The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-22
MY CABIN BOY.

W L CABlN BU1s
When was about 40 years of age, I took
command of the ship Petersham. We were
bound to Liverpool, and nothing unusual
happened until the eighth day out, when
we foul Of small iceberg.
My cabin boy was named Jack Withers
He was IA years of age, and this was his
first voyage.
faroied that he was the most stubborn
piece of humanity had ever come across
I made up my mind that he had never
been properly governed and had resolved
to break him in. told him I'd curb his
temper before I'd done with him. In reply
he told me might kill him If liked.
One day, when it was very near noon,
spoke to him, telling him to bring up my
quadrant. He was looking over the quarter
rail- and I knew he did not hear me. But
the next time spoke spoke sharply and
intimated that if he didn't move would
help him.
AZ didn't hear you,' he said in an indie
pendent tone.
''No words" said I.
81 suppose I can speak, he retorted,
moving slowly toward the companionway.
His looks, words and the slow, careless
manner in which he moved fred me in a
moment. I grasped him by the collar
Speak to me again like that and I'll
fog you within an ace of your life, - said I.
"You can fog away he answered as
firm as rock.
And 1 did fog him. 1 caught up tho
end of a rope and beat him till my arm
fairly ached. But he never WINGED.
elbows that?'' said I.
"There's a little more life in me yet.
You'd better fog it OUT was the reply.
And 1 beat him again. beat him till
he sank from my hand to the floor.
sent one of the men for my quadrant,
but when it came and had adjusted it
for observation found that the sun had
already passed the meridian and that was
too late.
This added fuel to the fire of my mad
ness, and Selling the lad by the collar I
led him to the main hatchway and had
the hatch taken off. I thrust hiEn down
and swore would keep him there till his
stubbornness was broken.
About O'Clock went to the hatchway
and called to him. But he returned no
answer. So 1 closed the hatch and went
away. An hour afterward 1 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 see
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 starve,"
thought, and SO determined to let him stay
there.
The day passed away, and when evening
came began to be startled. He had been
in the hold SO hours, and 40 hours without
food or drink. He must be too weak to
cry out now.
So at length I made up my mind to go
and see him. little way forward I saw
down, and to this point crawled on my
hands and knees. I called out there, but
could get no answer. A short distance
farther was q wide space, which I had
entirely forgotten, but which now re-
member had been left open on account of
a 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 the ship.
heard the splashing Of water, and
thought could detect a sound like the in
coming of tiny jet or stream. At first I
could see nothing, but is soon as became
used TO the dim light I could distinguish
the faint outlines Of the boy sitting on the
broken floor, with his feet stretched out
against a cask.
Jack, are you there?''
"Yes. Help mel For mercy s sake, help
mel Bring men and bring lantern. The
ship has sprung q leakP'
deck at once and soon returned with a Ian
tern and three men. Three of the tim bers
were worm eaten to the very heart, and one
of the outer planks had been broken and
would have burst in any moment the boy
might leave 1.-THE boy whose feet were
braced against the plank before him.
saw the plank must burst the moment
the strain was removed from it, so I made
the men brace themselves against it before
lifted him up. Other men were called
down, with planks, etc, and after much
difficulty we finally succeeded in stopping
The leak and averting the danger.
Jack Withers 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 the water squirting
all over him and drenching him to the
skin. His limbs were racksd with pain,
but he would not give up.
I nursed him with my own hands
nursed him all through his delirium-and
when his reason returned and he could sit
up and talk hu1nbly asked his pardon for
all the wrong had done him. He threw
his arms around my neck and told me if
would be good to him he would never give
cause of offense. He added as he sat up
again: 81 am not coward. I could not be
a dog"
During nine years have sailed in three
different ships with the same crew. Not
man could be hired to leave me save for N
officers berth. And Jack Withers remain
ed with me IS years.-London News.
A Friendly Art Criticism.
A neat little correspondence took place
J,I,o ~,