Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-01-21

Haxton left the table and sought his
stateroom just as l came down. The
Idea was to come to anchor at once, but
when had put tho other side Of the
case to the captain IT was all abandoned.
Though was in sense to blame for
all the misiortunes which thereafter oc-
Cured, I argued with the captain tor
what I believed to be the best interests
Of all concerned. If we came to anchor
and raised a row, it would get into the
newspapers The men who had secured
the appointment for the doctor were
people of great influence. In defending
themselves they would attack US, and
instead of our doctor being replaced our
profitable charter would doubtless be
cancelled, and we would be put to a con.
siderable loss. We could only say Of the
doctor that he was young and did not
know how to take hold, but his friends
would declare him perfectly fit in a
medical way, and that the routine could
be picked up in day or two
In talk OF 20 minutes l convinced
the captain that our best plan was to
hold right on and come to the assist
ance of the doctor. We were to touch at
the cape of Good Hope. II he proved
incompetent, we could enter protest
there. There were many instances where
convicts had rebelled and captured the
ships, but in no case was it previous to
reaching the Cape. We might reasonably
conclude that we would be safe up to
that time even if the doctor did not turn
cut to be the man for the place. There
FORE instead of our voyage ending as
soon as it had begun, Captain Clark
room and said to the young man. who
had already begun to pack up his things:
while I hold to it that you should
never have been sent aboard to fill such
responsible position, it is just possi-
BILE that you may turn out all right.
have decided to continue the voyage,
and if you bestir yourself and take hold
with spirit I am bound to give you all
assistance asked for "
Haxton's mind was greatly relieved,
and he at once set about it to post him
self as to what his duties were. Things
looked much brighter after that talk,
though it did not Danish our doubts
and fears. Next day, when we were
fairly at sea, DR.. Haxton appointed cap
tains for the gangs, began to plan work
for them en- voyage and hustle about in
such q business way that he made a
more favorable impression On crew and
passengers. My curiosity as to what the
convicts thought of him was soon salts
fed. The bo'sun, whose name was
Smith, was one of the crew sent below
with the guards at noontime OF our sec
ond day out. He overheard enough to
convince him that the convicts had
sized the doctor up for "soft mark,
and that they were counting on having
An easy time during the voyage. One
could find proof in their demeanor az
they came on deck. Each man had an
impudent, defiant swagger as he walked,
and each seemed anxious to be guilty OF
some infraction of discipline / had my
eye out for Ben Johnson and at the end
of q couple of days picked him for a
ringleader. The Difference shown him
by the other convicts satisfied me that
he had been selected as the ruler over
all. Each captain of gang had been
selected by the doctor because OF his
short term and his demeanor as steady
man, but the convicts had elected Ben
Johnson to rule them because OF his
being the most fearless and desperate
character among them.
1t was the rule Of all convict ships
that the men should be employed dur
ing the voyage. 1t wasn't for the cap
tain to say what they should do, but
the matter was left entirely i'll the
hands of the doctor. DR.. Haxton
was not even posted as to this rule, but
when the captain called his attention
to it he went below to consult the con-
victs as to their avocations. A few OF
them had given these when convicted,
and they were so marked on the list
furnished by the prison authorities, but
the greater number had claimed to have
no trade whatever. The doctor could not
fail to sec tho contempt in which he
was held when he called the roll OF diff
fe1ent gangs and demanded individual
occupations.
I'm a gentleman, sir. replied the
owner of the very first name called.
'I'm the owner of the Bank Of Eng
land, but taking trip for my health,
replied the second.
The convicts made joke OF the
whole affair. and not one of them gave