Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-02-11
WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK
By Morgan Robertson.

tudH d HdgllHSt lie 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 matte he would whirl nelay-
ing pins, beavers and hand-spikes
about the decks, and by his success in
knocking down, tricing up and work
ing up sailors who dispieased him.
With blow of his fist he had broken
the jaw of man helplessly ironed in
the tween deck, and on the same voy-
age, armed with a simple Delaying pin,
had sprung alone into a circle of
brandishing sheath knives and quelled
q mutiny. He was short. broad, beetle
browed and grayeye7, Of undoubted
courage, but with the quality o. sym
pathy left out Of MS nature.
During the ten years in which he had
been in command lie IVES relieved of
Iruch Of the executive work that had
made him famous When be stood
watch, but was always ready to ratify
his reputation as q "Bucko' should
friction with the crew occur past the
power of his officers to cope with. His
ship, the Wilmington, sky-sail-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 particularly
unfortunate in his selection of men, for
never a passage ended but he was COM
plainant against one or more heavily
ironed and badly used up members Of
his crew.
His officers We're, 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 a stupor from drink
or drugs, some tied hand and foot,
struggling and cursing with returning
reason.
Equipped thus, the Wilmington,
bound for Melbourne, discharged her
tug and pilot off Sandy Hook one
summer morning, and with a fresh
quartering wind and raising sea,
headed for the southeast. The
day was spent in getting her sail on,
S,, t1,o yis1cy iy,fn oh ~ naS Of fhQ
men as fast as they recovered their
senses. Oa!ths and missiles flew about
the deck, knock-downs were frequent,
and by eight bells in the evening, when
the two mates chose the watches
much as boys chose sides in a ball game
the sailors were we'll convinced that
their masters lived aft.
Three men, long-haired fellows,
sprawled on the mainhatch, helpless
from seasickness, were left to the las;
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 eld-
est of the three in 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 farmers he snarled,
glowering hard at the other two, as
they leaned against the water tank.
'I'm pard to none Of We"
They made him no answer and he
turned away in contempt. Mr..
Tomm," he called, want these chaps
In your watch!
mo. SIR" said the second mate;
don't want 'em. They're no more use
shan spare pump
"rll make 'em useful, fore I'm done
with 'em. Go forrard-you three. Get
the bile out o. yer gizzards fore morn
in # We value yer good looks" He
delivered a vicious kick at each OF the
two standing men, bawled out: Ike
lieve the wheel an lookout-thatli 90
the watch,' and. went aft, while the
crew assisted the seasick men TO the
forecastle and into three bedless Dunks
-bedless, because sailors must furnish
their own. and these men had been
''shanghaied."
The wind died away during the nlgat
and they awoke in the morning Wfth
their seasickness gone. and appesites
rayenous. Sombre and oninous was
their bearing AIS they silently ATE OF lsie
breakfast in the forecastle and steppsu
o,,# on deck with the rest in answer 10
tho mafe's roar: ..All hands spread
dunnage." Having no dunnase gu.
what they wore, they drew on toWalu
the windlass and conferred fogeehe,
while chests and bags were u,ae 90
out on deck and overhauled BY ehe OH
GERS for whiskey and sheath knIsss.
What they found Of the former 'heS