Year: 1859

asa Morton-wlth whom had some slight
acquaintance. Capt Sueeter was about
three score, and hal followed the sea most
of his life. Morton was considerably
younger, though a q seaman Of much ex-
perience. The subject Of the abolition of
fiogglng in our navy came up in course Of
conversation, and Capt Morton expressed
himself very decidedly in favor Of tha:
time honorei institution, the cato nine
tails.


Il am not prepared to say" remarked
Streeter in reply, "that the condition OF
our men o'-wars- men will be in every case
benefited by the abolition of foggng,
though am sure that il might be so |
meant that the officers had it in their pow
er to do away with all kinds of punishment,
| meant Of course for such offenders as
are usually punished on shipboard."


" For my part" returned Morton, 81
shouldn't care to take command Of ship,
if the power Of Furnishing refractory sea
men, as l thought proper, we're taken from
me-"


"Well," said Capt Streeter, 'T used to
think just so. In fact, there were but few
masters more passionate and severe than
was. Men used to run away from me, and
on more than one occasion, my life was in
danger from the violence of men whom
had abused. | used the cat and ropes
end almost ss freely as | used my tongue;
and | used to wonder how it happened that
/ always had the luck to get such bad
men


When | was about forty years of age,
took command ofthe ship Petersham. She
was an old Graf, and had seen full as much
service as she was capaple Of seeing with
safety. But her owners were willing to
trust valuable cargo In her, so | would'n
refuse to trust myself We were bound to
Liverpool, and nothing unusual happened
until about the eighth day, when we
ran foul OF a small iceberg. 1t was early
in The morning, before sunrise, and not
above six or eight feet Of ice was out Of
water-it having been nearly all melted
away by the warm waters Of the Gulf
Stream. did not think we had sustain
ed much injury, for the shock was light;
but was very angry and gave the look
out severe punishment, without stopping
to enquire whether he could have seen
the berg in season 10 have escaped it.


Ny cabin boy was named Jack Withers.
lie was fourteen years of age, and this was
his first voyage | had taken him from
widowed mother, and promised would
see him we'll treated if he behaved himself
He was bright, quick, intelligent lad but
soon made myself believe that he had an
awful disposition. | fanced he was the
most stubborn piece of humanity that
ever came across. / made up my mind
that he had never been properly governed,
and resolved to break him in. | told him
Id curb his temper before | had done
with him. In reply be told me | mig hit
kill him if liked; and fogged him with
the miZzen top gallant halliards till he
could hardly stand felt strong incli-
nation to throw the boy overheard, but at
thatmoment he staggered back against the
mizzen mast from absolute weakness, and
left him to himself When | reasoned
calmly about the boys disposition, | was
forced to acknowledge that he was one Of
the smartest and most faithful lads | had
ever seen. When asked him to do any
thing he was of Ike a rocket, but when
roughly ordered him to DO it, then came
the disposition with which found fault


One day when it WAS very near noon.
told him to 90 below and bring up my
quadrant. lie was looking over the quar-
ter rail, and | knew he did not hear me,
and the next time | spoke, ripped out an
oath, and intimated that if he didn't move
I'd help him.


o didn't hear ye," he said with rather
an independent tone.


No words" said /.


q ! suppose | can speak" he retorted,
moving slowly Y towards the companion
way.


His looks, words, and the slow, careless
manner in which he moved, fired me IN
= moment, and grasped him by the col
lar.


"Speak TO me again like that, and I'll
fog YOU with an inch Of your life," said I.


"You can fog away" he replied, firm
and undauntedly as rock.


And did fog him. | caught up the
end Of rope, and beat him till my arm
fairly ached; but he never even WINGED.


"How's that /" said |.


"There is little more life left in me,
you'd better fog it out" was the reply.


And beat him again. | beat him till
he sank from my hand against the rail;
and then sent one of my men for my
quadrant When it came, and had ad
justed it for my observation, found that
the sun was already past the meridian, and
that | was too late. This added fuel to
the fire of madness, and quickly sezing
the lad by the collar, | led him to the
main hatchway, and had the hatch taken
off then thrust him down and swore
that | would keep him there till his stub
borness was broken. The hatch was then
put on, and went into the cabin. | suf-
fered great deal tha. afternoon, not any
oompunctions for what had done, but
with my own temper and bitterness. /,
made me mad to think that couldn't con,
qner that boy-tha, couldn't break down
his cool opposition. "But III do it." |
said TO myself, ''by the heavens sboye me,
I'll starve him into it, or he shall die under
the operation.


After supper went to the hatchway and
called out to him, but he returned me no
answer So | closed the hatch and went
away Atten o'clock | called again, and