Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1921-02-12
KK e WE'RE bound out of Lon
wv don with general cargo;

lie WlHQ dying out, we naQ
to come to anchor in the Downs. The
crew had been grumbling about the
grub; and were now grumbling yet
more. l was second officer, and to
me came the cook saying: "Mr Royle,
would you mind testing this?" and
handed me bit-of ships biscuit.
Sugar, mOlasses, tea and pork-if
they call 'em that-they're all the
same rotten mess, SIR"
The biscuit was bad, and though it
was not my place to do so, l took it
to Captain Coxon, but got nothing
from him except curses and the cold
advice to mind my own affairs. Mr..
Duckling, the first officer, added few
Obsequious remarks on his own ac-
count. The result was that the crew,
getting no redress, refused to make
sail on the ship, and were put ashore.
Next morning a crimp came down from
London with fresh crew.
A fair wind sprang up, the ship was
got under way, but we were not clear
of the channel when the new crew
were also complaining of the grub.
Hot words We're passed between them
and the captain, so hot that the cap
tain had to take notice. He finally
promised to put into some handy port
in Spain or elsewhere along the route,
and lay in a fresh supply of ships
stores.
What injustice in the meanness of
owners and captains !" thought. Here
were good sailors and ordinarily harm
less men who might be made into GRIM
inals, and all to the end that our
banking balance might be kept large
and our national power supreme. With
out the British sailor there would
be no British empire, and what
treatment is meted out to him! He
submits to hardships and danger,
and receives low wages, poor food and
mean living quarters even should he
be granted hearing for grievance,
nineteen out of twenty persons ap-
pointed to investigate the trouble are
qualified neither by experience nor
sympathy to render just verdict.
The Grosvenor, of which l was Sec
ond officer, was a fast-sailing, full
rugged little ship of 500 tons. The cap
tain, under owners orders to make
what time he could to Valparaiso, was
out to drive her. We were rushing
along under a press of canvas when
we ran over a small craft of some kind.
I got a glimpse in the dark of mast
and a sail before they vanished I'M
der US.
No word came to bring her to. l
asked Captain Coxon, who was on
deck, if he was not going to try to
save the possible survivors.
"Save be hanged! Why didn't they
keep out of the way?"
/ knew what / wanted to say; but
it is in the power of ships captain
to injure, even to ruin, the future of
on officer under him. I held my tongue.
We ran into three days gale. We
had terrible time, but managed to
live through it, AS it was moderating
we sighted wreck, a most mournful
and piteous sight. 1t was in my
watch, and I ordered the ship luffed
to have a better look at her. What
saw was an arm projecting through
her deck-house window. l at once
called the captain and asked for in
structions.
''Keep her away!" was his order.
called him a murderer and ap-
pealed to the men. They cried to
save the lives on the wreck. The cap
tain then allowed me to take boats
crew ana see what l could do.
After a hard struggle our boat made