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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/33631-8.txt b/33631-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0721809 --- /dev/null +++ b/33631-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6861 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of a Strange Career, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story of a Strange Career + Being the Autobiography of a Convict; an Authentic Document + +Author: Anonymous + +Editor: Stanley Waterloo + +Release Date: September 4, 2010 [EBook #33631] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF A STRANGE CAREER *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +THE STORY OF A STRANGE CAREER + + + + + THE STORY OF + A STRANGE CAREER + + BEING + THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CONVICT + + _AN AUTHENTIC DOCUMENT_ + + EDITED BY + STANLEY WATERLOO + + + NEW YORK + D. APPLETON AND COMPANY + 1902 + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1902 + BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY + _Published August, 1902_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The story that follows this introduction is literally true. There died +lately, in a Western State prison, a man of the class known as habitual +criminals. He was, at the time of his death, serving out a sentence for +burglary. For thirty years he had been under the weight of prison +discipline, save for short periods of freedom between the end of one +term and the beginning of another. + +Because of this man's exceptional qualities, as contrasted with those of +the multitude of criminals, he was induced, semi-officially, in a +friendly way, to write the story of his life. He accepted the +proposition made to him, though, consistent with his quality, not quite +fulfilling his pledge, omitting, as he did, certain hard details of the +later part of his criminal career. This was but natural, and, perhaps, +it is the one incident which shows that the man realized, in some +measure, the truth as to his own character. + +The account which makes this book was written in 1897 and 1898, when its +author was in the free world. It has been thought best, out of regard +for an estimable family, to omit from the printed work the real name of +the writer. Another name has been substituted for the actual one, but, +with the exception of a few necessary technical corrections, and changes +of names of people and of one vessel--the one in which the first voyage +was made--the manuscript appears almost as it left the hands of its +author. + +As a true tale, as a study of sociology, as a picture of one human life +somehow bent and twisted from the normal, this work, it seems to the +editor, is one of the most surprising of productions. Its frank +unconsciousness, its striking revelations, its absence from all pose, +combine to make it unique among the writings of men. The Confessions of +Rousseau appear, in phases, almost artificial compared with the simple +but startling revelation which is here given. + +It was not hopelessness, nor recklessness, nor penitence, which made +this man write down unflinchingly what he remembered of the story of his +life. A cheerful reminiscent vein runs throughout all he tells. His +sense of humour is ever present. Nowhere appears a hint of the tragedy +of his experience. Of that he was not conscious. He was as free from +remorse and self-upbraiding as a wild animal or a tree. + +The story, one would imagine, should appeal to those who think. From the +beginning can be seen, in the character of the runaway sailor and +one-time officer of the navy, traits which indicate his absolute +failure, eventually, as a man. He drifts. He is irresponsible. He +escapes from one dilemma only to get into another. He is thriftless, and +takes no thought for the morrow. He has no regard for the truth, nor any +for the rights of property. He lies and steals simply because lying and +stealing are the obvious things for him to do. He does not think of +doing anything else. The manner in which the story is told is +characteristic, and should open the eyes of sentimentalists as to the +real attitude of habitual criminals. Never, from first to last, is there +an expression of genuine shame or the least contrition. There are, it is +true, occasional sentences in which the man calls himself a fool, and +betrays a glimmering of appreciation of the general want of sense and +wisdom in his course, but there is no ring of sincere repentance nor of +sorrow over a wasted life. This extraordinary character is simply of the +opinion that he has not been clever enough. He never suspects that he +has not been good enough to live a normal life among normal people. The +truth is, he had no clear ideas of right and wrong. + +Released from prison, and glad to be free, he always declared that now +he was determined to "keep out of trouble." With him "trouble" meant +"prison," and nothing else. Inevitably, surely, certainly, he was drawn +into ways of crime. As water seeks its level, so he gravitated towards +"trouble." To plan and execute an enterprise of robbery was the form of +activity most natural to him. He was hindered by no scruples, schooled +by no experience, tormented by no necessity. When arrested, and not +before, he considered that he was "in trouble." He fretted over his +punishment, but not over his offence. + +And yet this was a human being, one not without good traits. He was not, +physically, a coward; on the contrary, he was simply and naturally +fearless. He was kind of heart, gentle to children, and tender to +animals. Under discipline, he was patient and obedient, a model +prisoner, the wardens say. What he could not do was to stand alone and +be a man in the world. + +Looking outward, this man was a shrewd and appreciative observer. His +descriptions of natural scenes are vivid. There are few better stories +of the life of a prisoner of war than his, and his characterizations of +men and events are singularly apt. His eyes looked on the seamy side of +life, and saw with clearness when fixed on any one or anything but +himself. The conditions under which common sailors live have rarely +been more vividly described. One can only wonder, while reading his +plain story, told without heat or passion, how any man could follow such +a life as he describes. + +The work is without precedent in character. It is fascinating as a life +story and as a study of human nature. It is a contribution to +unconscious literature. + + STANLEY WATERLOO. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I.--MY FIRST VOYAGE 1 + + II.--WHALING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC 16 + + III.--A SAILOR ASHORE 32 + + IV.--I TAKE TO THE SEA AGAIN 46 + + V.--ON THE BRIG GRENFALLS 57 + + VI.--THE "FLYING DUTCHMAN" 68 + + VII.--IN HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE 85 + + VIII.--THE CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS 101 + + IX.--THE ESCAPE 115 + + X.--THE SPORT OF THE WAVES 126 + + XI.--A GLIMPSE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN 142 + + XII.--IN AMERICAN WATERS 153 + + XIII.--MY THIRD VOYAGE 164 + + XIV.--PRETTY JENNIE BELL 181 + + XV.--GOOD-BYE TO ENGLAND 198 + + XVI.--WHAT MONEY CAN DO 207 + + XVII.--THE NEW YORK DRAFT RIOTS 215 + + XVIII.--ACTING ENSIGN IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY 226 + + XIX.--AFTER BLOCKADE-RUNNERS 239 + + XX.--A PRISONER OF WAR 252 + + XXI.--IN THE PRISON 264 + + XXII.--PRISON LIFE AND PRISON FARE 274 + + XXIII.--DISAPPOINTMENT AND MORE WAITING 288 + + XXIV.--A CRACKER BEAUTY 297 + + XXV.--LIBBY PRISON 311 + + XXVI.--A FREE MAN AGAIN 323 + + XXVII.--FORT FISHER 336 + + XXVIII.--THE ISLAND OF HAITI 348 + + XXIX.--I LEAVE THE SEA AND GO WEST 357 + + + + +THE STORY OF A STRANGE CAREER + + + + +CHAPTER I + +MY FIRST VOYAGE + + +On my mother's side I am of an old New York family. My great-grandfather +served as colonel in the war of 1812. My father was born in Dublin, +being a younger son of an Irish gentleman. He was educated to be a +druggist, his father paying a large bonus to have him apprenticed to a +celebrated firm in that business. His elder brother was ordained as a +clergyman in the Church of England, and is now a high dignitary in the +Church, if living. At the age of twenty, my father came to New York and +started in business. My mother, then about fourteen or fifteen years +old, became acquainted with him, and they were shortly afterward +married, the match being a runaway one. I was born when mother was but +sixteen years old. My parents lived comfortably; they sent me to +boarding-schools at North Cornwall, Conn., Ballston Spa, N. Y., and the +Military School at Danbury, Conn., and finally to one of the New York +colleges. At that time I was very desirous to be a sailor, and have been +sorry for it ever since. My parents objected, but afterwards consented. +My father had many customers among the ship-owners and sea captains. At +that time New York ship-owners had several vessels in the China trade, +and sought to get well-taught American boys to educate them in +seamanship and navigation, the idea being to make them officers of their +ships as soon as they became competent. Seven boys were selected, I +being one of them. + +Father furnished me with a complete outfit for sea, and a set of +navigation instruments and books. One thing I thought lacking--that was +a pipe and tobacco. The sea-chest was sent to father's store. My younger +brother, Charlie, was anxious to know what sailors wore at sea, so he +examined the contents of the chest, and found a paper of cheap tobacco +and a two-cent pipe. + +Charles--"Oh, father, George smokes!" + +Father--"Why, George, do you use tobacco?" + +George--"No, father, I never have done so yet; but I always hear that +sailors smoke at sea." + +Father--"Well, George, throw that stuff away and come with me." + +He then took me to a cigar-store, and bought me twelve half-pound papers +of fine Turkish tobacco, some pipes, and a box containing one hundred +fine cigars. What was the result? I never used a pipeful of that +tobacco, nor a cigar, and not until years afterward, when I was +forty-eight years old and in Joliet Prison, did I acquire the tobacco +habit, first by chewing it and then by smoking pipes made out of tool +handles on holidays--our only opportunity in that "hell-hole." + +My father's friends had a full-rigged ship ready for sea at that time; +there were the captain, first, second, and third mates, and a crew of +about sixteen men of all nationalities. We seven boys were shipped on +board as apprentices, at the rate of four dollars a month. The voyage +was to be to Batavia, Island of Java, for a part cargo of coffee; from +there to Shanghai, China, for the balance of the cargo, the new crop of +tea, which would be ready for us by the time of our arrival. + +The ship--we'll call her the Prospero--was to go out in ballast, as they +had no cargo to send out. Three passengers were to go with us--a man, +his sister, and her child. The sister was the wife of a pilot and opium +smuggler in the Chinese waters. Ten kegs, containing five thousand +Mexican dollars each, were also sent on board to be delivered to the +branch firm in China. The fifty thousand dollars were placed in the male +passengers' state-room, under his berth. + +The ship was moved out from the dock, and anchored in the East River. +Next morning, early, a large tugboat came alongside the ship. On board +the tugboat was a large party, invited by the firm to have a pleasure +trip while towing the ship out to sea. My father and mother were with +the party, many of their friends, the captain's wife, and our +passengers' friends among the number. It was a merry party. We weighed +anchor. They gave us three cheers, and, wishing us a happy voyage, +turned back for New York. We had commenced our voyage to the Indian +Ocean. + +No one had any idea how abruptly that voyage was to end, nor of the +misery that was to follow. In less than two months this despatch was +sent all over the country: + + "CHARLESTON, S. C., _August, 1856_. + + "The ship Prospero has arrived here, its captain having been + murdered at sea. The first mate and two boys are under arrest by + the United States officers, accused of having committed the + murder."[A] + + [A] Our passengers took passage from Charleston in another ship for + China. They never reached their destination. The vessel caught + fire at sea and all aboard perished. Not a soul was ever heard + from. + +Now comes the story of the mysterious murder. It has never been solved +to this day, although many years have passed since it occurred. + +The ship had been headed to the south-east, so as to get into the +trade-winds near the coast of Africa. When near the Cape Verde Islands +the captain was found dead in his bed, having been killed by being +struck in the head with a ship's axe, having his throat cut, and being +stabbed in the heart several times with a double-edged knife. The cabin +steward went into the captain's state-room at eight o'clock to wake him +for breakfast, and at once notified the first mate of the murder. The +mate first went to the state-room, and then came on deck and ordered all +the crew into the state-room. This is what we saw: the captain dead in +bed, the only clothing on him being an undershirt, while the blood had +stained all the bedding, had spurted up on the partitions around the +berth for three or four feet, and also on the floor. Beside the body lay +a small axe and a white handkerchief stained with blood, marked in one +corner with the letter "L" embroidered in red silk, which letter had +been partly picked out with a pen or knife, but was still discernible. +The mate then informed us that he was acting captain of the ship. In our +presence he wound up the two chronometers, which are always kept in the +captain's room, for on them are dependent the daily calculations of the +correct longitude. + +We were finally ordered upon deck. The crew conversed together, and +agreed among themselves that the ship should return to New York. The +mate insisted upon continuing the voyage, and also asked the crew if +they would allow him to place anyone under arrest whom he believed to be +the murderer. They assented, and he ordered Henry Leroy to be put in +irons. + +The boy Leroy's hands were put behind his back, and he was handcuffed, +then rusty iron chains were fastened to them and around his ankles. He +was placed in the second mate's cabin on deck and the door was locked. + +He was kept there until we reached Charleston. The weather was extremely +warm. When taken out, he was completely covered with iron rust, which +had stuck to his body with the perspiration, and he was not allowed to +wash himself. + +Shortly after Leroy was put in irons, he called for the second mate, and +had a long conversation with him. The result was that I was handcuffed, +hands behind my back, was taken on the quarter-deck, made to sit down +with my back to a stanchion, and lashed to it by the passing of a rope +several times around my body and once around my neck. I remained in that +position for forty-eight hours, and was then put into the first mate's +cabin with my hands fastened behind my back. + +The mate still insisted on continuing the voyage, the crew upon +returning. Then he proposed going back to Fayal, Western Islands, and +leaving Leroy and me there, to be sent to New York by the American +Consul, for trial. The crew would not agree to that. Nothing would +satisfy them but to return home. So the ship was put about and headed +for New York. We never got there, but fetched up at Bulls Bay, about +forty miles north of Charleston, S. C. + +The ship was anchored close to shore and the sails furled. Shortly +afterward a steamer was sighted coming down the coast. Signals of +distress were hoisted, and the steamer headed for us. The mate had one +of our boats lowered, and, with a boat's crew of four men, went aboard +the steamer. He wished to go to Charleston himself for a tugboat, also +to telegraph to New York, but the men with him would not let him go, so +he sent an order to Charleston for a tug, and a letter to the captain of +the revenue cutter, explaining the situation. + +The knife was never found; no blood stains could be found on any +clothing or person aboard the ship. The axe had always hung in brackets +over the captain's bed, that being the only trace that was left. The man +who did the deed must have been covered with blood. No noise had been +heard, although a number of persons were sleeping close by, and one half +of the crew were awake and on duty continually. The corpse was placed +in a water-cask, which was filled with brine and salt from the beef +barrels. After the inquest, it was shipped to New York for burial. Next +will be related the evidence against Leroy and myself. + +Henry Leroy was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., his parents being quite +wealthy. The elder brother was lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy +during the War of the Rebellion. Henry was the "black sheep" of the +family, and was sent to sea in order to tame him down. The captain was +instructed to be severe with him. He was very flighty, had a wild look +in his eyes, and was very quarrelsome. In less than three weeks he had +had four fights with the boys, the last one with me. There being no +cargo on board, the boys had quarters fixed up for them between decks. +Henry was in one watch and I in the other. + +One night, at twelve o'clock, Henry came below and I was to go on watch. +It was then we had the fight. There being only a thin partition between +our place and the cabin, the noise woke the captain. The next morning +the captain tied Henry to a dry-goods box and gave him a severe flogging +with a rope's end. Henry afterward told some of the crew that he would +be revenged for that flogging; that was the evidence against him. + +Now for myself: All the boys would tell Henry all kinds of nonsense and +he would believe it. I at one time proposed to him that we should kill +everybody on board the ship; that we two should sail the ship to the +coast of Africa, take the fifty thousand dollars in silver (weighing +over four thousand pounds) and go home with it. Much to my surprise, he +was willing to do so. Two or three times afterwards I amused myself with +that yarn. That story, with some additions of his own, was the evidence +against me. Some of his schoolmates afterwards stated under oath that it +was impossible for him to tell the truth. A tugboat was sent to +Charleston, and the ship was towed to that port. The United States +Marshal came on board, and Henry and I were taken up to the city in the +revenue cutter and put in the police station until the inquest was held. +In a couple of days after our arrival the inquest was held on board the +ship. Leroy and I were present. The captain's body was laid on deck and +we were made to stand near it and look at the terrible sight while some +of the jurors felt of our pulses, to see if we were unusually excited. +Leroy testified that I had confessed to the murder at twelve o'clock the +night it occurred, and that I had told him of it when the watches were +changed. At my trial it was proved that I had not spoken to him from the +evening before the murder until we were on the revenue cutter. + +The coroner's jury ordered that we three be held for trial. So the mate +was handcuffed and the three of us were taken to the Charleston jail, +where we remained for about six months. As soon as the news reached New +York, my father and Leroy's brother got letters of introduction to the +most prominent men in Charleston and started for that city. In the +meantime we had our examination before the United States Court +Commissioner and were held over to the Federal grand jury without bail. +The ship's crew were detained in jail as witnesses. It was a picnic for +them, as they were each to receive one dollar and a half a day, +comfortable quarters, the freedom of a large yard for exercise, and +their food, with no work. On the ship it was hard labour with only +twelve dollars a month for the voyage. + +When my father and Mr. Leroy arrived they were welcomed by some of the +leading citizens, and in a short time made many friends. They at once +retained the four best lawyers in the city. We three prisoners were kept +separate, but, as Henry and myself boarded with the jailer's family, we +were together at meal hours. I made many friends, while Henry seemed to +be disliked by everybody. The mate was kept in a cell by himself all the +time. A leading Freemason came from New York to Charleston and retained +a competent law firm for his defence. The Freemasons were the only +friends he had, and they stood by him well. + +No indictment was found against Leroy by the grand jury. He was released +and put under bonds as a witness. + +My trial came first. It lasted nearly a month and created much +excitement North and South. Leroy's testimony was all there was against +me. In the cross-examination he was badly rattled, and told so many lies +that everybody got disgusted with him. He was proved to be a liar by +some of his old schoolmates. The jury acquitted me without leaving their +seats. They all shook hands with me, and I was congratulated by +everybody. I was put under bonds as a witness. + +The first mate's trial then took place. Circumstances looked bad for +him. His cruelty to Leroy and myself made a bad impression on the jury. +When I showed how I had been tied with ropes for two days, with my hands +fastened behind my back for seventeen nights and days in the roasting +hot weather, it actually made some of the jury grit their teeth. The +jury retired, and were out quite a number of hours. Finally, they +brought in a verdict of "Not guilty," but for a long time they stood ten +for guilty and two for acquittal. After that, he never could get a +mate's position on any ship in the United States, so he went to +Australia and, when last heard from, was captain of an English ship. + +The Prospero, on one of her voyages, was dismasted by a typhoon in the +China Sea, was towed into one of the treaty ports in China and used as a +coal hulk. + +I went back to New York with father and mother, was gladly received by +all my friends, and remained there until I took a notion in my thick +head to go on a whaling voyage to the Pacific Ocean. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +WHALING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC + + +I was in the habit of walking around the docks of the East and North +Rivers in New York and looking at the shipping. Fronting the river were +a number of shipping offices for sailors, and some of them had a placard +offering eighty dollars advance for men for the whaling service. So, one +day, I went into one of the offices and stated my desires. I was very +cordially received. That evening, with several others, I was sent to New +Bedford, Mass. On our arrival there we were assigned to a sailors' +boarding-house. In about two weeks afterward I was shipped on board the +Courier, for a three years' cruise in the South Pacific Ocean, for the +capture of sperm whales. I was to get one barrel of oil for myself out +of every one hundred and ninety that we should capture. Sperm oil was +worth about two dollars a gallon. No petroleum had been discovered at +that time. + +I was furnished with a seaman's outfit, which, with my board bill and +expenses, amounted exactly to eighty dollars; that was the advance. I +signed an agreement that the captain should pay that amount out of the +first money due me. Captain Coffin, four mates, and four boat-steerers +were the officers of the ship, with twenty-eight men before the mast, a +cooper, blacksmith, carpenter, cook, and steward--forty-two men on the +vessel, and the captain's wife and little boy. + +The night before we sailed I wrote to my father and mother and let them +know what I had done. I thought at the time that I knew more than they +did. Well, the older I grow, the more I realize what a fool I have been +all my life, and never a greater one than I am now at the age of +sixty-two. + +One morning early we weighed anchor, and were soon out of sight of land; +then the voyage began in earnest. Much to my surprise, we had to take +turns perched up aloft for two hours at a time on the top-gallant +cross-trees, looking out for whales. Why, I never thought there was a +whale within five thousand miles of New Bedford at that time, but I was +mistaken. They are sometimes captured in sight of the harbour. The +boat-steerers were kept busy fixing up their harpoons and lances, +getting the boats ready, coiling the lines in the tubs etc. In the +meantime the mates were watching the crew very closely to see which men +were the most active. + +After we were at sea about ten days all hands were called aft to the +mizzen-mast. Then the mates, each in turn, picked out one man for his +own boat's crew. Being light and active, I was made stroke-oarsman of +the first mate's boat, and a lively job it proved to be, too. Soon we +got in the warm latitudes and calm days, and then the boats would be +lowered in order to give the crews exercise and practice in rowing. It +was hard work, but we soon became expert oarsmen. + +One day we sighted the Cape Verde Islands, and sailed among them for a +few days. Boats were sent ashore; rotten tobacco--outfit quality--was +traded to the natives for fruit; then I got in my work, so far as the +fruit went. The ship then steered for the Island of Martinbas-Trinidado, +21° south latitude, for the purpose of ascertaining whether our +chronometers were still correct, by comparing our observations with the +longitude of the island, as that is known to a certainty. + +Trinity Rock, as it is called also, is uninhabited, quite barren, and +only a few miles in circumference. That is the place where we had our +first adventure. The first mate's boat was to take the crew, with the +captain, his wife and child, also three old muskets and ammunition, and +land them in a seaman-like manner on the island. The boat's party with +the old army muskets were to kill a number of mythical goats on land. + +We pulled close to the shore, just outside of the heavy surf, trying to +find a safe place to land. Finally we came to an opening in the reef. +Inside, the water looked smooth and inviting, and there was also a nice +sandy beach. To the left of the reef was the wreck of a French ship, +the bowsprit pointing straight up into the air. While looking at the +wreck, we saw a large green turtle just ahead of the boat. Then visions +of turtle soup with our goat's meat dawned upon us. It chanced, though, +that in trying to capture that turtle we made a great mistake, for just +at that time a very-heavy surf came over the reef and capsized our boat. +Things were badly mixed for a time. Boat, oars, men, and the captain's +wife and child were going in every direction. Finally things quieted +down a little, and we landed on the beach. We got the boat and what oars +we could, and then took a rest on the burning hot sand. The weather +being very warm, the boat's crew all wore leather slippers and no +stockings. We had to run up and down on the sand with our bare feet, as +the aforesaid slippers were lost when the boat went over. I picked hard +little short thorns out of my feet for days afterward. They came from +dried-up vines that grew in the sand. + +The beach was honeycombed with large holes, and each hole contained a +big yellow land-crab. Every step we took, snap would go a big pair of +claws for our feet. We had also lost our straw hats, so we had the full +benefit of the sun on our bare heads. A number of wild land birds of a +good, healthy size would swoop down upon us. It was anything but a +pleasure at that time, and the muskets being lost also, the captain and +mate changed their minds about the goat business. + +The cause of our disaster was made clear to us in a short time. The surf +for about ten minutes would run low, and then would be followed by three +tremendous rollers in succession. It was the latter that wrecked us on a +barren island. We soon got tired of life on shore. The question was how +to get away. + +In the meantime, while we were on the goat expedition, the second mate's +boat had left the ship on a fishing excursion. They anchored the boat +near shore, outside the surf, and were hauling the fish in at a lively +rate. We needed their assistance. As the mate still had his shoes on his +feet, he went quite a distance down the beach and made signals for the +boat to follow him back. When they got opposite to us we explained the +situation. By watching for a good chance, they pulled in quickly and +threw us the end of a harpoon-line, and got outside of the reef. We +fastened the line to the bow of our boat, and when a low surf came in +launched it, were towed out by the other boat, and arrived on board the +ship very much disgusted with the whole business. + +The old Courier's yards were braced around and we were off for Cape +Horn, 56° south latitude. One day, it being quite calm, the lookouts at +the mast-head noticed a lot of sea-gulls flying around in a circle, and +under them something floating in the water. We thought it might be a +dead whale, so the mate's boat was lowered. We found it to be an old +cask, which must have been in the water for years, as it was thickly +covered with barnacles. + +We towed the cask to the ship and hoisted it on board. As it came out of +the sea we noticed that the staves were completely honeycombed by the +sea-worms. The water was spurting out as if it were a sprinkling-pot. We +had just got it over the ship's rail when it burst, and the contents +fell on the deck. It proved to be palm-oil, probably from some vessel in +the African trade that had been wrecked. It had, no doubt, drifted many +thousands of miles. We saved two barrels of oil out of our catch. + +The weather soon began to get much cooler, and storms were frequent; +then we began to see the albatross and Cape Horn pigeons. The latter is +about the size of a domestic pigeon, but has webbed feet and a hooked +bill, and is the only wild bird having variegated plumage, no two being +marked alike. We caught quite a number of the albatross, some measuring +seventeen feet from tip to tip of wing. We caught them with large +fishhooks baited with a big piece of salt pork. The bait would float on +the surface of the water. We had them walking all over the decks, as +they cannot fly unless they run on water to give them a good start. The +large webbed feet make excellent money pouches when dried and properly +dressed. + +In the month of January, midsummer in the southern hemisphere, we +sighted Staten Land, the extreme southern point of South America, and +ordinarily designated as Cape Horn. For the first time we then saw the +Pacific Ocean, "so near and yet so far," for just at this time we were +struck by a heavy northwest gale. A close-reefed main top-sail and storm +stay-sail was all we could carry with the ship headed as close to the +wind as possible, so as to ride over the mountain-like waves. The helm +was lashed hard down, as there was no steerage way. + +There we were, drifting to the south for about three weeks before the +gale broke, and we were able to make sail on the ship. It was daylight +for twenty-two hours, and the other two hours of the twenty-four could +not be called dark. Such days would be delightful for farmers in this +part of the world. Soon after the storm we got fair winds, and were on +our cruising grounds off the southern coast of Chile and northern part +of Patagonia (the new boundary gives the whole coast to Chile now). + +The ship's crew was then divided into four watches, with a boat-steerer +in charge and only one watch on duty at a time, so we had plenty of +leisure. Every night, all sail but two would be close reefed, top-sails +would be furled, then the ship would be headed offshore until midnight, +and would then go about and stand inshore until daylight, when all sail +would be set again. At certain seasons whales come down the coast going +south, and we were keeping a bright lookout for them. + +Each whaleboat's outfit consists of three harpoons, two lances, one +cutting-in spade, one tub with three hundred fathoms of +five-eighths'-inch whale-line, one extra tub with one hundred fathoms, +one tight keg containing boat compass, lantern, steel and flint, and +some sea biscuit. The latter articles are used only in case the boat is +lost from the ship, which frequently happens. + +There is a number of different species among the whales. They are all +mammals, bringing forth and suckling their calves. On attacking a cow +and calf together, it is the custom to kill the latter first, as the cow +will never desert her calf. The sulphur-bottom whale is the largest, but +it is never harpooned, as it is too dangerous, and will always run all +the line out of the tubs before it stops sounding. The sperm whale +furnishes the most valuable oil. The sperm whale throws its flukes, or +tail, up and down when attacked, so it is possible for a boat to +approach one head, or fluke, on. The right whale furnishes the common +oil, and in larger quantities; sometimes one fish will yield two hundred +and fifty barrels of oil, as well as many pounds of whalebone, now very +scarce and valuable. It hangs in large thin sheets from the jaws, wide +at the top, and tapering to a narrow point with hair-like fringe on the +edges. The right whale can be attacked only "head on," as they throw +their flukes from side to side. They are captured in the cold northern +seas, the sperm in southern waters. One hundred barrels is a large yield +from one fish of the latter species. + +We saw several whales, but could not get near them. Finally, one big +fellow was sighted, and all boats were lowered, the first mate's being +in the water first. Having a good fair wind, we set the boat's sail. In +a short time we were close to the whale. Being stroke-oarsman, it was my +duty to keep the sheet of the sail in my hand, having one turn around a +cleat. The boat-steerer stands up with a harpoon ready. Soon we were +right on top of the fish, the sheet was "let go," a harpoon was thrown +just as we were going over the whale's back, and then the fun began. The +line leads from the tub to a post in the stern of the boat--two turns +around it--and thence through a cleat in the boat's bows. The tub was +alongside me. I was kept busy throwing water on the line, so that the +friction would not set fire to the post, or "loggerhead." The mate was +holding that rope in his hand all the time, just keeping all the strain +on it possible without sinking the boat. If he had let a kink get into +that line as it came from the tub, the boat and crew would have gone +under water in quick order. If he had let the line slip off the +"loggerhead" it would probably have killed every man in the boat. The +noise and sawing of that rope, with the smoke and steam from the +"loggerhead," I can remember to this day. The whale stopped sounding at +last. We were watching which way the line would point as the whale was +coming up, and discovering that the line was directly under us, we got +away from that spot in a very lively manner, as that was a sure sign +that his whaleship intended to have a fight with the boat. They +frequently play that trick, and the crew have to jump into the water, +provided they have a chance to do so. In a few minutes our friend came +to the surface, spouted water, and then started off "dead to +windward"--they invariably do so--at a terrific speed. The boat-steerer +and mate now changed places, and all the men except myself reversed +positions, so as to face the boat's bow. They hauled in the line, and I +coiled it carefully back in the tub. When alongside of the whale, the +mate threw a lance as often as possible, aiming at a point just behind +the fin, at what is called the "life." It is a mass of very large veins +just under the backbone, that is used by the whale as a reservoir for +the extra blood which it requires while under water. When that is once +cut, a whale spouts blood instead of water. Down he went again. We had +to keep up that sort of work for about two hours, until finally the +blood was thrown from the spout, and we were completely covered with it. +In a little while our capture began to swim in a circle and on one side +with one fin out of water, and soon he was dead. Sharks made their +appearance in the water so close to the boat that we could strike them +with our oars, and hundreds of large sea-birds were wildly flying around +us, all attracted by the blood. In the meantime the other boats had been +rowing hard to overtake us if possible and assist, or pick us up, in +case of accident. As we were dead to windward, and several miles from +the ship, all the boats had to fasten on and tow the whale back, and a +big contract it was. + +On the ship everything had been made ready for "cutting-in." The fish +was fastened alongside by heavy iron chains and, with heavy tackles from +the main masthead and loading to the windlass, the blubber was slowly +hoisted on deck. The captain and the mate did the cutting with +long-handled blubber spades. They kept cutting one continuous strip two +feet wide, and at every eight feet would cut a hole and hook in the next +tackle; and so they kept on hoisting and lowering until the blubber was +all on board. It was a process similar to peeling an orange. The strain +from the windlass kept the whale's body revolving in the water as the +blubber was cut. The head was cut off and hoisted on deck entire. The +chains being removed, the carcass, weighing many tons, sank to the +bottom, the sharks voraciously following it. + +Then a fire was built under the try-pots, with wood. As the oil was +boiled from the blubber it would be put in a cooling-pot and thence into +casks, the scraps being used for fuel. That work lasted for about a +week, everybody working hard. It was nothing but oil all over the +ship--clothing, food, and water--all had a liberal allowance. Eighty +barrels was the total of that catch. A few weeks later we sighted a +school of young whales. Several other ships being close at the time, it +was boats, whales, sharks, and everything mixed up. + +Our boatswain got knocked overboard while we were fast to a whale; +another boat picked him up. We got only two whales out of the lot, +fifteen barrels of oil out of one and twenty out of the other. Some of +the other ships got five and six. About that time the season on that +coast ended. The captain concluded to make for port and get fresh +provisions and water, and then make a trip north of the equator. The +water in our casks was getting rather stale; it tasted and smelled like +a strong decoction of dead rats. San Carlos, Chiloe Island, was the port +we anchored in. I took a look at the shore and made up my mind that if I +ever got my feet on dry land they would stay there. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A SAILOR ASHORE + + +The water casks were hoisted up from the hold, lowered overboard and +towed ashore, to be filled with fresh water. In about a week's time we +finished that job, then all hands were to have twenty-four hours' +liberty on shore--eight men at a time. My name was one of the first to +be called. We received two dollars cash for spending money. Taking my +chum aside, I quietly bid him good-bye, and then got into the boat. +Everything was strange to me on shore--the customs, language, and +sights. I got acquainted with a young American from another ship, by the +name of Amos, and learned that he also was desirous to quit the oil +business. During the day we kept with the other sailors, visiting the +dance-houses. When evening came we both struck out for the woods. + +The natives were very kind to us, knowing that we were runaway sailors. +They would invite us to sleep in their houses during the nights, when +they would teach us to talk Spanish. It must have been very amusing to +them, as they were continually laughing and saying "Bueno" (good). In +the daytime we would go down to the beach to see whether our ships had +left harbour yet. In about three weeks' time we had the pleasure of +seeing both vessels standing out to sea. It was the last time that I saw +the Courier on that coast. Her old ribs now lie in the sands at the +mouth of Charleston Harbour, South Carolina. During the war the +Government purchased a number of condemned whalers and fitted them up +for sea, when they were loaded with stone and taken to Charleston +Harbour, dismantled, and sunk in the channels, in order to blockade the +harbour more effectually. The whole world made a fuss about it. That +blockading experiment was a dismal failure, as it was only a short time +until the waters of the Ashley and Cooper rivers, combined with the +ocean currents, washed out much deeper and better channels. I saw the +ship just before she was sunk and bade the old Courier a last farewell. + +A few days after our ships had left San Carlos we walked into town, +interviewed the captain of the port, and asked for our discharge, saying +that our ships had gone to sea and abandoned us in a foreign port. Well, +we got our papers all right. We needed them at that time, as nobody +could go from one town to another without having documents to show who +they were--not even the natives. The country is under strict military +government, the army having control of everything. My friend and I +finally came to the conclusion that we were in a bad fix, being in a +foreign country, not able to speak the language, and having no money. +There was no work to be obtained. After a while we made up our minds to +work our passage to Valparaiso on some merchant vessel. We remained +around the landing-dock for several days. Every captain we spoke to +replied to us kindly, but they had no places for us. In the meantime we +had taken trips to the beach, digging clams to eat. The people in the +town were not so liberal to us as were the natives who lived at a +distance. + +While loafing around the dock one day we got into conversation with an +American, a runaway whaler. He told us that he was a carpenter, had been +living several years in the country, and was married to a young Chilean +woman. He wanted Amos to go to another of the islands and work with him. +My friend would not go without me, so Tom, the carpenter, proposed that +I should also go, as there was a blacksmith by the name of Bill who +would be glad to have me as a helper. Now was the formation of a fine +quartette of Yankees begun! Amos was a graduate of a Down East reform +school, very handy with tools, a fine-looking young fellow, but he could +not read nor write, and he never could learn the Spanish language; +reference to a terribly ugly temper and vicious disposition completes +his description. Our new friend took us to his house, gave us an +introduction to his wife, a very pretty young woman about sixteen years +old. (They marry as young as eleven and twelve years of age.) + +Manuela was not educated and was exceedingly lazy, with lax ideas as to +morality and virtue. Tom informed us that the next morning we would +start for the Island of Calabucco, as he had house rent free there and a +contract to lengthen a boat for a priest. During the night Amos got out +of bed, went to another house, and stole the only double-barrelled +shotgun in that town. Tom hid it in a mattress. After breakfast, we +carried what household goods there were down to the dock. A tool-chest, +a couple of pots, some dishes, a few clothes, and the bedding completed +the outfit. + +Everything was put on board a sloop, and then we started for our new +home. During the trip Señora Manuela was watching my friend Amos; the +result was that Tom told me that I should live with him, and Amos would +have to go to Bill's house. On our arrival we soon had our house in +order. Opposite to our place was the residence of the priest. I saw a +number of dirty children--about eight--running about the place, also a +woman. As I got better acquainted I had every reason to believe that +poverty, piety, and celibacy were omitted from the Father's creed. + +After a rest of several days, we went to his reverence's yard and had a +look at the boat. It was an old yawl from some ship, very short and +broad. We were to make it three feet longer by piecing it in the centre. +The boss asked me for my advice. I knew a lot about boats then. Oh, yes; +a very easy job--if we only knew how! We waited a few days longer before +going to work. Money was very scarce in that town, so they used a small +cedar-board for currency. The size was about six feet long, six inches +wide, and half an inch thick. The value of each was about six cents. The +stores were small, and, for that reason, the cedar-boards were piled up +in the back yards until some merchant would buy them at the market +price--seven dollars a hundred--and ship them to Valparaiso. There were +no lights in the streets at night-time, and the night watchman would +call out the hours and half-hours and the state of the weather during +the whole night, so that one could always know exactly his whereabouts. +My friend Amos, with his past experience, took advantage of that fact, +and induced me to go into the lumber business with him. Night after +night we were busy climbing over fences and carrying off cedar-boards. +About thirty-five each was considered a fair load for a trip. In the +daytime we took them to different places and made our purchases. + +One day we at Tom's house got excited. The double-barrelled shotgun was +gone. We watched our chance and stole it back from the house presided +over by Bill and Amos; however, they stole it back again in course of +time, and kept it. Tom's ranch did not suit me, so I went to work for a +native shoemaker. Amos quit Bill and went to Tom. I quit the shoemaker +and went with Bill. About that time Tom concluded it would be easier to +make a new boat out and out. The padre was of the same opinion. He told +Tom he could have the old boat for his own use. So the job began in +earnest, but our friend was not a very good man for that kind of work; +he could not do anything until he took the old yawl apart for patterns +to work by. It was about one year before the new boat was finished. In +the town was a man who owned a launch--a home-made affair, with planks +two and a half inches thick. For oars he had rough, heavy poles with +pieces of boards fastened on the ends for blades. Nothing but a +boat-race would settle the point as to which was the faster. Our padre +was quite a sport. At any cock-fighting, gambling, horse- or boat-racing +he was always the umpire and prime mover. Eight sheep and one barrel of +cider were the stakes to be raced for. One Sunday morning, just after +mass, the race took place. The padre's boat came in about a half mile +ahead--the whole course was not two miles. Tom's reputation as a +boat-builder was away up in consequence, and he got the "big-head" +badly. That night he gave a select party at his house in honour of the +event. Aguardiente was the only refreshment served; and towards +midnight all were drunk, Tom especially so. A thin partition separated +the bedroom from the main apartment. Our host, in staggering around, +fell against the door, and tumbled on to his own bed, only to find it +already occupied. Then there was a row; the guest jumped out of the +window, with the other occupant a close second. + +My new employer, the blacksmith, was a fine-looking man of six feet two +inches in height, and built in proportion. He had a fair complexion and +light hair hanging in ringlets down his shoulders. He was from +Baltimore, Md. Swearing, drinking aguardiente, and talk--that was all he +was good for. His wife was a widow seventeen years of age when he +married her. They had three little boys, the most vicious little +wretches that I ever came in contact with. As for their home, it was +squalid and filthy. No floor, and the fire was in the centre of the only +room. On each side was a board resting on stone: that was the only place +we had to sit down. A most cheerful family circle we made. The children +were continually raising Cain, and Bill swearing at them in Spanish. As +yet none of the bosses had ever said anything about wages. However, I +never had any work to do, so that equalized affairs. + +One day Bill--or Guillermo, as he was called--was wanted at a saw-mill +on the mainland. A freshet had made a wreck of the mill and dam. None of +the natives was willing to work, so Bill induced Amos and me to go with +him. At last I was working for fifty cents a day. After a while we got +the dam repaired, and then fixed up the mill. It then dawned upon Don +Fernando's mind that he had no one to run the aforesaid mill. So he made +a contract with us to do the sawing at two cents a board, we to "find" +ourselves in food and cooking utensils. Bill sent for his family; Amos +and I occupied a small room in the mill for a living apartment, where we +were to keep bachelors' hall. Our stock of provisions was furnished on +credit from the employer's store. Wheat flour was worth eight cents a +pound, but wheat was worth only fifty cents a bushel. This seeming +profit was used up in sending the wheat to Valparaiso for grinding and +then having it shipped back as flour, as no railroads were there then. + +The mill was a most primitive affair; the amount of labour was +astounding, the results of our toil much more so; a hundred boards was +our largest day's work, and I will guarantee that not any two of them +were of equal thickness at the end. Some days we would have no logs to +saw; other days there would be no water in the dam. Bill had one cent as +foreman, Amos and I each half a cent a board. Our average was about +twenty cents a day each. + +We found ourselves gradually getting into debt for provisions and +clothing. After talking over our financial affairs one evening, we came +to the conclusion that our prospects looked gloomy. About bedtime Amos +put on his hat and coat and invited me to do the same. He was always +sullen, so I never asked him any questions. When we were outside the +room he informed me that in future he would live a ---- sight cheaper +and better than he had been doing in the past. All I could say was, +"Amen, brother!" My friend proved to be a good forager; before morning +we had a nicely dressed sheep hanging up in our room, also a big supply +of potatoes under the bed. That was the only time in my life that I was +guilty of sheep-stealing. We lived high on roast mutton and potatoes; +but, alas! we were found out. They blamed Amos for the whole business; +but, on attempting to arrest him, they made a mistake, as he pulled out +a big knife, and coolly walked away from that part of the country. +Afterward he stole a horse; that was the last we heard about him in +Chile. + +Every one called me "Bueno muchacho" (good boy), while Amos was +designated "Muy picaro" (great rascal). Don Fernando Andrade was over +sixty years of age; he had a fine-looking wife and quite a number of +children--the oldest one twenty-six years, and the youngest six months +old. He took quite an interest in me, as I was always very quiet, +polite, and strictly temperate. Finally, he had me live with his own +family, and treated me as if I were one of his own sons. They used to +laugh and make fun of me because I washed my hands and face twice a day. +In that part of the country they never wash themselves at all: "Se +maltrata el cuero" (it ill-treats the skin) was their reason, I presume; +laziness also. About that time I wrote to my father and mother in New +York. The postage then on a foreign letter was fifty cents, with only +one mail a month on that coast. In about four months I received an +answer from San Francisco, Cal. My father had failed in business in New +York, indorsing notes, and a panic ruined him. He was doing well in +California, and wanted me to come there. Don Fernando had a contract for +a large number of railroad-ties for Peru. The natives would cut and pile +them on the beach ready for loading. A schooner was sent up from Don +Carlos for a cargo of them. The captain was an Englishman, and we became +quite friendly. He offered to take me to San Carlos whenever I wished +to go. By the time the schooner was loaded I got homesick, and, all at +once, I made up my mind to go home, so I bid Don Fernando good-bye. He +was sorry to have me leave, but would not coax me to remain away from my +parents. