied hand and
foot, struggling and cursing with re
| turning memory and reason.
Equipped thus the Wilmington,
bound for Melbourne, discharged her
tug and pilot off Sandy Hook one sum
mer morning, and with a fresh quar-
tering wind and raising sea, headed
for the southeast. The day was speut
in getting her sail on, and in the ''lick-
ing into shape" of the men as
fast as they recovered their senses.
Oaths and missiles flew about the deck
knock downs We're frequent. and by
eight bells IN the evening, when the
two mates chose the watches much as
boys choose sides in a ball game-the
sailors were we'll convinced that their
masters lived aft.
Three men. long haired fellows,
sprawled on tie main hatch, helpless
from sea sickness Were left to the last
IN tse choosing, and then hustled into
the light from the nearby galley door
to be examined. They had been drag
ged from the forecastle at the N ate's
call for ''All hands"
Call yourselves able seamen, Isup-
pose he said, with an oath, as he gla
red into their Woe begone faces.
No, pard," said the tallest and old
est of the three, in weak voice:
wv ere not seamen; we don't know
how we got here, neither"
The mates answer was a fist blow
under tho ear that sent the man head
long into the scuppers, where he lay,
quiet.
Say, sir, when you speak to me,
you handy legged farmers" he snar
led, glowering hard at the other two,
as they clung to and leaned against
the water tank. Pm pard to none of
ye."
They made him no answer, and he
turned away in contempt Mr.. Tom,
| he called; want these Ethiopians in
your watch ?"
mo, sir" said the second mate: Il
don't want 'em. They're no more use
than spare pump"
Il IL make 'em useful, fore I'm done
with EN-. Go forrrrd you three. Get
the bile out o yer gizzards fore NOR
mn t ye value yer good looks" He
| delivered a vicious kick at each of the
standing men, and then bawled out ::
"Reiieve the wheel an look out-that'll
do the watch" and went aft, while the
crew assisted the seasick men to the
forecastle and into three bedless hunks
-bedless, because sailors must furnish
| their own, and these men had been
''shanghaied'
The wind died away during the
night, and they awakened in the NOR
nlnG with their seasickness gone, and
appetites, ravenous. Sombre and omi-
nous was their bearing as they silent
ly ate of the breakfast in the forecastle
and stepped out on deck with the rest
IN answer to the mate'sroar:" All hands
spread dnnnage" Having 10 dun
mage but what they wore. they drew eff
toward the windlass and conferred to
gether. while bags and chests were
dragged out on deck and overhauled
| by the officers for whisky and sheath
knives. What they found of the form
er,they pocketed, and of the latter, tos
sed overheard.
wv here are the canal drivers" de
ma Aded the chief mate. as he raised
his head from the last chest: "where
are our seasick gentlemen, who sleep
all night-what what" he added. in
a stutter of surprise.
tie was looking down three eight
m"h barrels OF three heavy Colt revol
yers. cooked and held by three scow
ling, sunbnrned men, each of whom
was tucking with the disengaged left
hand. the corner of shirt into a waist
band, around which was strapped q
belt full of cartridges
Hands up" snapped the tall man
hands up, every one of .e Up with
'em-over yer heads. That's right
The pistol wandered around the head.
; OF the crowd and every hand was ele-
waited.
What's this? What dye mean