New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-20
DIRK,S AND FISTS AT SEA.
THE GOVERNOR ROBES VOYAGE TO
HONG KONG A SERIES OF BRAwLS.
AN ABLE SEAMAN WHO RETURNS TELLS OF
THE TROUBLES WITH A SCRATCH
CREw-THE SECOND MATES
CRUELTY.

The latest rival Of Stevenson's tale OF Treas
Island" is a wild story Of the sea which
has come here through Robert Morrison, able
seaman. who formerly lived in Manhattan. but
is now living at No. 800 Furman-st.. Brooklyn
Along with three ordinary seamen and twelve
other able seamen, Harrison shipped with Cap
tain Nichols the ship Governor Robie for
Hong Kong on May I last. AS a result OF the
troubles last spring among the crimps. sailors
and masters in this port, the Governor Robie
sailed with a scratch" crew
The port watch contained four green hands
and three negroes. and in the starboard watch
were six green hands and one negro. With ten
green hands aboard Captain Nichols. Mate
Brown and Second Mate Kline became instruc-
tors in lore as soon as the ship left this
port. The green hards tried hard to learn, and
for the first few days all went smoothly except
with two of the three Germans in the crew.
These two were the Petersen brothers and from
all accounts their mental capacity was much
as that Of team Of oxen. They were so con-
sistently dumb that the second mate taught
them their lessons by means of sundry swings
on the nose and eyes AS the brothers were Of
an unreasoning. docie nature, they took the
punches with equanmty and made no trouble.
The first trouble came when the ship was
week out The second mate thought the two
brothers were slow In taking In the foretop
gallantsail and he administered four straight
ones Four Teutonic black eyes appeared next
morning and the crew began to think thoughts
When the ship was off the Cape of Good Hope
one OF the negroes did something more than
think. He was on the fife rail taking in the
fore royal. when the second mate became dis
pleased and promptly kicked him in the mouth.
~ t,, CfrClo
around the fife rail.
The negro picked up capstan bar that was
handy and then turned and chased the second
mate. who fed preoipitately. The negro pursued
him hotiy until he disappeared around the fore
house As the negro came spinning around the
corner he saw a head directly in front. and on
the instant made Jelly of the head through the
agency of the capstan bar. The head belonged,
however. to the Chinese cook. who was looking
out to sea, dreaming of chop suey and dog fricas-
see in old Hong Kong The second mate had
escaped. and the crew lived on hardtack, and
hardtack with relishes of hardtack for many
days A few minutes after the Chnaman's dis
comfture the second mate came up from another
direction aud stretched the negro out on the
floor with a right swing
The next big Aght took place when the ship
was nearing the equator The second mate
tried to knock negro overheard and the latter
promptly inserted knife in his adversary with
such skill that the latter could not move about
for several weeks. The negro fled up the
shrouds but the captain enticed him to the
deck again and gave him square pointed
naval knife in place of the sharp weapon he
already possessed.
The log for the rest OF the voyage included
four wrestling matches, three rough and tumbles
and two knockouts- II school Of pugilism
and dirk-knfe fencing rather than marine
school, according 10 Morrison. As a result
Ned" sailor from Long Island whose pre-
vious experience in things nautical had been
confined to catboat. could only cling on
when he was sent aloft. and there were others
in the same advanced stage Of seacraft.
The ship reached Hong Kong in 1oS days from
the time she left NewYork. and the postscript
to the voyage miXup In Hong Kong be-
tween Niger Biz and one Of the Petersens
in which pistols and knives were drawn and two
physiuues were badly dsarranged. "NigGer
Bill" received "Si5 six months from the
Magistrate and his dusky cOnfreres were sent
to Manila. as Hong Kong is bad place for
negroes.
Morrison came 10 this country on the trans
port Tartar and he says the only nice thing
about the Governor Robes voyage the
courtesy Of the first mate. who always apollo
gized for his ungentlemanly conduct after swear
ing at a sailor. Ned" the catboat sailor. and
a sailor named Frost the only members Of
the ships old crew who shipped with her when
she left Hong Kong.