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +I TAKE TO THE SEA AGAIN + + +At San Carlos was a large ship receiving the ties as they were brought +from the different islands. The captain shipped me as an ordinary seaman +at ten dollars a month. The vessel was the Androkolis, of Copenhagen, +Denmark. Our destination was Callao, Peru. I never reached San +Francisco, although I sailed eighteen hundred miles towards that city. +San Carlos was 42° and Callao 12° south latitude. The crew of the +Androkolis was composed of Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, two Hollanders, +and one Englishman, every one of them speaking a different language from +mine, except the man from Liverpool, Jimmy Kincaid by name. Now Jimmy +and I became chums. He was very short and broad, and possessed unusually +large hands and feet. He was about twenty years old. We little knew +what hardships were in store for us when we became friends. If he is +alive to-day, he remembers, beyond all doubt, the night we saw the +Flying Dutchman while rounding Cape Horn on another vessel.[B] We both +saw that vessel--of course it was only an illusion--but we were both +badly scared for a few minutes, as certain death appeared imminent. I +will explain it in time. There are a few thousand miles of sea to be +sailed over before we come to the story of that night. + + [B] Like the Wandering Jew on land, there is a ship at sea sailing + on and on until doomsday, manned by a crew of very old + Dutchmen, who are expiating some sin. + +We had a very pleasant voyage. Sailing north towards the equator, the +weather was gradually getting warmer. In about four weeks' time we +sighted the Island of San Lorenzo, an immense, high rock which formed +the western side of Callao Harbour. The ship's sails were taken in and +furled, all but the top-sails. At last we came to anchor. Where our ship +lay in the bay was directly over the old city. A number of years ago, +during one night, an earthquake submerged Callao and raised up San +Lorenzo from beneath the waters. Five miles inland is the city of Lima, +the capital of Peru and the burial-place of Pizarro, the conqueror of +that country. The only railroad on that coast at that time was the +five-mile track connecting the two cities. Jimmy and I rowed the captain +ashore in the ship's boat. Sitting on the steps when we arrived there +was my old friend Amos. We were much surprised to meet again. He told me +all about himself since leaving the saw-mill in Chile so abruptly. He +invited me to visit him at the hospital, although there was nothing in +his appearance to indicate that he was an invalid. + +Lighters came to the ship, and the unloading of our cargo commenced. +Jimmy and I were promoted to be cook and steward of the vessel, I being +the latter. One Sunday we had an afternoon holiday on shore. The captain +let us have only one dollar each out of the wages due to us. The first +place we visited was the hospital, in quest of Amos. It was a terribly +hot day. On a large grassy plain fronting the building were a number of +healthy-looking men playing a very lively game of ball. You can imagine +our surprise when Amos informed us that they were the patients belonging +to the hospital. The explanation was simple enough. Every man aboard of +an American ship has to pay twenty-five cents a month to support the +marine hospitals. A ship cannot get clearance papers until it is paid. +That entitles the sailors to admission to any marine hospital in the +United States when they are taken sick. If in a foreign port, the +American consul is obliged to pay for their keeping at whatever hospital +may be found in that place. The consul for Callao was a kind-hearted old +man by the name of Mills. Any American sailor who would go to him and +say, "I am sick, Consul," would get an order for admission at once. A +number of seamen imposed on him. It was an object for them to get their +board and clothing free while they were waiting only for seamen's wages +to rise as high as possible; then they would ship for some long voyage. +The hospital authorities were easily enough satisfied, as they were well +paid, and the patients were able to attend to their own ailments. + +After our return to the ship, Jimmy was continually coaxing me to remain +in Peru with him, and live among the natives for a while. I was anxious +to get to San Francisco, but no ships in harbour were bound in that +direction, although a number arrived from there, loading with guano and +going around Cape Horn. At last I promised to go with Jimmy. He had +eighty dollars due him, and I twelve, but the captain would not +discharge us and pay us off. Then we got mad and determined to go +anyway. We got our clothes packed up in bags, ready for any chance we +could get to leave the ship. With the ship's telescope we took a good +look at the shores of the bay. At one place the beach looked as if it +would be a good landing-place for us; it appeared like the edge of a +mill-pond. Our chance soon came. The boat had not been hoisted up out of +the water, as was customary, but had been left overnight fastened to the +ship's side. Each sailor in turn had to stand "anchor watch" during the +night for one hour. He would then wake up his relief and go to bed. +There was a Dutchman whose turn would be at three o'clock in the +morning. I told him when he was called to awaken me, then he could go to +sleep again, as Jimmy and I had to make fresh bread for breakfast, and +we would do the anchor watching. Sure enough, "Dutchy" woke me up; then +I called Jimmy, and in a short time we had our clothes in the boat, also +a good double-barrelled shotgun, a pair of pistols, a silver watch, and +a couple of dozen of clean shirts belonging to the captain. We wished to +have something for the money that was due us. + +Away we went for the landing-place that we had selected. It was dark, +and quite difficult to see the beach; it appeared to us as though we +were close to a wall, several feet high, of rocks. The noise of the surf +also made us careful about landing. At last we discovered that it was +low tide, and the wall was only the wet cobble-stones left uncovered at +low water. We pulled hard, so as to run through the surf, and we went +up the beach on a heavy roller. Jimmy stood in the bow of the boat, +ready to jump and hold the rope, or "painter," as it is called, as the +surf receded. He was a little slow in jumping, consequently the boat +went back with the surf in a hurry, Jimmy's feet went from under him, +and he landed head first on the rocks. The next roller brought the boat +in again; this time we succeeded, and got everything on land. The boat +was pushed out in the surf, and was found the next day floating bottom +up. We heard afterward that it was reported we had both been drowned. + +About nine o'clock I went to the hospital and told Amos what we had +done. He agreed to introduce us to a friend of his, who would take care +of us for a few days. That afternoon he brought a man with him to our +camping-place. In the evening everything was taken to a house in the +city. It very soon dawned upon us that we had got into the worst +sailors' "robbers' roost" that was in the town. Our clothing and +possessions were all locked up in a room. We were made to understand +that to remain in the house would be the best thing we could do. From +what I afterward saw in that place I had reason to believe they meant +what they said. The Vigilance Committee in San Francisco had driven all +the tough characters out of the city. Quite a number of the worst ones +went to Callao and started sailor boarding-houses and saloons. They +formed a "ring" for mutual benefit. The English consul and a number of +the Peruvian port officers were in with them. A fine crowd of robbers +they were. They kept the sailors' wages high, beyond doubt, but only for +the reason that they would have more for themselves when they cheated +the seamen out of two months' advance pay. It is always customary to +give that much on long voyages, or "deep sea trips," as they call them. +After a few days' sojourn in our quiet boarding-house, we concluded that +any change would be for the better. The landlord informed us that a +small English brig was going up the coast, and that he could ship us +both as ordinary seamen. In the English merchant marine a man cannot be +shipped unless he has a discharge from another vessel; in the American +service no papers are needed. We obtained discharges belonging to other +sailors, who had no use for them. The landlord took us to the English +consul's office. My name was to be Michael Murray. The clerk read the +law, as is customary; one rule especially--that any man assuming another +name would forfeit all wages. We had given bogus papers. When I went to +sign the articles I was rather embarrassed, as I had forgotten my new +name, so they had to tell me what it was. We were taken to our new ship, +which was anchored out in the bay. + +I was not greatly pleased when I found what was in store for me. The +wages were twenty-five dollars a month. The landlord had received fifty +dollars--two months' pay--in advance. He was to deduct my board bill and +give me the balance of the money, but I never got a cent of it. I had +been "shanghaied," as the sailors call it. Instead of going up the +coast, as I was told we were to do, I found we were bound for Cork, +Ireland, a voyage of eighty-five hundred and twenty miles. The vessel +itself was a "holy terror," very heavily rigged, while everything on +board was old and played out, the rusty blocks, with heavy running gear, +making it very hard work for us, especially as we had a crew of only six +men, where twelve seamen, at least, should have been a crew for that old +tub. The cargo was guano in bulk, as a scow would be loaded with dirt. +Our sleeping quarters were in the forecastle, situated in the bow of the +vessel. Everything was covered with guano. As we had to live below, it +was our first object to clean up the place. Buckets of water were passed +down the scuttle, and the place was cleaned up as well as we could do +it; but it was of no use; the smell of ammonia made us sick. Some would +vomit, others bled at the nose, and a thick black phlegm would form in +our throats. The weather being warm, we slept on the deck, as we could +not endure it in the forecastle below. + +Guano is the droppings from sea-birds, which have been accumulating for +thousands of years. The Chincha Islands, belonging to Peru, have an +inexhaustible supply. No rain ever falls in that country, consequently +nothing is washed away. The depth of the guano is from four to eight +feet. When a ship is to be loaded with guano, it has to go to Callao +first for a permit, then to the Chincha Islands. The cargo is put in by +Chinese coolies, and then the vessel returns to Callao for a clearance, +also to pay a certain amount per ton. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +ON THE BRIG GRENFALLS + + +The brig Grenfalls, of Sunderland, was our packet. Just before getting +up anchor we asked the captain if he intended to get more men for the +voyage. He curtly said "No." Then we came very near having a mutiny. +Finally we agreed to get up the anchor, especially as the captain +threatened to make a signal to the British man-of-war for assistance, so +we had to go anyway. I remember seeing the United States frigate +Merrimac in the harbour and wishing myself aboard her. The next time I +saw that vessel it had been transformed into an ironclad by the rebels, +and had destroyed the Congress and the Cumberland. The first week at sea +we had very pleasant weather. After that it became gradually colder and +stormy. No more sleeping on deck. The forecastle was the only place for +us then. + +Two quarts of water a day was our allowance, one pint each for +breakfast, dinner, and supper; the remaining pint was for drinking +during the following hours of the twenty-four. The hardtack that we had +to eat was covered with green mould and full of large white meal worms. +The salt pork was red with rust and filled with white spots. Probably +the hogs were killed on account of measles and pickled for sailors' use +at sea. The salt beef, or horse-meat, as it was called, was rather tough +eating; besides, everything we ate or drank was highly flavoured with +guano. + +Off the coast of Patagonia we encountered a heavy northwest gale of +wind; then our misery began in earnest. In harbour the deck was only +sixteen inches above water; in rough weather the seas were continually +washing over the decks. It was necessary to make gill guys by fastening +ropes diagonally across the deck from forward to aft. In going from one +place to another we could take hold of the guy nearest to us, then get +over and reach for the next before letting go of the first one. That was +the only way to keep from being washed overboard or thrown against the +ship's rail. + +One night we heard water swashing under the forecastle deck. We told the +mate about it. There was a bulkhead dividing the forecastle from the +main hold; on the other side was a short half-deck. We cut a hole in it +and lowered a lantern. A lot of water could be plainly seen. The vessel +rolling would mix the guano with it. By working all of the men we got it +out. All the crew supposed it to be the same water that we used in +cleaning out our quarters, but we said nothing about it to the mate. We +used plenty of it and let it run into the hold. The next night we heard +the same swashing again; then we knew there was a leak somewhere. From +that time the muddy water had to be taken out in buckets and thrown on +the deck twice a day. The seas would wash it overboard. The leak was +found at last. A long iron bolt in the foremast rigging chains had +become rusty and worked loose. The bolt went through one of the knees +which supported the deck beams. Being below the loading line, the water +would come in and drop on the guano. It could not drain through and get +to the pumps. + +All our clothing got very rotten; shoes and boots became very hard; any +cuts or bruises on our bodies would not heal up; the palms of our hands +were full of black holes the size of a pin-head; the skin became very +thick, and would crack open at each finger-joint; our hair fell out, so +that we became prematurely bald. The windlass also, every time the brig +rolled, would slide a few inches from side to side, and would make the +deck-seams open enough to allow the water to drop through on our beds. +For three months our beds and clothing were dripping wet. When I went to +bed I would get to sleep at once, and it was hard to wake me up. Going +from a wet, steaming hot bed to stand watch on deck in that cold weather +was no joke. Each watch changes every four hours. Jimmy and myself were +in the mate's watch: two hours each at the wheel and two on the lookout. +The officers were the worst cowards that I ever came in contact with at +sea. At one time the captain did not come on deck for two weeks. There +being no sun visible in that storm, no observations could be taken, so +we had to sail by "dead reckoning." The mate would sneak into the cabin +during most of the watch, and leave Jimmy and myself to take the chances +of being washed overboard. When it was my lookout I would go to the +cook's galley, and let the brig do her own watching. My chum did the +same as I. Two hours at wheel-steering would knock a prize-fighter out. +There was a very short iron tiller in the rudder-post. The wheel-chains +were iron and slack; consequently, every time the rudder would jerk, the +helmsman would be raised up a couple of feet, and then landed back again +almost quick enough to snap his head off. I was thrown clear over the +wheel several times. I tried the experiment of letting go a few times +when the wheel commenced to gripe; then I did come to grief; it would +whirl around one way and then back again. In trying to stop it, the +spokes would hit me a good rap on the knuckles. One eighth of a point +off the course is considered bad steering, but our old packet would +"yaw" off five whole points each way in spite of us. It seemed as if the +stern were trying to get ahead of the bow. Whenever I see a mule turning +his head back to look at his driver, it always reminds me of the old +brig Grenfalls. Besides the leak, a new danger confronted us. + +As we neared Cape Horn the seas became much higher and the storm +increased. The sun would rise at nearly ten o'clock in the morning, and +go down at two in the afternoon. The clouds were very heavy, and +seemingly close to the water. Heavy snow-storms were common. The wind, +however, was in our favour. Sometimes there would be a lull in the gale; +then more sail would have to be set to keep us ahead of the immense high +waves, else one might come over our stern and sink us. On the other hand +was the danger of going too fast; in that case the vessel would run +under and, loaded as it was, must go down like a piece of iron. Another +trouble was that we had to heave-to frequently, and that was very +dangerous. Now going before the wind and then swinging around head to +wind, as near as possible, compelled us to get into the trough of the +sea. If we had been struck by one of those huge waves broadside on, the +voyage would have terminated just then. + +The gale that brought us to Cape Horn followed the Pacific coast to +Staten Island, and then up the Atlantic Ocean. One day, as we were +sailing too slowly, a great wave almost broke over our stern. The main +top-gallant-sail was set in a hurry. A few hours afterward the wind +increased, and the light sail had to be taken in. Before Jimmy and I +could get aloft to furl it, there was nothing left. The wind had blown +it away in small pieces. That night we were compelled to heave to again. +No matter which way the tub's head was pointed, we were going in the +right direction, even if it were stern first, drifting before the wind. +Our cook and steward was a wild, red-headed fellow--Darwin's missing +link. My chum accused him of cheating us out of our pint of drinking +water. They were quarrelling all day about it. That night Reddy came to +the forecastle scuttle while I was getting some hard-tack ready for +eating--that is, hunting for meal worms. Reddy commenced the row again. +He was just going to paralyze Jimmy! I had not said a word yet, but my +chum was not going to be hurt if I could help it. At last the man became +quite brave. He told Jimmy he'd lick him and his chum together. The chum +was myself. So we invited him to come below. He lost no time in doing +so. Before he got half-way down we jumped for him. What a good thrashing +he got for his trouble! When we got through pounding him, he was dragged +to the opening in the bulkhead. Our intention was to throw him down the +hole into the water and the guano. We pushed too hard, so that he went +a-flying over the right place, very luckily, as he would have been +smothered in the guano-water. Reddy stayed in bed for two days. He told +the captain that the whole crew had tried to kill him. When he got out +of bed his face was blue, green, and yellow; this, with the eyes nicely +blacked and his red hair, made a fine combination of colours. Neither +one of us had been struck once, and there was no more trouble about +water. + +One night, just after being relieved from watch, all hands were called +to shorten sail. On deck I had to go again. There we were kept for +thirty-two hours, tending to the sails and bailing out water and guano. +A few nights afterward I was at the wheel. The mate sneaked into the +cabin; Jimmy was in the galley. There I was, tired out, my clothes +dripping wet with sea water and the wheel nearly jerking my arms off. +Suddenly the brig yawed off and was struck by a heavy sea. I could feel +the vessel quivering under my feet; with one hand I could not move the +wheel either way. I thought we were sinking and that my day had come. +The water on deck was above my knees. Suddenly the wheel began its old +tricks again, very much to my relief. The port bulwarks from the main to +the fore-rigging had been carried away even to the deck. Spare spars +had to be fastened there by ropes until we got into port. The second +mate said it was my fault on account of bad steering. + +One day all hands were busy bailing water and guano out of the hold. I +was at the wheel again, trying my best to steer straight. It was of no +use; the old tub yawed around and was struck by a heavy sea. A large +quantity of water went down the scuttle and made more mud, all of which +had to be bailed out. How everybody did swear and growl! But I derived +some consolation on account of the second mate being nearly killed. The +water had knocked him off his feet and dashed him against the bulwarks. +When he came aft, rubbing his arms and legs, I had to grin. That was the +only time I ever felt really happy on that packet. Shortly afterwards he +took the wheel and sent me to help the bucket brigade. Very soon the +brig yawed again. I knew what would happen when I saw a heavy wave +coming, so got down the scuttle and shut it very quickly. After the +commotion was all over I got on deck. Very much to my joy, the starboard +bulwarks had been carried away. My friend the second mate had nothing to +say about bad steering after that. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE FLYING DUTCHMAN + + +That night we were compelled to heave to, for the waves were almost +sinking us. At two o'clock in the morning my chum was to relieve me at +the wheel. He was rather slow about doing it, too, as it was very +comfortable for him in the galley. I was about played out holding the +helm hard down, there being no steerage-way, as we were drifting to the +leeward. Our object was to keep the vessel head on to the seas as nearly +as possible, so as to ride over them as they came along. So much guano +had been taken from the forehold that it caused the brig to settle by +the stern and raise the forward part up, consequently every time the bow +dipped into a wave the water which came over would rush aft on the deck, +strike the taffrail, and give the man at the wheel a good shower-bath. +That happened every few minutes. Between drenchings we had the cold +wind for a variety. The ship's clock was in the cabin skylight, visible +to the helmsman, whose duty it was to strike the bell one stroke for +every half hour. At four bells he was to be relieved; at eight bells the +watches would change; thus it would be four hours on deck and four hours +below until we arrived in port. Now I had been watching the clock very +anxiously for two hours, my whole body stiff and numb with the cold and +wet. Nearly a half hour after the right time, my friend Jimmy very +reluctantly made his appearance. I waited until he had hold of the wheel +and then I chided him in very impolite language. When I had said +everything that I could think of to hurt his feelings I stopped. In the +meantime I was holding on to a rope and sharing the shower-baths with +him. It helped to loosen my jaws, at any rate, even if it did no other +good. + +The cook's galley is a small house built on deck, in size about four by +six feet, with a sliding door on each side, the one to windward being +always kept shut except in very fine weather. Now I was hustling along +as fast as my stiff joints would allow me to get into the galley. There, +at least, I would be sheltered from the cold winds. I had got inside and +was turning to close the door, when I saw a sight which simply paralyzed +me. A large full-rigged ship with squared yards, all sails set, even to +the royals and studding-sails rigged out on both sides, was coming +straight for us, and distant only a few hundred yards. Our brig, being +hove to, was helpless to get out of the way. Certain destruction seemed +inevitable, with no possible hope of escaping a speedy death. I yelled +out at the top of my voice, "A ship on the lee beam!" Jimmy, at the +wheel, got a glimpse of the ship, and let out a yelp that brought the +mate on deck. The mate, who had been loafing in the cabin and shirking +his duty, also did some tall yelping when he saw our danger. There was +no chance to get on our knees to pray then. The decks were too wet and +slippery, besides, we had to use our hands to keep from being washed +overboard. As we could not do the proper thing in orthodox style, we +did some tall cursing, as being the next best thing under the +circumstances. Swearing is a sailor's balm for many ills. + +We were terribly excited; only a few seconds and all would be over with +us. Our brig was drifting north at the rate of three miles an hour. The +strange vessel was heading south in that gale and with all sails set; +she should have been racing through the water at a twenty-knots rate. +You can imagine our surprise when we observed that the other vessel was +rapidly going backward and disappearing in a hazy mist. Suddenly there +was a break in the clouds, and we had a glimpse of the full moon for a +few minutes, for the first time in several weeks, although the nights +were nearly twenty hours in length. Soon we were in darkness again. That +was our first experience with the ship Flying Dutchman. The whole affair +had happened so suddenly and unexpectedly that we had no time to think. +The idea of a ship carrying all sail in that gale was ridiculous, but to +sail dead against the wind was still more so. We were very much +disgusted with ourselves for being so badly fooled, but, at the same +time, we were a greatly scared lot of sailors. The explanation was +simple enough. The clouds were black and heavy, flying low down near the +water. A rift in them allowed the moon to shine dimly between the edges +and cause the illusion. A few nights afterward we were running before +the wind. All hands were close-reefing the main top-sail. Off the port +bow we saw what appeared to be a ship on fire. Our course was altered to +that direction, and it proved to be the old Dutchman again. At last the +gale from the south broke up. We had got into the "pamperos"--westerly +winds from Buenos Ayres. The days were increasing in length, and the +weather became much warmer. The wind being on our beam, we could steer +straight, compared with what we had been doing before the wind. Besides, +the heavy rolling and lurching had diminished greatly. The effect of +heavy cargo, so much below the water-line, was greatly counteracted by +the wind striking us sideways. Going before the wind, the old brig +rolled terribly at times--so much so that we often expected the masts +to be snapped off, on account of the sudden jerking from side to side. +The forecastle was always wet and muddy, and, while eating, we would sit +on a chest, holding our pans in our laps, a cup in one hand, and +conveying the food to our mouths with the other, with both heels firmly +braced on the deck. Time and again an extra lurch would send us +a-sliding to the other side, bang against a chest or bunk, the food +flying in every direction. Back and forth we would go a dozen times +before we could stop. The sulphur and brimstone would hang in festoons +from the deck beams by the time we had stopped cursing the old brig. + +On the first clear day, instead of going to bed in my morning watch +below, eight to twelve in the morning, I went aloft to the fore-top, and +remained there the four hours enjoying the luxury of an airy wind-bath. +It was the first time in nearly three months that my clothing was dry, +and not so very dry then, either. The mates had been throwing out hints +about going into port for repairs. We had passed all the Pacific +harbours, and were doing the same with the Atlantic harbours, when, very +much to our joy, we sighted the Sugar Loaf, a very high conical rock, it +being the southern point of land at the entrance to the harbour of Rio +de Janeiro--River of January--Brazil, South America. So, much to our +joy, we were bound for port. My chum and I were of one mind--that was, +to quit the guano business P. D. Q. + +The entrance to the harbour was very narrow and well fortified. There +were steep rocks on each side. We were hailed from one of the forts and +asked the brig's name, destination, and last port. Our sails were +gradually taken in. At last we rounded to and dropped anchor. Rio is +admitted by all sailors to be the finest harbour in the world, and I +will guarantee that our old tub of a brig was the most dilapidated and +dirtiest specimen of the shipbuilder's handicraft that ever anchored in +it. It is a generally well-founded belief among sailors that rats will +desert a sinking ship. We often remarked that a rat had not been seen +on the Grenfalls during the voyage. I must say the rodents made a very +close calculation, if that was the reason for at some time quitting +their cosy quarters. My first act in port was to tie a rope around my +wet blankets and lower them into the water. By swashing them up and down +for awhile, I got considerable of the mud removed. Hanging in the hot +sun, they became dry by evening. So I enjoyed a good night's sleep on +deck. It was quite a contrast from what I had been doing for weeks +past--namely, getting into a soaking wet bed with all my clothes on, +dripping with water, and the sea dropping on me in small instalments +through the leaky decks. + +Our worthy captain was an entirely different man from what he was at sea +in the Cape Horn regions. Warm weather, with no danger to be feared, +made quite an improvement in his personal appearance. He was also more +self-important and domineering. The two mates and he were small men, +about five feet two inches in height. The way in which they murdered +the Queen's English was something simply terrible. "Mike, 'ow's 'er +'ead?" was the question often asked at the wheel when they wished to +know the point of the compass I was steering, so as to enter it in the +log-book. The disabled condition of the brig had been reported to the +English consul. He appointed three ship captains to "survey" our vessel, +and report whether it was seaworthy or not. They came on board and +examined everything. We, the sailors, took our knives and showed them +how rotten the remaining bulwarks were, how the decks leaked; in fact, +we did all we could to get the old tub condemned. It was estimated that +one hundred tons of guano had been dumped overboard; however, nothing +was said about the quantity of water that went with it. The captains +looked very wise, but said nothing. Finally, they got into their boats +and returned to shore. My shipmates and myself were in great hope that +the vessel would be condemned as unseaworthy. That meant our release and +three months' extra pay on account of being discharged in a foreign +port. Greatly to our disgust, the report was briefly: "The brig +Grenfalls, with necessary repairs, is fit to continue the voyage." + +In a few days we hoisted anchor and sailed up to a small island close to +the city. After considerable trouble we got the old tub fastened to a +small dock. Then we were allowed time to dispose of a mighty poor +dinner. All the remaining guano was to be taken out and placed on the +dock, a job which we did not like. Jim and myself, while eating, had a +quiet talk on the chances of getting our discharge from the vessel. We +both decided to declare war. No more guano work for us! We were eating +our last dinner on that boat, but we did not know it then. The war took +place in earnest, and most unexpectedly. Two explanations are necessary +before I proceed with the narrative. There was an able seaman in the +other watch, more intelligent than the average English sailor. His +vessel had been wrecked on the Pacific coast, and he had shipped with us +in order to return to England and sail in his former employer's service +again. From him I learned some facts in regard to English marine law. +English sailors always carry large jack-knives, a shackle at the butt +end, to which is fastened a lanyard, the latter going around the neck. +The knife, when not in use, is stuck in the waistband of the trousers. +With American sailors, a long knife, carried in a sheath and strapped +around the waist, is the fashion. It is a very necessary and useful +article on shipboard, used in cutting food--there are no forks--scraping +masts, repairing rigging, and so forth. It is always ready for instant +use in case of danger or accident. After dinner we had plenty of work to +do. Towards evening extra lines from the bow and stern were run ashore +and fastened to large rocks. Old canvas was cut in narrow strips and +wound around the ropes in every place where they were liable to chafe on +the sharp stones on the beach. We were still at that work at nine +o'clock, with no sign of supper yet. I made up my mind to quit work, and +had just got on deck when I heard the first mate and Jimmy talking +rather loudly by the cabin door. Too much work and nothing to eat was +the cause of the row. My chum was mad all over. Suddenly the mate caught +him by each wrist and gave his arms a quick, downward jerk. It was an +old trick, and very painful to a person whose arms were hanging down +loosely. In an instant Jimmy had his knife open and made a lunge for the +mate. The lanyard prevented the free action of the knife, but the blade +had scratched the skin on the mate's throat and made a long cut in the +neck of his tight-fitting, heavy knit undershirt. The mate began to run +and yell "Murder!" Around the deck he sprinted, with my chum after him. +Every few steps Jimmy would make a dig at him with the knife, only to +receive himself a jerk in the back of the neck from the lanyard. There +was an old box on the main hatch. Without being noticed by any of us, +our old enemy--the red-headed cook--was standing on it, with an iron +bolt in his hand. The mate took in the situation, though, and, on the +last lap, he crossed the deck at the main hatch. As Jimmy came along, +the cook hit him a whack on the head with the piece of iron that laid +my poor friend on the deck _hors de combat_. The cook had no time to +gloat over his victory. He was howling out, "Wurrah, wurrah!" and made +remarkably quick time for the cabin, landing below without his feet +touching the stairs. A sailor was after him with a sheath-knife minus +the lanyard attachment. Our disabled shipmate was carried forward and +laid on deck. Having no fine Turkish sponges or decorated wash-bowls, we +could not dress his head according to modern style. We did the best we +could, however, which was to lower a bucket over the vessel's side and +fill it with dirty sea water. His head received several good bathings. +The treatment was liberal and heroic, the contents of a full bucket +being dumped on him at a time. It helped to revive him and to wash off +the blood, simultaneously. + +At last success rewarded our efforts. The patient sat up. When he had +got the salt water out of his mouth, he wanted to know "what in ---- we +were trying to do with him?" It being nearly ten o'clock, all hands +concluded to have supper. The cook was afraid to come on deck, so we +went to the galley and took all the food in sight. It was carried into +the forecastle. The chandelier--a tin cup full of grease with a rag for +a wick--was trimmed and lighted. Our frugal repast was interrupted by +the captain's sticking his head down the scuttle and inquiring if Jimmy +wanted a bandage and salve for his head. Jimmy very curtly told him to +"Go to ----." The captain was desirous that the crew should desert and +forfeit the money due to them, for he could get other men for one third +of the amount we were getting. Nine dollars a month for ordinary, and +eleven dollars a month for able seamen was the rate in Rio; while our +pay from Callao was twenty-five dollars and thirty-five dollars per +month. My chum and I had about forty dollars due to each of us, and I +intended to get it if possible. The rest of the men wanted to remain on +the vessel on account of the big wages, and the hardest part of the +voyage being over. Immediately after breakfast the next morning Jimmy +and I went aft and called for the captain. We requested permission to +see the English consul, but received an evasive answer. It was to be a +game of bluff beyond all doubt, so my recently acquired knowledge of +marine law was to be tested. I stated plainly to the captain that seamen +were allowed by law to see the consul "if they had any complaints to +make." We demanded to be at once taken to the consul's office, as we +were not satisfied with our food and treatment, and wished for an +investigation. We said that he would have trouble if he refused to +comply with the law. Very reluctantly, he told us to get into the ship's +boat, and we rowed over to the city. On landing, he gave directions to +the consul's office, where, on arriving, we found that the captain had +taken a short cut and got there ahead of us. Consequently the consul +gave us a very cool reception and asked us what we wanted of him. He got +a brief synopsis of the trip around the Cape to commence with, then a +description of the food, next of the short allowance of water; and last, +we charged the captain with ignoring the law in regard to giving each +man the legal allowance of lime-juice a day.[C] + + [C] Years ago canned vegetables and fruit were unknown at sea; for + that reason lime-juice was served to the men daily, as a + preventive of scurvy. English vessels were nicknamed + "lime-juicers" on that account. + +The captain had considerable to say, himself. At last the consul refused +to discharge us. We were informed that we should have better food for +the future. The captain smiled with satisfaction, for a short time only. +All was not over yet. My last card was to be played and it won. "Well, +Consul, this man and I do not propose to go back to the captain's old +tub. We volunteer for Her Majesty's service!" + +The consul laughed, and informed the captain that he would be expected +at the office at two o'clock in the afternoon with our discharges and +the money which was due us. + +What clothing we had was badly rotted by the effect of salt water and +guano; therefore we had no reason to return to the Grenfalls for our old +rags. Out of the office we went in high glee. The first sailor I met on +the street gave us directions to a sailors' boarding-house. Portuguese +Joe was the landlord's title. No time was lost in making his +acquaintance. The mere fact that we were two sailors to be paid off that +day was sufficient recommendation. