West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-02-11
e0srncnT less sr rnt AuTnoH.


the captain. THE question is, Are You
fit or unhtg IL unfit and everything thus
far points that way, then it's my duty
20 my ship and passengers to come 20
anchor at once and enter complaint"
The captain was so savage that Mr..
Haxton left the table and sought bis
stateroom just as came down. The
idea was TO come to anchor at once. but
when bad put the other side Of the
case 10 the captain it was all abandoned.
Though was in a sense TO blame for
all the misfOrtunes which thereafter &C.
CURED, l argued with the cartain for
what | believed TO be the best interests
of all governed. II we came to anchor
and raised a row, it would got into the
newspapers. The men who had secured
the appointment for tho doctor were
Ieople 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 con-
siderable loss. We could only say Of the
doctor that he was young and did not
know how 70 take hold, but his friends
would declare him perfectly fit in a
medical way, and that tbe routine could
be picked MP IN day or two.
In talk of 20 minutes I convinced
the captain that our best plan was to
hold right on and come TO tho assist
anoe of the doctor. We were to touch at
the cape of Good HOPE If he proved
incompetent, we could enter protest
there. There were many instances where
conviots 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 IN to
that time even if the doctor did not turn
out 10 be the man for the place. There
fore, instead OF our voyage ending as
soon az &c had begun, Captain Clark
knocked at the door OF the doctor IS state.
room and said to the young man, who
had already begun to pack up his things /:
While l hold to it that you should
nevor have been sent aboard Go fill such
responsible position, it is Just posi-
bic that you may turn out all right
have decided TO continue the voyage.
and II you bestir yourself and take hold
with spirit l an bound TO give you all
assistance asked for. "
HaXton's mind was greatly relieved.
aud he at ouce set about it to poet 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, VIXEN we were
fairly at sen, DIR. Haxton appointed can
tains for the gangs, began to plan work
for them en- voyage and hustle about ia
such a business way that he made
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 uam0 was
Smith, WAS one OF the crew sent below
with the guards ut noontime of our sec
ond day OCT. He overheard enough 10
convince him that the conyicts had
sized the doctor up for e "soft mark, -
and that they were counting on having
an easy time during the voyage. Ono
could fird proof in their demeGnor as
they came on deck. Each man had an
inpudent, defiant swagger as ho walked,
and e2ch seemed anxious 10 be guilty Of
some infrsction Of discipline. / had my
eye out for Ben Johnson aud at the end
or a couple of days l picked him for
ring!eader. The Difference shown him
by the other convicis satisfied me that
he had been selected as tho ruler over
all. Each captain OF q gang had been
selected ~ the doctor because OF his
short term and his demeanor as a steady
man, bat tie convicts had elected Ben
johnson to rule them because Of his
being tho most fearless and desperate
character among them.
1t was tho rule Of all convict ghips
that the men should 30 employed dur
ing the voyage. It wasn't for the CAP
tain to say what they should do, but
tho matter was left entirely in tho
hands OF the doctor Or. Haxton
was not even posted as TO this rule. but
when the captain called his attention
70 u he went below TO consult tho con-
victs ss to their ayOcations. a few Of
them had given these whom convicted.
and they were so marked on the list
furnished by tho prison authorities, but
the greater number had claimed to have
no trade whatever. Tho doctor eouId not
fail 70 SEQ the contempt in which ne
was held when no called the roll Of diff
feIent 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 n trip Tor my health -
replied the gecoud
The cCuvicts made q Joke OF the
" hole affair And ssof 49,. q, It,. $500.