The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-16

I'd seen a cask of rum shipped to his
cabin the day before, and l knew pretty
Veil what to expect when he wasn't on
| hand for dinner. We had terrible trip
for the first five days out, and the sec
ond mate and had been standing watch
and watch, hoping against hope, that the
skipper would come to. He never show
ed his face outside his cabin door. though,
| except to call the steward to bring him
more rum. On the fifth day / decided I'd
stood enough, and | pounded on the old
mans door until he opened it to see what
was the matter
- I'm tired out, and so is the second
mate Isaid. You'll have to turn out
and stand watch
Il am feeling under the weather. he
said. and don't wish to be disturbed
AT that he slammed the door in my
! face and locked it on the inside. 1 was so
mad and tired I could have killed him as
/ ! turned away Right In front of his
door, in the angle of the companionway,
stood his barrel of rum. I'll fix you 1
| said to myself as l caught sight of il. l
turned the faucet full on and slipped up
| the stairs as the liquar began to run
! out on the floor.
! Il was awaiting around the companion
ladder pretty much all the afternoon. to
see how the old man was going to take
| 1t. There wasn't sound from his cabin
though. and l decided he must have found
the liquor running and turned it off
About six o'clock l was standing by the
wheel. when the steward came aft. look
ing like sick cat
:" Oh. Mr. Jepson.' he cried. what am l
10 do? WANT am / to do. I've left the
captains rum barrel open. and it's empty.
He'll kill me, sir: indeed. he will
" on refer the captai nto me- 1 said,
if he takes on to you about it.
In about an hour. sure enough the
skipper howled for the steward TO fill his
rum decanter. 1 heard him call. and
went forward 10 see what came of II. !
was almost koncked over by the rush of
the old man as he tore mp the companion
ladder to the deck. ,Jepson. Mr. Jepson.'
he reared The steward has spilled my
rum. He's spilled my rum. do YOU I'M
derstand? 1 shall die before we make
Liverpool
i can't help that. sir / said And,
furthermore continued, I think fits a
mighty SooO lEAtiS II Was split
Don't you care be impudent TO me.
sir. he ragged. 1 tell you, sir. I'll report
you. sir: I'll report you. and III kill that
damned steward with my own hands
- You'll do nothing Of the kind. I said.
You'll so down into your own cabin and
pull yourself together on quart of whis-
key'I have in my locker. As for the stew
ard. I'll attend 20 him.
Well. 1 uursed that old fellow along
on that bottle OF whiskey and finally
brought him around nicely. so that BY the
time we made Liverpool he was able 20
dock the ship all by himself As he was
going over the side to visit the consignee. I
l stopped him and asked:
BY the way captain. do you want TO
know how that rum got spilt?'
. Why. the steward left the tap open.
didn't he?
. No. sir, he didn't I turned II on when
you refused to come on deck. ard I'm
glad l did t..
We'll. his face got red, and for q min
ute l thought he was going 10 hit me.
= I had intended TO overlook your pre-
vious discour,esy 70 me, he said as he
turned on his heel because Of your sub
seQuent good conduct I shall certainly
report you now. as soon as we reach New
York