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +IN HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE + + +No money in advance, nor baggage as security for our board, was +required. Nothing in the house was too good for us; we could have +anything we wanted, and, oh, how glad the other boarders were to see us! +I almost felt at that time as if I had met about twenty long-lost +brothers. All that affection cost Jimmy and me several rounds of drink +for the "house." That afternoon we went to the consulate and received +our discharges and pay. The money was in Brazilian currency, and, +together, our money amounted to a hundred and fifty-five thousand +reis--twenty reis equal to a cent of United States money. Bookkeeping in +that country requires the use of a large number of figures. + +Our first venture was to get new suits of clothes and enjoy the luxury +of a much-needed fresh-water bath, when "Richard was himself again." +What a change in our mode of living! Fruit of all kinds to be had for +almost nothing; comfortable beds to sleep in; fresh food and vegetables +to eat. The only thing I objected to was that we had too many newly +found friends. I was strictly temperate at that time. Jimmy made me his +banker, with the condition that I should give him money only in small +amounts. + +Brazil is a very large country, and at that time was the only empire in +South America. Dom Pedro III was emperor. His palace was close to the +city of Rio. I saw him several times, as he frequently rode through the +city in his carriage, always escorted by his bodyguard of thirty +cavalrymen. He was a very fine-looking young man with fair complexion. +No doubt he was the most progressive ruler Brazil ever had. Now he is +dead and Brazil is a Republic. Rio de Janeiro is the capital, and a most +beautiful city it is. Viewing it from the bay in the night-time, it +resembles the dress-circle in an immensely large theatre, the +street-lights forming the rows of seats. The language is Portuguese, +much similar to Spanish. I had very little difficulty in making myself +understood when conversing with the natives. There was not a sewer in +the city. Large tubs about three feet high, eighteen inches in diameter, +were used in the houses for all refuse and waste material, and, when +filled, they were carried on the heads of slaves at night-time and +emptied into the bay. A large building at the water's edge was the +public dumping ground. The slaves were nearly all genuine Africans, +naked to the waist, the breast and face tattooed in different designs, +by scarring the skin with a knife. + +When one of those fellows came down the street on a dog-trot, singing +"Hoo! hoo! hoo! hoo!" I would get out of his way quickly. It was a +wonder to me how they could balance those heavy tubs on their heads and +keep swinging their arms at the same time. + +The native liquor is cashass, distilled from sugar-cane. Take equal +parts of pure alcohol and water, put in a very liberal quantity of +creosote, and you will have a good sample of cashass--flavour, smell, +and strength will be the same as the genuine article. One evening, on +returning to the boarding-house, there was quite an excitement in the +dining-room. My friend Jimmy was laid out on the table, with three men +holding him down; he was in spasms and frothing at the mouth. My +impression was that he had been poisoned. After a while he quieted down +and went to sleep. The next morning he confidentially remarked to me +that he had no more use for any of "that ---- cashass." My reason for +describing the liquor is to give an idea of its strength. Once, when I +was on an English man-of-war, it was probably the cause of a friend's +being drowned and of getting me into a serious scrape. + +I would frequently take a stroll down to the military dock where the +boat from the man-of-war landed. It was interesting to observe the +peculiarities of the different nationalities. The Americans were the +most intelligent, very neat in appearance, their clothing of fine +material and well made, dark blue flannel shirts embroidered with black +silk, a white silk star on each corner of the wide collars, a silk +ribbon with the name of the ship in gilt letters on the sailor hats. +When their boats landed the officers would get out, then the boat's +crew, with the exception of one man, going where they pleased, returning +after a time, and pulling off to their ship. Next were the Englishmen. +Their clothes fitted awkwardly. In appearance they were not so bright +and cheerful. No going ashore for them! A midshipman was always in +charge of the boat, every man being required to remain in his seat. The +Italians, Spanish, French, and Brazilians were a dirty, barefooted lot, +probably not one in ten being able to read or write. The English always +had difficulty in getting men for the navy. Low wages, flogging with the +cat-o'-nine-tails, and no chance for promotion, were the chief reasons. +A law was passed allowing any seaman in the British merchant service to +volunteer in any part of the world for Her Majesty's service. That was +the reason why I got my discharge from the Grenfalls. I remained at +Portuguese Joe's for two weeks, my money being spent in sight-seeing. +Then I went on board Her Majesty's frigate Madagascar and shipped for +five years as an ordinary seaman. My pay was one pound sixteen +shillings--about nine dollars--a month. + +I had to retain the name of Mike Murray on account of the discharge from +the last ship. Cloth was furnished to me--flannel and other +articles--for clothing, everything being charged to me excepting hammock +and bag. With the assistance of the other sailors, I soon had clothing +made and became a full-fledged man-of-war's-man. The Madagascar was a +very large frigate with two tiers of guns, and had been stationed at Rio +for a number of years without leaving the harbour. The admiral of the +South Atlantic station made her the flagship of the fleet. Only about +one third of the full complement of men was on board, and, consequently, +we had no drilling at the big guns or making and furling sails. But we +had "holystoning" decks enough to make up for it. At four o'clock every +morning we were routed out of hammocks to wash decks. Sand and a little +water would be sprinkled on the deck, each man would have a piece of +flat sandstone, and then, on our knees, we would do some mighty hard +scouring, hence the name of "holystoning." Afterwards, with the use of +plenty of water, the sand and dirt would be washed off. Then, with +swabs, the deck would be dried and afterwards swept with brooms. By that +time it would be seven o'clock, and then we had breakfast. + +Jimmy came on board and shipped a few days after myself. We both +belonged to the same mess. He had a picnic, as I gave him my share of +grog to drink. Each mess was composed of fourteen men, each man in turn +being cook of the mess for one day. His work was to set the table, draw +rations, and bring the food from the galley. At twelve-thirty he would +take a bucket and get the grog. The grog was one half gill of Jamaica +rum and three half gills of water, mixed, making one half pint. Each +mess had a measure holding a little less than that quantity. The cook +would give each man his allowance, and the difference in the measures +after fourteen men had been served would be considerable; that would be +the cook's perquisite. Orders had been given to refit the Madagascar +with entirely new rigging. The Brazilian Government had given permission +to use one of their ship-houses to work in. Every day a gang of us were +taken ashore to fit up the standing rigging. We were at that work for +two months. The experience and knowledge I acquired in that brief time +made me a good sailor. The English Government had the lease of a small +island in the harbour on which were erected a number of buildings +containing supplies for the navy. As we returned to the ship at night, +our boat would stop there and bring off the paymaster. One evening we +had to wait for him. As was the English custom, the boat was rowed a few +hundred yards from the dock, then "Peak oars!" was the order, each man +holding his oar straight up, the handle resting on the bottom of the +boat, the blade in the air. It was the second cutter with fourteen +oars, two men on each seat, quite a fine sight, but very tedious for the +men. We had a sudden change from the sublime to the ridiculous that +time. Two of the crew had got into an argument. One of them, getting +excited, emphasized his remarks by lifting his oar and bringing it down +on the bottom of the boat. That ended the debate abruptly. The boat, +being old and rotten, could not stand such treatment. The force of the +blow knocked a big hole in the bottom. In a few seconds all hands were +in the water, men and oars badly mixed up. Those of us who could swim +struck out for dry land, the remainder saving themselves by clinging to +the wreck. + +We had very little work to do after the old frigate was newly rigged. I +would look out of the gun-ports and watch the shipping in the harbour. +One day the United States brig Perry came in from a cruise on the +African coast and anchored close to us. She was a beautiful vessel. All +the crew appeared to be happy and contented. They were a fine, active +lot of men. I should have liked to exchange places with any of them. +Finally they went on another cruise in quest of slavers. The next time I +saw the Perry was in Boston during the war, and I was then one of her +officers, in a position I little dreamed of holding when I watched her +leaving the harbour of Rio de Janeiro. + +I soon became discontented and homesick on the old frigate. My +messmates, knowing me to be a "blawsted Yankee," as they called me, made +me ill-natured. I usually returned what they gave. After several fights +they let me alone, but I was punished by being put on the black-list for +fighting. That meant being kept at work all day long cleaning +brass-work, etc. At dinner hour I would be on the quarter-deck with my +bowl of grog, an extra half pint of water being introduced, and I then +received a spoon with holes in it with which to sup the grog. With my +cap under my arm, I would be ordered to drink Her Majesty's health. It +was a tedious job sipping that infernal stuff out of the bowl with the +spoon. It would run out as fast as I dipped it up. Sometimes there +would be ten or twelve men undergoing the same punishment. In the +evening I would have to stand one hour on the quarter-deck, toeing one +of the seams. Poor Jimmy got into a scrape, so I had him drinking Her +Majesty's health with me. This was also the case with a half-breed +American Indian from Massachusetts, and a greenhorn from England, and a +very troublesome quartette we proved to be. That night all four of us +deserted. The first lieutenant had his gig condemned and got a new one +to replace it. While we were doing the seam-toeing act he came on deck +and ordered us to get into the new gig and pull around the ship, so that +he could see how it set in the water. A conversation between us while +rowing made it plain that all were anxious to run away. We went on the +gun deck and had a quiet talk. Everything was arranged for going ashore. +The boat could not be hoisted up, as there were no spare davits for it. +That just suited us. + +At bedtime we got into our hammocks with our clothes on, and about three +o'clock we got our bags containing all our clothing and took them on +the gun deck. Matt, the half-breed, got into the boat from the gun ports +and hauled it around to the bow port. The bags were then handed down. +Jimmy had gone back for something and we were waiting for him. At last +he came and handed me a pocket-book. All of us got into the boat, and +away we went. No one had seen us leaving. There were three decks in that +frigate, the spar, the gun, and the lower or berth deck. The crew swung +their hammocks on the latter. What few officers and men there were on +duty at night would be on the spar deck, so there was no one on the gun +deck to bother us, and all below were asleep. Had there been a full +crew, arrangements would have been different and our plan frustrated. +When we got into the city, Matt and the greenhorn went ashore. Jimmy and +I concluded to take a trip up the bay. By seven o'clock we were quite a +distance from the city. The boat was run ashore and our bags were taken +out. The dry land was good enough for us. Something to eat was next in +order. The pocket-book was then examined and found to contain eighty +thousand reis, Brazilian money--forty dollars. Then Jimmy explained how +he got it. A new man slept next to my worthy chum, and every night he +would place his pocket-book between the mattress and the canvas hammock, +and lie on the whole affair himself, feeling secure against all loss. +Just where the pocket-book lay there was a lump bulging out in the +canvas, so Jim cut a slit in the right place and the booty was his. + +A short distance from the landing-place were a number of +slaughter-houses, and the butchers were very much surprised to see two +man-of-war's-men with their baggage in their neighbourhood. One of their +number could speak Spanish, so a friendly conversation took place which +ended in their purchasing our clothes--bags and all. We received a fair +price, both parties being satisfied with the bargain. After eating a +good breakfast in one of their houses, we bade our new acquaintances +good-bye. With plenty of money in our pockets, and on shore, everything +seemed quite pleasant. Our plans were soon agreed upon--to take a +walking tour to the south, have a view of the country, get to the +seaport of St. Catharines, and ship on some vessel for the United +States. It was necessary to make a détour of the city to get on our +right road. After awhile we met a market-woman with fruit and bought +enough for our dinner. Sitting under a tree, we enjoyed our picnic very +much. All our money was then counted; there proved to be one hundred and +seventy thousand reis altogether. A fourteen-thousand-reis bill I put +inside the lining of my hat, the balance in my pocket. During the rest, +Jim proposed going into the city to make some purchases for our journey. +We went--and that was a grand mistake. When we passed the Hamburg House, +kept by a Dutchman, we were reminded that we were thirsty, so we went in +and sat down at a table and ordered a bottle of English ale. Just then I +noticed a young fellow go out of the door. After awhile I asked about +the ale--why they did not bring it? They replied that they had to send +out for it. Shortly afterwards the English consul's "runner" came in +with two vigilantes and, pointing to us, said, "Esas dos"--"Those two." +That settled it! We had been "given away" for the reward, three pounds +sterling--about fifteen dollars each--being the amount for apprehension +of deserters from Her Majesty's service, and off to the calaboose we +were marched. About twelve hours' liberty on shore was all we had +enjoyed. We were taken into the office and searched, and the money was +taken out of my pocket and carefully counted. They gave me a receipt for +it. Very greatly to their disgust, no big bank roll was found on my +chum. I never saw a cent of that money again. Our loss was somebody's +gain that time, sure enough. We were put into a cell with about fifteen +other prisoners, among them two sailors, deserters, from the English +sloop-of-war Siren. From them we found out the rules of our new +quarters. No food was furnished to prisoners--either to buy it, or have +friends bring it, was the custom. As they had been locked up for two +days without food, they had a yearning for something to eat. I called +the turnkey and made him understand in Spanish that I wanted coffee and +rolls for four. In Portuguese he made me understand that money would +have to be furnished first. I showed the receipt for money in the +office, but that would not do, so I took the fourteen-thousand-reis bill +out of my cap and handed it to him. He gave a queer, astonished look and +then a sickly smile, but we got the coffee and rolls, however. That +little luncheon cost me just two thousand reis. I considered myself +lucky to get the change back. They got nearly all of it, though, the +next day. Finally, we four deserters were taken outside the city limits +and, much to our surprise, landed in the penitentiary. Not having +committed any crime against the country, or having had a trial, we found +ourselves convicts "doing time" for nothing. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS + + +No red tape was wasted upon us. The formalities were few. Being taken +into a small building, we took off all our clothing, which was tied in +bundles with our names on them; then, after we had each received a pair +of blue overalls and a blue shirt, the change was complete. Barefooted +and bareheaded, we were marched to the cell houses and locked up. Food +was scarce the first day. We had nothing to eat, as no rations had been +issued for us. The second day only one meal was provided, a small one at +that. The third day, however, we would get all the law allowed. My +appetite was getting quite keen about this time. When the prospect of +getting something to eat looked promising, they found out that a slight +mistake had been made in our case. + +The English consul had leased a small building on the premises as a +lock-up for British sailors who got into trouble or refused to do duty +on their respective ships. When the vessels were ready for sea, the +sailors would be put on board and all the expenses deducted from their +wages. So we were dressed up again and marched over to the consul's +pen. The same trouble about the food occurred there. If they had made +just one more mistake we certainly should have starved to death. In a +few days we were marched to the consulate and then returned to the +Madagascar. Our experience on shore had been a novelty but not +entirely a pleasant one. A warm reception was given us on the +frigate--twenty-eight days each of solitary confinement on bread and +water, twenty-one days on the black-list and lying in irons from +sunset until sunrise. The value of the lost boat and all expenses, +including the reward, was to be deducted from our wages, and, besides, +we would have to pay for a new outfit of clothing. At nine dollars a +month, it would be some time before our accounts would be squared up. +Jim and I swore point-blank that we knew nothing about the boat, and +they never got it back. Somebody was ahead a new boat, anyhow. I never +paid my share of the loss, either. Matt, the half-breed, was caught in +a coffee-saloon before ten o'clock of the same morning and at once +taken back to the ship. On our arrival he was doing "solitary." The +greenhorn was the only one of the party to get away. Aft, on the lower +or third deck, was the midshipmen's and clerks' mess-room, on one side +of the deck. Abaft that was a bulkhead or partition which left a space +to the stern that was used as a store-room for the admiral's and +captain's supplies. In there was also a room used as the "solitary." +Forward of the partition was where the prisoners were kept in irons. +Iron bars ten feet in length, a knot on one end, a padlock on the +other, and a big lot of shackles completed the outfit. The men would +sit on deck in a row, each one placing a shackle on each ankle. The +first man would run the end of the bar through the eyes of his shackle +and then the next would do the same, the padlock was fastened, and we +would be secure for the night. The bar lay underneath, resting on +deck. Walking or standing was impossible. The midshipmen and clerks +swung their hammocks above us. Once in a while we would rap on the +partition and, through the crack, would inquire about Matt's health +and comfort, "If the hardtack and water agreed with him, and how would +he like a nice beefsteak?" As Matt was in the "solitary," Jim and I +had to wait for our turn. So we were doing the black-list and iron +punishment together. About the time my black-list was half over I got +into more trouble. + +The captain lived on shore, near the Sugar Loaf. His boat had left the +ship and some article which he wanted had been forgotten. Such a +dereliction was simply terrible. The captain of a man-of-war in those +days was a trifle more despotic than the Czar of Russia. A cutter with +fourteen oars was "called away" in a hurry to rectify the mistake, but a +man was short for the crew. The lieutenant gave orders for some one to +get into the boat. Just then I was working by the companion-way--the +ladder on ship's side. Much to my surprise, I was told to be more active +in obeying orders and to get into the cutter. I did so. My being a +prisoner at the time seemed not to have been taken into consideration. +It was quite a distance to shore down the bay. The man next me on the +thwart gave me a nudge and said, "Mike, my mon, show 'em your 'eels on +shore." The others near me also had something to say, much to my +annoyance, as I did not want any one to suspect what my intentions were. +We landed soon after the captain's boat did. There being no midshipman +in the cutter, we all stepped on shore. One of the men spoke to the +coxswain in a low tone, and I was ordered back into the cutter. I +refused and stated that I was going to a saloon for a drink. I walked +away rather quickly. Looking back, I saw that all the men excepting one +were running after me. Then I ran as fast as possible towards a steep +rocky hill. I was gaining on them rapidly. Some perpendicular rocks +prevented my going farther in that direction. Then I turned around, +intending to run down the hill and break through the crowd for another +race. Just as I got near them, I stumbled, falling on my face and +rolling over into a hole full of muddy water. I was badly hurt and my +nose was bleeding freely. They took me to the cutter and pulled off to +the frigate. + +On our arrival all had to go on deck and stand in a line toeing a seam, +to be searched for smuggled liquor by the ship's corporal, the +lieutenant looking on. Then the coxswain reported me for attempting to +run away. The lieutenant saw that I was covered with mud and blood. He +asked me if the report was true. I answered "Yes," and told him that the +whole boat's crew were a dirty lot of curs for bringing me back after +inducing me to run. The lieutenant looked at them all slowly, and then +at me. With a contemptuous sneer, he said, "Thank you, men," and sent +them forward, at the same time ordering me to be put in irons. The +ship's corporal led me away below, at the same time growling about the +trouble he was having on my account. About half an hour afterward my +old friend, the corporal, made his appearance. He released me from irons +and escorted me on deck. The lieutenant asked me if I was badly hurt, +and all particulars in regard to my running away. Much to my surprise, +he told me to resume my work, that he was to blame in a measure himself, +as he had no right to allow a prisoner to leave the ship. + +My first business was to see the coxswain and some of the boat's crew +and give them a good plain cursing. In a few days afterward, Matt's time +in the "solitary" expired and I was locked up in his place. One half +pound of hardtack per day and one quart of water was my allowance. +Nothing very interesting occurred during the time, excepting once when +the captain's steward came into the store-room one day for some wine. He +spoke to me through the small iron-barred window which was in the +partition on the store-room side. He told me to get my tin cup and hold +it up to the bars. With a piece of paper he made a funnel and filled my +cup full of good sherry wine. Crackers and raisins were also given me, +so I had a high old time all to myself that day. The twenty-eight days +expired and all my punishment was over. Jimmy relieved me, and when he +went into the door it was the last time we ever saw each other. After +all the hard times and many scrapes we had got into together, we parted +without a chance to shake hands. I never heard of him afterward. Twice +while in Liverpool, England, I went to his address, 17 Lower Frederick +Street, but no one knew anything about him. + +Matt, the half-breed, and I got to be friendly and both of us were +determined to get away from the frigate. Our only chance was to swim +ashore, we not being trusted in any of the boats. It was necessary to +wait for a night when there would be no moon and a flood-tide running in +from the sea. In the meantime, to avert suspicion, I started making my +new clothing. The blue cloth for my best trousers at Government prices +was one pound sterling. That I had smuggled from the ship and on shore, +to be sold. I was to receive half of what it would sell for. In a few +days I received five milreis and a long skin of cashass. The cashass is +put in skins such as are used for bologna sausage. In that form it can +easily be secreted about a sailor's clothing and smuggled on board. The +cashass I gave to Matt for safe-keeping, as we should need a good drink +before taking our long swim. The five milreis in silver I put in a small +bag hanging round my neck. Every night we would sneak up to the gun +deck. The prospects not being favourable, we would postpone our trip. +One night while I was awake, the ship's corporal came to my hammock with +a lantern in his hands. He took a look at me and then went away. I knew +then that our plan to go was known. After that I remained in my hammock +and let Matt do the prospecting. Finally, one morning, we concluded to +make the attempt that night. During the day I had my bag from the rack +to do some sewing, and Matt came to me with a blue flannel shirt and +asked me to put it in my bag for a while, which, unfortunately, I did. +That night the corporal came to my hammock twice before midnight; then +I dozed off to sleep and was awakened by some one feeling my face. It +was Matt. He was quite drunk and insisted upon my taking a drink from +the skin. He said he was then going to the gun deck to get a rope ready +for getting into the water and would return for me when all was ready. +That was the last I saw of him. I waited for a while. The effects of the +strong liquor put me into a sound sleep. The next thing I knew was that +the crew were holystoning the gun deck. The noise of the stones right +over my head had awakened me. I put on my clothes and tried to sneak in +among them unobserved, but the attempt was a failure. The boatswain saw +me. "Hello, Mike, where did you come from? I thought you had gone ashore +with Matt," was the salute I received. + +It seems that when all hands were called, we were missed at once. Matt's +hammock, being the nearest, was examined. He being gone, it was +concluded that I was with him. I tried to play innocent, but it was of +no use. After breakfast I was ordered before the first lieutenant and +reported for not turning out to scrub decks, and then for aiding and +abetting desertion. My bag was brought from the rack and examined. The +blue cloth was missing. A stolen shirt, with the owner's name under the +collar, was found. Matt stole that shirt. It was the one he had asked me +to keep for him. Conduct detrimental to discipline in Her Majesty's +service was another charge. The lieutenant then laid down the law to me +in splendid style, and ended thus: "Now, Michael Murray, you have made +considerable trouble on this frigate, and I shall see that you get 'four +dozen.' Then you can desert--that is, if you get the chance. Corporal, +put him in irons." When the corporal put the padlock on the bar, he +said: "Mike, my lad, you're in for it now!" + +About five days afterward I was taken on the quarter-deck again. The +lieutenant wanted to know who brought the cashass on board to Matt and +myself. I replied that I knew nothing about it and that I had never seen +Matt with the liquor in his possession. Then I was told that Matt's body +had been found floating in the bay. He had on all his clothes excepting +cap and shoes. Inside of his shirt was found the skin containing a small +quantity of cashass. He must have been quite drunk or he would not have +tried to swim such a distance with his clothes on; or it may be that he +fell overboard and that that was the reason he did not come back for me +as he promised. + +"Four dozen" on an English man-of-war means flogging with the +cat-o'-nine-tails. The "cat" is a hardwood handle eighteen inches long, +to one end of which are attached nine pieces of hard lines, about one +eighth of an inch in diameter and eighteen inches long. At the end of +each tail is a hard knot. When punishment is to be inflicted the "tails" +are soaked in strong brine. That makes them hard and heavy. A wooden +grating from a hatchway is placed on end, resting against the bulwarks. +All hands are called to witness punishment. Everybody must be present, +from the captain to the powder boys. The prisoner is stripped naked to +the waist, his feet are lashed to the bottom of the grating, and his +arms are stretched out full length and fastened. The face and breast +are then close to the grating, with no chance remaining of moving the +body. The ship's surgeon watches to see that the prisoner does not die +while being punished. The boatswain's mate is on the left side. He +swings the "cat" over his head with the right hand, at the same time +drawing the tails through his left hand. At every stroke nine stripes +are cut on the prisoner's back, the knots at the same time making little +holes in the skin, about two seconds elapsing between each stroke. After +two dozen strokes have been given, the boatswain's mate steps to the +other side of the prisoner and gives the remaining two dozen, the skin +being cut by that means into diamond-shaped pieces. By the time the +punishment is over the man will be covered with blood and greatly +exhausted. + +I had been keeping very quiet for the last few days in order to avert +suspicion. I had been examining the old shackles, and found two that +would release me from the bar at any time. One was quite large. By +taking off my shoe I could squeeze my foot from the bar. The other +shackle must have been an odd one, as it had extra large eyes, and would +slip nicely over the knob at the end of the bar. I laid them on the deck +to have them handy, then I sent for the corporal to take me to the +water-closet. When I returned I picked up the shackles that I wanted and +placed them over my ankles. When he had gone I put all the other +shackles away out of reach so there could be no mixing up. My mind +rested easy then. I was having a chance to go before the flogging, +instead of after, as the lieutenant proposed. At last, the day for my +punishment was set. The captain had come on board the frigate and my +conduct was reported. I was brought before him and the charges read to +me. Orders were given to have me flogged with the "Thieves'" +cat-o'-nine-tails at eight o'clock the next morning. "Four dozen lashes +on the bare back." The "Thieves' cat" meant two knots in the tail +instead of one. I was to receive extra punishment for a crime I never +committed, but the finding of the shirt in my bag had been sufficient. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE ESCAPE + + +When the corporal took me below again I asked him to let me get some +clean clothes from my bag. I selected a pair of white duck trousers and +a white shirt. I wanted the lightest suit that I could get. The corporal +probably thought that I intended dressing neatly for the whipping in the +morning. I was very particular in putting the shackles on my ankles, the +one with the large eyes going on the left leg, so as to be at the knob +end of the bar. The big one went on the right leg. I could not prevent +myself from grinning while he was so carefully locking the end of the +bar. He gave the lock an extra pull, to satisfy himself that it was +fast, and walked off. My hammock, instead of being lashed up sideways, +as customary, was merely rolled loosely and left on deck, so that I +could spread it out for sleeping at night-time. I made a sort of lounge +with it and took life easy, for the time being. At nine in the evening, +the midshipmen and clerks got into their hammocks, leaving their clothes +on top of their sea-chests. I spread out my bed and lay down. My +position had to be straight out, on my back, as the iron bar had to be +taken into consideration. Soon all but myself were asleep. Time passed +very slowly. I knew the corporal would have a look at me about midnight +and that then I should be ready for my trip. I could tell the time by +hearing the ship's bell striking every half hour. About one in the +morning, I was getting very uneasy in my mind, as I knew it was about +time for the tide to change and run out to sea--a very serious matter +for me. At last my friend made his appearance. Everything was secure and +satisfactory, so he went away. Then I commenced operations. First, I got +out of the shackles, and taking off all my clothing, tied it in a neat, +flat bundle. My money and knife I left hanging to my neck. Next I +gathered up some clothing belonging to the midshipmen and laid it on my +bed. Two pairs of shoes went next. One pair was stuck in the shackles, +the other pair was stuck, heels downward, into the first pair. Then two +caps were stuck together for a head. The whole, being covered over with +my blanket, made a very good dummy. I was highly pleased with my +midnight work. The toes, sticking straight up, gave a very artistic +effect to the job. Taking my hammock lashing and bundle, I went to the +midshipmen's messroom. + +With a stool to stand on, I took a view of the harbour from the small +port-hole--about twenty inches square. These holes are open in harbour +only for ventilation and light on the lower deck. At sea they must be +kept closed and lashed securely. As I expected, the tide was ebbing out +to sea. The ship had swung around "head on" to the city. I had no choice +but to go, however. Fastening my clothes to the end of the lashing, I +lowered them about eight feet, not intending to get them wet. Securing +the lashing to an eyebolt, inward, I got out of the port-hole and let +myself down into the water. The clothes had been dropped too low and got +wet. That made them too heavy to fasten on the top of my head as I had +intended. I released the bundle from the lashing, keeping it in my left +hand, and then I drifted past the frigate's stern with the tide. In a +few minutes I commenced swimming at an angle from the frigate, and then +headed for the city. After a long swim I began to get tired and was +breathing hard from exertion. The bundle worried me, and the now swift +tide became too much to contend with. I had got only a short distance +past the frigate, and was convinced that I could not reach the city. +Then I turned back, repassed the frigate, and headed for the southern +shore. The tide, at the same time, carried me towards the entrance of +the harbour. I was in hopes of getting to land before I should be +carried past the Sugar Loaf. As a last recourse I could let the clothing +go, and that I would not do until it became a necessity. As I was +swimming at an angle with the tide, not so much exertion was needed. +Much to my relief I saw the dim outline of a vessel to my left. I then +swam with the tide, and in a few minutes I was holding on the +anchor-chain. I had a good rest and, at the same time, thought what was +best for me to do. I could easily get on board at the bow, but if it +were an English vessel my name would be "Dennis," sure enough. I +proposed to take no more chances than necessary that night. Finally I +let go of the chain and drifted to the stern. There I found the vessel's +boat in the water. I got the bundle into the boat and climbed in myself. + +The first thing I did was to read the vessel's name. I was then +satisfied that she was a Brazilian coaster. I wrung the water from my +clothes and was soon dressed up. There were no oars in the boat; if +there had been I would have cut the painter and sculled with a single +oar for the western shore. When I felt strong enough, I climbed up the +painter to the taffrail and got on deck. No one was to be seen, so I +commenced an investigation. She was a brig. On each side of the +quarter-deck was a cubby-hole--a small white house with sliding-doors, +just large enough for a man to sleep in. The starboard one was empty, so +I knew the captain was on shore. In the port side was the mate, asleep. +The cool night wind blowing on my clothes made me quite chilly. Not +having decided exactly what to do, I was standing by the wheel making up +my mind. A crisis was at hand. The mate crawled out of his hole, about +half awake, rubbing his eyes. He caught a glimpse of me, all dressed in +white, standing close to the wheel. Before I could say a word he gave a +terrible yell; then he stuttered out, "Por Dios, que es esta?"--"For +God's sake, what is that?" Staggering back a few steps, he turned around +and ran forward, disappearing down the forecastle scuttle. Then I went +to the taffrail and got the boat's painter ready for being cast off in +an instant; taking my knife from my neck, I opened it and fastened the +lanyard around my right wrist. If there was to be a hostile reception, I +intended to cast the boat loose and jump overboard. With the wind and +strong tide, I would land somewhere, even if I had no oars. So I waited +for developments. In a few minutes five men came out of the forecastle. +They came aft in single file, the cook at the head with a lighted candle +in his hand, the mate bringing up the rear. Then, in spite of myself, I +had to laugh. It was the only time in my life at sea that I ever saw a +candle on ship's deck. There are two articles which an old-time +salt-water sailor has the most supreme contempt for--namely, a lantern +and an umbrella. When they got close to me they were a surprised lot of +men. By way of introduction, I said, "Yo soy un saltador Inglés"--"I am +an English deserter." They all commenced to laugh at the mate. We soon +became quite friendly, all hands considering the whole affair as a good +joke. Opening the cabin skylight, they told me to get in and have a good +sleep. The vessel was loaded with mahogany timber. The cabin bulkheads +had been taken out and the lumber loaded through the stern ports, +completely filling the brig from stem to stern. The extra sails were put +in the skylight on top of the cargo. That was my bed, and a good sleep +I had, even if my clothes were wet. + +About seven o'clock they woke me and gave me a breakfast. I exchanged +all my neat clothes with them, I getting a ragged blue jumper and +overalls and a ship hat with the rim all frayed out. My shoes, +stockings, and knife I retained for my own use. The boat had been hauled +alongside and loaded with firewood to be taken ashore. When ready I got +into it, and, taking an oar, helped row for shore. The mate gave me a +friendly parting and wished me success. I thanked him, and said: +"Cuidado por los brujos!"--"Look out for ghosts!" When close to shore I +asked to be landed on the beach, as it would not do for me to go near +the Government dock. They pulled close to a ledge of rocks and I jumped +out and thanked them for their kindness. Away I went for the railroad +track. + +Having heard that English contractors were building a new branch, it was +my intention to offer them my valuable services. I started down the +track quite lively and independent. The sun became very warm and my feet +sore. Then I got tired of continually looking at the telegraph-poles, +each one being numbered, like houses in a city. What the reason for that +was I never found out. Every station I came to I was ordered off the +track, but the explanation that I was to work on the road was +satisfactory. To my inquiries as to how far the new road was situated, +the answer was always the same, "A few leagues farther." My five milreis +now came into requisition. Some time in the afternoon I went into a +general store and purchased a glass of wine, some crackers and cheese. +After my feast was over, I continued my journey. Soon I had come among +the coffee plantations. They looked like large cherry orchards with the +trees full of ripe fruit. Two coffee grains flat side together, +surrounded by a spongy fibre, then a tough, smooth skin, the whole about +the size of a large cherry--that is the coffee bean while on the tree. + +I do not know how many miles I walked on the Terro Carril de Dom Pedro +III, but I was well tired out, and my head dizzy, from looking at the +numbers on the telegraph-poles. The same information--"A few leagues +farther on"--was becoming monotonous. Four milreis had been expended for +food. With but one milreis left I was getting discouraged. Suddenly I +changed my mind, and turned back for Rio de Janeiro. At the first +station I was ordered off the track. Then I had to walk on the wagon +road. One evening, about dusk, I arrived at the city, tired, hungry, and +footsore. Two "dumps"--large copper coins worth forty reis each--was the +last of my money. I invested one dump for a piece of cocoanut, the other +for bread. That was the last food I ever ate on Brazilian soil. I had +often heard sailors joking about "Mahogany Hotel-on-the-Beach," and +there I went for a night's lodging. A large pile of mahogany timber +hewed square for shipping, some pieces being several feet shorter than +others, would make a space large enough for a man to sleep in. No doubt +but that it was a very valuable edifice, but, at the same time, very +uncomfortable. My apartment was about eight feet in length and only +twenty inches in height and width. Early in the morning I was out of +bed, with no money nor breakfast, hardly knowing what to do. There was +only one thing to be done, that was to get on some vessel and get away +from the city. While walking around the docks, I met the "runner" from +Portuguese Joe's boarding-house. He was an American. I tried to avoid +him, but it was useless. He had seen and recognised me. + +"Halloa, how long have you been ashore?" he asked. + +"Oh, quite a long time," I replied. + +"See here, Murray, I know all about your deserting. Come down to the +house and stay until we can get you away." + +No, I would not take any chances in a boarding-house. + +"You want to ship, don't you? Come with me and I will put you on a +vessel right off." + +"How much in advance?" + +"Eighteen dollars," he answered. + +Then I told him how I was fixed, and also that he could ship me and keep +all the advance money for his trouble. