The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-12-04
FO'CASTLE TUMBELED
wHEN"BIG GUS"HOvE
IN SIGHT
MIGHTY Wa HIS FISTS
KickedCan of NitrOGIyCerine
..AISO ''the Bucket.

.
Macon, NO., Pee. A man with tat
tooed anchors stars and mermaids OF
the backs Of his sinewy hands was a.
hotel here yesterday. He registered
as "a. -. Castle. British Navy" ant
drew a picture Of a man-of-war in IA,
space reserved for the call.
"No I've killed no bears OF my own
said the sailor "A never saved shir
just as IL was going down with all
hands. and : never touched on the gun
that sent the enemy'a battIeship to nav.
igitiug aluaAs lhe fishes But for sew
eral years 1 enjoyed tho society OF a
man who I'll bet was the toughest prop
osition that ever sailed the high seas,
and he was from your country, a ma
tive Of CharleHon. George Getsinger by
name. but known to his mates as Big
Gus He wore long. pointed mustaches.
q little goatee. and was as swar.hy as
a Hindoo He had a reputation along
the coast of England that would boil
icebergs When the privateer Alabama
run ONTO the Eliza Hatch merchantmen
south OF the line. Big Gus was the
only thing on board that wouldn't sur
render. He walked over to the raii and
shaking his fist al the battleship's crew
offered 10 lick any two men they had
After the prisoners were taken aboard
the Alabama's sailors picked out the
best man they had and he went up
against the big un, and never got over H.
Shannhaled From Liverpool.
soon after the Civil war Big Gus
landed IN England. and some Of the men
on the sailing vessel II. J.. Rlcheson
found him Ia Liverpool gutter. lie
was prize worth having ana they took
him aboard. / was a seaman on the
Richeson and the mate notified me to
rouse Big Gus at midnight and have
him stand watch with me. 1t wasn't
pleasant prospect to tell the sea terror,
when miles of shore. that he had been
shangEaied. II I'd had my choice,
belive Id rather Jerked a piece Of meat
out Of a tigers jaws and trusted to my
legs
" Big Gus was sonring bud enough 20
swell the sails when I yanked him over
He jumped up with a growi and seiz-
ing me By the neck, held me up for in
spection.
Who the blankety blank blank are
your he wanted 10 know
4 told him ! would have the honor Of
standing watch with him if lived to
do It,
Watch on whatg
The II L. Richeson
Did they Shanghai meY'
I'm afraid So
That's the only way they'd a got
me on this tub, Say did they throw
jug in with the bag?
He was in deb2s. earnest when he
asked that auestioa. told him he was
hauled aboard without his jug. He
started TO rave and remembered had
a couple OF TASKS. l was ordered 70 pro-
.duce Immediately Glad OF chance 70
mollify him I went below and got the
restorative. lie drank half the con-
tents Of one bottle. then solemnly corxed
it and handed it back
"Bla Gus" Liked Whisky.
Keep that tin / call for Il again he
said, and don't let me have but one
good pun at a time
But suppose YOU'D want more and
tried to stop YOU suggested. you'd
maui the life out of me-.
That's so, he returned rehectlvely.
Then he added' You might bring The
allowance ma dipper and then run Be
fore ! had time 20 finish II you'd be
safe,
.He was keonly aware Of the awful
passion drink Inspired in him. and !
knew he was honestly talking for my
own good. At one time he had been a
mutineer on the high seas, with tha
added charge OF murder against him. and
was prisoner IN irons when the Civil
war broke out lie was released to Join
the Confederate army. deserted and went
ON the eliza Hatch as a seaman. His
capture by the Alabama put him into
tie Confederate service again.
'rhe sailors on the Richeson got sheir
rations from big pot, the supply being
ladcled out by the cook as the mon /
gathered around with their bo1ls L.
was busy time and pretending to pre-
vent crowding. the seamen would ask I
a double allowance OF hash ana bread I
for me ana my chum. I was young and 4
small. and by the time ! got 20 the POT 4
J generally found Il empty because OF 1
the double allowance Big Gus no-
iiced ms nl luck once or twice. and ihcn
something happened. When the crowd I
gathered around the cook ana began az
Ing their requests for me and my chum'
ne lit IN among EN- ana before you
could count six a dozen sailors were
scattered around the decks Ike SO many
toy dolls, and dH bowls were flying IA
ne air.
Cured Sailors Of Graft.
You just let me hear some more Of
that me and my chum business. win
your said BigG as he elared around
Nobody cared 20 argue with him. and
from that time on / was in fivor wl.h
ihe cook
"When Big Gus met with the inev-
itahlo he was not with the Richeson. bu
We learned how @ happened lie rarely
drew sober breath on shore. and one
day some Of MS mates who had suffered
from bis tyranny goi can of nitro
slycerm and abelei 4 ola Hyo They
ie. hin the price Of ihe fun can that
He couldn't KICK IL ACROSS q lot Big
CUE threw OK his cap. spit on his hands
ma took short rreem'nary um. The
lf1uia az fnh rnitrhfIsrfnnN -5.f .tA. Ef.