The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-06-21

AVA I was international, ana from
EsESgna the viewpoint of ship masters
SS9zg and owners it was good. Aside
from slight mention of an independence
>of character which had prevented their
recommending him for command,
captains with whom he had sailed
spoke well of him. They agreed that
he knew his business. He could lick
a crew into shape" before the green
hands had learned the ropes. He could
get more work out of them than could
ordinarily be got out OF double their
number. He could take lofty, sky
sail yarder, dingy and rusty from
long stay at the dock, and with the
poorest of crews could have her spick
and span as a yacht before reaching
the Horn or the Cape. In sudden
squall he could shorten down to top
gallant sails before the watch below
could reach the deck to help. In short,
he was, as one skipper expressed it,
1.-The two ends and the blight of a sail
or" and in the opinion of all of them
the best chief mate out of New York.
The opinion of sailors who had signed
under him was equally unanimous, but
being unfit for publication is not given
here. 1t does not matter Gossip of
the forecastle and sailors boarding
house would not have Influenced Cap
tain Haskins at this stage of his de-
velopment even had he heard it. A Sc
cret and unsatisfed yearning for high
er things, hidden in his soul since his
first voyage with his father, would
have risen up to offset such gossip.
At ship chambers stores, agents and
consuls' offices and at shipmasters' ta-
bles he had listened to tales told by
his confreres of mutinous crews, double
irons and bread and water, Delaying
pin and handspike medicine, powder
and buckshot arguments and other de-
tails incident to the government of big
ships, and he, the little, withered kind
ly faced old man, who had never struck
blow or received one, who did not
need mate to keep his men at work,
whose ancient little vessel was known
as the Sailors Home, would have
lived such experiences and told such
tales. His humdrum life palled upon
him. Hence his secret yearnings-
hence his delight when, looking for
mate at Callao, he was introduced by
the consul to Mr.. George Arbuckle, the
crack chief officer of big ships, the
dashing, handsome six footer whose
reputation was so good, who for 20
years had signed in nothing smaller
than 1000 tons register and who
would sign with Captain Haskins now
penniless, and the consul, having pro-
cured him Il berth, declined further as
siStance.
'1'll take the berth, captain,'' he said,
"and be aboard in the morning, but
there's one thing I stick out for.
There's no second mate, you say, so I'll
have more than my share of the work.
What l want is no interference be-
tween me and the men. I'm not used
to it, in the first place, and then I'll
have no time for it. l don't believe in
coddling men, and if l break one of
their heads that's my business. If |
kill one Of them, that's my business,
too, but I'll expect my money at quar-
antine, as usual, and chance to skip
before we dock"
Certainly, certainly" stammered the
little captain. 81 understand, Mr.. Ar
buckle. A mate has rights which a
master is bound to respect. l leave
things entirely to you, as far as the
work goes. You know your business.
| heard of you ten years ago. | have
six in the forecastle. A little stirring
up won't hurt 'em. Suit yourself. Stir
'em up if you like"
30 Mr.. George Arbuckle became mate
of the little brigantine Warrior, loaded
and cleared for New York. On his
way to the dock In the morning he
stopped at the consulate to post let
ter home and listened to this from the
white haired old consul:
Il heard you speak carelessly of
breaking heads and killing men. You
have done this before-I have heard of
you-and will possibly do it again; but,
be assured, sir, on the word of an old
man who has studied men and events.
the wrong we do comes home to us
kill come back to watch us die. Here
is letter just in from the Frisco
steamer for one of your crew."
Mr.. Arbuckle laughed at the admoni-
tion, shook hands with the consul,
pocketed the letter and went on board,
When he had changed his clothes and
reached the deck, he found that Cap
tain Haskins had mustered the crew at
the mainmast.
''These are my men, Mr.. Arbuckle,"
said the captain. "Men, this is Mr..
Arbuckle, who goes home mate with
u.s."
A gray bearded man, elderly. but ac-
tive, stepped forward from the group
and, ducking his head with a concilia-
tory grin, said partly to the captain,
partly to the cfficeri
81 knew Mr.. Arbuckle when he was a
boy, sir, though don't s'pose he mem
bers me-. l lived in Tompkinsville
awhile. He used to chum wi my neph-
ew, my namesake. My names Martin
Mathews, sir"
Mr.. Arbuckle made no immediate re-
sponse. He was looking into each face
with a dispassionate stare and only
gave the old sailor his share of the
scrutiny. When he had finished the
Inspection, he said quietly to the crew
ns whcle:
tive taken your measure. Now, let
An