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SPORT OF THE WAVES + + +We at once went to the vessel. The captain, after asking a few +questions, took us into the cabin, and I signed the articles for a +voyage to Richmond, Va., as an able seaman, at fifteen dollars a month. +I was then given an advance note for eighteen dollars, which I handed to +the runner. I felt perfectly safe then, knowing that the note was not +payable until just forty-eight hours after the vessel left port. That +fact would prevent him from giving me up for the reward from the +frigate. My new vessel was a swift-sailing American clipper bark--the +name I have forgotten. The slaves were bringing large bags of coffee on +their backs and dropping them on deck. In a couple of days the cargo was +completed. There being a fair wind, the topsails were hoisted and +sheeted borne alongside the dock. The lines to the dock were cast off, +and our voyage to the United States began. I was aloft, loosing the main +royal, as we passed close by the old Madagascar. I took off my old straw +hat and waved it at the men on deck as they watched the Yankee clipper +go past. I was perfectly safe then. Within an hour we had passed the +Sugar Loaf. That was the last time in my life that I was to see the +beautiful harbour of Rio de Janeiro. + +What a contrast between the bark and the brig Grenfalls! It was child's +play to steer now. A slight movement of the wheel would keep the vessel +on the course. We had dry quarters on deck, fine weather, and plenty of +good food and water. The only thing unusual that occurred was the large +number of flying-fish that dropped on deck during the night-time. As +many as fifty would be found in the morning. They are about the size of +fresh-water herring. While flying they appear like streaks of bright +silver. The flight is only for a short distance, however. As soon as +their wings become dry they drop at once. The dolphins are their +greatest enemy. In the equatorial regions, or "doldrums," as it is +called, we had the usual experience--the sea as smooth as glass, no air +stirring except in "cat's-paws" and coming from different directions. As +soon as the little ripples would be seen on the water, the back yards +would have to be braced in the proper direction to take advantage of +what little wind was coming. Day after day it was the same. At last we +got a steady wind and were soon on the American coast. Being in north +latitude, the days were rapidly becoming shorter and the weather very +cold and stormy. I suffered very much from the want of warm clothing. A +shirt and pair of drawers had been given me by a shipmate. Those and the +suits I had changed for with the Brazilians were all that I then +possessed. The latter part of December we arrived at Richmond. I was +paid off, seven dollars and fifty cents being the amount due me. A cheap +suit of clothes was bought with that money, and I was again in a strange +city "dead broke." I had one consolation, however, in knowing that I +had quit being proxy for Mike Murray. + +The large schooner Onrust was in the canal at Richmond loaded with +cement for Fort Taylor at Key West and the fort on the Dry Tortugas +Island. My late shipmates and myself shipped on her by the month, she +being a coasting vessel. It was a novel experience for us all to be on a +schooner. Everything was so different from a square-rigged ship. The +captain was also the owner. Economy was his motto. Instead of eating in +the forecastle, we had our meals in the cabin, the captain acting as +host. None of the crew felt as comfortable as if feeding in sailor style +and all etiquette dispensed with. In the forecastle was a small box +stove, and that was a nuisance. The watch below would make a wood fire +and go to sleep. It would only be a short time before the fire would be +out and then we would wake up shivering with the cold atmosphere. As yet +I did not enjoy the luxury of a bed or blankets. My finances, since +leaving the frigate, had been at a low point. Besides the trouble below, +we felt the cold more severely when on deck. All hands agreed on one +point--that the stove was a nuisance. That was my only experience with a +fire in the forecastle during my life on the sea. No matter how cold the +weather, clothing wet or dry, a sailor never catches cold on the ocean +if he will keep away from a stove. We sailed, instead of being towed, +down the James River. When near Fortress Monroe, the main boom snapped +short off near the jaws. Then there was trouble. We put into Norfolk for +a new boom. Everything being ready, we hoisted sail for a new start. And +such a job to get the main and foresails up on that brute of a schooner! +But our experience was yet to come. In a few days we were rounding Cape +Hatteras and a heavy gale came up. Then was the time the schooner showed +what she could do. The main-sail had to be lowered for reefing. The hour +was about midnight, and a dark, stormy winter night it was. The captain +was steering, as all the men were needed for reefing, the cook included. + +The first thing the Onrust did was to fall off into the trough of the +sea, and in the Gulf Stream, where we were at the time, the waves were +mighty lively. Then over the rails came the water and swashed around the +decks, knee deep. The cook had a nice lot of firewood neatly piled up +handy for use. That was travelling around in all directions, the +objective point being the sailors' shins. Suddenly the main boom got +loose and swung from one quarter to the other. It was "thump, thump," +and sparks of fire the size of a baseball were flying over our worthy +captain's head. The sheet blocks worked on heavy iron travellers, and +every roll of the schooner swung the heavy boom with terrific force. All +we could do was to look on and wait for the captain to get his craft +head on to the sea. Bang went the boom. It had snapped short off near +the jaws. Now both ends were loose, and affairs were becoming unpleasant +for us "square-rigged" sailors. The heavy cargo of cement was much below +the water-line, and there being no yards or heavy rigging aloft to +counterbalance it, made the schooner roll extra quick and lively. The +boom was very long and about fourteen inches in diameter. How it did +rattle over the top of the cabin! At last, with the use of ropes, we +managed to secure it. The main-sail, in the meantime, had been having +its share of the fun, much to our discomfort. A storm-sail was brought +from below and set. As that needed no boom or gaff, we had but little +trouble to get the schooner under control again. Next in order was to +save the main-sail. About fifty knots that fastened the sail had to be +untied, and they being wet, made the knots hard to loosen. The boom was +lying diagonally, partly on the cabin and over the port quarter. There +was a narrow passageway between the cabin and the bulwarks. I was in the +passageway at work, with my head between the top edge of the cabin and +the boom. In trying to unfasten a foot stop I poked my head a little too +far. When the next roll came the boom moved just enough to give my head +a most unmerciful squeeze. I saw more stars to the square inch than +could be seen with the Lick telescope! The pain actually lifted me off +my feet from the deck. When the boom rolled back, I dropped to the deck +all in a heap. Had the boom moved one half inch farther, my skull would +have been crushed. I have had many narrow escapes from death since, but +that night occurred the closest call of all. When the gale abated, the +boom was taken on deck and spliced and then placed in position again. +The captain was the chief carpenter. + +In a short time we were in warm latitudes, and well pleased to get away +from a northern winter. Passing through the Florida Keys, everything was +delightful and interesting. The water was very clear. In calm weather +the ocean's bottom could be plainly seen at twenty fathoms' depth. White +coral was everywhere--the islands formed of it. It was the coral that +made the water so transparent. On our arrival at Key West, part of the +cement was landed at Fort Taylor. Then we sailed for the Dry Tortugas +and landed the balance. The latter place was only a small island. +Nothing but broken coral and shells were to be seen. The fort was built +of brick, and about one third completed at that time. Little fishing +smacks kept the place supplied with fish and green turtles. That was the +first time that I saw the red snapper. It is a beautiful large fish, and +excellent eating. Several wrecking schooners were in the harbour. The +crews seemed to have a fine time. Their pay was a certain share of what +was taken from the numerous wrecks. Piracy and wrecking meant almost the +same thing in those days. One of the wreckers and myself wished to +exchange places, but my captain would not consent. The schooners were +about fifty or sixty tons burthen, with fourteen to twenty men for a +crew. Our vessel was about five hundred men for a ton and only four men +for a crew. Our main boom was larger than any mast in their whole fleet. +To hoist sail for them was only child's play. With us it was a big job. + +On leaving Tortugas we sailed for Mobile, Ala. On our arrival in port I +severed connections with the Onrust, at the same time making a vow that +if ever I shipped on a fore-and-after again, it would be a smaller +craft. I went to a sailor boarding-house, and remained on shore for +three weeks. Then I shipped on the C. C. Duncan for Liverpool, England. +Eighteen dollars per month was the pay, and thirty-six dollars in +advance. It was a fine, large American ship, a thousand tons burthen. +The owners were the banking firm of Duncan, Sherman & Co., No. 17 Wall +Street, New York City. The crew was composed of Swedes and Norwegians, +excepting three young Americans and myself. I was the only sailor +shipped in Mobile, the rest having been on board for a number of months. +To show the difference in cargoes, I will describe the loading of this +ship with cotton. In the first place, a hundred tons of stone ballast +had to be placed in the bottom. The bales of cotton at the warehouse +were put under powerful steam presses and reduced to one half the +original size. The old bands were tightened with levers, and two extra +bands added. Then the bale was sent to the ship and stowed as closely as +possible; then jack-screws were used, and a space made for an extra bale +to be jammed in, and, tier by tier, the cotton was screwed in by men +who made that work a specialty. Their pay was from three to five dollars +a day, with board included. The cargo was a solid, compact mass. The +bales averaged about five hundred pounds each, and yet, with that heavy +weight, the ship would not stand full sail in a moderate breeze. About +two weeks after leaving Mobile we had a severe gale. While close reefing +the main top-sail, one of the seamen was pulled over forward of the yard +by the sail, and instantly killed as he struck the deck. + +On that trip we saw a vessel, about two miles to windward of us, struck +by a heavy squall. Its light sails were quickly furled, and the +top-sails lowered. All preparations were made on our ship to do the +same. We waited quite a while, but no squall came. Not a rope had to be +let go. The wind must have shot high up in the clouds and passed over +us. About six weeks after leaving Mobile we arrived off Holyhead. There +a large tug-boat took us in tow, and we were soon going up the Mersey +River, and at anchor, waiting for high tide in order to go into dock. +While coming up the river we were boarded by the custom-house officers. +All hands were ordered to bring out their tobacco. Then the search of +the ship began in earnest. With long, sharp-pointed steel wires they +prodded into everything and every place where tobacco could be hidden. +It was understood that what could be found would be confiscated. Much to +their disgust, none was found. What the officers had in the cabin was +put into a state-room, and the door fastened with the custom-house seal. + +This was my first trip to England. I'd had a good description of +Liverpool from sailors, and yet I was surprised at what was to be seen. +Each dock is an immense large basin, built of solid stone masonry, with +large store-houses surrounding it, the whole being inside of a high +wall, a large gate opening into the city. Policemen and custom-house +officers patrol it day and night. Nothing can pass without examination. +The tide from the sea rises from twenty to twenty-eight feet in +twenty-four hours. At high tide the gates, like a lock in a canal, are +opened. The ships are then allowed to enter or go out. Within a half +hour the tide commences to lower, then the gates are closed until the +next high water. Everything was made ready on the ship for going into +dock. A tugboat had us near the gate waiting for our chance. Once +inside, we had no trouble securing the ship alongside the dock. Our big +anchors had to be taken on deck, that being one of the dock regulations. +By evening everything was in first-class shape and very little work left +to be done by us in port. After supper we all started to see the city +sights by night. I was the only stranger, the others having been there +before. The three Americans and myself had a very pleasant time and +returned on board the vessel about twelve o'clock. Before we had +undressed for bed we heard a heavy splash in the water from the forward +part of the vessel, then some one from another vessel sung out, "Man +overboard!" We ran to the top-gallant forecastle and could plainly see +the bubbles rising in the water, but the man never came to the surface. +Grappling-hooks were sent for and the body was soon recovered. One of +the crew, a Norwegian, had gone to sleep on a coil of rope on the +forecastle and rolled overboard. The next morning, through superstition, +the crew all left the ship. We four Americans, of all the crew, alone +remained. The stevedore and his gang came on board to discharge the +cargo. I was anxious to see the first bale of cotton taken out. I had +seen how tightly it had been jammed in at Mobile. With tackle and hooks +and plenty of hard work, it was slowly pulled out. It took over a week +to discharge the entire cargo. I had bought a straw mattress in Mobile, +and, as it was not very comfortable, I emptied the tick and filled it +with cotton. That same day a young fellow came on board and asked me if +I had a cotton mattress that I would sell him. I told him I had one, but +needed it to sleep on. Finally a bargain was made--he wanted the cotton +only to sell. I was to receive a half-crown--sixty cents--and get the +tick back. I went to the dock gate with him and told the custom-house +officer that I was sending my bed to a boarding-house. The next day the +bed was sold again, and I continued the operation as long as there was +any loose cotton lying about the vessel. A half-crown in England was +considered quite a big pile of money. For two crowns a coat, pantaloons, +and vest could be purchased in those days. Our ship was chartered by the +French Government to take a cargo of coal from Cardiff, Wales, and +deliver it at Algiers, Africa. A few English navvies were hired to +assist working the ship. Then a powerful tug-boat took us out of the +dock and towed us around to Cardiff. After getting in the dock, the +navvies were sent back on the tug. There was only one dock, very wide +and long, without any walls around it. It was the private property of +the Marquis of Bute, a kid about five years old then. He owned nearly +the whole city--it was "Bute" road, "Bute" dock, "Bute" Castle, and +"Bute" everything else. We had to wait a number of days for our turn to +go under the chutes. At last we commenced loading. The lower hold was +about two thirds filled, the balance of the load going on "between +decks," so as to leave part of the weight above the water-line. A full +complement of men was shipped and we were off for the Mediterranean +Sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A GLIMPSE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN + + +Sailing south, we arrived at the Straits of Gibraltar. The wind was dead +ahead. A strong current was running in from the Atlantic Ocean and we +managed to beat in past the Rock after tacking ship many times. All +hands were well tired out from bracing around the yards so often. On one +tack we would be headed for Spain, on the other it would be for Morocco. +During the night the wind died away. At daylight we found our ship was +rapidly drifting on to the rocky coast of Morocco. There was not a bit +of air stirring and the sea was as smooth as glass. Captain Otis was +very much discouraged, as the loss of so fine a vessel meant ruined +prospects for the future. He was quite a young man for such a +responsible position. The Moors on the shore had seen our danger and +spread the news to one another. Soon quite a number of small boats were +seen at the place where the ship would probably strike. It made all +hands feel a little nervous to see the reception which was awaiting us. +It was well known by sailors what a set of cutthroats the people were in +that locality. The officers and crew held a consultation as to what +should be done. My suggestion was acted upon, and that was, to take all +our boats and tow the ship, if possible, or at least to check her from +drifting, in hopes that a breeze might spring up. Strangely enough, I +was the only man on the ship who had ever seen the experiment tried. The +occasion took place when I was in the bushes at San Carlos watching my +old ship, the Courier, leaving the harbour. The wind having died away, +they lowered the boats and towed the ship a considerable distance. But +then the Courier was only half our size and had more and better boats +than we had. Our boats were quickly lowered and fastened in a row to a +rope from the ship's bows. By hard pulling we slowly turned the vessel +head to the current. The drifting was checked, and that was about all we +could do. Within half an hour a breeze sprang up and away started the +ship, swinging the boats around and towing them stern first. We had a +lively time in preventing them from capsizing when the towing business +was reversed. + +In a few days we sighted what appeared to be an immense hill of chalk, +perfectly white from the water's edge to the summit. That was Algiers. +Before night we were inside the breakwater and at anchor. That was the +most interesting port I ever saw. A large number of French troops were +stationed in the city. The Italian war was then in progress. Such a +contrast in people and dress was probably never seen before. Only the +Algerian and Moorish women seemed to be without gaiety. They were all +dressed alike, a light gauzy dress and a long veil of the same material +covering the head and face, leaving only the eyes uncovered. The rich +wore shoes; the poor went barefooted. The young had smooth skins on +their wrists; the old were wrinkled. That was the only way we could tell +the difference between them. As to their beauty, we had no means of +judging. Other women were dressed in silk tights and gaily coloured +velvet jackets, the front being completely covered with jewels. In fact, +every conceivable sort of costume was to be seen. The streets were +always crowded; nobody seemed to be at home. The French soldiers were in +their element, all wearing their side-arms. One regiment of Turcos +looked fierce enough to annihilate a whole army. At nine in the evening, +an entire drum corps would double through the town beating tattoo. Then +the soldiers would disappear for the night. Wine was only eight cents a +quart bottle, so their dissipation did not cost them much, especially as +they did not get drunk. But how they could talk and get excited! An +Englishman with such an opportunity would drink more and talk less. Most +of our crew had a fondness for eau de vie--"water of life"--a cheap +brandy that cost us only fifteen cents a quart. Café royale was also a +favourite beverage with them--a cup of strong black coffee with brandy, +the latter being bought separate in a bottle. The coffee could be +doctored to any degree of strength. At first, my shipmates would take +one portion of brandy, a swallow of café royale, and in would go +another, and so it continued until each bottle was emptied. When ready +to pay the waiter, he would count the marks on the bottle at so much a +mark. There was no chance to dispute the bill, and no opportunity for +the waiter to defraud the boss. I was continually eating grapes--great +large bunches weighing two or three pounds each; they were white and +seedless, and only two cents a bunch. Algiers was once the great +stronghold of the Algerian pirates. They and the Moors laid a heavy +tribute on vessels of all nations that came within their clutches. The +United States sent a fleet of men-o'-war into their ports, destroyed +their vessels, and liberated a number of American seamen they held in +captivity. The city is built on the side of a very high and steep hill; +the streets running parallel with the harbour are level, but cross +streets leading up are one continuous flight of steps. You can go into a +house on one street and descend from one basement to another and find +yourself on the top floor of a house on another street. That cannot be +done in any other city. Some of the old streets are only six feet wide, +the doors in the houses being very heavy and studded thickly with large +iron bolts. The windows are high from the ground and only twenty inches +square, with heavy iron bars, the whole place resembling a strong +prison. The new part of the city is quite modern in construction. The +French introduced new ideas when they captured the country. + +The French Government took the coal from our vessel as they needed it. +They were paying one hundred dollars a day for the time the ship was +detained in the harbour. One day I was sitting on the edge of the +fore-hatch, cleaning a brace-block, when suddenly my work ceased, and I +was laid up for a week. A man was aloft, tightening the truss bolts on +the foretop-sail yard. He had a small iron bar which he was using at +the work. Contrary to all rules, he neglected to fasten it with a +lanyard. He had difficulty in turning the bolt with his hands, so he +reversed the operation by holding to the rigging with both hands and +pushing the iron bar with his feet. It was a success, so far as he was +concerned. The bolt went around, the bar slipped out, and, whirling +through the air, fetched me a whack on the side of the head. The mate +gave him a good cursing for his carelessness. I was picked up, my head +dressed, and was nicely tucked away in my little bed. In about ten +weeks' time the coal was all discharged, the ship cleaned up, and one +hundred tons of stone ballast taken on board. We left Algiers, and +commenced our voyage for New Orleans. We had pleasant weather while in +the Mediterranean Sea. A couple of days after leaving port, a large +Swedish sailor and myself were taken sick--headache and fever--then +pustules commenced to appear on our faces and hands. We all knew what +that meant. It was smallpox. At first the captain intended to put us in +the lower hold, but, as our vaccination marks showed very plainly, he +waited for further developments. The fresh sea air and plain style of +living were in our favour; varioloid was all the disease amounted to. +The rest of the crew were a badly scared lot of men for a few days. + +We sighted the Rock of Gibraltar, and were soon in the Straits, with a +fair wind driving us strong against the current. About three miles more +and we should be on the Atlantic Ocean. Suddenly the wind shifted dead +ahead. All we could do then was to go back and lie behind the Rock. All +sails were furled except the top-sails, and the ship hove to by backing +the main yards. We made several more unsuccessful attempts. The current +and wind were too much for us. We had a fine view of the Rock of +Gibraltar. The western side sloped very steeply to the bay. The eastern +part was perpendicular and inaccessible. A narrow, sandy strip of land +connected it with Spain. England, having possession of that +fortification, was there, like a big bulldog taking charge of the +entrance to a house against the occupant's will. For over a hundred +years the Spanish have been humiliated by their British guests. The Rock +commands the entrance to the Mediterranean, and is considered +impregnable. Improvements are being continually made. The galleries are +tunnelled through solid rock. The magazines, bomb-proofs, and casemates +cannot be penetrated by an enemy's shot. The upper guns can fire a +plunging shot on a ship's deck, but a ship cannot elevate its guns +enough to return the fire. The English can fire rifle bullets into +Spain. With the heavy guns they can drop shot and shell into Morocco and +into the Spanish forts, and, at the same time, throw tons of shot the +whole length of the Straits. As there are at present, in 1897, just that +number of guns in position, an enemy's fleet would receive a very warm +reception. An extra gun is mounted every year. By looking on the front +cover of an almanac, anybody can find out just how many cannon are +mounted on the Rock of Gibraltar. About the tenth day we got a fair wind +that took us through the Straits and into the Atlantic Ocean. The ship +was then headed southwest for the Gulf of Mexico. In six weeks' time we +sighted the lighthouse, and then the low sandy beach at the mouths of +the Mississippi River. A tugboat took us over the bar, and we let go the +anchor. When a tow of six vessels was obtained, a large tug towed us up +the river, each ship being fastened to the other with large hawsers, +stem and stern. It was a powerful boat to tow so many ships against the +strong current of the Mississippi. One man was at the wheel to keep the +ship straight after the tug, and all the rest of the crew were hard at +work unbending the sails and lowering them on deck. The third night, +about ten o'clock, we arrived at New Orleans. The ship was secured to +the levee, and the voyage on the C. C. Duncan was ended. + +A number of boarding-house runners came on board. Each one, of course, +was working for the "best house." It was two o'clock in the morning when +our work was finished. Then all the crew went ashore to enjoy a sleep +on dry land. Captain Otis tried to induce us four Americans to remain on +the ship for another voyage. I gave him my reasons for leaving, as it +was my intention to return to my home from which I had been absent so +long. I received eighty-five dollars pay that was due me, and went by +steamboat to Mobile, Ala. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +IN AMERICAN WATERS + + +On my arrival in Mobile, I went to work on a barge and received +forty-five dollars a month. We would be towed down the bay with a load +of cotton and back to the city with general freight. Ships drawing over +twelve feet of water could not go up the river, consequently they had to +receive and discharge in the lower bay, thirty-five miles from the city. +I was on the barge for two months and then shipped on the schooner +Pennsylvania, at thirty-five dollars a month. For a few weeks we brought +salt to the city from the ships in the bay. Then my wages were reduced +to eighteen dollars a month, as we were to take a cargo of pine lumber +to Havana, Cuba. The schooner was towed up the Alabama River to a new +sawmill. + +During the daytime we would load timber and at night all hands would go +'possum-hunting. A few pine-knots for torches and a couple of dogs were +all that was required for the sport. As soon as a 'possum was caught he +would be as dead as a door-nail, to all appearances. They were put in a +bag as fast as captured. On returning to the schooner, we dumped them +all into an empty barrel. In the morning they would be as lively as +crickets. When the barrel was hit hard with a stick, the whole lot would +pretend to die a most tragic death. + +When the schooner was loaded, we sailed for Havana. On our arrival in +that port, the lumber was discharged. The captain, as a speculation, +bought a car of oranges and bananas. The fruit was perfectly green when +brought on board. We immediately set sail for Mobile. Much to the +captain's disgust, the trip was a long one of calms and head winds and +great trouble. The weather was intensely warm. The oranges ripened very +quickly and then rapidly decayed. The fruit venture proved very +unprofitable. On our arrival in Mobile, only the bananas were fit for +sale. We had a nice job to clean the rotten oranges from the hold. I +never see a mouldy orange but that my memory goes back to that +remarkable trip. + +We were towed up to the sawmill for another load of lumber. +'Possum-hunting occurred at nights as before. One of the sailors and +myself wanted a pet to take to sea with us. So we went on shore on an +expedition by ourselves. We at last found a big "razor-back" sow with a +litter of pigs. Each of us decided that two little pigs were just the +thing needed on the schooner. Then the fun commenced. "Scotty" and +myself learned the fact that the pigs could do some good sprinting when +there was occasion for it, and just then was one of the occasions. For a +half hour we tried all sorts of tactics. It was of no use. What the +little pigs didn't know the old sow did. At last we came to a big +saw-log close to a fence. I was to stand at the end of the log while +"Scotty" was to drive the pig family between. Everything worked nicely. +I did not interfere with the sow. Making a grab, I got one pig and was +laying for another. Just then there was a sudden change in the program. +The old sow was doing the chasing act. "Scotty" and I did not want any +more pigs! One was enough. It was "nip and tuck" as to who would win. +Scotty got a stick and was pounding the sow as a diversion. I made +tracks for the schooner. When I got on board I was nearly played out. +The captain took a look at the pig and myself. Then he wanted to know +why I didn't get a larger one while I was about it. When loaded, we +sailed again for Havana. We had a pleasant trip. The schooner was small +and very easy to handle. Captain Turner was a stout and short +middle-aged man, very good-natured, and inclined to be tricky in regard +to making money. We could draw our wages at any time we wished to do so. +We arrived in Havana in the month of June. The weather was very hot. +Every day at two o'clock we stopped discharging lumber, as the +custom-house officers would then go home. Every board and stick of +timber had to be measured on the dock. The crew would go ashore and +visit the different places in the city. We all invested money in the +Royal Lottery, but drew no prizes. The tickets were sold on the streets +by venders, who received a commission on their sales. A person who could +not understand Spanish would suppose that they were selling newspapers. +The tickets were in large sheets, sixteen dollars for a whole and +proportionately, down to a sixteenth. + +A large American ship arrived in harbour from China with a load of +coolies for the Cuban plantations. The captain was sick, so he made +arrangements with Captain Turner to take his vessel, the Messenger, to +New York. Our mate was to take the schooner to Boston, with a cargo of +sugar and molasses. We took our cargo on board, boxes of sugar in the +hold and hogsheads of molasses for a deck load. I was now going home in +earnest. I purchased a lot of guava jelly and tropical preserves, +besides a number of presents for my relatives. I wrote to my mother, in +New York, telling her of my intentions, giving her the name of the +schooner and its port of destination. The fourth day of July, 1860, +early in the morning, we sailed out past Morro Castle. Our voyage to +Boston had begun. I felt happy with the prospect of soon being back +home. We had a very easy time on the schooner, there being nothing to do +except to take our turns at steering. On a full-rigged ship it would +have been different, as it is invariably the practice to keep the crew +continually at work most of the time, most usually aloft, repairing the +rigging. We had passed the most dangerous part of our trip, through the +Florida Keys; the wind was "wing and wing"--that is, the foresail was +out on one side and the main-sail on the other. A good strong breeze was +driving us north at a rapid rate. That night it was my turn at the wheel +from ten to twelve o'clock. It being cloudy, no stars were visible. For +that reason it was more difficult to steer straight. By selecting a +bright star ahead when the vessel is on the right course, it is easier +to see which way the wheel is to be turned. Steering by compass alone, +the vessel either "goes off" or "comes up" considerably before the +compass shows it. The main boom was out to starboard the full length of +the sheet. A pennant--heavy rope--from the end of the boom was hooked to +a tackle and fastened forward in order to prevent the boom from swinging +back. I had been at the wheel about an hour, and was watching the +compass carefully. Suddenly the light in the binnacle went out. Then I +had neither stars nor compass to steer by. As we were going dead before +the wind, I tried to keep the old schooner straight, but it was useless. +In a few minutes she yawed to starboard, and the main-sail was taken +aback. All the strain of that big sail was then on the boom pennant and +tackle leading forward. Before anything could be done to relieve us from +our dilemma there was a sharp snap forward. The belaying-pin which held +the tackle had broken, the boom flew over to the other side, and the +sheet tautened out like a bow-string. It took hardly a second for the +sail to jibe over. + +I was lying on deck badly stunned, the wheel-post broken short off, and +the wheel broken into small pieces. The old Pennsylvania was sailing in +all directions. The "sheet" may be better understood by calling it a +large double tackle. As the boom swung in, the sheet, of course, +slackened up, and the bights, going over the quarter-deck, had caught +everything in the way. If I had been caught under the arm or chin I +should have been hurled quite a distance from the schooner without any +possible chance of being rescued. Small tackles were fastened to the +tiller, and the schooner brought head to wind. The main-sail was then +lowered and furled. With only the forward sails set and all hands at the +tiller tackles, we managed to run before the wind on our right course +until daylight. The fragments of the wheel were picked up and, by using +a stout barrel-head as a foundation, it was reconstructed. While not +being a first-class affair, it answered all purposes. On the right side +of my body, from ankle to top of my head, I was sore for several days. +That was my second accident with main-booms, and both were narrow +escapes. + +Within a short distance of Boston, our stock of provisions ran short, so +we had to kill our pet pig. He had grown to quite a respectable size. +It was much to our regret to slaughter our companion, but it had to be +done. As it was, we had nothing left to eat on our arrival in Boston. +The first thing after the anchor dropped was to row the cook ashore and +get some grub for supper. Captain Turner was on hand to meet us, having +arrived several days previously. His first inquiries were about the pig. +He intended to take it to his home. His wife had made a nice place for +it in the back yard as a domicile. We went to a dock the next day for +unloading cargo. A custom-house officer came on board to see that +everything was according to the manifest. He was very sociable to all +hands. About dinner-time he called me to one side, quietly informing me +that he was going to dinner and would not return for an hour or so, and +that, if the boys had anything to take ashore, they had better do it +while he was absent. I told the crew what he had said. As we all had a +quantity of cigars, we each chipped in a handful as a present. The +balance and my supply of guava jelly was taken to a boarding-house. +When the officer returned from his dinner, I told him to look on my bed. +He took the hint--and the cigars too. I had to wait some time in Boston +before I could get my pay which was due me, and I had not written home +about my arrival, not knowing how soon I might start for New York. About +the third day, while standing on the schooner deck, I noticed a neatly +dressed lady coming down the dock. As it was an unusual place for a +woman, my curiosity was aroused. She seemed to be looking for some +vessel, so I stepped ashore and walked towards her, thinking I might be +of some service to her. She was looking for her son. I was the son. It +was a great surprise to me to see my mother so unexpectedly. + +"Now, George, you won't get away this time; you are going straight home +with me!" I was greeted. + +The way she knew the Pennsylvania had arrived was by reading the New +York Herald. That paper gave the daily arrival of ships in all the large +ports of the United States. I told her my reasons for not writing and +why I was detained in Boston; then she was satisfied. I inquired about +my relations at home. They were all well and very anxious to see me. I +then asked about my father in San Francisco. She at once began to cry. +Then, for the first time, I noticed that she was dressed in mourning. +Father had been dead just three months. I went to a hotel with mother +and remained with her until evening; then she returned to New York. In a +short time I received my money. The next train was taking me to New York +and back to my friends from whom I had been separated for such a long +time. How glad they were to see me, and what a happy time we all had! +They never got tired of listening to the stories of my sailor life. I +remained at home for about six weeks. As I did not wish to remain idle +any longer, I concluded to return to Mobile, where I was well +acquainted, and there work at discharging cargoes from vessels. I was +satisfied that I could easily earn from two dollars and a half to three +dollars a day at that work during the winter. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +MY THIRD VOYAGE + + +About October 1, 1860, I intended to take passage on the ship Robert +Ely, for Mobile, but changed my mind, for the reason that the ship had a +crew of negroes instead of white men. The P. T. Bartram was almost ready +to sail; the crew were all shipped, so I paid ten dollars for steerage +passage, and was to furnish my own food. So many sailors wanted to go +South that it was difficult for me to ship as a sailor, the +boarding-house keepers having the preference with the shipping offices +for their boarders. The P. T. Bartram was a bark of about six hundred +tons burthen. The cargo was general merchandise--a little of everything. +The North at that time furnished the Southern States with everything +excepting raw cotton. + +We had a fine passage to the Gulf of Mexico, with fair prospects of a +speedy voyage. Slowly the fine breeze died away, the atmosphere became +unusually sultry, the barometer falling rapidly. Then we knew that +trouble was in store for us. It was not long in coming, either. A severe +hurricane from the West Indies struck us. All sail was taken in except +close-reefed main top-sail and fore-storm stay-sail. Then the bark was +hove to, head to wind. The wind roared and whistled through the rigging, +the waves commenced to rise rapidly and roll on deck, rain was pouring +down in torrents, and lightning seemed to be striking all around us. The +bark had a half deck extending to the main-mast. The after part was the +cabin, the rest was for storing freight. In there were several tons of +gunpowder. We did not know how soon the lightning might send us all +skyward. Partly for exercise and self-preservation, I was working with +the crew as one of them. The cook was with us also, since he had been +washed out of the galley by a heavy sea, and would take no more chances +among his pots and kettles. All hands kept aft on the vessel's +quarter-deck, no other place being safe from the heavy seas. The storm +kept increasing in violence, until finally the strain from the top-sails +bent the main-yard up and it snapped in two. All hands started aloft to +save the sails. I happened to be first, and went out to the weather +side, as is customary. When about half-way out the foot of the sail, it +flopped over the top-yard, struck me in the breast, and knocked me off +the yard. What a queer sensation I had while falling! So many thoughts +rushed through my brain in an instant, especially whether I would strike +on deck or go overboard! The vessel was heavily careened over to leeward +from the force of the wind, and luckily I struck in the lower rigging, +my arms going between the ratlins, where I hung on for life, the +pressure of the wind helping me considerably. My mishap was enough for +the other men--not one would venture on the yard. They just clung to the +rigging, and let the top-sail blow away in small pieces. + +With the top-sail gone, the bark fell off into the trough of the sea. +Then the sea washed over the decks. For the first time on the ocean I +saw the experiment tried of dragging a vessel head on to sea. The end of +a large hawser was fastened to the vessel's head, the rest put +overboard, in hopes that in dragging through the water the strain would +swing us head on. It was not a success. The waves washed the hawser all +around the bark's bow and sides. If we could have once got it +straightened out, the plan might have worked. Many a shipwrecked sailor +has been saved by a similar plan, when compelled to abandon a ship and +take to a small boat, by fastening a rope to the middle of an oar and +throwing it into the water. It has thus kept the boat's head to the +seas, and prevented it from swamping. The lee-pump was kept going +continually, and that was hard work. Two men at a time were at the +handle. The bark was badly strained and leaking considerably. At one +time we thought all the water was pumped out, but that was a mistake on +our part. The pump had commenced sucking, and no water was coming up. +The fact of no air hissing as usual seemed rather strange. The upper +box was taken out, and then an iron hook lowered down for the lower box. +When that was hauled up, the mystery was explained. About a pint of +nicely water-soaked beans was holding the clapper down. By using the +sounding rod, we found about fourteen inches of water below. The pump +was rigged again and started, and in a few more minutes it was the same +old trouble--more beans! The process of drawing the boxes was gone over +again. The same result followed--more beans! A barrel of that edible +fruit had broken open in the cargo, and every individual bean had found +its way to the pump-well. The comments were loud and deep, and the man +who invented beans was damned in all styles in several different +languages. + +Well, there was nothing else to do but pump the beans out on the +instalment plan. Just as soon as a certain quantity got on top of the +valve or clapper, it acted effectually as an automatic shut-off for the +water. The hurricane had been blowing for three days and our worst +danger--the terror of all sailors--was close at hand. We were drifting +towards the Florida reefs. A few hours more and the ship, with all +hands, would be a thing of the past. There was no possibility of escape +unless the gale abated or the wind shifted to another direction. Birds +by the hundreds were flying for our vessel. They were land birds of all +kinds and sizes, probably blown to sea from Cuba. Striking the rigging +or any part of the vessel, they would be instantly killed. Every nook +and corner on the deck was filled with their dead bodies. The wind blew +them around like so much dust. One was found in the compass-box, under +the compass. Its presence was made known by the smell of a decaying body +after the storm was over. The anchor-chain boxes had a fine assortment +sandwiched in between the big iron links. Those we could not get out +and, consequently, the odour was anything but pleasant in that locality. +The sea had changed in colour from green to a milky white. This showed +that we were getting into shoal water. The agitation of the waves was +bringing up fine white coral, which formed the bottom of the ocean in +the locality of the reef. + +Towards sundown the hurricane had passed us, the wind gradually veering +around to the north, which made a fair wind for us to Mobile. All sail +was set, the damage repaired as much as possible, the cook made a lot of +good strong coffee, and then all hands took turns in taking a +much-needed sleep. + +A remarkable sight on that trip I have forgotten to mention: one +pleasant evening the sun was exactly even on the west horizon and a +bright full moon on the eastern. It lasted only a few minutes, but it +was a beautiful sight. All the time I have passed on the ocean, I never +saw the phenomenon but that once. + +The next afternoon after the storm we sighted a vessel dead ahead. On +getting closer we saw a signal of distress flying. The ship had lost all +her masts close to deck, was almost on her beam ends, and rolling like a +log in the water. What did our gallant captain do but sail past without +giving any assistance! The signal indicated that the crew wanted to +abandon the wreck. All hands talked rather plainly to the captain +regarding his inhumanity. His excuse was that his own vessel was too +badly disabled to assist others. In a few days we were off Mobile +harbour and took the pilot on board. From him we got a description of +the storm at Mobile. The Robert Ely, the ship in which I had intended +taking passage at first, had arrived at the beginning of the storm, and +anchored outside of the harbour. The wind broke her from her anchorage +and wrecked her on the low, sandy island at the entrance of the bay. +Three of the crew were washed over the island into the bay on the +top-gallant forecastle and rescued. The remainder were drowned. + +The island had been under water. When we arrived it was completely +covered with the cargo and fragments of the wreck. Pianos, boxes and +barrels, all kinds of dry goods, were to be seen mixed up with the +spars, rigging, and timbers of the Robert Ely. We sailed in through the +channel and up the bay. As we drew only twelve feet of water we could +go up the city to a wharf. A tug-boat took us in tow, and, striking a +mud-bank, the good bark P. T. Bartram stuck there. Some of the cargo had +to be taken out in lighters to enable us to get up the Spanish River. +Much to our surprise, the dismasted wreck that we saw at sea was towed +in and got up to Mobile city ahead of us. + +I went ashore on board of a steamboat and, in a few hours, was back at +Campbell's boarding-house, giving a description of a storm in the Gulf +of Mexico. After I had finished my story, I was taken to the back yard +and saw two bales of cotton which they had captured floating in the +streets in front of the boarding-house. One third of the city had been +under water, the upper part of a wharf had been washed away, and a +flat-bottomed steamer had replaced it by standing squarely on top of the +spiles. Schooners and fishing-smacks were swept into the swamp and left +there--over a mile from the river. A great amount of damage had been +done all along the Gulf coast. + +The season was rather early for work among the shipping, consequently I +was idle. Sailors were needed for a ship ready for Liverpool, but no one +wanted to leave Mobile. The wages, eighteen dollars a month, remained +the same, and advance pay of fifty dollars was offered and increased to +one hundred, so I concluded to accept it. The trip to England would take +about five weeks, and, by immediately returning, I should still have a +long winter for work. The giving of nearly six months' advance pay was +to evade the marine law in regard to discharging sailors in a foreign +port. If sailors deserted on a vessel's arriving, the owners were not +responsible. My name was signed on the articles for the full voyage. +Campbell, the boarding-house keeper, got the one hundred dollars and +handed my share to me. I sent part of it to New York and retained twenty +dollars for myself. Bidding my acquaintances good-bye and promising to +be back in ten weeks, I went by steamboat down the bay and reported for +duty on the full-rigged ship Annie Size. Campbell's responsibility for +the advance money then ceased. That was exactly thirty-seven years ago, +and I have never seen Campbell nor Mobile since. + +The Annie Size was a ship of one thousand tons burthen, loaded with +cotton for the Liverpool market. The difficulty in getting a crew +detained us several days. Two other men and I had made up our minds to +make a short cut in the voyage. The plan was to steal the ship's boat, +get ashore and foot it back to Mobile. As we had our advance money, +there was no particular desire on our part to see Liverpool. The next +morning, while the mates were eating breakfast, two of us got into the +boat. The third man weakened and squarely "flunked." With only us two to +steer as we had planned, our little scheme had to fail. The second mate +had come from the cabin and had seen us going away. He called the mate, +and that gentleman hailed another ship to send a boat to him. In the +meantime we were doing our best to reach shore. The other boat, with a +full crew, caught up with us within a few yards of the shore. We were +taken back to the ship and handcuffed until the day of sailing. + +Finally, the full crew was on board, and made a class of sailors that +the mate had no use for. Americans, Irish, Irish Americans--men of that +class usually stick together; on the other hand, a mixed crew of all +nationalities does the reverse. + +The anchor was weighed, our trip for Liverpool was begun, and our +destination would not be reached too soon for any of us. The first day +at sea war was declared. Our mate was the notorious bully, Billy +Shackleford. At one o'clock he came to the forecastle door and in a +gruff voice ordered watch on deck. "And he'd be ---- if there would be +any afternoon watch below on his ship!" He was curtly told to "Go to +----" + +"Do you fellows know who Billy Shackleford is?" + +"Yes, we know all about you, and any monkey business on your part, +overboard you go!" + +Billy was perfectly docile for the rest of that trip. That was the +toughest crew I ever sailed with--nearly all old acquaintances in +Mobile. The amount of money in our possession was over a thousand +dollars, in gold coin. Usually, sailors on a ship leaving port are all +dead broke. An Irishman, for security, had bound a rag around his ankle +containing sixty dollars. One morning his rag was missing. He bewailed +his loss at a terrible rate. Somebody had quietly shaved his original +style of money-belt with a razor while he was taking his sleep on deck +during a night-watch. I was the next victim; twenty dollars in gold was +taken from my sea chest. The chest had been opened with a key. I said +very little about my loss, as I had a strong suspicion that a certain +man had taken it. He had shown me how safe his money was. It was rolled +up in a rag in his trousers' pocket with a string tied around the +outside of the pocket, so that the money could not be reached unless the +string was untied, and that could not be done without removing his +trousers, as he explained to me. His custom was to get into bed +all-a-stand--that is, without undressing. The first stormy night we had +plenty of work to do, reefing the top-sails, and all of us were tired +and sleepy when our watch went below. All were soon asleep but myself, +for my hour of revenge had arrived. With a sharp penknife, I cut a slit +in the trousers of my dishonest friend, the end of the pocket containing +the gold slipped out, then I cut off the whole business. The money was +all I wanted, and the string, rag, and remnants of the pocket I left as +a souvenir. + +Ten five-dollar and one two-and-a-half gold pieces was the total amount. +I "planted" the money in a secure place and went to bed, and when my +misguided friend awoke there was more anguish in the camp. He had my +sympathy and consolation over the fact that we should both land in +Liverpool dead broke, and this made our friendship more binding. + +Instead of making a trip in five weeks, as we expected, we were over two +months in getting to port. For a wonder, no one was killed during the +voyage. The ship was towed up the Mersey River, and we arrived at +Liverpool just at high tide and were taken alongside the outer dock, +ready to enter the gates as soon as they were opened. Every one of us +got our baggage and jumped on shore, and "dock-wallopers" had to be +hired in our stead to dock the ship. Bully Billy Shackleford was furious +at our leaving so abruptly, and he was politely invited to come on shore +and have a parting drink, which he very wisely declined to do. + +Each man had some favourite boarding-place, so we all became separated. +I went to Whitechapel and had my meals and lodging at what the English +call a "cook-shop." As I could not find a ship returning to Mobile, I +made up my mind to go to Cardiff, Wales, by railroad, and there probably +I could ship on some vessel loaded with railroad iron down to Mobile or +New Orleans. My stay in Liverpool was only for two days. I crossed the +river to Birkenhead--and now for my first trip on an English railroad. + +On my arrival at the railroad station I purchased a ticket for Cardiff; +then I wanted a check for my sea chest, but checking baggage was not a +custom in England, and an official addressed me thus: "Will you 'ave +your luggage booked?" My name and destination were duly inscribed. +"Sixpence, please." I got on the train thinking it would be smooth +sailing for "me luggage" and myself, but such was not the case. I was +told to change cars at a certain station, which I did, and, at the time, +I noticed that "me luggage" was on the platform at the station. Getting +on my train, another link of my journey was being made, and, about nine +o'clock that night, I found myself at a town called Open Gates, quite a +distance on the wrong road. They informed me that I should have changed +trains some distance back. "Why in ---- didn't you tell me to?" was my +reply. A free ride back and a new start was made in the right direction, +and, finally, I brought up at a town called Newport. There the "line of +rails," as they are called, ended. Twelve miles from Cardiff only, and +"me luggage" and I had to take another road, and "me luggage" could not +be found and no one knew anything about it. Now, what puzzles me to this +day is what the "booking" meant. And I have never been able to find +out, although it is the English custom. I went to a cook-shop and +remained in Newport a couple of days, and in the meantime there were +many inquiries about the "Young Hamerican's luggage." It was finally +located, and when I changed cars the first time I learned that it was my +duty to have it placed in the luggage car. While I was on my way to Open +Gates, the chest was left on the platform, where I had last seen it. In +the course of time a continuation of the journey was made, and at last +Cardiff was reached. Hunting up an old acquaintance, he took me to a +nice, quiet boarding-place. