Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-10-27
THE MYSTERIOUS COCKSHRIN.
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The big hattleship was rolling ma
jcstically to and fro several miles off
the coast when the fiery sun appeared
above the horizon and bathed in golden
hues the stunted palms and deserted
shores of Cuba. The bluejackvts had
been turned to earlier than usual, and
the work Of the morning watch was
already completed. On the forecastle
the idlers and marines We're performing
their morning additions, while the
iacllies who had been washing down
decks and cleaning ship were gathered
in picturesque groups forward Of the
big turrcts, excitedly discussing the
news which had been brought forward
by some of the wardroom boys.
"Thc first huff has been ordered to
get ont a steam launch and a cutter
and send some one into the harbOr' :
month to cut cable. 1t will he ii dan
gerous job, for the boats will have to
grapple for the cable right in range Of
the Spanish batteries. "
Here. at last. was an end TO the mo-
notony Of hlockading service and a
chance to do something For weeks the
big ship had been steaming idly back
and forth without once firing a shot or
even chasing a blockade runner. 1t was
not strange that the news the ward
room boys were telling created furore
of excitement among the lackIcs on the
forecastle. and the early appearance Of
the Young officers on the deck showed
that "steprage' had also been Informed
of the intended expedition.
Among others who heard the story
on the furcCastle was CoCkhwaln W elCh,
who. with his trousers rolled up 10 his
knees and his muscular arms hHred 70
the shoulder, had Just come in from the
third cutter, his especial pet and pride,
where, with bucket and swab. he had
been removing some of the traces Of
cinders and SCOT deposited by the big
tunnels overhead.
WEIGH was not popular man among
his mates He had but recently joined
the ship. and. to the disgust of many
an old shellbaCk, he had hardly been
billetcd to the after guard when he was
rated CoCkswain-viCe Murphy. dis
rated for drunkenness-an now had
charge Of the best cutter on board.
Many strange stories were being whls-
pered about among WEIGH mates con
corning the new cockswain. He was
too young to have been an apprentice,
and there We're some who said he was
now serving his first enlistment and
had obtained his rating because Of a
pull with some Of the youngsters in the
Storage. Others averred that WelCh
was not the cOckswain : real name and
that he had story to tell which would
make fine sensation for any Of the
newspaper correspondents lowering
about the squadron on the swift little
towboats could any enc guess what it
was But WEIGH, by his quiet atten-
ton to duty, his reticence and gentle
manly manners, had hitherto remained
a mystery, which bothered the curious
ones among the jaCkies not little
Withal, he seemed to be good seaman
and to have the confidence Of his Supe-
riors, who if they knew his secret, had
kept it well to themselves.
Pass the word for WEIGH, the Geek
swain Of the third cutter!' piped the
boatswain's mate. Lay after to the
quarter deck" =
The message was taken up and re-
peated by the boatswain's mates in the
different parts of the ship, and the
cockswain, rolling down his duck trou.
sers and setting his watch cap squarely
on the top of bis head. hurried off in
response to the call
RcachilNy the quarter deck, WelCh
stood at attention, forward of the steer.
age hatch, until his soldierly figure
caught the eye of the first lieutenant,
who was pacing nervously up and down
| the weather side.
"Welch!" the executive officer spoke
sharply and stopped suddenly in his
| hurried walk.
The cockswain sprang forward, and.
bringing his bare heels together in the
correct posture Of attention, saluted
his superior.
Were going to try and cut that
cable today and shall send in the third
cutter, with the launch, to do the work
1t will require a cool head to handle
the cutter under fire, and there are
many chances that she may not COME
back unscathed, This work must be
done and everything will depend OF
the way the boats are handled. Lieu
tenant de KCven will have charge Ct
the expedition. and Mr.. Karl will gt
in the cutter. Only volunteers will h
taken, and have sent for you to Civ,
you chance to go.
THANK you, sir, said Welch, will
tone of self possession, though hi
cheeks flushed.
"You may go forward and quietl,
pick out eight men for your boat. TAX
only volunteers and good, cool headed
men. When you have selected you,
crew, report to Mr.. Karl That viii
do. "
WEIGH saluted and hurried forward
as fast as his legs would carry him
This was chance he had been waiting
longing, praying for The dangers of tb;
expedition did not occur to him, and il
they had he would have worried littl'
about them. He now had an opportun
ty to distinguish himself and perhaps
show some people that--wel he woulC
not think of this just now, but Cock
swain WEIGH did think of these thing
just the same, and the more he though
Of them the more anxious he was tc
start on the perilous expedition
Eight men for the cutter were quick
ly selected. He might have had twenty
times as many had he been ordered tc
take them, but the chosen ones were al
strong. able men, who could he relied