The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-02-11
WE WERE bound ont of Lon
" don with general cargo.
The wind dying ont wa had

The wind dying out, we had
to come to anchor in the Downs. The
crew had been grumbling about the
grub; and were now grumbling yet
more. 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 II
was not my place to do so, / 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 ives 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 we're not clear
Of the channel when the new crew
were also complaining of the grub.
Hot words were 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 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 lov wages, poor food and
mean living quarters; even should he
be granted hearing for q 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 small craft Of some kind.
! got a glimpse In the dark Of a mast
and a SAN before they vanished UNI
der as.
No word came to bring her to. I
asked Captain Coxon, who was on
deck, II he was not going to try to
save the possible survivors.
@Save be hanged Why didn't they
keep out Of the wayf"
l knew what ! wanted TO say; but
Il is in the power Of q ships captain
to injure. even TO ruin, the future OF |
IN officer under him. held my tongue.
We ran into three days gale. We
had a terrible time, but managed to |
live through Ii. As It was moderating |
We sighted q wreck, a most mournful |
and plteous sight. II vas In my |
watch, and I ordered the ship luffed |
10 have a better look at her What I |
saw was an arm projecting through
her deck-house window. I at once
rallied the captain and asked for n
Keep her awayT was his order.
! called him q murderer and ap-
oealed to the men. They cried to
ave the lives on the wreck The cap
ain then allowed me to take a boats
rev and see what I could do.
After q hard struggle eur boat MADE