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +PRETTY JENNIE BELL + + +My friend had introduced me to the landlord's wife and the only two +boarders in the house. They had resumed a four-handed game of cards. +Something familiar about the landlady's face attracted my attention. +"Have I not seen you before?" I asked. + +"Quite likely," she replied. + +Then I remembered all about her. She had been a notorious woman of the +street in Liverpool. Many a time she had stopped me and my shipmates on +the Bute Road and asked us to treat her. Sailors are very liberal when +ashore, and very few girls are refused a drink. In England their +favourite tipple is "two pen'orth o' gin and a bit o' sugar, please." +The gin they drink, but the two little cubes of sugar are placed in +their pockets to be eaten when there is no prospect of a free drink. + +The next morning my very sociable hostess had a friendly chat with me. +For old acquaintance' sake I must take her to the public-house next door +and buy the gin. That place was quite respectable, but, like all +public-houses in England, women would patronize it with as much freedom +as men. I was simply paralyzed by an introduction I got to a very pretty +young woman, by the proprietor's wife. "This is an old lover of mine, +and he has come back to board with me." I was too polite to deny it, but +it was an infernal lie, all the same. + +I could not find a ship just then ready for Mobile. Having nothing to +do, I would frequently sit in the back-room of the public-house. +Everything was so cosy there! A bright fire in the grate made the room +quite cheerful. The proprietor and his wife were a fine-looking and +well-educated couple, always pleasant and sociable. Acquaintances were +continually dropping in for a visit, and a pleasant, merry time it was +for all. One of their friends was a young woman, about twenty years old, +with large brown eyes, always good-natured and pleasant. She was known +as Pretty Jennie Bell, and was, beyond all question, the belle of the +neighbourhood. She was married, but had left her husband on account of +his brutality. Nothing could be said against her character. It was then +Christmas-time. I was sitting in a chair watching the fire and thinking +of home. Every one in the room was laughing and looking at me. I raised +up my head, and saw a branch of mistletoe held over my head. Turning +around, I saw that "Pretty Jennie Bell" was the person who held it in +her hand. She started to run, but I very quickly caught her, and got the +kiss to which I was entitled. All the rest in the house must have a mug +of beer for the kiss that I had won. Such a happy time we had that +evening! Jennie and I had fallen in love with each other. + +I had met an old shipmate in Cardiff, who was the first mate of an +American bark. He recommended me to the captain, and I obtained the +position of second mate. I felt quite proud then. It was arranged +between Jennie and me that I should make a voyage, and in the meantime +she would obtain a divorce; we would then get married and go to New +York. Our voyage was for Matanzas, Cuba, with a cargo of coal. A couple +of nights before we were to go, it was my turn to remain on the vessel. +The captain and mate were on shore. As I sat in the cabin reading a book +for pastime, I heard my name called. Jennie had come down to the dock +alone to see me. I went ashore, and asked her if she was not afraid to +come to such a dangerous place on a dark night. In an instant her arms +were around my neck. "George, don't leave me," was all she said. That +settled the business! I helped her on board the vessel, and took her +into the cabin. We sat there talking to each other until after midnight. +The mate then returned. I told him to get another second mate, as I had +changed my mind about going to sea. He laughed, and bade me good-bye. + +Jennie and I were both very happy then. The future was not thought +about. In a couple of weeks it became very apparent that I must earn a +living for my pretty wife. The fact of having no trade and being +without influence to obtain suitable employment naturally made me +discouraged. The English navy was giving four pounds sterling as a +bounty for seamen. I shipped as an able seaman, on condition that I +should be put on a man-of-war belonging to Portsmouth Harbour. My +clothing and sea chest I sold. The proceeds and the bounty I gave to +Jennie. I was assigned to the line-of-battle ship St. Vincent, one +hundred and twenty guns. My term of service was for five years. Several +other men and myself were taken across the Bristol Channel, thence by +rail to Portsmouth. The St. Vincent was a very large ship, having five +decks, three tiers of broadside guns, and a crew of twelve hundred men. +I received some clothing and a hammock and found myself a full-fledged +English man-of-war's-man for the second time in my life. + +My attention was called to the bulletin offering inducements for +volunteers to the Gunnery Schoolship Excellent. Men of good education, +first-class seamen and physically perfect, were eligible. A man named +McMinn and I made applications for the required examination. Both of us +were taken on board the Excellent and most thoroughly examined. +Everything being satisfactory, we were transferred and made "seamen +gunners" and "submarine divers" in Her Majesty's service. The term of +service was altered to twenty-one years. Extra pay was allowed for the +grade of gunners. Two-pence--four cents--extra was allowed a day as +submarine diver and one shilling an hour while diving, and one penny a +day for each good-conduct stripe, three being the limit. A service +pension was to be granted for seventeen years' service, at eight pence a +day, that being additional to our regular pay. The Excellent was an old +frigate anchored close to the navy yard. She had no masts or rigging, +the crew having nothing more to do with the seamanship. We were divided +into four divisions, each division changing exercises daily. From nine +in the morning until three in the afternoon we were constantly drilling. +Breech- and muzzle-loading guns, broadside guns, howitzers and muskets +and rifles and pikes and cutlasses, all came in rotation, and target +practice daily with big guns and small arms. Then, by turns, we would +put on the submarine armour and practise at diving in thirty feet of +water. On Saturdays and Sundays we had a rest. Five days' drilling in a +week was sufficient. When a man-of-war was ready for sea an order would +be sent to the Excellent for the same number of seamen gunners as the +ship had guns. Then we would rank as Captains of the Guns and receive +pay as petty officers. For instance, a frigate of forty guns was ready +for sea; forty men from the Excellent would be sent on board. As soon as +the frigate returned from a cruise the forty men would be sent back to +continue their practice in gunnery. At three of the afternoon, every +day, three divisions were at liberty to go on shore and remain until +half-past seven the next morning. + +I at once rented a nicely furnished room for light housekeeping for one +half crown a week. Then I sent for Jennie. On her arrival, everything +was made pleasant and comfortable. I would be at home three nights out +of every four. Saturdays I would be at liberty at eleven o'clock in the +morning until Monday morning. My wife would draw one half my pay every +month, one quarter pay was given to me in cash monthly, and the other +quarter I could draw in clothing and other necessaries. I needed all my +pay, and it required sharp practice to get it. I could get one pound of +tobacco monthly. That cost one shilling, government price. I sold it +immediately for two shillings. I drew flannel, and sold it at a profit. +I kept my account about square with the paymaster. As I drank no grog, +tea and sugar were given me in lieu of it. McMinn and I were very +friendly. He was a temperance man and gave me his allowance of tea and +sugar. At the end of each month I had quite a quantity due me. My +half-pay was allotted to Mrs. Jennie Thompson, Portsmouth. Then we were +in a quandary. It was necessary for a wife to show a marriage +certificate before she could get the money. Now that was a document +that Jennie did not possess. That little obstacle did not bother us very +long. We went to the Register's office and were married in orthodox +style. Jennie did not worry much over the fact of committing bigamy. She +got the certificate and half-pay, too. We lived together very happily. I +never knew her to be ill-natured or say a cross word. I always had a +cordial welcome, and a pleasant smile awaited me. What money I earned +was spent to advantage. I neither drank liquor nor used tobacco. My +nights were always passed at home with Jennie, and happy hours they +were, too! + +One night, while my division was on duty aboard the ship, we had quite a +diversion from the ordinary routine. A big fire was seen on shore. All +boats were "called away" and our division landed at the navy yard, each +man carrying a ship's fire-bucket. A lieutenant had charge of the "fire +brigade" of about one hundred and fifty sailors. Nothing pleases a +sailor more than having something to do on land. Going to a fire was an +unusual treat. Steam fire-engines were not invented at that time. For a +New York city man that fire was a comical sight. On our arrival at the +scene, we found a regiment of soldiers drawn up in double line around +the burning buildings. Behind them were about all the prostitutes in the +city---and they were numerous in proportion to the population. The +soldiers opened ranks for us to pass inside the lines, the women +encouraging the sailors by singing out, "Go it, Excellents! Be lively, +my lads!" The troops had their muskets and, in their bright scarlet +uniforms, made a grand display. Only one old-fashioned fire-engine, +worked by hand, was to be seen. The old box was so leaky that the water +was spurting in all directions except the proper one. Our gallant +lieutenant, with his drawn sword pointed to the burning building, was +ordering us to put out the fire. The whole block was a row of small +two-story brick buildings. As one house would burn down, the next would +catch fire. The fire-buckets were of leather, with a rope thirty feet in +length attached to each one, for the purpose of hoisting water over the +ship's side and lowering it down the hatches in case of fire. On shore +the circumstances were different. The rope was a great impediment. But +something must be done to show what sailors could do at a fire. + +A dam of mud was made in the street gutter, the leaks in the fire-engine +furnishing abundance of water. All hands were formed in line and each +man, dipping up a bucketful of water, would run to the burning +structure, the lieutenant with his sword would point out the particular +second-story window into which he wanted the contents of the bucket +thrown, and so it would go. That plan was a dismal failure. It would +require men about twenty feet in height for that style of fire-fighting. +The agents of the insurance company asked us to tear down a building +about six houses to the leeward of the fire. By that means the fire +could be checked from spreading. The fun then began in earnest. A stick +of timber was used as a battering-ram for the outside; inside the +building the sailors were like a swarm of bees. One enterprising man +was boosted up into the attic; he did not remain there long, however, +for, making a misstep, he went through the second-story ceiling, his +body and a quantity of plastering landing on his shipmates below. That +building was a complete wreck in a very short time. While the wrecking +was in progress, some of the sailors had got on the roof of a building +next to the fire. Then the hose was pulled up, and during that process +the sailors close by got a good ducking occasionally. Somehow, the +sailors could not control the nozzle properly---at least they said so. +In a short time the fire was put out, and there were four buildings not +damaged between the ruins and the wreck. How that insurance agent did +growl and rave! + +All hands picked up their buckets and were marched to the navy yard, and +on our way a saloon-keeper was called out of bed and the lieutenant +treated each man to a pint of beer. About daylight we were on board the +ship again. The sailor who so gallantly held the nozzle and squelched +the fire was in luck. The insurance company made him a present of ten +shillings, and also wrote a letter to the captain of the Excellent, +praising the conduct of the aforesaid sailor. As he had ruined a fine +pair of trousers which cost him twenty shillings to replace, his reward +was considered quite small. The men in the house-wrecking business were +inclined to be envious; they were not even thanked for their hard work. + +By hard study and strict attention to duty, I soon became a good gunner. +The cutlass exercise I was very fond of. Every evening, when I remained +on board, I would get some good man to use the single sticks with me for +amusement, and, consequently, I became quite a good swordsman. In April +we received news in regard to the Rebellion in the United States. Jennie +and I had a long conversation on the subject, and both concluded that it +would be much better for me to be in the United States navy, where +promotion was possible. The pay was also much better. Besides, I was not +an Englishman, and it was my duty to fight for my country. It was +arranged that Jennie should go home to her parents, and remain there +until I could send for her from New York. I was to desert from the +Excellent. + +Now, deserting from that vessel was a serious affair, as neither labour +nor expense was spared in capturing a deserter. The penalty was not less +than one year in prison. It was very seldom that a gunner ran away, and +nearly every one who did so was caught. I got a canvas bag, such as +sailors use, instead of a chest. Taking it home, I filled it with any +old dresses or rags that Jennie could get. I brought two No. 3 +grape-shot from the ship, and put them in with the other trash. My +object was to have my baggage to take with me. I told McMinn of my +intentions. He had his discharge from the English merchant service, +which he gave to me, as it might be very useful. My sailor clothes I +sold, except the suit I had on. Jennie told our landlady that she was +going home on a visit. Everything being ready, we bade each other an +affectionate good-bye, and she went away. The next day I got a pass from +the captain for permission to travel for twenty-four hours unmolested. +I got my man-of-war's suit changed, and, taking my baggage, and getting +on the cars, I was in London in a few hours. + +Securing my bag, I at once went to the Sailors' Home on the East India +Road, registering my name as John McMinn, also showing the discharge +from the merchant service. I stated that I had been home several months +on a visit. The Home was a very large building built by the Government +for the protection of sailors from the numerous boarding-house sharks. +The charges were just enough to cover all expenses, and each man had a +small room to himself, besides the use of the library and the +bathing-room. There was also a large sitting-room, and a shipping office +was on the lower floor. Men could be shipped there or paid off; in fact, +everything was done to protect sailors from being defrauded. Early the +next morning I went to London dock. In a short time I found an English +brig ready for sea. Showing my discharge to the captain, he told me that +I was just the kind of man he wanted, and gave me an order to be +shipped. I went to the Home and signed the Articles for a voyage to St. +Kitts, West Indies. + +An advance note for two pounds ten was given me, and the next day, at +ten o'clock, the brig was to sail, that being the time of high tide, and +the dock gates open. That also was the time that I would be proclaimed a +deserter from Her Majesty's service, it now being twenty-four hours +after my pass had expired. I had no intention of going to St. Kitts, and +about nine o'clock I settled my bill, and, picking up my bag, was going +out of the door, when I met one of the owners of the brig. + +"Ah, my lad, I came to ship another man in your place. We thought you +had backed out." + +"Oh, no!" I replied. "I am just on my way to the docks." + +"Then hurry, lad, you have no time to lose." + +Well, that brig went to sea with my name on the Articles. That was what +I wanted. But I was not one of the crew. I went to a shipping office, +threw my bag into a corner, and told them that I wanted to ship on a +vessel. I was sent to an American ship to see the mate, and from him I +got an order to be shipped. The voyage was around Cape Horn to Callao, +Peru, from there to Australia, and thence to the United States. That +trip would be around the world and would take a year to complete. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +GOOD-BYE TO ENGLAND + + +Mrs. Massey was in charge of the shipping office, and, showing her the +order and saying that I would ship, I walked out, and straightway back +to the dock I went. I found the vessel that I really wanted. It was the +packet-ship Rhine, bound for New York with emigrants. From the mate I +got an order to be shipped from a certain office. I went to Massey's for +my bag, and, as I picked it up and started for the door, Mrs. Massey +asked me if I had backed out, and I curtly told her that I had. Then she +showed her good breeding. Such language I never heard a woman use +before. "-- --, -- who enticed you from this office? -- -- --!" Two +young men happened to be standing in front of the door. "-- are these +the men?" she asked. "Yes," I answered, and what a tongue-lashing those +two fellows got! In the meantime I walked off. I found the right office +and shipped for New York. I received an advance note of two pounds ten. +A young man in the office offered to take me to a small boarding-house, +and arriving there, I was introduced to the landlord. He was an old +sailor, a native of Chile, and the fact of my having lived there made us +friends at once. I made a bargain for two days' lodging, a straw +mattress, sheath knife, tin pot, pan, and spoon. Besides, he was to have +five shillings extra for cashing my advance note. The difference he paid +me in cash. Then I went to the post-office and bought an order for every +cent I had, made payable to Jennie Bell, and, remaining in the house +until the sailing, I wrote a letter to Jennie, merely stating that I +would be in New York four weeks from that time. The money-order was +inclosed and the letter mailed just before the ship left the dock. We +sailed down the Thames River into the Channel, and at sundown the white +chalk cliffs of Dover were far astern. That was the last time I ever saw +the coast of England. + +The Rhine had a large number of steerage passengers on board. Men, +women, and children were all huddled together between decks. They all +got sea-sick, and it is a wonder that none of them died. The filth and +stench were terrible. The crew were a tough lot, being mostly old +"packet rats," as they are termed. They would stay on shore until their +advance money was all spent, then they would have to ship. They would +steal all of their clothing from their more provident shipmates. My bag +had been searched, but it only set them wondering as to who I was, with +all the old rags and the two grape-shot. In just one month's time we +sighted Sandy Hook, New York. The passengers were all on deck, getting +their first glimpse of America, and were all glad that the voyage was so +nearly ended. The twin lighthouses of the Highlands of Navesink were in +plain view; below them was a famous summer resort for New Yorkers. As I +stood on that deck watching the beautiful scenery, a dirty, ragged suit +of sailor's clothes on my back, not a cent of money in my pockets, had a +fortune-teller then said to me--"See that hotel on the beach? One year +from now you will be staying there as a guest, and paying twenty-five +dollars a week for your accommodation. You will be the best-dressed +young man in the house and wearing diamond jewelry, with the waiters +eager to wait upon you, as you are very liberal in giving tips. And +Matilda, the proprietor's daughter, will be your betrothed wife"--I +should have laughed at the idea; but it all happened so in reality. + +As we sailed through the Narrows it became my turn to steer the ship; +the captain and pilot standing close to me conversing, I heard the pilot +say that the docks were crowded with ships, and that the Rhine would +have to remain anchored in the bay a week before docking. The captain +replied that it would give them a good opportunity to have all the +rigging tarred. Now, hearing that conversation nearly cost me my life. +Tarring a ship's rigging is about the hardest work and the dirtiest job +imaginable, and, besides, the hands and finger-nails are dyed a +dark-brown colour which remains for weeks. None of that work for me +just then! As the anchor dropped, my duty at the wheel was ended. The +boarding-house keepers came alongside and were soon on deck looking for +victims. A hard-looking case asked me if I had ever been in New York +before. + +"No, this is my first trip across the ocean." + +"Well, come to my house. I have a nice place." + +"All right," I answered, "I will go, on condition that you get my +clothes and take me from the ship right off." + +He told his runner to take his row-boat under the port bow. Going to the +forecastle, I pointed out my bag. I was to go in the boat; then he was +to throw me my valuable wardrobe. The passengers were at the rail, +looking at Castle Garden. Crowding in between, I found there was a rope +hanging over the ship's side, and, in an instant, I was on the rail, +grabbing hold of the rope. I intended going down "hand over hand" with +my feet on the vessel's side, but the rope was not fastened as I +supposed, consequently I fell about twenty feet, striking the water back +first and just barely missing the row-boat. The runner helped me in, +then down came the bag, and we were off for dry land. My career on the +ocean as a sailor before the mast had terminated most unexpectedly to +me, and that proved to be my last voyage. + +On landing, we walked to the worst locality in New York city. On the way +I was told that a brig bound for the West Indies needed a crew, and +would I ship on her? "Certainly," I replied. Now the intention was to +"shanghai" me (that is, steal my advance money), my landlord supposing +that I was a greenhorn. Finally, we entered a dirty old house on Cherry +Street, the worst street in the city at that time. I was invited to take +a drink, which I refused. The sleeping apartment was shown to me---a +filthy room with bunks around the sides, made out of rough boards. The +brig was to sail the next day. + +"Well, I must have a new pair of shoes." + +"All right, come with me." + +He took me to a store and I selected a pair, which were charged to the +landlord. + +"Now I want a hair-cut and a shave." + +Into a barber-shop we went, and that was also charged up. Going back to +the house, I had my supper, and it was a holy terror for "shore food." I +loafed around the place until after dark, then I started for home, being +ashamed to have the neighbours see me in daylight in my ragged and still +wet clothing. As for the sailors' boarding-house, it was only a case of +"wolf eat wolf." They had simply caught the wrong man for a sucker. + +I rang the door bell and a strange servant girl asked me whom I wished +to see. Without answering, I walked in and opened the sitting-room door. +My return was a complete surprise. One of my cousins, a young lady, cast +pitiful glances at my clothing, as much as to say, "Poor fellow, he must +have had a hard time!" Fortunately, on leaving home the last time, I had +left my best suit of clothes behind. It was only a short time before I +had a good bath and was dressed like a civilized being. We remained in +the sitting-room talking until after midnight. My travels and the war +were the topics of conversation. Next morning I went to the post-office +and got a letter from Jennie. The detectives had traced her home and all +kinds of questions were asked in regard to me. But she knew nothing. +They said it made no difference, as they would have me back in England +in a few weeks, for I had shipped on an English ship for St. Kitts and +orders had been sent to the admiral of the station to arrest and send me +back in irons at the first opportunity. + +In the afternoon I went to the naval rendezvous, and passed examination +as an able seaman for the United States navy. The pay was eighteen +dollars a month, with chance of promotion. But there was a hitch in the +proceedings. The quota of able seamen was filled, and the best I could +do was to ship as an ordinary seaman at fourteen dollars a month. That I +refused to do, and I explained that I was fully capable of being a petty +officer, and that I would not throw away my chances for being rated as +such by shipping as an ordinary seaman. I was invited to come again in a +few weeks, as more men would be required, and they preferred young +Americans like myself in the navy. In a few days I had made up my mind +to go into the army. The companies and regiments throughout the Northern +States that were being organized had to be disbanded for lack of arms +and clothing, and also for the reason that the Government had no +expectation of needing their services, so my patriotism was squelched +for the time being. A number of my young friends had enlisted for three +months, under the first call for seventy-five thousand men. They nearly +all got back, and stayed home for the remainder of the war, having had +all the glory they wanted. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +WHAT MONEY CAN DO + + +I wrote to Jennie, telling her that arrangements had been made for her +to live with my mother for awhile, telling her also to let me know when +she would be ready to leave England, as the money would then be sent to +pay her expenses. In a month's time I received a very formal letter from +her sister stating that, through mediation of relatives, Jennie and her +first husband had become reconciled, and were again living together. I +showed the letter to my mother and explained everything. She was pleased +at the termination of the affair, but, somehow, she took no stock in my +wife's morality. I had about concluded that my valuable services would +not be needed in the war, so I went to Duncan & Sherman's banking house +in Wall Street, intending to ship in one of their vessels, if possible. +There I met Captain Otis, who was in command of the C. C. Duncan when I +made the voyage to Algiers. He had quit going to sea, and was married to +Mr. Duncan's only daughter. Through his influence, I obtained a good +situation as outdoor clerk for the banking house. My work was +principally about the shipping at the docks. I was delighted at the +prospect of remaining at home and living on dry land. The excitement +over the war had quieted down considerably in New York. Regiments +passing through the city for Washington were loudly cheered and soon +forgotten. In the meantime the rebels were strongly fortifying the +Southern coast, and loudly proclaiming that "Cotton was King." The +battle of Bull Run made it quite plain to both parties that they had a +big contract on their hands. The celebrated New York Fire Zouaves did +not go to Richmond as they intended. A number of them became +demoralized, and never stopped running until they got back to Fulton +Market, in New York. + +The few ships in the navy captured Port Royal, in South Carolina. Some +of the Confederates from there never stopped until they reached Canada. +Then came Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island, N. C. The Government +secured all the steamers available for the use of the navy, even taking +the old Staten Island ferry-boats. Gold became very scarce and at a +premium. Legal-tender notes were then issued, and Government bonds sold +at a discount. For small change, postage-stamps were used. All the +silver coin was being hoarded up and withdrawn from circulation. A +revenue tax was placed on everything. On whisky it was two dollars a +gallon. Even the poor people had to pay for the revenue-stamps on the +pawn-tickets when they pledged articles. Before the war ended, good tea +was two dollars and a half a pound; coffee, from forty cents to a +dollar; sugar, twenty-two cents; a common round of beefsteak, +twenty-five; turkey, thirty-five cents a pound, and eggs sixty cents a +dozen. There was plenty of work, with high wages. + +I still kept my situation and was gradually working my way up. My +associates were very different from those I came in contact with while +a sailor. Knowing as much as I did about the Havana Lottery, I had great +faith in it. By very little persuasion, I got six young men to go in +with me to co-operate in the purchase of tickets, each one paying a +certain sum weekly. Every month tickets would be bought for the full +amount. The bankers, Taylor & Company, in Wall Street, were the agents. +For several months it was the same thing---no prizes. In the month of +April, 1862, there was rejoicing in the club. We had drawn a fifty +thousand-dollar prize! Taylor & Company cashed it for us at a small +discount. The seven sharers received the money---a little over seven +thousand dollars each. Then we all went to the devil. No use working +with all that wealth, so we left our situations. + +At first a silver watch costing thirty-five dollars was good enough for +me, then I changed it for a gold one worth one hundred and forty. A +diamond ring came next, for one hundred and twenty-five dollars. And of +course I must have a diamond breastpin, one hundred and twenty-five +more. I got to be very particular about the style of my clothing. A +bottle of wine with my suppers was just the thing. How I did lie back +and contrast the present with the past while on board a ship! + +Not feeling very well, I concluded to spend a few weeks at a summer +resort. My friends recommended me to Teller's Pavilion, at the +Highlands, Navesink, N. J. My expenses there were quite heavy: +twenty-five dollars a week for a nice room, one bottle of wine for +dinner, two dollars and a half extra. To be well waited on called for +liberal tips to the waiters. As my money had come easy it went easy. I +made a lot of friends, and usually paid all the bills for boating +parties and other amusements. I became acquainted with Miss Tillie +Teller, and with us it was a case of "love at first sight." Finally, we +became engaged. I presented her with a fine diamond engagement ring. The +season ended and I returned to New York. + +Having spent a large share of my money, I concluded to start in some +business with the remainder, make a good living and marry Tillie. A +saloon on Broadway seemed a good investment. Well, as a saloon +proprietor I was a dismal failure. It was nothing but woe and misery. +Every one robbed me right and left. I got into debt, lost all my +respectable friends, broke my engagement with Tillie, and married +another girl; and that wife put the finishing touch on the whole +business. Annie was her name. She was very pretty, with blue eyes, light +hair, and petite figure. How innocent and childish in her ways! She +could make me believe almost anything. I had more rows on her account +than a prize-fighter could conveniently attend to. If we went on the +street-cars, to the theatre, or into a restaurant, there would be +trouble with some one in short order. It made no difference where we +lived, it would be the same old program; the first two days all would be +lovely, until she got acquainted with the neighbours, and then war would +be declared. And I, like a fool, believed her to be in the right. As +regards her education, it was much below the average standard. What she +lacked in that respect, however, was counterbalanced by her ingenuity +in inventing lies. It took a long time for me to discover her talent in +that line. Her fictions were not overdone; they were simply just good +enough to believe. + +Becoming disgusted with the saloon business, I concluded to sell out at +any price. I was in debt, head over heels, and what little money was +taken in was stolen by the barkeeper. I was offered four hundred and +fifty dollars for the place and accepted it. It cost me twelve hundred. +I made a great mistake in not insisting upon having my little angel of a +wife included in the sale, but it required a few more years' time for me +to become fully acquainted with all her virtues. She certainly was a +terror. As a diversion she would have a fit of hysterics. I was not well +posted on that female peculiarity. At first, I was badly scared and did +some lively petting and nursing. Finally, the thing became rather +monotonous, so that when she felt like thumping her head against the +door or bed-post, I would go to sleep and let her amuse herself to her +heart's content. She recovered muck quicker, as I found out by +experience. Taking a dose of laudanum was also a favourite trick, but, +unfortunately, she never took an effectual one. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE NEW YORK DRAFT RIOTS + + +I had sold all of my jewelry. The proceeds of the sale of the saloon +were nearly all paid out for my debts. My financial affairs were in a +low condition, with a loving wife to care for. What made my affairs +worse was the prospect of soon becoming a father. At that time there was +considerable war excitement in New York. The rebels had broken loose and +had invaded Pennsylvania. All the New York State militia were then sent +to the front. My mind was fully made up to enter the navy as soon as our +child was born and my wife well. The grade of ensign had been created in +the navy. Getting good recommendations from Duncan, Sherman & Company +and from Captain Otis, I made application to the Secretary of the +Navy---Gideon Welles---and received permission to be examined for the +position of ensign. + +The draft riots in the city had begun (July, 1863) and all business was +at a standstill. The three hundred dollars' clause was the cause of the +trouble. A man in moderate circumstances could pay that amount and be +exempt from military service, but a poor man would be compelled to go. +The State militia being away, the city was defenceless. Besides, there +were thirty thousand known criminals among the population, and a great +number of rebel sympathizers. The drawing of names for the draft took +place at Forty-second Street and Second Avenue. Early in the morning a +large mob gathered and very quickly drove the officers from the building +and gutted the place most thoroughly. The police from that precinct came +running up Second Avenue, and used their clubs very freely. When they +got close to the mob, affairs were different. The rioters disarmed the +police and gave them a most unmerciful beating, several being killed +outright. One had sought refuge in a house, where he was found hidden +under a mattress and thrown out of a second-story window. Everything in +the building was destroyed and the place set on fire. The same result +happened at every house where a policeman had been assisted or +sheltered. Next the Invalid Corps, composed of disabled soldiers, made a +charge on the crowd. + +They were disarmed and driven back, and in a short time news of the riot +spread over the city and pandemonium reigned for the time being. All +places of business were closed and not a policeman dared to leave the +station-houses. A number of good citizens took possession of the +armories and arsenals and guarded them from capture by the rioters. +Buildings in different parts of the city were set on fire, and the +firemen would be on hand with their engines, but would not be allowed to +throw a single stream of water. The Coloured Orphan Asylum was pillaged +and burnt to the ground. The Old Firemen's was an organization that gave +its services without pay, but its members were exempt from military +duty. Their engines were worked by hand, the companies having from +seventy-five to one hundred and twenty-five members each, and were +always present at the fires, but were powerless to do anything. The mob +had sense enough not to attempt to injure any of the engines, as that +would have precipitated a fight with the fire laddies, and they had the +reputation of being fighters from the word "Go." + +Down town, the rioters made an attack on the New York Tribune building, +but old Horace Greeley was prepared for war. The doors and windows were +barricaded with bales of paper and behind that were all the employees, +all heavily armed. The mob took in the situation and went after +something that was easier, such as chasing negroes into the East and +North rivers and watching them drown. At Twenty-first Street they caught +several and hanged them to lamp-posts; then straw mattresses were placed +under them and set on fire. United States marines were sent from the +Brooklyn Navy Yard to guard the United States Treasury building on Wall +Street, as well as the banks in that neighbourhood. Towards evening the +rioters became drunk and more reckless; nothing could be done to check +them, and all the respectable citizens anticipated a night of terror. +Fortunately, about eight o'clock a heavy rain commenced to fall, and +that caused the drunken brutes to disappear. The rain also extinguished +the fire in the many ruins in different localities. The next day the +weather was quite pleasant, and the rioters, early in the morning, +recommenced their work of destruction; houses would be pillaged and then +set on fire. The lower class of people, especially the women and +children from the tenement-houses, could be seen carrying off everything +that was portable. The thieves were very busy stealing all the valuables +when a house was first raided, and they were usually the first to make a +demonstration at any building, the mob being always ready to follow, on +general principles. The police remained in the station-houses, not one +of them daring to come outside, as it would have been certain death to +do so. + +Gun and hardware stores were broken into and looted of all arms and +ammunitions, and, by that means, a large number of the most desperate +rioters became armed. A mob composed of about five thousand men started +for the Fifth Avenue Hotel, situated on Madison Square, considered at +that time the finest and most aristocratic hotel in the United States. +As they came close to the building, yelling loudly, "Burn the Fifth +Avenue! Loot the Fifth Avenue!" all anticipating an exciting time as +well as plenty of rich plunder, the whole thing was suddenly changed. +The occupants of the hotel had been watching the advance of the mob--not +knowing their intention--and as the rioters entered the Square, howling +and hooting, every window in the building was occupied by the guests, +who loudly cheered and waved handkerchiefs to show that they were in +full sympathy with the mob. That ended the affair, as the rioters were +not disposed to injure any of their openly avowed Copperhead friends. +The cheers were returned, and no other demonstration was made. The Fifth +Avenue was a regular resort for secessionists and rebel sympathizers +during the war. In any other country such a place would have been +closed up and all of the occupants put in prison. + +Towards night a few of the militia arrived in the city, and the rioters +killed a few of them by filing from the windows and house-tops in the +tenement districts. The morning of the third day more troops arrived, +and the mob scattered in all directions upon the approach of the +soldiers, only to mass together again in another locality. In the +morning a regiment of infantry marched down Second Avenue and the +colonel stopped on some private business on Twenty-seventh Street, when +two rioters sneaked up behind and knocked him senseless with a club. +Then the crowd quickly gathered, a rope was procured, and the colonel +was strung up to a lamp-post. In the meantime the regiment was marching +along in complete ignorance of their colonel's fate. The body was soon +cut down and dragged through the streets, receiving all kinds of +ill-treatment. Rioters' wives hurled paving-stones at the prostrate +body, and what was most strange was the fact of his retaining life until +late in the afternoon. He was a very powerful man and must have had +wonderful vitality. Near Tenth Street was a large building used as a +manufactory of muskets and revolvers. The rioters had broken in and were +helping themselves to everything portable, and, in fact, they were so +busy that they did not know that Colonel Lynch's regiment was at hand, +and when they did realize that fact it was too late, for, as they came +rushing out, they were shot down without mercy. A number of them jumped +out of the windows only to be killed or maimed for life as they struck +the sidewalk. Quite a large number was killed by soldiers, and those who +escaped spread to the different parts of the city and circulated the +story that the soldiers would shoot to kill. + +That night the riot was nearly ended, for more troops had arrived and +the police were again on duty. The next morning the bakers, butchers, +and grocers resumed business. Those people who had not a good supply of +provisions on hand had a hard time while the riot lasted, as not a +single article could be purchased. For three days not a street-car or +vehicle of any description could be seen on the streets, nor was a +coloured person, male or female, visible during the period; probably the +only time in the history of New York that such conditions prevailed, for +a New York negro, as a usual thing, is not very bashful about making his +presence apparent to all who come in contact with him. The Southern +sympathizers were actually the ones who brought on that riot, for they +were always up to some mischief, and a few months afterwards assisted +Dr. Blackburn to distribute clothing infected with small-pox to the +poorer classes in the city, but the plot failed. + +Next came the attempt to burn the whole city by starting fires +simultaneously in different localities. Each of the firebugs carried a +black satchel containing self-igniting chemicals, which were to be +dropped on the stairways of the large buildings. Barnum's Museum was set +on fire, and several other places also, with but little damage +resulting, and, about that time, any one caught with a black satchel +would suddenly come to grief. + +My wife having recovered from her confinement, and the riot being ended, +I went to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and underwent a medical examination. +Next, I was thoroughly examined in navigation and then in seamanship. +Having passed in all, I was ordered to return again in a few days and, +in the meantime, to provide myself with the regulation uniform. My money +was all spent by that time, so I borrowed enough with which to buy my +new outfit. In due time, I received my appointment as an acting ensign +in the navy. The pay was thirteen hundred dollars a year. There were +three classes of officers in the navy: first, the regulars; second, the +volunteers, composed of officers who had resigned previously to the war; +and third, the acting officers who volunteered from the merchant +service. The rank and pay was the same in all classes. I was at once +ordered to the St. Lawrence, for instruction in gunnery. Quite a number +of ensigns and masters' mates was on board, getting initiation as to +how a ship's battery should be handled. The first day's exercise was +sufficient for me; I was pronounced proficient and excused from further +drill. The other officers were surprised at my learning my duties so +quickly, but I never mentioned my experience on the gunnery-ship +Excellent. