Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-09-16
THREE MUTlNEERS.

THREE MUTlNEERs.
Captain William Belchior was more
than a martinez. He was known as
Bucko Belchior in every port where the
English language is spoken, having
earned this prefix by the earnest readi-
ness with which, in his days as second
and chief mate, he would whirl belay-
ing pins, beavers and handspikes about
the decks and by his success in knock
ing down, tricing up and working up
sailors who displeased him. With a
blow of his fist he had broken the jaw
of a man helplessly ironed in the tween
deck, and on the same voyage, armed
with simple Delaying pin, had sprung
alone into a circle of ofbrandishing sheath
knives and quelled mutiny. He was
short, broad, beetle browed and gray
eyed, of undoubted courage, but with
the quality Of sympathy left out 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 ratlfy
his reputation as a "Bucko" should
friction with the crew occur past the
power of his officers to cope with. His
ship, the Wilmington, skysail yard
clipper, was rated by sailor men as the
"hottest" craft under the American
flag, and Captain Belchior himself was
spoken of by consuls and commission
ers far and near as man peculiarly
unfortunate in his selection Of men,
for never a passage ended but he was
complainant against one or more heav-
lily ironed and badly used up members
of his crew
His officers were, in the language OF
one of these defendants, 90 the same
breed o dorg." No 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 join her they
were driven or hoisted up the side
like animals, some in stupor from
drink or drugs, some tied hand and
foot, struggling and cursing with re-
turning reason.
Equipped thus, the Wilmington,
bound for Melbourne, discharged her
tug and pilot off Sandy Hook one sum-
mer morning, and with fresh, quar-
tering wind and raising sea headed for
the southeast. The day was spent in
getting her sail on and in the clicking
into shape" of the men as fast as they
recovered their senses. Oaths and mis-
siles flew about the deck, knockdowns
were frequent, and by s bells in the
evening, when the two mates chose
the watches-much as boys choose
sides in ball game-the sailors were
well convinced that their masters lived
aft.
Three men, long-haired fellows
sprawling on the main hatch helpless
from seasickness, were left to the last
in the 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 mates
call for "all hands.
Call yourselves able seamen, | sup,
pose?" he said with an oath as he glared
into their woe-begone faces.
"No, pard, said the tallest and old
est Of the three in a weak voice. Were
not seamen. We don't know how we
got here, neither"
The mates answer was fist blow
under the ear that sent the man head
long into the scuppers, where he lay
quiet.
Say, sir, when you speak to me,
you bandy-legged farmersl" he snarled
glowering hard at the other two as
they leaned against the water tank.
I'm pard to none of you."
They made him no answer, and he
turned away in contempt. "Mr. Tom,
| he called, "want these Ethiopians in