The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-11-18
an ADVENTURE In INDIA.
BY CAPT. Howard HUBERT.

| HI lUt Oli SdiCuttd. IOI SOILt
days, when a low fever broke ou
among the crew, and speedily carried
off several men. The captain, after
communicating with government
house, determined to go for TIP tC
the Sandheads, hoping that a good
blow of the fresh sea breeze might dc
more than the doctors had been able
to effect by changing the dietary OF
the ships comany, and using other
means to check the epidemic from
further spreading. That morning a
fine petty officer. had succnmbed to
the attacks of the dread disease, and
in tho evening. according TO custom in
India, a burylng party was told off to
perform the last offices for our deceas
ed shipmate.
This made the fifth consecutive day
on which this melancholy duty had
devolved on us, and the repetition be
came depressing to the spirits of the
men. Three boats crews were called
away, and | went in charge Of one o.
them, Thethird lieutenant. in the first
! cutter, was sent in command of the
party, and, as is alwa-s the custom in
the navy on such occasions. the off
GERS went in full dress, and the sailors
also in their best rig. We landed,
marched through the town to the Eu-
ropean burial ground, which, if l re
member correctly, is a good two miles
or perhaps three, from the river
iIooghly, and the impressive funeral
service of our church having been
read over the remains of the deceased
sailor. and his body lowered into the
grave, the men were formed again
four deep, and marched back to the
boats. When we left the graveyard
it was getting dusk, and as there is
little or no twilight in the east, long
before we reached the "ghaut." or
landing place, it was dark; and there
being no moon, and the stars com,
pletely obscured hy heavy clouds that
had been driven over the heavens by
the rising wind, the night was liter
ally BLACK as VOLTS mouth"
At that time of the year Git was just
after the 5. W monsoons had ceased
to blow, early in the month of Octo
ber) there were what are called fresh
ets;" that Is, the ebb tide runs a very
short time, but during that time with
tremendous force, at the rate often of
seven knots au hour No boats at
tempt duriug these very strong fresh
cts TO pull directly against the tide,
for it would be almost labor lost. The
modus operandi on such occasions is
this; You pull mp III shore for at least
half a mile above the point sought to
be gained. and then, after recruiting
your crews strength by a short rest.
give way ont in the middle of the
stream, and drop down for whichever
side of the ship you desire to make,
keeping the bows of the boat up the
river, and all the oars just dipping in
the water, so that if required you can
pull the boat to starboard or port
There are always ropes kept ready
cooled at the gangways on board ships
moored in the stream: and the quar-
termaster AS you near the ship throws
one to the howmen, who are prepared
TO make it fast Immediately to the
foremost thwarts, and this brings the
boat up ''all standing" Should the
first rope miss its ann and fall into
the water. there ought to be always a
second ready to hand, as it is serious
thing to miss the ship; and, if the
freshet is strong, it will take perhaps
some hours to place you again In a
favorable position for another ''heave."
In this connection as the Van
KEGS say, remember, on one occasion,
the captains gig, manned by six of
the strongest oarsmen in the ship,
after pulling IN shore IN the way de
scribed, dropped down the stream,
bat the rope slipping through the
howmans S hands. missed the frIgate.
When Captain H. fetched the opposite
shore, he repeated the manpuvre, and
with success, but he was four hours
from the time he left the ghaut atCal-
cutta till he fetched the ship, although
she did not lie much more than two
hundred yards off the landing stage;
and / can assure You my readers when
ha gained that desired consummation,
and walked his quarter deck. ''the
lord of all he surveyed" he Gid not
look very amiable, and We all kept
clear of him; each and several of us,
fearing ''wigging," gave him wide
| berth. 1t certainly was enough to
try the patience of any man Didn't
the unfortunate quartermaster catch
it, The ships log book to this day
will certify how James Simpson (un-
happy wight was reduced to A B.
for not having a second rope ready to
heave to the captains gig. And also
the midshipman of the watch had his
leave stopped for month, and was
day deaked for 4 month; !. t., was
made to remain on deck ali day from
sunrise to sunset, with half an hour
for each meal Such are the amerl
lies of the servicel The commanding
officer af A man of war Is absolute
lord and master; his edIcts are law,
and, when at sea, his power may be
described as despotism, tempered
only by such good qualities Of heart
and soundness of head as he may
happen to possess.
But l am depressing from my sto-
! ~. Ga reaching the ghaut we EN-
ilarsed, and, according to what | have
described as the method followed
| during the freshets, pulled up the
banks of the stream until sufficiently
high to venture forth, when the three
boats struck out together. The tide
Was running furlously, aud We all
agreed that We had dangerous tasE
before u4; FOR ships enters are about
the worst style al boat for such ser
vice There We're thirteen men In my
boat besides myself. The lientenani
in charge ordered me Ia board witt
the other boat on the port side, which
was the side farthest from the shore
as the ship was lying with her star
board broadside fronting the ghaut
AS I stated before, the night wa.
pitch dark, but we knew the bearing.
of the Crocodile by her having tive
lights at her masthead. We dropped