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +ACTING ENSIGN IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY + + +General Canby, who commanded the troops in New York city, had chartered +six tug-boats for patrolling the river fronts, and each one had a +howitzer and guns, in charge of an ensign. I was sent to take charge of +the boat Rapid, and my instructions were to remain at Castle Garden dock +and await orders. As there was no more rioting, my chance for killing a +few rebel sympathizers was lost. One day a young man approached me and +inquired for the tug-boat Rapid, as he wished to see Ensign Thompson. + +"You are speaking to him now," I answered. + +He looked at me rather quizzically for a few seconds, and said his name +was John Murray. + +"The fact is, you are living with my wife." + +"The devil I am!" I replied. + +"Such is the case," he stated. "I was arrested and compelled to marry +her, and, after living together for a year, she ran away from me in +Canada and came to New York. Now I wish to get a divorce so that I can +marry a girl to whom I am at present engaged." + +At first he talked of having her arrested for bigamy. I told him that +even if he did that, he would still have to get a divorce, and that a +man who would ruin a girl and then contemplate sending her to prison was +a contemptible cur. Finally it was arranged that the divorce notice +should be served on her, and a decree asked for. My interview with Annie +was rather stormy. I told her that I would not marry her again, but I +would take care of her and would treat her as a wife as long as she +behaved herself. That was my last matrimonial venture; and I was a man +married to two women and yet legally a bachelor. + +About the 1st of September, General Canby gave me orders to return the +howitzer and sailors to the navy yard, also for me to report to the St. +Lawrence. In a few days I was ordered to Boston, to join the United +States brig Perry. On my arrival, the captain indorsed my orders as +having reported. Next, I went to the navy agent, and received two +hundred dollars as advance pay and my mileage expenses from New +York---twenty-one dollars and ten cents. All naval officers are allowed +ten cents a mile when ordered to the different naval stations. The next +day I reported as ready for duty. Being next in rank to the captain, +made me executive officer. The Perry was the vessel I admired so much +when in Rio de Janeiro. Now the circumstances were altogether different. +It was a most undesirable vessel to be attached to in war times. There +would be no chance of active service or prize money. The Perry's day had +passed with the advent of fast steamers for blockade-running. In the +early part of the war she captured the rebel privateer Dixie after a +short engagement, and that was the end of her victories. And not one +cent of prize money was ever credited to her account. + +The Perry was a man-of-war of the fourth rate, carrying ten broadside +guns and one howitzer. She was a very fast sailer, but very cranky or +top-heavy, on account of the heavy battery on deck and her lofty spars. +An acting master was in command. Under him were five acting ensigns and +three active master's mates. Captain (by courtesy) William D. Urann was +a thorough seaman, but a mighty mean person. He was a close-fisted +down-East Yankee. I was the only ensign on the brig for about a month, +the master's mates acting as watch officers. At last we got four other +ensigns, and every one of them was my senior, so that fact dropped me to +navigating officer. The commandant of the navy yard reported to the +naval department that the United States brig Perry was ready for sea. +Then the trouble began. Both officers and sailors were trying all kinds +of plans to get transferred to some of the steam gunboats. Some of the +crew complained about the foremast being rotten. The boss carpenter was +sent on board to examine it. After boring a few augur holes in it he +pronounced it sound. Then the crew had other complaints about the +vessel. Now, when a sailor gets to growling he can do it to perfection, +and the result was that the commandant sent a number of the growlers to +the receiving ship, very much to their joy. They were all good seamen. +In their place we received some very useless negroes to fill our +complement of men. The officers complained of being sick, and everything +else they could think of, so an extra ensign was sent on board to assist +us. As that gentleman was my junior by a few days, he had to be the +navigator and I became a watch officer. We were to pass many a day of +misery together in Southern prisons. + +Very much to the commandant's relief and our own disgust, the anchor was +weighed, and we set sail for Charleston, S. C. All went nicely until we +got near Cape Hatteras, when, during a storm, some of the fore-rigging +carried away. We all examined the parted stays, and pronounced them +rotten, and the officers had quite a consultation as to what should be +done under the circumstances. Finally, the captain said that if the six +ensigns would go aloft and examine the rigging, and then make an +individual report that the vessel was unseaworthy, he would put back for +New York. We gave our report in very quickly, and the brig was headed +for Sandy Hook, N. Y. On our arrival at the navy yard, when the reasons +for our coming into port were made known, there was a big rumpus, sure +enough. The presumption on our captain's part was simply enormous! Had +not the commandant of the Boston navy yard reported the Perry as ready +for sea? All the officers on the vessel got on their dignity, and we +pointed to the rotten rigging to corroborate our opinions. The Navy +Department ordered a court of inquiry, and all the ensigns were called +before the court and individually questioned in regard to seamanship, +their experience on the ocean, and their reasons for stating the rigging +to be unfit for sea. It happened, for a wonder, that we six ensigns were +all experienced seamen, and much above the average. The questions were +promptly answered, and rather plainly, too. The court was composed of +regular officers, and something must be done to exonerate the +commandant at Boston. Volunteer officers were considered as interlopers, +and tolerated only as a necessity. The result was that Acting-Master +William D. Urann was deemed unfit to command a vessel, and was detached +from the brig Perry and ordered to report for duty to the commandant of +the Mississippi flotilla. He was there but a few weeks when his merits +as an experienced officer were recognised, and he was promoted to acting +lieutenant, ranking with a captain in the army. + +I may as well explain the grades of rank now: A captain in the navy has +rank with a colonel in the army; commander, with a lieutenant-colonel; +lieutenant-commander, with a major; lieutenant, with captain; master, +with first lieutenant; ensign, with second lieutenant. + +The fact of our captain being relieved did not prevent orders being +issued to have the brig repaired, and the riggers from the yard came on +board and made things lively for a while. + +In about a month's time we were ready, and started for Charleston. All +went nicely until after we passed Cape Hatteras. I had an attack of some +light fever, and was on the sick list. On board was a master's mate by +the name of Bridges. He had been recommended for promotion to ensign, +and ordered to Boston for examination, but, failing to pass, he was +attached to the Perry, and every one on our vessel was desirous to +assist him in gaining experience. For that reason he was allowed to +stand my watch while I was sick, and usually some of the ensigns would +be on deck to see that everything was all right. But early one evening +we had just finished supper, and all of us sat in the ward-room having a +social chat. Feeling as if some fresh-air exercise would benefit me, I +went on deck, and, looking to the windward, I saw that a heavy squall +would soon strike us. Mr. Bridges was serenely promenading the deck, +totally oblivious of any impending danger, while the brig was sailing +close to the wind with every stitch of canvas set. I told Bridges to +have the light sails taken in as quickly as possible, at the same time +calling his attention to the squall. No time was lost by me in getting +to the ward-room, and informing the executive that he was needed on deck +to have all hands shorten sail. While I was speaking, the squall struck +us and nearly capsized the brig, and it was hard work for us to get on +deck, on account of the vessel careening over so much. Then there was an +exciting time; the crew had become panic-stricken for a few minutes. +Orders were given to let go everything. The pressure of the wind, the +mast lying at such a great angle, prevented the yards from coming down. +The wheel was in front of the cabin door, the excitement brought the +captain out, and he yelled to put the wheel hard down. Now that was the +first time that he ever gave an order on deck, and it nearly ended the +Perry's career, then and there. + +The navigating officer has to stand regular deck watch with the others +while at anchor, and the executive is expected to be on board during the +day and have charge of everything in general. One of the master's +mates---not Mr. Bridges---was also put on watch duty, and, with six +ensigns, our turn on watch was only four hours out of every twenty-four; +in fact, we had so much leisure time that we did not know how to pass it +away. All the work required of the crew was to scrub decks before +breakfast and a half-hour's drilling at the broadside guns. Arrants and +myself would take a boat and crew and go fishing every pleasant day. +Taking the sounding lead with us, we were soon able to find good fishing +grounds. The bottom of the lead has a large hole that is filled with +hard tallow---"arming the lead." When the lead strikes the bottom it +will bring up anything that it comes in contact with, be it sand, mud, +or gravel, and, if rocks, the tallow will bear the impression. By that +means, it can be known to a certainty what the bottom is composed of in +that locality. For fishing, we would sound until we found a bank +composed of shells and gravel, and there we were sure of catching all +the fish we wanted. + +Now, for our captain's mistake No. 2. He had gotten the idea into his +head that we were not close enough to the land. The weather had been +quite pleasant and the sea smooth. An experienced seaman has no use for +land unless it is in a secure harbour, and, much to our surprise, the +captain ordered the sails loosened and the anchor weighed, and we stood +in for the shore. The leadsman was continually taking soundings and, +when in three fathoms, the brig was brought head to wind and the anchor +let go. There we were in eighteen feet of water, the brig's draft being +twelve feet. This left just six feet of water between our keel and a +nice hard sandy bottom. The captain was well satisfied with the vessel's +position, as he remarked that no blockade-runner could now pass without +being seen. A few nights afterward his mind underwent a mighty sudden +change, when a heavy gale came on from the eastward about midnight, and +the waves got high and every few minutes the sea would lift us up, then +let us down with a heavy thud on that "nice sandy bottom." The fact was +we were anchored in the breakers. The top-sails were reefed and set, +then the anchor was weighed, the foresail was braced sharp up and back, +so as to bring the vessel's head to the southward, but it was of no use; +the brig would not swing around in the breakers but only drift astern +towards the beach. The anchor was again let go, then a rope was put into +the hawse-hole, the other end outside the port and fastened on the +quarter-deck. The cable was unshackled at the fifteen fathoms shackle, +the rope fastened to it, and the chain let run out of the hawse-hole. As +the brig drifted astern the rope fastened on the quarter gradually +tautened until the strain on the anchor checked us, allowing the vessel +to swing around until her top-sails filled. A buoy was then attached to +the rope and the latter let go. Away we went, leaving the anchor behind, +and then came the hard work in earnest---beating off a lee shore in a +heavy gale of wind. When the gale was over we found our brig to the +south-east of Charleston and a considerable distance from our station, +so back we went as fast as the vessel would sail. While passing the +entrance to Charleston Bay we espied a small schooner stranded on the +shoals. Here was a chance to display our valour and zeal for the +service. + +Arrants and I were in charge of the second cutter, with the boat's crew +heavily armed. When we got on the shoals we found the "suspicious" craft +to be a small schooner of about fifteen tons. The sails were neatly +furled and the cabin entrance carefully boarded up. There were neither +cargo nor provisions on board, and on the stern, in freshly painted +letters, was the name Old Abe, which we thought was strange for a rebel +craft. There was not a house nor living being in sight in any direction, +so we set fire to the mysterious craft and returned to the brig. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +AFTER BLOCKADE-RUNNERS + + +On arrival at Murrell Inlet, we sought the wooden buoy, and got it on +board; the line was put through the hawse-pipe, and we all tugged at it +until we got hold of the chain, when that was put around the windlass +and the anchor hove up. Having had enough of that locality, we anchored +farther out to sea in deeper water. In a couple of weeks, our nearest +neighbour, the gun-boat at Georgetown Bay, brought us our mail and some +fresh beef. They had a tale of woe to unfold. It seems they had captured +a small schooner and made use of it as a pleasure yacht. One night it +had broken adrift and stranded on some sand shoals. They had intended, +some pleasant day, to fasten a rope to it and have the gun-boat pull it +off, but they sorrowfully stated that the "--- rebs had burned it up." +We hadn't a word to say. It was the Old Abe. + +The enemy was in the habit of making night attacks on our vessels +whenever they had the opportunity. It would have been an easy matter for +them to send small boats and men from Charleston overland and make +things quite lively for us. To prevent any surprise party coming on +board, we put up the "boarding nettings" and kept men on guard in +different parts of the brig. George Brinsmaid, one of the coloured men +on board, was useless for going aloft, or anything else, for that +matter, so he had extra guard duty to perform. He was given a loaded +rifle and stationed at the port gangway. It made no difference how often +the officer of the deck would go to him, that fellow was sure to be +found asleep. I had bucketful after bucketful of water thrown on him +during my watch, but it had no perceptible effect in keeping him awake, +for he was constitutionally sleepy. The fact that he was so useless +formed circumstances which resulted in his death. + +I had become quite tired of doing nothing but fishing, so I asked the +captain if I could take the "dingey," the smallest boat on a man-of-war, +and with two men go into the Inlet on an exploring expedition. He was +desirous to have me go and find out if any vessels were in there, and, +selecting two volunteers from the crew, we were ready to leave the brig +about daylight. The boat was landed close to the southern point at the +entrance to the Inlet. I walked cautiously around the nearest house +without finding any footprints in the soft, white sand. That convinced +me that no one was in the house. Getting into the boat, I had the men +row slowly into the Inlet, the high, dry, soft marsh grass concealing us +from view of any one who might be in that locality. At the southern end +of the Inlet we saw a schooner, which probably had run the blockade, +and, as it was not prudent just then, we proceeded no farther in that +direction; the northern branch was also explored, but nothing was to be +found there. We had been absent from the brig nearly four hours; the +captain had become uneasy on our account and had taken the first cutter +with an armed crew to look for us. We met him at the entrance to the +Inlet. When told of what we had seen, he concluded to go ashore himself +on the northern point. There we managed to shoot a couple of razor-back +hogs that had been feeding on the beach. We raised such a rumpus that +the rebel cavalry were making preparations to give us a warm reception. +Their camp was in the woods about a mile from the beach. We could see +them saddling their horses and acting in an excited manner. We found out +afterward that the rebels had only sixteen men in camp at that time. +Having had all the fun and exercise we wanted on shore, and out of +respect to the rebels, we got into the boats and returned to the brig. + +A few nights afterward, we discovered a boat nearing the vessel. Hailing +it, we were informed that some refugees wished to come on board. Consent +being given, they came alongside, and, after asking a few questions, we +allowed them to come on board. There were eight men in the party, all +desirous of joining the Federal army. Their boat being old and leaky, we +destroyed it. They gave us what information they could about the rebels. +Two regiments of Georgia cavalry were guarding the coast, being divided +into squads of sixteen to twenty men each, each squad a couple of miles +distant from the other. The schooner had run the blockade some time +previous, having brought in a general cargo of merchandise. As we were +anxious to know all about the schooner, it was decided that Ensign +Arrants and myself should take the first cutter, with the crew well +armed, and land at daybreak on the beach. By walking across the land +which separated the end of the Inlet from the beach, we would be safer +than rowing the boat into the narrow Inlet. We landed without being seen +by the rebels, and, getting on the schooner, we soon ascertained that +preparations were being made to run the blockade with a cargo of +turpentine. If we had only burned the old schooner there and then, it +would have been a wise act on our part. As my instructions were not to +destroy it, if there was any probability of its preparing for leaving +the Inlet, I reluctantly ordered the men back to the boat and returned +to the brig. A house was near the schooner in which was stored a large +quantity of the turpentine, and some of the cavalry slept there, as we +were informed by some of the refugees. By setting fire to everything we +could have done considerable damage, besides capturing some prisoners. +Captain Gregory was in favour of letting the schooner run out and then +taking her as a prize, for turpentine was very valuable at that time and +prize-money would make quite an addition to our pay. + +About every week Arrants and myself would take a boat with six men and +land on the southern point at the deserted house. By climbing I would +get on the roof, and by the aid of powerful marine glasses I could see +what progress was being made with loading on the schooner. Our last +reconnoitring expedition nearly resulted in serious disaster. This time +we had landed on the north point first. Arrants and I each had a rifle, +but the six men forming the boat's crew were unarmed. While walking +between the sand dunes, we espied a razor-back sow with two young pigs. +I shot at the sow as she was running away. The bullet ploughed a deep +gash in her back, which only increased her speed. We did not get her, +but did capture the two little pigs alive. We were laughing and the +porkers squealing, when I happened to look around and discovered a +couple of mounted Confederates behind one of the sand dunes. They +probably thought the boat's crew was armed, and for that reason did not +attack it. However, we lost no time in getting into the boat with our +pigs. The sand dunes are pyramids of sand from fifteen to twenty feet in +height, and are caused by the strong winds drifting the dry, white sand +on the beach. If those two men had had spunk enough, by keeping behind +the dunes they could have made it very unpleasant for us in the boat, as +the Inlet was not over fifty yards in width. We then landed on the +southern point a distance from the house and, telling the crew to row +slowly up the beach, pursued our investigations. We had reason to +believe some one had been watching us, as there were fresh footprints in +the sand leading from the deserted building to the one near the +schooner, about half a mile distant. + +When we got to the house I told Arrants that I would get on the house +and take a look at the blockade-runner. The building stood on piles +about six feet in height and, as the steps leading to the house were +gone, it was necessary for me to do some climbing. I turned around to +give my rifle to Arrants, and just then caught sight of about twenty +cavalrymen coming from the other house towards us, and they seemed to be +in a big hurry about it, too. We Yankees did not have any particular +business to detain us there, so we made a hasty retreat for the boat. +The latter was about fifty feet from the shore. I told the men to pull +in quick. Arrants and myself ran into the water about knee deep. We +caught the boat and stopped it from coming any farther. My companion and +I then got into the craft in a very undignified style for officers. If +the enemy had come right up to us they could have captured us without +firing a shot, as we should have been perfectly helpless. Instead of +doing so, they dismounted at the edge of the sand dunes and fired quite +an assortment of lead at us from rifles, double-barrelled shotguns, and +old-fashioned muskets carrying large bullets with three buckshot +additional. They made us fellows feel nervous with their careless +shooting. While the Southerners were shooting, we had to turn the boat +completely around and head out to sea. The man with the bow oar tried to +push the bow around by putting the blade of the oar on the hard sandy +bottom and shoving it, and was so energetic that the oar snapped in two. +At last we got around, and for a few minutes some good sprinting was +done. + +The coxswain in the stern then had the best chance of being struck by +the bullets, and doubled himself in a way that would have aroused the +envy of a contortionist. The men at the oars laid as low as possible for +them to row. I was shoved out at full length, shoving at the stroke oar +while the men pulled. Arrants was doing the same thing with the second +oar. My left cheek was badly stung in different places--I supposed at +first by buckshot--but a rifle ball had struck the handle of the oar on +which I was shoving, and, my head being close to it, the splinters from +the dry ash wood had struck in my face. That bullet had just barely +missed my head. As soon as we got out of the range of the buckshot, +Arrants and myself returned the fire with our rifles. The Confederates +then quickly took their horses and got behind the sand dunes. The battle +was over. One of our men had his right eyelid grazed by a buckshot just +enough for a single drop of blood to ooze out. A rifle bullet went +through the stern of the boat, passing between the coxswain's legs, +thence between the whole boat's crew, until it reached the man in the +bow, where it passed his left side and elbow, removing some cuticle from +each. That fellow was scared, sure enough, at first, but after we pulled +his shirt off to stop the blood and found the skin was only peeled off, +he concluded to live a little while longer. It was a miracle that every +one of us was not killed or seriously wounded. We were in a compact +space and the enemy had nothing in the way of a counter-fire to prevent +taking deliberate aim. + +We got back to the brig, and handed up our prize pigs for Christmas +gifts, then told of our adventure with the rebels. The boat was hoisted +up and inspected. It had twenty-two buckshot marks, and was pierced +through and through by six bullets. My face was badly spotted by the +splinters from the oar. We were all congratulated upon our narrow +escape. Captain Gregory vowed vengeance on the Southerners for their +conduct, and, that night, plans were arranged for the next day to "carry +the war into Africa." Then we went to bed, excepting those on duty. + +Next morning at eight o'clock we tried again and sailed as close to the +beach as possible and anchored. An officer was stationed aloft with a +pair of marine glasses, that he might see over the sand dunes and have a +good view of the rebel schooner. For three hours we tried to put a +shell into the blockade-runner with our guns, but could not do so on +account of the sand dunes interfering with our range. At twelve o'clock +Captain Gregory decided to land a boat's crew; and that was his mistake +No. 3. We all well knew there would be resistance offered to our +landing, under the circumstances, but I received orders to set fire to +the schooner, and therefore had nothing to say. Sixteen of the best men +were selected and armed with rifles, and to each was also given a navy +revolver, or else a boarding-pistol, carrying an ounce bullet. Arrants +was ordered to assist me. The paymaster, a new officer from Boston, +volunteered his services, for he thought he would have a picnic, and, +besides, his admiring friends had presented him with an expensive sword +and revolver, and these weapons he intended taking back home with him +all covered with rebel gore. We three officers carried a whole +arsenal--sword, rifle, and revolver. As we expected to meet not more +than twenty Confederates, we felt confident of victory, especially as +we were better armed and could load our guns more rapidly, having +improved cartridges. The enemy had to tear the paper on theirs with +their teeth, while ours could be used without that process, as they were +encased in combustible paper. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A PRISONER OF WAR + + +We took the first cutter for a landing party, and the second cutter was +manned with an armed crew of six men to take care of our boat while we +were on shore. A small keg, filled with tarred rope yarns and a bottle +of turpentine, was given to me with which to set the schooner on fire. I +told Captain Gregory to send George Brinsmaid along with us to carry the +keg, as he was of no use on the brig, and might be of some use on dry +land. Everybody thought it would be a good joke, so Mr. Brinsmaid was +ordered into the boat, and promoted to the office of bearer of +combustibles. My instructions were plain enough: "To land and set fire +to the schooner and house, and do all the damage possible."[D] In case +we were attacked, we were to get behind the sand dunes and defend +ourselves, while the guns on the brig would shell the rebels. + + [D] It was denied afterward that any such order had been given. + +All being ready, we started for the shore. Before landing, I had a long +rope attached to the bow of our boat and fastened to the stern of the +second cutter. When we got on shore, the second cutter towed our boat +just clear of the surf, ready for us to get into in a hurry, with the +bow headed towards the sea. George Brinsmaid had the keg to carry, and +was placed in the centre of the party. Then we started for the sand +dunes, intending to carry desolation and dismay into the Southern +Confederacy. + +When we got to the sand dunes, indications pointed strongly to the fact +that we had got into a bad scrape. The sand was covered with a large +number of horse tracks, as if a whole regiment of horses had been +tramping around. I had not much time to take in the situation, as the +enemy made a charge between us and the boats. They came in double file; +the left file came for us, the right going for the boats. I looked at +the brig, expecting to see the guns shelling the rebs on the open, but, +much to my surprise, the captain had allowed the brig to swing around +stern to shore, and not a gun could be brought to bear on the enemy. + +I told the men to get behind the dunes and fire only at the enemy +nearest to them. We were scattered a few feet apart so as not to be in a +compact body. The first man came into view just in front of me. He was +riding to the top of the dune. Knowing that the rifle would carry high +at such a short distance, I aimed low at his breast. The bullet struck +him square in the forehead and the horse gave a jump and threw him off, +the body rolling down the steep dune to our feet. That checked the enemy +for a few seconds, as they saw that it would be safer to attack us +dismounted. For about five minutes that was a warm place. Buckshot, +bullets, and sand were flying in all directions. The party attacking the +boat were unsuccessful, so they circled around and got in our rear. Then +we were completely surrounded and had to surrender. Two of the +Confederates were killed and several wounded, and besides, they lost +three horses. On our side two were killed, and nearly every one of us +wounded. After we had surrendered, James Pinkham was lying face down on +the ground, a bullet having passed through both of his hips, and, +because he could not get up when ordered to do so, a rebel lieutenant +shot him in the back with his revolver. A young Irishman by the name of +Tobin, belonging to our party, had reloaded his rifle and was standing +close to Pinkham. The rebel lieutenant said, "You ---- Yankee, come here +and give up your arms!" Tobin advanced with both hands stretched out, +the rifle in his left and a boarding-pistol in his right. When he got +within about fifteen feet of the lieutenant, he blazed away at him with +the pistol, dropped it and ran across the salt marsh to the woods, about +half a mile distant. He missed the lieutenant, but killed his horse. A +cavalryman started after Tobin and, when near to him, called him to +halt. Tobin turned around and pointed his rifle at the man. The latter's +gun being empty, he halted, and off went the Irishman again for the +woods. Another man started in pursuit with a loaded rifle, and, when +close enough, he shot Tobin in the leg, and the poor fellow afterwards +died in Andersonville Prison. + +The Southerners who did not come until the fight was all over, did all +the blustering and had the most to say. They did certainly call us +anything but gentlemen, and also were very indignant because Brinsmaid +had been taken prisoner. "You Yankee ---- ----, get in line there with +your nigger brother!" was the first order we got. We were taken to the +edge of the woods and everything was confiscated, whether of value or +not. The enemy wrangled considerably among themselves, with the result +that George Brinsmaid was taken to a tree about fifty yards from us, a +horse's halter put around his neck, and he was hanged on one of the +limbs; then two charges of buckshot were fired into his breast. The poor +fellow never spoke a word after leaving the brig. In the fight his left +hand had been shot off by buckshot, but not a groan was heard from him. +Some of the Confederates proposed hanging all of us, on account of +having a "nigger" with us, and, judging from what I had seen of their +actions, I almost came to the conclusion that the proposition would be +carried out. However, in a little while the excitement passed away and +they began to be sociable. The wounded were all examined and wads of raw +cotton put into the wounds. One man came to me with his left hand +bandaged up. He inquired if I was badly hurt. + +"Well," says he, "you're in luck to be alive now. I took deliberate aim +at you as you stood with your back towards me while loading your rifle. +My ---- shotgun burst and blowed off three of my fingers, and that is +what saved you." + +In his eagerness to kill a Yankee, he had put too heavy a charge in his +gun, and it had burst just where he gripped the barrels with his left +hand. My sack coat was cut in several places. One shot struck me in the +arm near the shoulder and went about six inches between the muscles +towards the elbow. That little piece of lead has been my constant +companion for just thirty-four years the 5th of December. I can always +tell when wet weather is coming, by feeling a dull pain in my right arm. +During the general conversation, I found out the cause of so many men +being ready to receive us on shore. It seems that the first shell we had +fired from the brig went very high over the schooner and landed in the +camp in the woods. They were enjoying an after-breakfast smoke when it +fell in their midst. It was laughable to hear them twitting each other +about vacating their quarters. We could not make them believe that it +was a chance shot. They insisted that one of the refugees on our vessel +had pointed out their camp to us. They also believed that they had +killed all the men but one in the boat the day before. Arrants and +myself told them that we were the two officers on shore, but they would +have it that we were both killed. The continual report of our broadside +guns had been heard for quite a distance north and south of Murrell +Inlet. All the rebel pickets thought that a blockade-runner had been +run ashore by the Yankees, so all hastened to the scene of action, +especially as there might be a prospect of looting the vessel if ashore. +When they arrived and found out the true state of affairs they concluded +to remain, in the hope that we would send men ashore to burn the +schooner. There were present two companies of cavalry--one each from the +Fifth and Twenty-first Georgia Regiments and under command of Captains +Bowers and Harrison. There was where Captain Gregory made a blunder in +sending us ashore after cannonading the schooner. Instead of a few men +to contend with, we had a force of one hundred and twenty to give us a +warm reception, which they did in most orthodox style. + +If still living, one of those misguided men is telling his grandchildren +how he captured my sword, for which I had paid twenty-five good dollars. +The rifle and the revolver belonged to the Government. + +At four o'clock that afternoon we started for Charleston, S. C. Those +who were too badly wounded to walk were put in an old wagon. Our boat's +coxswain had been hit in the head with a number of buckshot. He must +have had a tough skull, as the shot cut furrows in his scalp and removed +some of his hair. The blood flowed very freely. He was compelled to walk +the whole distance. We had a guard of ten men, under command of the +lieutenant that Tobin had tried to kill. Well, that fellow made things +as unpleasant as possible for us, in order to have revenge for the +killing of his horse. The road was composed of white, dry sand, and at +every step we took we would sink to our ankles. The cavalry horses were +fast walkers, and we had to keep up with them. We came to a stream of +cold water, and we were forced to wade through it. There was a +footbridge for pedestrians on one side of the road, but we were not +allowed to go over it. The cavalrymen got on their knees on the saddles, +and their horses, plunging through the water, splashed it over our +heads; consequently, we got a good drenching. Walking was more difficult +for us weighted with water; besides, it was night-time, and in the month +of December--rather late in the season for a cold-water bath. + +At nine o'clock in the evening we arrived at our destination, Georgetown +Bay, having walked, or rather been driven, twenty-five miles in five +hours' time. It was all we could do to keep up with the horses. A squad +was in our rear with orders to run us down if we lagged behind. We were +placed in an old log house, the floor being covered to the depth of two +inches with sheep-manure. The wounded were laid in the filth, without +anything being done towards making them comfortable. Two pailfuls of +small, raw sweet potatoes were given us for our supper. That night, +December 5, 1863, will never be erased from my memory; tired and sore in +every limb, my feet badly swollen, the wounded arm hurting, wet and +hungry, I lay down in the manure and tried to sleep, but could not; the +cold and the wet clothes kept me chilled through and through. The poor +fellows who were wounded were continually moaning, but we were powerless +to alleviate their misery. + +We had plenty of reason for growling about the quality of our potato +supper, but the following morning's breakfast was omitted altogether. +About nine o'clock we were divided into squads and taken across the bay +in sailboats. Those who were badly wounded were taken to the hospital; +the rest of us were placed in the Georgetown jail, and a dirty room +about twelve feet square was kindly placed at our disposal. At three in +the afternoon we had breakfast, dinner, and supper combined. The menu +consisted only of one dish--a pan of cold boiled rice. With a piece of +stick it was cut into equal shares, and each man took his portion in his +hand and devoured it at his leisure. We remained there five days. The +only event of interest which occurred there was my being taken out to +General Tropier's headquarters. He asked a few questions about the +gunboat which was blockading the entrance to Georgetown Bay. My answers +were rather evasive. Then I did some talking about the treatment we had +received after being taken prisoners. He said that in future we would +not be abused while under his control. + +About four o'clock of the fifth day we were taken from the jail, and, +with a cavalry guard, we were started for Charleston, S. C. It was a +triangular journey. Straight down the coast Charleston was distant sixty +miles, but the Yankees had the water routes, and consequently we had to +walk forty-three miles west to King's Tree, the nearest railroad +station. Thence, by railroad, we were taken sixty-five miles southeast +to Charleston. Lieutenant Burroughs was in charge of the party. He +allowed us to walk at an ordinary gait, and was very kind and civil to +us. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +IN THE PRISON + + +At nine o'clock we arrived at the Black River Ferry, where a halt was +made for the night. We were then taken into the ferryman's house. +Lieutenant Burroughs ordered supper for four. Arrants, the paymaster, +and myself were invited by him to supper. It was the only time I had a +civilized meal while in the Confederacy. We all slept on the hard floor, +a fire in the room keeping us warm. At daylight we crossed the river on +a primitive ferry. A rope was fastened to each bank of the river, and an +old-flat boat was held in place by it, and pulled back and forth by hand +power. At noon we halted for a rest and to cook the dinner--some more +boiled rice. Late at night we arrived at King's Tree. The next day, in +the afternoon, we got to Charleston, and were at once given in charge +of the provost-marshal. After the taking of our names and rank the party +was separated. The sailors were escorted to the jail by a guard, and a +young lieutenant very politely informed us that we would go with him by +a different route, so as not to attract the attention of the citizens. +He took us through the burnt district. + +What a wonderful change there was since I had last been in that city! +All business was suspended. A large area was in ruins from the fire, +grass was growing in the streets, and there was desolation everywhere. +We could plainly hear the guns firing from our batteries on Norris +Island. On arriving at the jail, the lieutenant shook hands with us and +bade us good-bye. We were taken to the top floor and had an entire +corridor to ourselves. There being about sixteen large cells, twelve +feet square, we had plenty of room--in fact, each of us could have had +an entire suite to himself had he desired it. + +Everything looked very familiar to me, as it was the same place in +which I was confined before my trial in 1856. The newspapers, giving an +account of our capture, stated that I was supposed to be the same George +Thompson who had been tried in the United States District Court for +murder a few years previously. On account of the notice in the +newspapers in regard to my being a prisoner of war and confined in the +jail, a number of citizens visited me, but, having no permit from the +commandant, they had their trouble for nothing. Major John Ryan, chief +of subsistence on General Beauregard's staff, and an old friend of my +father, was the only person allowed to see me. Our interview was quite +sociable at first, then we gradually became belligerent, while +conversing about the war and its issues. He had questioned me about my +rank and the amount of pay I received in the Federal navy. Then the +proposition was made that I join the rebel navy with the rank of +lieutenant. When I refused, he became exceedingly wrathy. Finally he +cooled down a little, and said that General Beauregard would send for me +very soon, as he wished to have an interview with me. I replied that it +would only be waste of time for him to do so. Now, from the questions +that had been asked me, I knew exactly what the rebs wanted to know. +They had sent out a torpedo boat to sink the Ironsides, but it was a +failure. An ensign was killed by a rifle-bullet from the torpedo boat, +but no damage was done to the ship when the torpedo exploded. Admiral +Dahlgren had ordered a raft of timber to be placed all around the +Ironsides in order to prevent any more torpedo boats getting near enough +to do any damage. The rebs could see with telescopes from Sumter that +the Yankee sailors were hard at work around the ship, but could not find +out what was being done. The Charleston papers stated that the Ironsides +was in a sinking condition, and could only be kept above water by the +use of heavy timbers. That same torpedo boat afterward destroyed the +Housatonic, but the boat and crew were never seen afterward. In all +probability they blew themselves up at the same time. + +General Beauregard retained all officers captured by his troops in case +he should need them as hostages. Consequently, Columbia, S. C, was to be +our place of abode, instead of Libby Prison at Richmond, where the +officers were generally confined. While in the Charleston jail we heard +from our friends quite frequently. Gilmore's guns would send shells into +the city. They sounded like a heavy wagon-wheel going over a rough +pavement. Next would be a heavy thud, and, in a few seconds more, a +terrible explosion. At first, percussion shells were used, but quite a +large percentage of them would turn in their flight through the air, and +as they would not strike fuse first, no explosion would take place. A +lot of men were always watching for such shells to strike. With shovels +and pickaxes they would dig them out of the ground. The rebel ordnance +department paid one hundred dollars in Confederate currency for every +unexploded shell delivered. The next move was for the Yankees to change +from percussion to time fuses. The first shell did not explode on +striking, so a crowd, as usual, started to unearth it. Quite a number of +spectators were watching the fun. Suddenly the operations were +suspended. The time fuse exploded the shell, killing several persons and +wounding a number more. Of course the Yankees were loudly cursed for +playing such a mean trick, but the ordnance department got no more of +our shells. The second day after our arrival a shell passed over the +jail and landed in a frame building only a block distant. When it +exploded, timbers and boards flew in all directions. We could see the +dust and splinters in the air quite plainly from our window. Somehow, I +felt pleased whenever one of those missiles came along, although we were +liable to be killed at any time by one of them. + +Much to my surprise, a single mattress and blanket were sent up to me by +some of my former acquaintances. I considered it only proper that such +good fortune should be shared with Arrants and the paymaster, so we used +the mattress for a pillow, and, by sleeping "spoon fashion," we made the +blanket cover us all. I may state now that it was the only time that we +had a blanket during our entire imprisonment. In all of that part of the +building there was no furniture of any description. We had to utilize +the floor for all purposes. Our food consisted of cold boiled rice, and +was brought to us twice a day in a tin pan. Table etiquette was +dispensed with for the time being, and our fingers had to be used for +disposing of the food. The evening of the seventh day some of the +provost guard took us to the railroad depot en route for Columbia. While +waiting for the train to start, a couple of women got into conversation +with us. They bade us "Good luck" and handed us each a quart bottle of +corn whisky. The provost guard drank the most of it. At any rate, it +helped to pass away the night in a cheerful manner. In the morning we +arrived at the Richland County jail, Columbia, S. C. That was to be our +resting-place for several months. + +The following is the substance of the official report of our capture, +etc., made to the Secretary of the Navy by Admiral Dahlgren: + +"Two boys who had been sent on shore in the dingey at Murrell Inlet for +a barrel of sand for holystoning decks had been killed by the rebels. A +few weeks later Acting Ensign Myron W. Tillson, with thirteen men, were +captured at the same place while trying to burn a blockade-runner. +Believing Acting Master Gregory to be a discreet and experienced +officer, I sent his vessel to blockade the Inlet, also instructing him +not to send any men on shore. Three officers and sixteen men were also +captured from his vessel. I inclose his report. On a personal interview +he claimed that his orders were not obeyed by Acting Ensign Arrants, and +that the latter was responsible for the capture of the men. Having had +so much trouble at Murrell Inlet, I decided to send a strong force of +marines and sailors to that place to destroy the schooner and other +property, as well as to remove any disposition to exult on the part of +the rebels for capturing so many of our men." + +Then followed the report of the expedition as made by Acting Master +Gregory, detailing the amount of damage done. The Secretary of the Navy +then issued the following general order, which was read at general +muster on each vessel in the squadron: + + "GENERAL ORDERS, NO. ----. + + "For flagrant disobedience of orders from his commanding officer + and being responsible for a number of men having been captured + by the rebels, Acting Ensign William B. Arrants is dismissed + from the United States Navy. While the Department does not wish + to discourage acts of gallantry or enterprise, strict obedience + of orders must be insisted on. + + "GIDEON WELLES, + "_Secretary of the Navy_." + +The whole blame had been put upon Arrants. Upon my arrival in +Washington, I reported to the Secretary of the Navy in person, giving +him a full report of the whole affair in writing. He asked me a number +of questions in regard to Captain Gregory. As the naval records showed +that my commission antedated that of Arrants by about three months, it +proved conclusively that Captain Gregory had misrepresented when he +stated that the expedition had been commanded by Arrants. A great +injustice had been done. An order was at once issued restoring Acting +Ensign William B. Arrants to the naval service from the date of +dismissal. + +Captain Gregory, in order to screen himself, had put all the blame on +Arrants, supposing him to be dead. When he found out we were about to be +exchanged he concluded that it was about time for him to resign from the +service. By that means he escaped from serious consequences which would +have resulted from his conduct. The punishment meted out by +court-martial was generally severe during the time of the Rebellion. