Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-06-07

''but I'll take you as an ordinary sea-
man Mr.. Hail." he added to the mate
ship this boy as an ordinary seaman"
Il told him this morning we didn't
want him. said the mate.
We'll, ship him anyhow" replied the
captain.
The mate sullenly obeyed. He and
were in for trouble. could see that.
Tussle with the Mate.
In those days ships carried skysails,
and boys were sent aloft to handle them.
When we were off Rio rolling sea and
stiff gale were encountered, and was
sent up to stow a skysail The mate.
Hall, stood on deck and bawled orders
to me that 1 could not hear, because
of the shrieking of the wind through
the rigging. The ship rolled fearfully,
and l had all could do to hang on, but
l completed my task and scrambled
down.
Hall came toward me with Delaying
pin, cursing me for Eot obeying his or
ders, whatever they were He struck
at me, but the ship at that moment
lurched. We clinched and rolled into
the scuppers, which were full of wa
ter. Hall splashed about and regained
his feet. but the ducking took some of
the meanness out of him. He was not
nearly as vicious as he turned upon me
again. Yet feared trouble and reached
for my sheath knife.
IF you touch me I'll cut your heart
OUT said boldly-more boldly than
meant.
The captain appeared at this instant
and overheard my threat. He ordered
me to go below. Three hours afterward
took my turn at the wheel. Though
boy, | was one of five who were in
trusted with steering the ship, and the
skipper in a bluff fashion had shown
some liking for me. He came up and
asked:
What did you mean by threatening
to cut Mr.. Halls heart out?''
Il meant what 1 said" I replied.
THAT man has badgered me ever since
we left New York. He is determined to
have trouble. Ratherthan stand it any
longer 1 will cut his heart out if he
touches me-
mo, you won't" said the skipper,
quietly. when there's any fighting
going on in this ship want to boss the
job, do you hear? Now, you get along
with Mr.. Hall the best you can. have
told him to keep his hands off of you"
We had no special trouble after that
nothing but curses and black looks from
Hall. l did my duty, and took to heart
the lesson taught me by former mas
ter, which was: "Stand fast, and steer
northeast"
Off for Gold Fields.
We sailed from New York in May,
1855, and in the latter part of October
arrived at the Golden Gate, after the
usual share of storm and calm. Then
another turning point came in. my life
Should I stay with the ship or go to
the mines?
Capt. Barbour wanted me to stay
MY boy, you've got the making of a
good sailor in you," he said. "You stay
with the ship. We're going to Calcutta
and I'll make you third mate by the time
we get there. You'll be mate of this ship
by the time you are 90"
Captain" l replied, 'I'll be owner of
schooner of my own before l am co.
I'm going to the mines"
ITO the mines? Pshaw!' he replied
What can a sailor do in the mines?
You won't find any gold''
But l was determined to go to the
gold fields, and took my chest of clothes
from the ship. With the little money
coming to me bought shotgun and a
pepper-box pistol and a roll of blankets.
With my shipmate 1 went down to the
wharf and found work. We worked our
way up the Sacramento river on a boat,
and then, shouldering my blankets,
walked $50 miles over the mountains
into Butte county.
There l found work with a wheelbar-
row and in store. 1 saved every cent
l could make, still dreaming of that
South sea schooner BY the hardest
drudgery and economy l gathered up
$500.
Launched Successward.
A man came into the store one day,
owned a steamboat, but the river had
thrown sandbar across the channel,
and he was out of business. He offered
his steamer to anybody who wanted it
for $4,000. 1t was an enormous figure,
quite beyond me. But l made up my
mind to get that steamer / converted
everything l had into cash, making a
total with my savings of nearly $1,000.
found friend who aided me with
more, and the owner of the boat said
he would wait for part. So within a
week stood on the deck of my own
vessel. 1t was the proudest moment of
my life when stood at the wheel and
gave orders. Never since then have !
experienced quite so keenly the thrill OF
triumph. / managed to work a pas
sageway through the sandbar, and be-
gan freighting up and down the river,
and in few trips had made enough