Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-10-20
A Strike on Ship-BOard
BY George II. Coemer.


OF her hands were young men with
high and just appreciations in the
business they had adopted. Our boat
steerers were fine. capable fellows.
and as to our three mates. they were
men who went about their duties in
sturdy. sensible manner. without
abusing those under them.
But there WAS one serious draw
back TO our content Our captain. be-
sides being a harsh man, was so eN-
tremely ciose-fsted as to begrudge
US every mouthfui Of provision that
we consumed. Interested in the yes
sci as a part owner, he appeared 70
taink that we were really doing nm
an injury by eating at all; SO that
whenever a new barrel of beef was
broken out" as the term is. We were
sure 20 hear n violent outburst from
him about our wastefuiness.
Nevertheless, in the earlier part OF
the voyage We Jared tolerably well in
spite OF his fault-fnding. While he
confined himself 20 mere worcs. we
could put down the salt Junk" IN
silence. and feel equal TO 2o-miie pull
at the oars or a u hours task at
cutting in" However weary We
might be. il was great satisfaction
TO reflect that a good solid meal OF
beef and bread awaited Us "a the END
of our work.
But at length there came a change.
We were cruising i'm the South Allan
tic. away down by Tristan de Acunha,
when the "old man. as We called him,
introduced a reform in our manner
OF living. putting us on an allowance
OF one pound of beef and bone per
dav for each man. with but short
supply OF bread
A pound of clear beef. with fair
quantity OF bread. might have sui-
need: but the beef and bone were
weighed out together, and 1t often
happened that there was as much
bone as meat.
Whales were abundant, but some
what wild. and We had many a long
chase for nothing, although tolerabiy
successful upon the whole. Whenever
whale was killed, if the ship hap
pcned 10 be TO the leeward, he must
be towed TO her by long and tedious
rowing; and then came the cutting
the hoisting and al the incidental
work of the occasion.
The shipkeeper and the boat steer
ers had the same fare as the foremast
hands. and were equally as discon
tented The condition of things haC
become intolerable, and We deter
mined upon a revolution" Ii shoulS
be . ''peaceabls revolution" bu. ef
fective and complete.
NO more whaling on empty Htom
achs," We said; Let the fulfilled one
catch the whales"
Ii wA4 settled that the shipkeepe
should be our spokesman 10 the cap
tain, presenting our ultimatum as Il
what We would and would not DC
No positive musiny should be set oi
foot. no criminal act committed; bu
either We must have a full allowanc
OF provisions or the ship must b
headed for home-otherwise We wOul
refuse duty.
Having decided upon our course c
action. we marched aft in body I
the quarter deck. the shipkeeper cal
rying our last kid" of beef. whic
contained bone almost as large as
quadrant and nearly of the sam
shape.
Capt Winthrop" said the old IA
respectfully, "the crew ask me
speak for EN-, and have brought a.
their allowance TO show you what Sol
of fare they have. You see this bi
bone, sir. and can judge for yourse
@ how much meat will be left when II
weight of this Is taken out. spea
for the boat steerers and myself.
well as for the for'ard hands. Whi
we want is a full allowance of me
and bread. sir, and we can't woI
without IT,"
He put the kid" down on the dec
and held up the huge beef bone. Wi
its thin covering Of meat and gristl
II don't care what you want
roered the captain, savagely. II
not going to have you running TO II
with every bone you happen 10 III
in a piece OF beef Go forward
of you-and don't let me hear al
more of your grumblingl I'm ca
tain of this ship. and / shall feed "
as l think best!"
well, sir" replied the shipkeep'
in decided tone. then we ask v
10 head the ship for homs-our VIII
ing is up"
"Ah!" calculated the captain, "yo
whaling is up. is it? Mutiny, you n
Gals, mutiny. eh?"
mo, sir, there is no mutiny.