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +PRISON LIFE AND PRISON FARE + + +Eleven naval officers gave us a most cordial reception when the captain +in charge of the prison introduced us as fresh fish. All were eager to +learn the latest news of the war, and especially about the prospects of +exchanging prisoners of war in the near future. Now it happened that we +were well posted on the "exchange" question--namely, that the +authorities at Washington had notified the rebels that the cartel was +ended, and no more exchanges would be made. Our men, when received, were +disabled from duty on account of sickness caused by lack of proper food +and clothing, as well as inhuman treatment. On the other hand, the +rebels were returned in better health and more comfortably clothed than +at the time of capture. The advantage to the rebel army, under the +circumstances, would be too great to permit of any further exchanges. It +was policy to let the Union men remain as prisoners, as they would be +useless for a long time for active duty. Keeping the rebels in prison +would deprive the rebel army of a large number of able men, who, +released, would be immediately available for active duty. + +Our fellow-prisoners were down-hearted at first, when told the dictum; +but soon their cheerful remarks showed that they believed our Government +was pursuing a wise course under the circumstances. The jail was a +three-story building, the two lower floors being used exclusively for +the confinement of debtors. The third story was fitted up with cells for +the criminals. At that time there was no State prison in South Carolina. +The longest sentence a prisoner could receive was two and one half years +in jail. Murder, robbery, burglary, arson, and rape were punishable by +death. A man whose punishment was commuted from death could only be +confined for the maximum jail sentence. We fourteen naval officers were +confined in one room on the first floor. The size of the apartment was +sixteen by twenty feet. When we lay on the floor at night there was but +little vacant space. Sixteen army officers were confined in a room on +the other side of the main hall. One half-hour in the morning and in the +afternoon was allowed us to go into the yard, in order to wash and +attend to our toilet, and only four were permitted to go at one time. +For that reason we had to be in a hurry, so as to give all an +opportunity. When the half-hour had expired, we were counted and the +door locked. The army officers were then let out for the same length of +time. We received our rations every ten days, in an uncooked condition. +Unbolted corn-meal was the staple food. Two ounces of old, mouldy bacon +was allowed each person for the ten days, that being the only animal +food we received. Sometimes a small quantity of rice was also allowed. +In the yard was a small brick building used as a kitchen, where the +cooking was done. Opposite, and extending the whole length of the yard, +was an old wooden barracks in which were confined about sixty privates. +One private was detailed for the navy and one for the army officers. Not +much skill was required for the cooking, but considerable ingenuity was +needed to devise ways and means. In our mess the officers had managed to +get a table, two long benches, ten pie-plates, and some knives and +forks. Two meals a day was all that our rations would stand. This was +our regular menu for about nine months for every meal: Corn-meal, +slapjacks, corn-bread, corn-meal gravy, and corn-meal coffee. Our bacon +was used for making the gravy and greasing the old tin pan which we +utilized as a griddle. Corn-meal was burned nearly black for making the +coffee. At one time our rations missed connections for nearly two days, +and there was woe and agony. We divided the time about equally in +damning the Confederacy and praying for something to eat. There were two +iron-barred windows in our room which overlooked the yard of our +next-door neighbour. A man, wife, and little boy lived there. A passage +way about twelve feet wide separated the jail and a one-story cottage. +One of our windows was exactly opposite their bedroom window, but both +too high from the ground for the rebel sentry on guard in the passage +way to see into either of them. Our neighbour's name was Crane. The +family were strong Unionists, and we carried on a daily conversation by +slate-writing. All the latest news was given to us, as well as any +information which we desired. + +Mr. Crane was a young man about thirty years of age, and he had a +special permit from the rebel government exempting him from military +service, on account of being a wagon-maker and needed by the citizens in +Columbia to do their work. A girl about eighteen years old finally came +to reside with the family. We immediately christened her "Union Mary," +and kept that girl busy receiving and throwing kisses at us. She seemed +to have nothing else to do but to watch our window. As we had plenty of +leisure time, some one of the party was continually making distant love +to her. At last she let us know that she wanted to go North and live +with the Yankees. Nearly all of us wrote a letter telling her how to get +a pass through the lines and recommending her to our relatives. She +succeeded all right. The father of one of the officers got her a good +situation and gave her a fine start in life, out of gratitude for the +news which she brought him from his son. + +A few weeks afterward Mr. Crane was ordered to report for military duty +at Richmond. He and several companions got off the cars at the nearest +point to our lines and were successful in getting through. The next we +heard of him was through his wife, who said that he had reached New York +city and was earning very high wages at his trade. + +A company of home guards, composed of fifty men under command of a +captain, first, second, and third lieutenants, were our guardian angels. +The guard-room adjoined ours on the first floor. Their camp was outside +the city limits. Every morning, at eight o'clock, the relief would come +in and remain on duty for twenty-four hours. We became well acquainted +with all, and were quite sociable. Three of the privates let us know +that they were Union sympathizers. Many a favour they did for us, by +assisting us to communicate with Union people in the city. In the month +of March, 1864, all hopes of being exchanged before the ending of the +war were given up. Every one of us was in favour of making an attempt to +escape from prison, if possible. Lieutenant Preston and myself were to +do the engineering part; the others agreed to work under our +instructions. Preston was a regular officer, and myself being a +volunteer removed any cause for believing that any favouritism would be +shown during the progress of building a tunnel. After eight in the +evening the guards never opened our door. Then we commenced operations. + +A large brick fire-place was situated between the two windows. The +bricks on one end were taken up and a hole was made that allowed us to +get under the floor. Preston and myself worked nearly all night. First, +we stopped up several ventilating holes with pieces of clay and brick. +All the brickbats were piled in a corner to be out of our way. We found +there would be plenty of space to pile up the dirt that would be taken +from the tunnel, the height of the floor from the ground being about +three feet. Directly under the window facing Crane's house we started a +shaft three feet square. The dirt, as we removed it, was piled over the +ventilating hole; there being no danger of any noise being heard by the +sentry in the alley or a light seen, we ceased operations for the night. +The bricks in the fire-place were replaced, and we retired for the night +to our luxurious couches--the bare floor--for much-needed rest. The +entrance to our lower regions must be attended to first, as the bricks +had a very insecure foundation. One of the guards very kindly consented +to carry our compliments and a request to Mrs. Crane for the loan of a +saw, hammer, nails, and a piece of board, as we wished to make a shelf. +During the afternoon we had everything in readiness. The bricks were +removed and put in a soap box, cleats were hastily nailed to the floor +timbers, pieces of board laid across, and the bricks replaced. Ashes +were then filled into the cracks. It was a first-class job when +finished, and we could defy detection. One of us went into the kitchen +in the yard and stole our own poker from the cook. It was a piece of +flat iron, and the only instrument procurable for excavating purposes. +The officers were divided into working parties, two in each squad, each +to work two hours at a time. Preston would direct and assist in the +work, from eight until twelve midnight, and I from twelve to four in the +morning. + +It was necessary to be careful about the construction of the tunnel, as +it was to be run under a sentry's feet. If there should happen to be a +cave-in and a reb drop down among the toilers, it would be rather +embarrassing. Crane's house was built in the Southern style for all +wooden buildings, resting on supports about two feet in height. Our +objective point was about the centre of his habitation. We could crawl +to the other side, and by getting over a board fence would practically +become "prisoners-at-large." + +The ground was favourable for our work, being composed of stiff red +clay. All felt happy and cheerful as the work progressed, and the +monotony of being so closely confined was somewhat relieved. On the +corner of the square in which the jail was located was the city hall. We +could hear the hours and half hours as they were struck, quite plainly, +so we had no trouble about the time of quitting work. It was necessary +for us to have a point to start our measurements from, and after much +discussion, we selected a window-sill in our room directly over the +tunnel-shaft. It was a strange place to locate it, but from that point +every part of the work was measured to an inch. By fastening a wad of +wet paper to a thread we ascertained the exact distance between Crane's +house and the inside of the jail wall. One of us held the thread on the +window-sill while the other kept throwing the wad until it struck the +clapboard. When the sentry walked past our window he gave us the +opportunity, and, by lowering the wad to the ground, we got the height +of the passage-way which the sentry patroled. The shaft was sunk nine +feet, and was considerably lower than the foundation of the building. +Then the tunnel was started, being two feet wide and three feet in +height, the top being arched. For a distance of fourteen feet it was +perfectly level, then it was started on an angle towards the surface of +the ground. + +About that time we had to stop operations for a few days. Orders had +been sent by General Beauregard to put Lieutenant-Commander E. P. +Williams and Ensign Benjamin Porter in irons, and hold them as hostages +for a rebel naval lieutenant, who was sentenced to be hanged by the +Federal Government for piracy on Lake Erie. Williams was selected as the +highest in rank, Porter for the reason that he had the most influential +friends. The two officers were shackled together, hands and legs, and +were doomed to be inseparable companions for the time being, with a +chance of being hanged. Not knowing but that the officers or guards +might enter our room during the night to look at the hostages, it was +deemed advisable to leave the tunnel alone. The handcuffs and shackles +were of the old style, shutting together by a spring bolt. To open them +the key was inserted, and turning it a number of times would screw the +bolt back. The key and spindle had threads cut like a common bolt and +nut. Sailors understood the mechanism perfectly. By taking a piece of +soft wood the size of the keyhole and boring a hole in the centre +slightly smaller than the spindle, and twisting it around in the +keyhole, threads would be cut in it, and the handcuffs opened. Another +plan was to make a slip-noose of fine twine, and by slipping it over the +spindle, the bolt could also be drawn back. During business hours our +two unfortunate companions were fettered together, but the remainder of +the time they could meander around separately. We had plenty of +amusement in drilling them to get into proper position for being +shackled as soon as there was any indication of the door being opened. + +Supplementary orders soon arrived that Porter and Williams should be +confined by themselves in a separate room. A small room next to that of +the army officers was selected. Being on the first floor, it was an easy +matter for us to release them when we were ready to escape. Work was at +once resumed. Our greatest difficulty was in getting candles enough to +supply us with light. Finally, the last night's work was finished. The +tunnel was twenty-two feet in length. According to our diagram we were +six inches from the surface of the ground under Crane's house. We were +afraid to make a small hole to the surface to make sure that our +measurements were correct, for if there should be any depression in the +ground, the first rainstorm would let the water into our excavation. We +divided ourselves into parties of two or three, each to select our own +route to the Federal lines. A small school atlas was borrowed, and maps +made of the different routes we intended to take. Lieutenant Brower, +Arrants, and myself decided to go south twenty-five miles, and follow +the Santee River east to the sea-coast, then taking our chances of +reaching a Federal gunboat. Corn-meal was baked brown, and with a +little salt added, by mixing it with water it would be ready for eating. +Matches were put into bottles to prevent them from getting wet. In fact, +all preparations were made for our journey that we could think of. + +It occasionally happens that people make fools of themselves in +assisting others. Well, that is just what we did; some of us thought it +would not be right to leave the army officers behind. A vote was taken +and all were in favour of giving the army officers a chance to go with +us. They were notified and one week's time given them in which to get +ready. They were instructed to be cautious, and that we would make an +opening in their fire-place also as soon as Porter and Williams were +released. The latter were to have the first chance for their liberty. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +DISAPPOINTMENT AND MORE WAITING + + +About the second day afterward circumstances indicated that our +intention to escape was known to the officers of the guard. They would +come into our room, ostensibly for a friendly visit, but we noticed that +they were examining the windows and floor while chatting with us. Within +a foot of the building was a six-foot board fence, and that was taken +away, giving the sentry on duty a full view of our side of the walls. +Then we knew, for certain, that something was wrong. On Saturday morning +permission was obtained to have the room floor scrubbed. Everything was +piled on the table and a general housecleaning took place. All of us +then went into the yard until the floor got dry. As we anticipated, the +officer on duty went into the room during our absence and gave it a +thorough inspection, but nothing was discovered. We congratulated +ourselves upon the successful issue of our game of bluff. + +Sunday night, about eight o'clock, we heard an unusual noise in the +guard-room, which sounded very much like sawing a hole in the floor. +After a while the racket ceased, and we resumed our slumbers. Suddenly +our room door was opened, Captain Sennes with several of the guards +walked in, some armed with muskets and others with lighted candles. We +were counted and reported as "all present." + +"Gentlemen, I have found your hole!" was the startling announcement. + +The whole affair was so ludicrous and unexpected that we began laughing. +Captain Sennes was excited, and well pleased with the idea of having +discovered our plan of escape. + +"Now, gentlemen, I shall have to keep a guard in your room for the +remainder of the night." + +Of course we had no objections. About three o'clock in the morning he +changed his mind and ordered us to be escorted into the room occupied by +Williams and Porter. All the little portable articles we possessed, +which might tempt the cupidity of the rebs, were hastily gathered up and +our change of quarters soon effected. There was no more sleep for us. So +much excitement in one night was too much for our delicate systems. + +In the morning Captain Sennes concluded to confine the navy and army +officers on the second floor. That part of the building was the "bull +pen" for the conscripts. Every part of South Carolina was thoroughly +searched for shirkers from military duty. The "poor whites," as they +were called, would be taken from their families, manacled two together, +and brought to the jail. When a squad of fifty was obtained, they would +be sent to the front and distributed among different regiments. As a +class they were very ignorant, but few of them knowing what the war was +about. + +"What do you 'uns want to come down here and whip we 'uns for?" was +their only argument. But at the same time they would fight--there was +no mistaking that fact. + +Our new quarters were very uncomfortable in many respects: there were +dirt and filth everywhere. An old box-stove in a small room was our +fire-place. The conscripts had no firewood, so they had used the doors +and frames for fuel, then the window-sashes and casings were utilized, +and next was the lath from the partitions. That floor had plenty of +ventilation. No difference which way the wind would come from, we got +the full benefit of it. The rooms were divided between us, the army +taking one side of the building, the naval officers the other, the +hall-way being used as a promenade by all the tenants. No attempt was +made to keep us separate as in the past, for the reason that the doors +and partitions were lacking. The view of the city in our locality was +very good. When we got tired of looking from one side of the building we +could cross over and take a view in the opposite direction. The +newspapers had blood-curdling articles in regard to our attempt at +escaping. We were alluded to as "Yankee hirelings," and other pet names +were bestowed upon us. Even poor Mrs. Crane got a roasting because her +house happened to be over the exit of the tunnel. Quite a number of +visitors came to the jail to view our work, but finally the whole affair +became stale and forgotten. Then it occurred to Captain Sennes that it +would be quite proper to plug the hole up. He was very anxious to know +who engineered the work, but, very naturally, every one was bashful +about claiming that honour. At last he unbosomed himself: "Gentlemen, as +you constructed the tunnel, probably you can inform me how to fill it +up." Now that question was a poser to all of us. A great many +suggestions were made, but all proved unsatisfactory. Finally, the +captain had the shaft filled up with brickbats and broken bottles. In +the passage-way between the two buildings they dug down to the tunnel +and put in a load of clay. With every rainstorm the clay would settle +and leave a big hole. From observation and much debating on the subject, +it was conceded that the proper plan would have been to dig it up from +end to end. Our new quarters were quite uncomfortable. I devised all +sorts of schemes to keep myself warm at night. Sleeping on a bare floor, +the lack of blankets, and the cold wind, made a combination which it was +useless to contend against. All I could do was to wait patiently for +daylight, and then, by walking and exercising, get myself warmed up. + +The sixty privates in the yard also caught the tunnel mania. The +barracks had a wooden floor. Two boards were removed, and an excavation +made to the rear of the building. The exit was in an adjoining garden. +Not much skill in engineering was displayed on their part. They simply +dug until they felt like stopping. The distance from the surface was +ascertained by pushing a stick up through the ground. It was left there +projecting above the surface. We were informed of their plans and +intention to escape that night. It seems that Captain Sennes was also +fully posted as to what was going on. A number of the rebs were +stationed in the garden. The stick projecting from the ground indicated +the place from which the prisoners would emerge. Orders were given to +let a number of the Yankees come out, then to fire into the crowd and +kill as many as possible. Fortunately, the first man to come out--Peter +Keefe--happened to see one of the rebs. He gave the alarm to his +companions. Being still on his hands and knees, he thought his best +chance would be in making a bold run for liberty. As he jumped up a reb +fired, the bullet shattering Keefe's left knee. The leg had to be +amputated. The next day all the privates were removed from the yard and +confined with us. That made affairs still worse, there being hardly +space enough for us to lie down at night. Two escaped prisoners from +Andersonville were added to our numbers. They arrived late at night, +and, as it was dark, we could not see what they looked like. The +lieutenant of the guard asked us to find a place for them to lie down. +Brayton slept on the table. Calling the men, he said they could find +room enough underneath. + +After daylight we gathered around our new companions. They were still +handcuffed together. It was a pitiful sight to look at them, dirty and +ragged, with their ankles swollen up by scurvy. The face of one of them +was badly swollen, and covered with pustules. The surgeon was at once +sent for. He pronounced it to be small-pox. The sick man was sent to the +pest-house; his companion was isolated in the barracks. The first one +finally recovered, but his companion caught the infection and died. In a +few days Brayton showed symptoms of small-pox, was removed to the +pest-house, and also died. William Brayton was a sail-maker in the +United States navy; his rank was that of warrant officer, a distinct +grade from the line or staff officers. He was wounded and taken prisoner +during the midnight surprise attack on Fort Sumter by the navy. A bullet +had shattered his right forearm, and also went through the fleshy part +of his right leg. Fortunately Captain Sennes realized the danger of +having the officers and privates confined together. Besides, it was not +a customary thing on either side, and, consequently, the privates were +returned to the barracks in the yard, much to our satisfaction. They had +the freedom of the yard nearly all day, which made them satisfied with +the change. + +I commenced to feel sick and discouraged, and had an inclination to lie +on the floor continually. The surgeon examined me and gave me some +quinine pills, saying that I probably had malarial fever. For several +mornings he visited me, and was very particular about looking at my +tongue. Finally a peculiar white mark showed on the tip end. There was +no mistaking that mark. I had typhoid fever. Orders were given to send +for the ambulance, and have me taken to the hospital. A large church on +the outskirts of the town was to be my future abode. It was called the +Second North Carolina Hospital. Why it received that name I could never +find out. Opposite to it was the beautiful mansion and grounds belonging +to General Wade Hampton, the pride of South Carolina. That misguided +hero went through the war all right, only to lose a leg afterward, most +unromantically, by a kick from a mule. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A CRACKER BEAUTY + + +A parole was made out for me to sign, but it was very difficult for me +to sign my name. I managed to keep on my feet for a few hours, and the +change and novelty seemed to give me strength. Early in the evening I +undressed and got into bed, and there I remained for six weeks. Surgeon +Thompson told me I had the "slow" typhoid fever, that I would have to be +very patient, and not to worry. Most of the time I was in a stupor, but +had a dim consciousness of what was passing around me. One of the +privates from the yard had the fever. He arrived a few days after +myself. Milk punch was given to him; within a week he died. My treatment +was different. The medicine tasted like turpentine and camphor. But no +milk punch was given me at any time. At last the fever broke and I +slowly recovered. Large bed-sores made their appearance on both hips. In +fact I was sore all over from lying in bed such a long time. At a +distance of twenty-five feet every object would quadruple to my vision. +If there was one man, I would see four. Any object hanging on the wall +especially strengthened the optical delusion. + +When able to sit up on my bed I would talk to Peter Keefe. His cot was +just across the passage-way from my own. The amputation was skilfully +done, but it took a long time for the stump to heal up. He did not care +so much for the loss of the leg as he did for the failure of the plan to +escape. + +Two "Cracker" girls swept the basement floor and brought us our food. +They may have been styled nurses on the pay-rolls for all I know. +However, I made a great mistake in not making love to both, comparing +them to angels, and trying to make them believe that they had saved me +from an early grave. Instead I would make critical remarks about their +lack of charms to Keefe, in their presence. The younger one was about +twenty years of age. She wore low calfskin shoes and white stockings +which needed a good washing. Many of my remarks referred to their soiled +condition. While manipulating the broom she displayed wonderful talent +for going to sleep. About every tenth movement she would stand still, +resting on the broom-handle, and take a short nap. Then would follow +another few strokes and more nap, the same routine continuing until the +job was finished. + +The hospital steward was also of the "Cracker" type, and a most devout +Methodist. Somehow we were not bosom friends. He was very much afraid I +would say something to shock the "sweeping beauty." Finally I got tired +of his infernal canting and tersely told him to go to the devil, +advising him at the same time to marry the girl with the dirty +stockings, as I was very certain he was the right man for the husband. +Events were quiet for a couple of days. Hostilities soon broke out. The +doctor had ordered a soft-boiled egg to be given me. Beauty brought it +to me in a glass tumbler and skipped away in a hurry. There was more +salt than egg. Fortunately, she had not stirred it up, so I skimmed off +the egg carefully and ate it. Then I gazed at the tumbler. There was at +least one inch of solid salt in the bottom. Keefe had been watching me +and was highly amused. But Beauty discreetly kept out of my way for the +remainder of the day. I informed the surgeon that I was very dainty +about eating eggs and preferred them served in the shell; so that salt +racket was stopped. I will always believe that Beauty and her acting +husband put up a job on me. + +A very angular woman with sanctimonious visage and a huge Bible in her +hand squatted herself by my bed. The way she read the Scriptures to me +would make a dead man turn over in his coffin. In about five minutes +there was war in earnest. The surgeon happened to come in just then and +ordered her out of the hospital. The next episode was through a friendly +German. He was a sailor, and, being in one of the Southern ports during +the early of the Rebellion, he, like many other sailors, was forced +into the rebel army. In one of the battles he had been wounded by a +piece of shell. As he was now convalescent, he was at leisure to go +where he pleased. He spoke about the large quantities of blackberries +that were to be found in the woods. I asked him to bring me some the +next time he gathered any. While taking a morning nap a plate of nice, +large blackberries had been left on the table at my bedside. When I +awoke I was perfectly delighted at the sight. I had been craving for +fruit for some days past. They seemed too nice to eat. Temptation was +strong, however, and I picked up a single berry and put it in my mouth. +My intention was to eat the whole plateful--one at a time. The surgeon +just then passed near me. + +"Well, surgeon, this is a great treat," I said to him. He seemed quite +nervous when he saw the berries. + +"How many have you eaten?" + +"This is the first one," I replied. + +"Well, that is lucky for you. Had you eaten twelve of them, you would +have been a dead man inside of twenty-four hours." He asked who gave +them to me. Well, that I knew nothing about, as I was asleep and +supposed that Beauty had left them for me. He took away the plate and +went after Beauty. My German sailor friend was not found out, but the +chasm between Dirty Stockings and myself was greatly widened. + +I soon became convalescent. A reb with a loaded musket escorted me back +to my old quarters in the jail. My fellow-prisoners gave me a cordial +reception. It was at one time thought by them that I would remain +permanently in the South. All monotony in our prison life was now over. +Exciting news was heard every day. Sherman's army was marching through +Georgia. The rebs were drawing our troops away from their base of +supplies. All the "invading hirelings" were to be killed, gobbled up, +and other dire calamities were to befall them. Wheeler's cavalry went +howling through Columbia on their way to annihilate Sherman's "bummers." +The citizens cheered, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs and +threw kisses at them. Those fellows were going to raise ---- sure +enough. We had a good view of the whole proceeding from our window. A +few cat-calls were given by us to help along the excitement. Not many +weeks afterward that same cavalry went through Columbia again, but their +noses were pointed in the opposite direction, with Sherman's cavalry not +many miles in the rear. Those gallant defenders of the South looted all +the stores on Main Street, and carried all they could conveniently get +away with. No ladies threw kisses at them that time. + +The Yankee officers confined in Libby Prison were removed to Charleston +and placed under the fire of the Federal guns in hopes that the shelling +of the city would be stopped. Through some means, the locality in which +the prisoners were confined was made known to the Union troops, +consequently none were killed. Several changes of localities were made, +always with the same result. Finally the rebel provost-marshal and +several of his guards were killed by Yankee shells, and then the +prisoners were all sent to Columbia and confined in a stockade on the +other side of the river--"Camp Sorghum," as it was christened by the +Yankees. The prisoners at Andersonville were hastily sent to different +parts of the Confederacy to keep them out of reach of Sherman's troops. + +"Gentlemen, there will arrive this evening one hundred and seventeen +Yankee officers, and arrangements will have to be made for them to share +your quarters," was Captain Sennes's announcement. + +We made hasty preparations to receive the "fresh fish." They ranked from +second lieutenant up to colonel. Such a motley and reckless lot I never +met before. All had been captured inside the rebel forts when the mine +was exploded at Petersburg. We were uncomfortably crowded for room with +so many men, and Captain Sennes proposed to the old prisoners that we +should sign a parole and return to our quarters on the first floor. We +readily agreed to it. On our part, we were not to escape by tunnelling, +or from the yard; on their part, our door was to be left open, with +liberty to go into the yard when necessary, and also one hour in the +morning and afternoon for recreation. + +Williams and Porter had been released from irons. The six officers +highest in rank among the new arrivals were assigned to the rooms which +they had vacated, and granted the same privileges as we. On Main Street +was the printing establishment of Ball & Keating. The building extended +across the rear of our yard. We were greatly surprised to see a number +of young ladies taking a good view of the prisoners from a second-story +window. The rebs had gotten scared, and had moved the Bureau of Printing +and Engraving from Richmond to Columbia. Ball & Keating's establishment +was selected for the printing of the Confederate currency. The money was +not worth stealing. An ordinary burglar could have taken away a +cart-load of the notes. At night the money was left loose in the +different rooms, the same as a lot of hand-bills in a common +printing-office. The lady employés, as a means of recreation, would gaze +at the Yankee hirelings in the prison-yard. A number of the privates had +no coats or shirts, and were barefoot. The sight must have been very +interesting. + +When the officers were in the yard the privates had to remain in the +barracks. That was the time that those young ladies from Virginia showed +their good breeding. If one of us happened to get within spitting +distance of a window, up would go their noses and down would come the +saliva. At first we were inclined to be angry, but that was just what +those females liked, so we changed our tactics, and threw kisses back +when they spat. By that means the spitting was stopped. Every day we +would hear exciting news from different sources. + +What interested us most came direct from the Secretary of the +Confederate navy. He authorized some gentlemen to make arrangements for +a special exchange of prisoners. They called upon us and made the +proposition that two naval officers should be paroled and sent to +Washington to see if an exchange of naval prisoners, regardless of rank +or numbers, could be effected. Lieutenant-Commanders Williams and +Prendergast were given the mission. Both were given paroles for thirty +days. If our Government consented to the proposition, they were to +remain North; if not, they were to return to Richmond within a specified +time. All the necessary documents were given to them, and they were +started for Richmond the next day and taken to our lines on a +flag-of-truce boat. Inside the thirty days we were notified that the +exchange would be made. Great was the joy among our party at the +prospect of soon returning home. It was soon known in Columbia that we +were to be exchanged. Then I became mixed up in a mysterious affair +which I have never been able to solve. Captain Sennes came to our room +with a woman. + +"Mr. Thompson, this lady has an order from the commandant to see you." + +He then went out. The lady introduced herself as Mrs. Hall, of +Washington, D. C. She had been South during the war; her husband was in +Washington, and she had not been able to hear from him, and "would I be +kind enough to deliver a letter to him?" + +"Certainly." I was willing to help her in any way possible. We conversed +a short time on ordinary topics. + +"Do you know Colonel Dent?" + +"No, I have never heard of such a person." + +"Why, he is General Grant's brother-in-law, and is confined in this +jail." + +"Well, that is news to me. No one ever knew of his being here." + +"It is a fact. He is confined on the top floor with the criminals, and I +see him very often. He gave me a number of letters which he wishes taken +to General Grant. Will you take them?" + +"Yes, provided you answer a few questions. How did you know my name?" + +"Through a lady who knew you while you were in the hospital." + +"Why do you select me to carry letters for a man about whom I know +nothing?" + +"Because you were recommended to me." + +"Very well, I will take them, provided I am allowed to know their +contents. It seems strange to me that Colonel Dent should be confined in +this jail as a criminal and not one of us Yankee prisoners know anything +about it." + +She assured me that he was Grant's brother-in-law, and had been arrested +for some transaction about a plantation near New Orleans. There were +several letters in the package, a petition to the Governor of Wisconsin, +and a long letter written in short-hand. "He was a good Democrat, a +loyal citizen.--See that my land in Wisconsin is not sold for +non-payment of taxes," are some of the extracts. The others related to +family affairs. The short-hand notes I could not read. What the petition +was for I have forgotten. Mrs. Hall then presented me with a finely +embroidered silk tobacco-pouch. Thanking me for my kindness, she bade me +good-bye. When, afterward, I thought the affair over, I came to the +conclusion that the letters were only a subterfuge to draw my suspicions +from the short-hand notes. Not a word had been said in the letters +about the cause of his arrest or about his being confined as a criminal. +As I had promised to deliver the packet, I concluded to take the risk of +getting myself in trouble with the Confederate authorities. They had a +habit of searching the prisoners before crossing the line.[E] + + [E] A number of years afterward, I was confined in the prison in + Jefferson City, Mo. At that place guards were kept on the walls + night and day. Convicts were selected as night watchmen for the + different shops. It was my good fortune to be watchman in the + saddle-tree shop. At that time Colonel John A. Joyce and + General Williams--members of the Whisky Ring during Grant's + administration--were serving a sentence of two years each. + Joyce was cell-housekeeper in the negroes' building during the + daytime, and Williams was storekeeper. Every evening they would + come to my shop, and a pot of good coffee would be cooked on + the stove. A couple of hours would be pleasantly passed in + talking over past events. Generals Grant and Babcock were + frequently mentioned in connection with the Whisky Ring. I told + them all about Colonel Dent's being confined in the Columbia + jail, and asked if they knew anything about the circumstances. + Both of them commenced laughing; then the subject was dropped. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +LIBBY PRISON + + +Squads of naval prisoners frequently passed through Columbia on their +way to Richmond. At last orders were given for us to be ready at four +o'clock the next morning. There was no sleeping that night in our room. +Four of the guards were detailed to escort us to Libby Prison. As we +left the jail, the army officers came to the windows and gave us three +cheers and a "tiger." They little imagined then how soon they would have +their own freedom. It was not long afterward until Sherman's "bummers" +captured the city. The prisoners escaped from the jail before the rebs +could remove them. As our troops entered the city the ex-prisoners found +plenty of willing hands to help them set fire to the jail, city hall, +and treasury buildings. + +The first part of our journey was made in passenger coaches. In North +Carolina we were changed to box-cars. When we got to Virginia travelling +became worse; the train had to move very slowly. The Yankee cavalry had +destroyed all the roads as much as possible. At one place, for a +distance of thirty miles, not a house or a fence-rail could be seen. +Twisted railroad iron was quite abundant. The only wood visible was the +stumps of telegraph-poles in the ground. We were eight days in getting +to Richmond, and well tired out with the trip. We were taken to the +provost-marshal's office and thence to Libby Prison. Our squad was the +last to arrive. About seventy-five officers and five hundred sailors and +marines comprised all the Yankee naval prisoners. The sailors were +confined at the extreme end of the building, a brick wall separating us. +We had plenty of room for exercise in that big warehouse. The army +officers had not taken all their companions with them when they went to +Charleston, as we soon found out to our dismay. Every crack in the +floor of that prison was filled with vermin, and the largest and finest +specimens of the pest that could be found in the whole United States. In +Columbia we had not been troubled with vermin, but in Libby it was +impossible to get rid of them. The most of our spare time was devoted to +hunting for game in our clothing, and no one ever complained about +having bad luck. We were expecting almost hourly to be put on a +flag-of-truce boat. Day after day passed, with no signs of our leaving. +An old negro who brought in our rations of corn-bread informed us that +the exchange might not take place, as Ben Butler was doing all he could +to prevent it. General Ben Butler, or "Beast Butler," as he was called +by the rebs, had command of the troops at City Point. Through neglect on +his part to carry out the plan of the campaign he got "bottled up" by +the rebels and probably prolonged the war. We had positive information +that the naval rebel prisoners were on the boat at City Point, but why +Butler should interfere was an enigma to us. It was a peculiarity of +his to be always on the wrong side of the fence. + +Master's Mate William Kitching, being desirous of having conversation +with one of the boat's crew, had removed a couple of bricks from the +partitions which separated the officers from the sailors. He told some +of the men to pass the word for all of his men to come to the aperture. +Much to his surprise he was informed that all the men belonging to his +boat had died at Andersonville. Not one of the thirteen sailors were +living. The other officers went to the hole and called for their men +also. Only a very few answered to their names. Out of the sixteen +sailors captured with me only three answered. About seventy-five per +cent of the sailors had died in the different prisons. What puzzled us +all was the fact of there being so many prisoners that none of us could +identify. The men must have had consultation among themselves, as during +the afternoon the situation of affairs was fully explained to us. +Information had been received at the different prisons that the sailors +were to be exchanged. They originated a plan to help all the soldiers +possible. Sailors gave their most intimate friends the names of their +deceased shipmates, the names of the ships, where and when captured, the +names of the officers, and, in fact, all information that would be +useful. The scheme had been successful, so far. They were told to +continue the deception, and the officers would assist them in doing so. +We had been in Libby three weeks and nothing definite was known, and we +might go back South for all we knew. + +About nine in the evening the stairs leading to the second floor were +lowered.