The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-29
THE BULLY OF THE "CAVENDISH. "

Talking of prizefighters, sir. said the
night Waterman, who had nearly danced
himself over the edge of the wharf in IL
Illustrating on Of Mr.. Corbett's most trust
ed blows. and was now sitting down taking
in sufficient air for three they amt wot
they used to be when I was a boy. They
advertise in the paper for months and
months about their fights, and when it
does come off they do it with gloves, and
they're all right agin day or two arter.
saw a picter the other day O. one
punchin a bag wot couldn't punch back,
for practice. Why. remember as a young
man Sinker Pitt, as used to ave the King S
Arms ere in is old age; when e wanted
practice is plan was to dress up, in a soft
at and black coat like a chapel minister
or something. and go in 4 pub and con
tradict people; sailormen for choice. He'd
"a no more thought O. hitting a pore arm
less bag than / should ha' thought of hit
ting i'm. .o-
The strangest prizefighter I ever come
acrost was one wot shipped with me on the
Cavepdsh. lie was the most egstrordinry
fighter I've ever seen or card of, and e
got to be such a nuisance afore ed done
with us that we could ardly call our souls
our own. He shipped as an ordinary sea
mana unfair thing to do, as e was any
thing but ordinary, and 'ad no right to be
there at all.
We'd got one terror on board afoTe ne
come, and that was Bill, Bone, one o. the
biggest and strongest men I've ever seen
down ships fc's'Ie. and that's saying a
good deal. Built more like bull than
man, e was, and when he was in his tan
trums the best thing to do was to get out
of is way or else get into your bunk and
keep quiet. Oppersition used to send i'm
crazy Almost, an if e said red shirt was
a blue one, you 'ad to keep quiet 1t didn't
do to agree with i'm and call it blue even,
COS if you did he'd call you a liar and
punch you for telling lies.
He was the only drawback to that ship.
We 'ad a nice old man, good mates, and
good grub. You may know1it was Al when
l tell you that most of us 'ad been in er
for several v'yges.
But Bill was a drawback, and no mistake
In the main he was a earty, good-tem
pered sort O. shipmate as you'd wish to
see, only, as | said afore, oppersition was
thing he could not and would not stand. 1t
used to fly to his ed direckly.
The v'y'ge I'm speaking of-we used to
trade between Australia and Loudon-Bill
came aboard about an hour afore the ship
sailed. The rest of us was already aboard
and down below some OF us slowing our
things away and the rest sitting down and
telling each other lies about wot we'd been
doing. Bill came lurching down the Ladder
and Tom Baker put is and 10 i'm to steady
i'm a he got to the h0ttOm
Who are you putting your 'ands on?"
ses Bill, glaring at i'm.
Only Gliding you up, BILL ses Tom,
smiling
oh" ses Bill.
He put is back uD agin a bunk and
pulled hisself together.
Gliding of me-up-was you?" he ses:
"'whaffor, if l might be so bold as to arsk?''
Il thought your foot ad slipped. Bill. cid
man. ses Tom; but I'm sorry if it
'adn't"
Bill looks at i'm agin ard
Sorry IL my foot didn't slip?'' he ses.
you know wot I mean, Bill" ses Tom,
smiling a uneasy smile.
Don't laugh at me-" roars Bill.
Il wasn't laughing, Bill, old PAL" ses
Tom
LES called me a nar,' ses Bill, looking
round at US; called me liar old my
coat, Charlie and I'll split i'm in halves"
Charlie took the coat like a lamb, though
he was Toms pal. and Tom looked round
to see whether he couldn't nip UP the lad
der and get away. but Bill was just in front
of it, Then Tom found out that one of is
boot laces was undone. and he knelt down
to do it up. and this young ordinary sea-
man. Joe simms by name, put his cad out
of his bunk and he SEES quiet like:
you amt afraid of that thing mate, are
,ou?"
"Wot?' screams Bill. starting.
Don't make such a noise when I'm
speaking" ses Joe; where's your man
ners, you great ulking rascal?"
81 thought Bill would ha' dropped with
surprise at being spoke to like that. His
face was purple all over. and e stood
staring at Joe as though e didn't know
wot to make of i'm. And we stared too,
Joe being a smallish sort o chap and not
looking at all strong.
Go easy. mate" whispers Tom; you
don't know who you're talking to"
"B1sh," SEES Joe. hes no good. He's too
fat snd too silly to do any arm. He sha'n't
'urt you while I'm ere"
He Just rolled out of is bunk and. stand
ing ia front of Bill. put is fists up at i'm
and stared i'm straight in the eye.
you touch that man" he ses, quietly
pointing to Tom. and III give you such a
dressing down as you've never 'ad afore.
Mark my words. now"
Il wasn't going to it him. ses Bill. in a
strange. mild voice.
You'd better not" ses the young 'un,
shaking his fist at i'm; you'd better not,
my lad. If there's any fighting to be done
in this fo'c's'le I'll do it, Mind that"
It's no good me saying we was stag
gered; hecos staggered amt no word for
it, To see Bill put is hands in is pockets
and try and whistle and then sit down on
a locker and scratch is head was the most
amazing thing I've ever seen. Presently e
begins TO sing under his breath.
stop that 'umming," ses Joe; when I
want you TO 'um I'll tell you"
Bill left OF umming. and then he gives
little cough behind the back of is and and
srter fidgeting about bit with is feet
went up on deck again.
'strewth.' ses Tom. looking round at
us. -" Ave we shipped bloomin' prize
fighter"
'Wot did you call me?" ses Joe, looking
at i'm.
Nothing, mate" ses Tom, drawing
back.
you keep a quiet tongue In your ed"
ses Joe, "and speak when you're spoken
to. my lad"
He was a ordinary seaman, mind. talking
to A. BIS like that. Men who'd been up
aoft and doing their little bit when e was
going about catching cold in is little petit
cuts Still. If Bill could stand it, we sup
posed as we'd better.
Bill stayed up on deck Eli We was under
way. and is spirit seemed to be broke He
went about is work like man wot was
walking in is sleep, and when breakfast
come e 'ardly tasted it.
Joe made a splendid breakfast, and when
he'd finished e went to Bits bunk and
chucked the things out all over the place
and said e WAS going 10 'nva IL for himself