The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-06-30
LOSS OF THE TECUMSEH.

stepping stone to seafaring life
and sometimes it proved very broad
One-has. IN great measure, passed
away.
| | liked the sea well enough, but
did not like whaling; SO | next shipped
in merchantmen and went to Cal
cutta. And | learned more seaman
ship in that fourteen mOnths' voyage
in the Tecumseh than in the whole
three years | was on board the whaler.
l fact, l became so good a seaman.
that, upon arriving home, my captain
Howard was his name-asked me
to 60 with him again as his second
mate; and that Eeing too good an
offer to let pass, at once agreed to
go
| | used to think | must have met
Captain Howard before | ever went
to sea, but | never could remember
where. His voice seemed strangely
familiar at times, especially when |
heard it at night without seeing his
face. But | could never recall when
or where | had met him: and at
length | came to the conclusion that [
mover had met him at all until we met
on board his ship.
He was naturally cheerful and had
a CHEEKY way of speaking, yet he was
at times a great sufferer from rheu
matism, the attacks of which would
occasionally confine him to his berth
and make him almost helpless Then
the command of the ship would de
yOlve upon the mate, who, although
An efficient officer, was very different
man from the captain.
Mr. Hazewell, the mate, was never
slow to show his authority. He seem
ed to like having command, that he
might make things lively for the
| men" as he expressed it. 1t would
not be very pleasant to be second
| mate under him, but | liked the cap
| tam SO we'll, and WAS SO eager to get
ahead, that | thought | could endure
1t for one voyage.
This was in the early days of Cali
| fornia, not long after steamers began
to run between Panama and San
Francisco, and coal had to be sent
ont around Cape Horn to supply
them The Tecumseh was this time
to take ont cargo of coal to Panama,
and 60 thence to China. | hardly had
time to run down into Maine and
spend few days with the old folks,
| before | had to be attending to my
| duties.
As soon AS our cargo was slowed we
set sail. and made good run till we
neared the line, where we fell in with
the usual calms. But we got clear of
them at last, and taking the south
east Trades they carried us we'll
down towards the Falkland Islands,
/ where, after two or three days of
light, variable winds, it came on to
blow heavily from the southwark and
eastward
1t happened that at this time Cap
tain Howard had one of his attacks of
| rheumatism, which he attributed to
heavy, depressing weather; for indeed
it was at such times that his complaint
always troubled him most. 1t was
now SO bad, that, after staying on deck
as long as he could, suffering almost
uncomfortable agony, he betook himself
to his berth, saying to Mr.. Hazewell
that he would have to take care of
the ship till ne could get about again.
Il can do no more now," he said,
'even if she were going down"
1t is harsh thing to sag, but it
seemed to the crew and me, too, that
the mate was especially glad to have
the captain disabled at this time. He
was vexed at the weather,-it could
have been at nothing else, e,-and had
been free in expressing his opinion
that the captain was too careful about
carrying sail. Now, therefore, when
the captain had been below only a
short time, Mr. Hazewell showed that
he was master of the ship, for the
time at least, by ordering more sail
to be made
Lay aloft there, some of you lub
bers" he cried, land shake a reef out
Of that foretopsail. You, Jack, go out
there and loose the jib. Well hold
our own better with more sail on:
don't you think so; Mr. Swain?"
"Aye-till the spars 60" replied
and then | ventured to say
Il think, Mr. Hazewell, we shall be
likely to lose some of the spars if We
attempt to carry more sail
Let 'em go, then. he growled in
reply. We've got more haven't we
Bear hand, there." to the men on
the topsail yard. Bear a hand,
Stand by, here!' to those on deck.
stand by to sheet home"
1t was plain enough that remon
STRANGE would not avail, even If it had
been for me to demonstrate further
but on board ship the word of the
highest in rank is supreme law, and
those who are lower can only obey.
To dlsobey would, of course, be con
sldered mutlnouS.
1t was early in the afternoon when
more sail was made. and from that
time until night the wind steadily IN
creased, As the gloom of night be
gan TO settle over the sea, Mr. Haze
well himself grutliy admitted that
there was fair chance of carving
something away. But he gave no OIL
der as yet for any of the canvas to be
taken IN.
Again | ventured a word against
keeping SO much sail on the ship at
such time. but got only short.
sharp reply, accompanied by an oath
Nv eve { 1t to ge: around the Horn
somehow, havn't we?' the mate
growled, surlily. Don't you fret
III take care of the ship"
The ship was then pitching into the
foam capped seas in way that sent
their spray all over her; and with all
that coal in the hold, every one knew
that she was being fearfully strained.
At length, when night had fairly
come, and the ftful gleam of flashing
waves was our only hght,-for the be
clouded s. ky shut out even the light
of the stars,-the mate gave the or
der to Stand by the foretopsail hal
yards and clewlines," and to Haul
down the jib"