[F] One officer was called by name and taken into the office, +and when he returned another was called, and so on, until all of us had +been interviewed by the notorious Major Turner. The name of our ship, +where and when captured, how many men we had, and a lot of other +questions were asked. That racket continued until about three o'clock in +the morning. Each of us had asked him about our prospects of being +exchanged. "That is an affair about which I know nothing," was his +answer. Of course, none of us thought about sleeping that night. Walking +the floor and discussing the situation suited us better under the +circumstances. About four o'clock there was more excitement. A day's +ration of food was issued to each one. It consisted of two small pieces +of corn-bread, and of mighty poor quality. At five o'clock that evening, +Major Turner, and his equally notorious clerk, Ross, came to the head of +the stairs. Our names were called, and each one sent down to the hall. +An engineer's name was called, but that gentleman was ordered to stand +by the door. When the list was exhausted the door was locked and the +engineer left in the room. It was afterward learned that he stated to +Turner that he belonged to an army transport. We were formed in line, in +squads of four, facing the door. At six o'clock in the evening the doors +were opened, and the order, "Forward, march," given. + + [F] The stairs were hung on heavy hinges, and every night they + would be hoisted up by a pulley, similar to a trap-door. + +Outside was a strong escort of rebels. Our hearts were fairly in our +mouths for a short time. If we turned for the left it would be for the +flag-of-truce boat; if to the right, it meant an indefinite stay in +prison. It was the "left," and all doubts were removed--we were going +home! The sailors were brought out and followed in our rear. It was an +interesting trip down the James River. We had a fine view of the rebel +batteries. Three iron-clads were passed, and several pontoon bridges +across the river had to be opened on our approach. The most interesting +thing was the sunken obstructions, with the secret channels. +Considerable skill was required to get the boat through them. The guns +from Grant's and Lee's batteries could be plainly heard. Next in view +were the rebel shells exploding high in air over Dutch Gap, Ben Butler's +celebrated canal. Finally we espied some Yankee pickets, then came +Aiken's Landing. The boat was fastened to the dock, and all went on +shore and waited for the Commissioners of Exchanges to receive us. In a +short time Major Mumford arrived. He was on horseback, and a flag of +truce was stuck in his boot-leg. His salutation was: + +"Boys, the ambulance will be here in a few minutes with the +Confederates. You can either ride or walk, but get over to our boat as +soon as you can, as the exchange may yet fall through." + +As soon as the rebel prisoners came in sight we started off. Walking was +good enough for us. What a contrast between the two parties! The rebel +officers were all dressed in new Confederate uniforms--probably +furnished by rebel sympathizers in the North--and the sailors all had +good clothing, and were healthy in appearance. They also seemed happy +about going home, even if they were bidding good-bye to coffee and tea. +The least said about our party the better. We were only sorry that we +had not time to catch a few pecks of vermin for the others to take back +to the Confederate States of America. + +On the rebel boat there was a brass band, and, as a parting compliment, +they regaled us with the old familiar tune, "Then you'll remember me." +There was a large bend in the river below Aiken's Landing, and our boat +was quite a distance around the bend. We walked about a mile and a half +across the strip of land, many of the disabled sailors following us in +ambulances. On the dock were a large number of trunks, with a sentry +guarding them. We were told that it was the baggage belonging to the +rebel officers. Quite a number of our party made a rush for the trunks, +with the intention of dumping them into the river. The guard said, "Go +ahead, boys, I won't stop you," but Major Mumford advised them not to do +it, as it might cause serious trouble. Then all went on board our boat, +the Martha Washington. Several barrels of steaming hot coffee were +ready. + +"Boys, help yourselves. Crackers and cheese in the boxes!" + +In a short time the Sanitary Commission boat came alongside. Clothing +was furnished to all, and anything that could be done for the men was +done cheerfully. Nothing was too good for the ex-prisoners. Surgeons +were busy attending to the sick. + +Scurvy and bowel complaints were the most common trouble. The officers +were assigned to the after cabin, and the men were all given comfortable +beds. From Libby to the Martha Washington made a wonderful change in our +spirits. No one, to see us then, would recognise us as the miserable set +of beings of a few hours past. In the cabin we had a fine dinner set +before us, and bottles of whisky galore. + +"Gentlemen, drink plenty of whisky while eating," were the orders from +the surgeon. + +The captain apologized for the lack of some extras that had been +intended for us. The rebels had been on the boat for nearly three weeks, +luxuriating on our provisions while we were enjoying ourselves in Libby. +Secretary of War Stanton and "Beast Butler" brought about the event, +they being opposed to the exchange. In the afternoon we steamed down the +river. I had an interview with Major Mumford, and told him briefly about +Colonel Dent. + +"Yes, the colonel is a prisoner in the South. He is also Grant's +brother-in-law." + +"Well, I have a packet of letters from him to General Grant. How can I +deliver them to him?" + +"Give them to me. Grant is now at City Point. The boat will stop there, +and I will see that he gets them," he replied. + +I then handed him the package. He never asked me a single question in +regard to Colonel Dent, and he did not give me a chance to ask him any +questions. That ended the affair as far as I was concerned. + +We stopped at City Point for half an hour on our way to Fortress Monroe. +During the trip I had conversations with many of the sailors. They had +suffered terribly during their imprisonment. Insufficient food and +exposure had caused much sickness. Some of them had slept on the bare +ground for months without any shelter. Nearly all had the scurvy. That +any of them had lives to be exchanged was a miracle. The soldiers were +very exultant at the success of their ruse in getting through the lines, +and well they might be, for to-day there are seventeen thousand graves +of their fellow-prisoners at Andersonville. Quite a number of sick men +were also on the boat, having been sent from different hospitals in the +South. The rebs thought that was the easiest way to get rid of them. We +stopped at Fortress Monroe for a short time, and then proceeded to +Annapolis, Md., and early next morning we were landed at the Naval +Academy wharf. Sixteen men had died on that short trip from Aiken's +Landing. + +The sailors were cared for by the proper officials, and the officers +were given transportation to Washington. Then I was a free man, after +having been a prisoner of war for three hundred and eleven days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A FREE MAN AGAIN + + +I took the first train for Washington, arriving there late at night. +Going to the Metropolitan Hotel, I registered myself as from Columbia, +S. C. The clerk looked at me for a moment, and asked if I had any +baggage. + +"Neither baggage nor money," I replied. + +He commenced laughing, and told a bellboy to show me up to a room. I +remained in Washington two days. My written report was made out; then I +reported in person to Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy. He was a +fine old gentleman, and expressed his joy at the exchange being made. I +have already narrated the particulars regarding Captain Gregory and his +reports. I was instructed to go home, report my arrival, give my +address, and await orders. My next visit was to the Fourth Auditor, for +some of the back pay due me. In a short time I had some much-needed +respectable clothing. As yet I had not fully recovered from the typhoid +fever. My hair was dead, and rapidly falling out. A barber was +consulted, and he discovered that a new crop had commenced to grow. So +the old hair was cut off even with the new. Mrs. Hall's husband was then +next in order. Upon inquiry, I found that he was a cheap gambler, and +not in town just then, so I left his letter with some of his friends. + +I arrived in New York on Sunday morning, and went to my wife's last +address. She had changed quarters to another locality. On going there, I +was informed that she was in a certain boarding-house in Brooklyn. At +that place I was directed to another boarding-house. Finally I found the +young lady. Our child had died three months previously. During our +conversation I said: + +"Why, Annie, I only received two of your letters while I was in prison." + +"That is all I wrote to you," she very innocently replied. + +Before leaving Boston on the brig Perry, I had made an allotment of +fifty dollars per month to her, which she received from a naval agent on +the first of each month. Well, that frugal little wife, to use a slang +expression, was "dead broke," and in arrears for her board bill. I was +happy to be back with her, so I had no fault to find. Theatres and +pleasure trips were in order and my past miseries forgotten. In due time +I received all my back pay. My clothing had been sent home from the +Perry, and a sword and a few other articles were all I had to purchase +for my new outfit. + +Orders were received for me to report to Commander John C. Hall, for +duty on board the United States steamer Nereus, at the Brooklyn Navy +Yard. The Nereus was a large screw steamer, with splendid accommodations +for sailors and officers. The captain and executive were regulars, the +other officers were volunteers. The acting master was a navigating +officer. Four ensigns were watch officers. Our quarters consisted of a +large ward-room, with state-rooms on each side. The latter were +furnished with single berths, and sets of drawers underneath, a +combination dressing-case and desk, and a stationary wash-stand. +Coloured ordinary seamen were detailed as ward-room boys, one for each +officer. Their duties were to take care of the state-rooms and wait on +the table, for which service they received nine dollars per month extra, +paid by the officers. The steward and cook were paid as petty officers +by the Government. One hundred dollars were paid by each of the officers +as initiation fee and mess fund on joining the vessel, and afterward a +_pro rata_ of the expense was charged to each. There was quite a +contrast between the Nereus and the Perry. The ward-room officers +consisted of one lieutenant, one master, four ensigns, paymaster, +surgeon, and chief engineer. The master's mate and second and third +engineers each had separate mess-rooms in the steerage. + +Seven of the officers were ex-prisoners of war. A few months afterward +Captain Howell stated that we were the wildest lot he ever commanded; it +only took a short time for him to form his opinion, however. The vessel +was ordered to the squadron at Cape Haitien, Hayti, West Indies. The +Panama steamers had to be convoyed through the Mariguana Passage, thence +between Cape Maisi, Cuba, and San Nicolas la Mole, Hayti, to Navassa +Island. The rebel steamer Alabama had captured one of the Panama boats, +securing eight hundred thousand dollars in gold bullion, and had bonded +the steamer for the same amount, to be paid when the Confederacy gained +its independence. Fort Fisher was to be attacked, and Captain Howell got +permission to join the expedition with his vessel. All of us were +pleased with the chance to pay up old scores with the rebels. The +corn-meal was still rankling in our systems. Steam was gotten up, and, +under charge of a pilot, we started for Sandy Hook. Before we got a +hundred yards from the dock the trip very abruptly ended. The pilot ran +too close to a large floating buoy, and the result was that one of the +propeller blades caught the heavy chain by which the buoy was anchored. +The engines were slowly reversed. It was of no use. That chain was there +to stay, and we were securely fastened by the stern. I shall never +forget that December night. It was my watch on deck from twelve to four +in the morning. The thermometer was twenty-one degrees below zero, and I +thought I would freeze to death. The men on deck I sent below out of the +cold wind, but I had no place for shelter, as the deck was clear fore +and aft. + +The next day a submarine diver examined the propeller blade. The chain +was jammed in between the stern-post and the centre of the screw. A +floating derrick was fastened to our stern, the buoy and anchor were +hoisted on it, and our vessel was thus taken into the dry dock. It was +quite a job to free the chain. That little mishap detained us one week. +We made another start and got to Fortress Monroe. Taking a monitor in +tow, we went to Fort Fisher. Nearly all the expedition had arrived, and +the bombardment was begun. That expedition was probably the worst +"fizzle" of the whole war. There were over sixty ships in the fleet, +each carrying from four to forty-four guns, besides several monitors +carrying fifteen-inch guns. The total number of guns was about six +hundred. The rebels considered Fort Fisher as being impregnable, and it +was, beyond all doubt, a strong fort. It was built on a narrow strip of +land between Cape Fear River and the ocean. There was an embankment over +a mile in length, twenty-five feet thick and twenty feet high. About two +thirds of it faced the sea; the other third ran across the strip of land +as protection from land attack. Still stronger than these were the +traverses, which prevented an enfilading fire. These were hills about +forty feet in height, and broad and long in proportion, about twenty of +them along the sea face of the fort. Inside of them were the +bomb-proofs, large enough to shelter the whole garrison. In front of the +works was a strong palisade. Between each of the traverses was mounted +one or two large guns, none less than one-hundred-and-fifty pounders, +all of the guns of English manufacture. One, in particular, was an +enormous Armstrong gun, mounted on a rosewood carriage--a present from +Sir William Armstrong, of England. Fort Castle and Fort Anderson also +protected the Cape Fear River. The channel was filled with sunken +torpedoes. Torpedoes were also buried in the sand in front of Fort +Fisher. An immense mound, one hundred feet in height, was erected on the +beach and a large gun mounted on the summit. + +Now for a description of the whole affair in a plain and truthful +manner. I have read many descriptions of the capture of Fort Fisher, and +have seen pictures portraying it, but all were exaggerations. An old +steamer, the Louisiana, was fitted up in imitation of a blockade-runner, +and two hundred and fifteen tons of gunpowder were loaded in the hold. +Fuses were connected with an exploding clockwork and the powder. It was +supposed that such a quantity of powder exploding so near the fort would +do great damage, besides killing all of the garrison. The idea was +suggested by Ben Butler. General Grant had given Butler orders to send +General Weitzel with five thousand troops for the capture of the fort, +and afterward to capture Wilmington, so that Sherman could receive +supplies for his army. Butler ignored the orders, and took personal +command of the troops, leaving Weitzel at City Point. The squadron was +at Fort Fisher on time. Butler with his troops had not arrived. Then +began the trouble. Admiral Porter gave orders to explode the +powder-boat, and all arrangements were quickly made. The squadron was to +steam ten miles out at sea. All safety valves were to be opened, lest +the concussion might cause the boilers to explode. Under cover of +darkness the powder-boat was towed by the steamer Wilderness close to +the fort. The clockwork was set, also a fire was laid in case the +clockwork failed. The crew were taken off by the Wilderness. The clock +arrangement proved a failure, but the fire, in time, caused an +explosion. Not a particle of damage was done to the fort. We afterward +learned that most of the Confederates were asleep, and some of them +never heard the explosion. The next day Butler arrived with his +transports. He was terribly angry about the powder-boat affair. In the +meantime the fleet, by divisions, had formed a line of battle. The +ironclads were close to the shore. Their fire was to be direct. The +other ships were to fire at angles with the fort so as to make an +enfilading fire as much as possible. The bombardment from so many guns +was terrific. The Confederates were soon driven into the bomb-proofs. +During the day nearly all their guns were dismounted. The next day was +Christmas, 1864. Early in the morning the landing of the troops began. +Every boat in the fleet was brought into requisition. A clear strip of +land extended from the fort to the woods, about a mile in length. A spot +near the centre of the clear space was selected as the best place for +the troops to land. A heavy surf was running on the beach. Every time a +boat-load was landed it was necessary for the crew to wade out into the +surf with the boat, and, at the proper time, jump in and pull through +the first breaker. If not quick enough, the boat would be keeled over +and over, high up on the beach. Everything was progressing finely; no +one doubted but that the fort would be captured before night. All the +white troops were on shore. We were busily engaged in landing Butler's +pet coloured troops. What was our astonishment on receiving orders to +re-embark the troops and bring off the negroes first, and then Ben +Butler's transports started immediately for Washington, with that +gallant hero on board! A heavy gale of wind set in from the northeast +and continued to increase in fury as the night approached; consequently +the surf was getting worse and it was very difficult for the boats to +get clear of the beach. Those "niggers" would rush for every boat and +overload it, with the result that it would be swamped. If ever "niggers" +got a cursing, they certainly got it that night. About midnight my boat +was swamped three times in succession. I was thoroughly disgusted. The +crew and I were well tired out. We had had nothing to eat since morning, +our clothing was soaking wet from constantly being in the surf, and the +cold wind was chilling our bodies. The boat was lifted up sideways and +the water dumped out. Everything was made ready for a new start, but +this time I held my revolver in hand: + +"Now, the first nigger who attempts to get in my boat will be shot!" and +I meant what I said. It was hard work for us to get through the surf, +and I felt certain that no more troops could be taken off that night. It +was very dark and cloudy. I steered for the lights which were on the +Nereus. We had gone about half the distance when the boat suddenly +capsized and dumped all hands into the water. What caused that mishap I +could never find out; it has always been a puzzle to me. It was lucky +that none of us was hurt. Our clothing was very heavy, and made it +difficult for us to keep from sinking, especially in such a rough sea. +My sword and revolver made additional weight for me. We managed to hold +on to the boat occasionally. In a few minutes we heard the splashing of +oars in the water, and, by yelling, we attracted the attention of the +boat's crew. They carefully approached and pulled us out of the sea. The +boat was one of the launches belonging to the frigate Wabash. They took +our boat in tow and rowed us to the Nereus. I was the only officer on +our vessel who got back with his boat not damaged. The others were all +badly disabled, and were left on the beach. About seven hundred of the +soldiers were left on shore, and there they had to remain for three +days. All night long the division to which the Nereus belonged fired +shells into the woods to prevent Confederate troops from Wilmington +making any attempt to capture our men. When the gale abated they were +embarked. The first attack on Fort Fisher had ended in a grand fizzle, +simply because Butler and Porter were at loggerheads. The army +transports went back to City Point. The men-of-war weighed anchor and +started for Beaufort, S. C. The few guns that still remained mounted at +Fort Fisher fired a parting salute, in derision at our departure. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +FORT FISHER + + +On our arrival at Beaufort all was bustle and activity. Ammunition and +coal were taken on board, the small boats repaired, and everything was +made ready for another expedition. Porter was continually sending +despatches to Washington. Butler was there in person. Between them there +was a lively war of words. The new expedition sailed for Fort Fisher. +During our absence the enemy had repaired the fort, and the garrison had +been increased from six hundred to a thousand men. General Terry arrived +with his transports, having on board five thousand white troops. The +fort was bombarded, and the garrison driven into the bomb-proofs. +Several of our hundred-pounder rifled guns exploded, doing considerable +damage, and that class of guns was not used any more during the action. +On the 14th of January the troops were all landed. On the 15th two +thousand sailors and marines were also landed, each vessel sending a +detachment. The quota from the Nereus was fifty men, Ensign Dayton and +myself being in command. We received printed orders from Admiral Porter: + + "When you get in the fort, if the rebels refuse to surrender, + four seamen must take each rebel and throw him over the + ramparts." + +That is one extract. There was more in the same strain. The men had been +notified in advance as to who had been detailed for the assaulting +party, but not so the officers. When the men were ready to get into the +boats, Dayton and I were called from our gun divisions and received +orders to take charge of them. + +Our preparations were hastily made; each of us took a ship's cutlass, +revolver, and breech-loading carbine, and then filled our pockets with +ammunition. The surgeon was on hand with a supply of tourniquets and +bandages, which he jammed into our pockets while giving us brief +lectures on the compression of arteries. In a short time the sailors +were landed; the marines were detailed as sharp-shooters, each one +having his knapsack as a portable breastwork. About one o'clock the army +was ready for the assault in the rear end of the fort. The marines +deployed to their position; the sailors moved up the beach in double +column, the ships firing over us. + +Some of the enemy came out of their bomb-proofs and kept continually +firing into our columns. The beach was perfectly level, with no friendly +trees or rocks to afford us any protection. Our destination was the sea +face of the fort. To get there it was necessary to march two thirds of a +mile parallel with the fort, and within easy range--a few hundred yards. +We would willingly have gone a little more to the left if the Atlantic +Ocean had permitted. Before getting to our proper position, a signal +from the flagship ordered us to lie down on the beach. The shot and +shell were whistling over our heads at a terrible rate, and sometimes +an over-zealous gunner would make a slight error and drop them among +our men instead of into the fort. Some of the enemy also made it +interesting from their side of the fence. Quite a number was killed or +wounded among our party. The water was splashed up in a lively way by +the bullets. Strangely enough, every wounded sailor, if able, would +crawl to the water and lie down, so that the surf, as it rolled up the +beach, kept his body wet. It was low tide at the time, and, as we lay +down on the wet sand, we soon became chilled through. Nearly two hours +we remained in that position. A large gun just opposite me, inside the +fort, still remained mounted. I noticed that the muzzle was elevated to +aim at the fleet, but was gradually being depressed, so that it was in +range with our men. The gunners could be seen putting in the powder and +two stands of grape-shot. It was left in that position, and the gunners +disappeared. One of our iron-clads was close inshore, just opposite the +loaded gun. About every ten minutes they would fire a fifteen-inch, with +a reduced charge of powder, consequently we could see every shell as it +passed over us. They all went about five feet above the gun and exploded +in the rear. Why they did not attempt to dismount it I cannot imagine. +They certainly must have seen the enemy loading it. + +A projectile from a rifled gun in the fleet got to tumbling "end over +end" in the air. It landed within six feet of me. The sand flew in every +direction, nearly blinding some of the men. For a few seconds we all +felt nervous. If it was a percussion fuse shell the danger was past; if +a time fuse, it would explode, and the only means of safety was to lie +flat on the ground. To attempt to run away would be very dangerous. For +a few seconds we all remained quiet. No hissing sound could be heard, +and then the missile was examined, and proved to be a solid shot; but we +were, for awhile, badly scared. + +The soldiers could be seen beginning the attack at the rear of the fort. +Then came Admiral Porter's terrible blunder. The signal was given for +the fleet to "cease firing," then for the sailors to advance. We had +quite a distance to go up the beach before making a "right face" and +rushing into the fort. The Confederates had anticipated that very +movement on our part, and were prepared for it. They rushed out of the +bomb-proofs, and gave our troops a murderous fire of musketry without +our being able to return the fire. Then the big gun was discharged, and +it made a terrible gap in our column. The detachment just ahead of ours +was almost annihilated as they received the full charge of grape-shot. +Some of the men were thrown several feet into the air. Each of the +grape-shot weighed three pounds. There must have been nearly a hundred +in the charge, as it was a double load from a hundred-and-fifty pounder. +About two hundred men near the head of the column had reached some low +sand-dunes which protected them, but the men following them became +panic-stricken, and fell back upon those in their rear. The whole column +was thrown into disorder, and compelled to retreat, the enemy keeping up +a heavy fire as we passed down the beach. As badly whipped as the +sailors were, they deserved great credit for one thing: not a wounded +shipmate was deserted; all were carried off. The dead were all dragged +up above high-water mark, so that the tide would not carry their bodies +out to sea. Had we marched up to our proper position, under cover of +fire from the fleet, and the attack then been made, results would have +been different, but being killed outright, through lack of good +judgment, would discourage almost anybody! The plan of the attack was +good. With the sailors assaulting the front and the soldiers the rear, +the enemy would have been between two fires. Colonel Pennypacker, with +his regiment, was inside the fort, the other regiments on the outside of +the traverses; they were gradually driving the enemy back. Signals were +made to the fleet where to throw their shells so as to avoid hitting our +own troops. The sailors were reorganized, and manned the trenches across +the open ground, to prevent re-enforcements to the Confederates coming +from Wilmington. By that arrangement, a regiment armed with seven-shot +repeating rifles was relieved and added to the assaulting party at the +fort. + +Night came on and the fight still continued. Signals by light were made +to the fleet how to direct their fire. At one o'clock in the morning the +battle was ended by the enemy surrendering. The last prop was knocked +from under the Confederacy; their great source of supplies was cut off. +Blockade-running was ended. General Sherman would have a new base of +supplies. Richmond would soon have to be evacuated. The day the fort was +captured, Ben Butler was in Washington, demonstrating to the +authorities, theoretically, why Fort Fisher was impregnable. Captain +Breeze and Lieutenants Cushing, Preston, and Porter, from the flagship +Malvern, had command of the sailors. Preston and Porter were +fellow-prisoners of mine at Columbia. Both were killed early in the +attack, Preston by a shell from the fleet, and Porter by a bullet. +Cushing, with all his bravery, was not the last officer of the retreat +down the beach--not by long odds. It is now a matter of history that +Captain Breese with two hundred sailors actually got inside the fort and +remained there until nightfall. That is all bosh. The fact is, they were +behind the sand-dunes when the panic occurred--it being much safer to +remain there than to be running the gauntlet down to the sea. After dark +they retreated in good order. If they had really got into the fort, I +will guarantee that they would not have remained there very long. The +sailor who got closest to the traverses was an ensign from the gunboat +Sassacus, and he was killed. Ensign Dayton, my fellow-officer, had not +been seen by me since we landed. When I next saw him it was on board the +Nereus. He said he had been with Captain Breese. He received some very +plain talk from me for not helping to look after our own men. There was +enough to be attended to--the wounded to be sent to the vessel, the dead +to be identified and buried, and, the most difficult job, to corral the +live ones and get them off to the Nereus. They were scattered all over +our newly acquired territory. It was not every day they could get +ashore, and they were certainly making good use of their opportunities. + +Early in the morning the dead sailors were laid side by side, forming a +long row. Their caps, having the ship's name on in gilt letters, were +placed on their breasts, and a slip of paper, giving his full name, was +fastened to each man's shirt. It was a weird sight. All of them were +fine-looking young men. I had placed the names on the men belonging to +the Nereus, and went towards the fort, and as I got near the traverses I +was nearly thrown off my feet by a sudden shaking of the ground; then I +saw an immense conical-shaped mass of earth and timbers thrown high into +the air; then a large circle of dust descended and covered everything in +our vicinity. We all looked as if we had been pulled through a chimney. +One of the magazines in the fort had blown up. The remnant of a +Wisconsin regiment was stationed in the fort after its surrender, and +the explosion killed nearly all. + +Quite a number of us assisted in getting the dead and wounded from the +ruins. At first it was supposed that a torpedo connected by wires with +Fort Anderson had caused the disaster, but it was afterward decided that +it had been an accident. The Confederate prisoners were then furnished +with shovels, and forced to dig up a number of torpedoes that had been +buried on the outside of the fortification. + +No wonder our troops had hard work to capture that place, for, by the +peculiar construction of the interior defences, it was easy to repel the +attacking forces. Towards evening I succeeded in getting the survivors +of our detachment on board the Nereus, and was very particular about +having our quota of small-arms sent with them--carbines, revolvers, and +cutlasses, fifty-two of each. No questions were asked about their being +the same ones we took ashore with us. The gunner's report was "All arms +returned," and nothing more was necessary. The fact that Dayton brought +his extra equipments unknown to me was not commented on. + +My report, accounting for all the men, was given to the executive +officer, and then I had something to eat. I went to bed, having had no +sleep for thirty-six hours, but I had enough glory to last me for a long +time. The next night the rebels blew up Forts Caswell and Anderson, and +beat a hasty retreat for Wilmington. General Terry soon after captured +the latter place. The hospital transport came alongside the Nereus and +took off our wounded men, and I have never seen or heard of one of them +since. Our anchor was weighed and we returned to Beaufort for a supply +of ammunition and coal, and as soon as possible started for the West +Indies to join our squadron. + +About eight days after our departure from Beaufort we sighted Turks +Island, and, going through the Mariguana Passage, we soon had a view of +the high mountains of the Island of Haiti. The weather was fine and +quite a contrast to that of New York. The awnings were spread to protect +us from the hot sun, and heavy clothing was discarded. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE ISLAND OF HAITI + + +Cape Haitien is a queer little town built on the shore of a bay at the +foot of a very high mountain. When the French possessed the place it was +called "La petite Paris," but an earthquake tumbled all the buildings, +and generally wrecked the whole place. A great many of the ruins still +remain. Some of the stone was utilized for new habitations, but most of +it was left where it had fallen. + +The negroes had no ambition to restore the place to its former grandeur, +and only a few white men were to be found among its inhabitants. +Mahogany, logwood, and coffee were the only exports, and those only in +small quantities. We had arrived on a Sunday afternoon, and several of +us went on shore to visit the American consul, as an act of courtesy, +and then strolled through the town. Whisky was not allowed on board a +man-of-war, and it was quite natural for us to want a drink on our +arrival in a foreign country. Stopping at the only hotel, we ordered a +"brandy smash," and it nearly paralyzed the whole crowd. The atmosphere +was quite warm, and so was the brandy and water. There was no ice in the +whole town, and of all the mixed drinks I ever had that was the worst. +We had received some gold money from the paymaster, and a five-dollar +piece was given in payment for the aforesaid drinks. Well, the change +that was returned almost finished what the "smash" had not quite done, +for about sixty-four one-dollar bills were counted out, each printed on +bright yellow paper, about five by seven inches in size. "Une +Gourde"--meaning "one dollar"--was printed in large and small letters +all over the face of the note, and then, in French, something about its +redemption at a certain period. + +The landlord was a Frenchman and had learned to speak English while on +board an American whaling vessel. He gave us considerable information +about the town, and also advised us to have our gold exchanged for his +Haitien currency, so we each got five dollars' worth from him. The +"gourdes" were at a discount of ninety-three per cent, making each one +worth seven cents in gold. Such a roll of bills as we received! The +bundles had to be put in our coat-tail pockets, no other place being +large enough to hold them. The only amusement in town that would take +place that night was a masquerade ball. Each of our drinks came to one +"gourde," rather cheap for brandy. We bade our host adieu until evening +and returned to the Nereus. Lieutenant Mullen, the surgeon, paymaster, +three ensigns, and three engineers made up a party to "take in" the +masquerade. + +Special permit was required to be absent after sundown, as we were under +war regulations. No time was lost in getting to the hotel. The landlord +piloted us to the ballroom. Two "gourdes" were charged each for +admission. A large store with a brick floor was the extemporized +ballroom. In one corner, on a platform, was the orchestra, and four +"niggers" with clarionets composed it. In another end of the room was +the office, with a window opening into the store-room, that place being +transformed into a temporary barroom, the window-sill being the bar over +which the drinks were served. Lieutenant Mullen belonged in Baltimore, +Md., and he had no use for "niggers" under any circumstances, but he did +like liquor, and it seemed to have very little effect on him. When the +music struck up we all chose partners, with the exception of Mullen, +that gentleman selecting one side of the window-sill and keeping it all +night. My partner was neatly dressed and genteel in appearance, and, as +she was closely masked, I could not tell whether she was pretty or not. +She wore white kid gloves, and, as part of her wrists was exposed, I +could see by the smooth skin that she was young, and probably a +quadroon. That girl had the advantage of me, as I had no mask, and she +knew with whom she was dancing while I did not. However, both of us +seemed satisfied, for we were partners in every waltz. + +About two in the morning we had to leave our coloured partners, for the +boat was to be at the landing for us at that hour. In the streets there +were no lamps. A light, drizzling rain made the darkness more intense. +Our most direct route was by a street facing the beach. A number of +warehouses had large quantities of logwood piled in front, and the +pieces were very crooked and lying in all positions. The doctor and I +were walking together. His vision was concentrated on the logwood, and +finally he expressed himself: + +"Say, Thompson, did you ever see so many anchors piled up in a street +before?" + +Of course Cape Haitien had a military dock for the men-of-war boats to +land at. On the shore end was a small guard-house, and as we passed it I +noticed a light through the open doorway. Looking inside, I saw several +Haitien soldiers sleeping soundly. In one corner of the shanty was a +most primitive lamp--a glass tumbler partly filled with water, and a +small quantity of oil on the top of it with a lighted wax taper floating +in it. Here was an opportunity to make myself a benefactor to my +fellow-officers. Without any hesitation I stole the lamp. + +"Hello, gentlemen, allow me to carry a light down the wharf for you!" + +Just then an engineer named Patterson gave my hand a knock, and away +went the whole illuminating apparatus. My eyes were blinded by the +sudden change from light to darkness. I walked about three steps, and +off the dock I went head first into the water. The unexpected immersion +improved my eyesight wonderfully, and when I got back on the dock I +could walk without a light. Patterson thought the whole affair a huge +joke. When we reached the Nereus it came my turn to laugh. Naval +etiquette requires officers to go up the companion-ladder according to +rank--the seniors first. Mr. Patterson, being lowest in grade, was to go +up last, and by some means he lost balance and fell out of the boat; +when he came to the surface of the water, some of the sailors pulled +him into the boat. He was not at all funny when he reached the deck. + +Grasping his hand, I said, "Shipmate, I feel sorry for you." + +That was our only night on shore. Captain Howell was of the opinion that +we could have pleasure enough during the daylight in the future. Hardly +a day passed that some of us was not raising "Old Ned." After supper we +would sit in the ward-room and relate our adventures, and some of them +were comical. By no means could we get into high society in that town. +We were politely referred to as persons of unfortunate colour. That was +the only country I ever visited where a white man, if he behaved +himself, was not as good as a "nigger." The east half of the island is +the Republic of Haiti, formerly belonging to France, and the language +spoken is French. + +The western part is the Republic of San Domingo, formerly belonging to +Spain, and the language spoken is Spanish. The whole island had, at one +time, been very prosperous, but the slaves had formed a conspiracy, and +in one night had massacred all the whites and gained their +independence, France and Spain never being able to reconquer them. The +negroes became quite indolent. Very little clothing is needed in that +warm climate, and fruit, growing with little cultivation, provides them +with food. Revolutions are of frequent occurrence. On the 1st, 11th, and +21st of each month two of our ships would sail from Cape Haitien to meet +the California mail steamers, one going north to Turks Island, the other +south to Navassa Island. Our first trip was to the latter place. The +island was about three miles in circumference and almost inaccessible. +It was the breeding-place of sea-birds. A company belonging to +Baltimore, Md., had possession, and were shipping the guano to different +parts of Europe. We arrived some hours before the mail steamer was due. + +A kedge anchor was fastened to a heavy rope and dropped overboard, +fish-lines were brought into service, and the sport began. The only +question with us was, What kind of fish will the next be? Such a variety +I never saw in my life in any part of the world--all different sorts, +sizes, and shapes were landed on deck. The steamer came in sight and our +anchor was pulled up. When the steamer came close by, a boat was sent to +her with mail from our fleet, two cakes of ice were presented to us, and +the vessel started for the passage. Before the mail steamer, being much +the faster boat, was out of sight, it being of no use to convoy a vessel +we could not see, we did the next best thing--returned to Cape Haitien. +The steamer at Turks Island adopted the same tactics, with the exception +of receiving the mail instead of sending it. + +The Neptune, Galatea, Proteus, and Nereus certainly had an easy time on +convoy duty. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +I LEAVE THE SEA AND GO WEST + + +About the 1st of April I sent in my resignation. I had become tired of +sailor life, the war was nearly ended, and the fact that I was married +made me desirous to make a living on dry land. It was a foolish whim of +mine to throw away such a good opportunity, especially after having +advanced so far in my chosen profession. A fresh supply of naval stores +was needed on the Nereus, and for that reason we were ordered to Key +West, then to return to Cape Haitien. We went first to Navassa and met +the mail steamer, and the letter containing my resignation went in that +mail pouch. We then steered for Cape Mayzi, at the eastern end of Cuba, +and, going around the cape, we sailed west along the coast. Morro Castle +was sighted, and we entered the harbour of Havana. I was well +acquainted with the city, but everything appeared different to me then. +The United States naval uniform allowed me to visit places where +formerly, in common seaman's garb, I should have been denied. + +The lottery-ticket venders were as busy as of yore, but, somehow, I did +not feel like patronizing them. I drew the shares of only one prize in +my life, but plenty of blanks. A drawing took place while I was in the +city, and a number of us went to see it. The drawing was in a building +like a theatre. Prizes ranging from two hundred and fifty thousand +dollars down to one hundred dollars were in the wheel. The numbers of +the tickets were in another. A remarkable audience was in the seats; +rich and poor, black and white, and of all nationalities. Great +excitement prevailed until the numbers of all the great prizes were +called out. Then the crowd began to leave. Such low prizes as twenty +thousand and ten thousand dollars interested no one. + +We remained one week in Havana and then sailed for Key West, eighty +miles distant; we were only a few hours at sea, and then our anchor was +dropped in Key West harbour. That place had changed wonderfully since my +last visit. From an indolent little fishing village and the home of the +"wreckers" it had become a lively little town. The army and navy were +well represented, and there was hustle and hurry everywhere. Wine and +beer were the only liquors allowed on the island, and the beer cost +fifty cents a bottle, so there must have been quite a profit for +somebody. Our stores had been placed on board, then the coal was +received, and when the bunkers were nearly filled it was discovered that +some of the lower deck beams were getting out of place. An order was +given to have the Nereus examined, and a report was given of her +condition. The news of the surrender of Lee was received, and quite a +celebration of the event took place. Next came the news of the +assassination of President Lincoln. + +The Nereus was condemned as "unfit for service," and orders were given +for us to return to New York. About the 10th of May the Nereus arrived +at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and her career as a man-of-war was ended. The +paymaster received notice from the Fourth Auditor at Washington that my +resignation had been accepted on the 17th day of April, and he said that +he would have my account made out at once. I informed the gentleman that +he would do no such thing, and that when I should receive notice through +Captain Howell that my resignation had been accepted I should be +released from service, and not before then. Captain Howell decided that +I was right. The acceptance had been sent to Cape Haitien, and I was in +New York. The Nereus was put out of commission and the crew discharged. +All the officers, except myself, were "detached" and granted two months' +leave of absence. I was placed on waiting orders. The Neptune, Proteus, +and Galatea had also arrived from Cape Haitien. My discharge should have +been on one of those vessels, but no one knew anything about the missing +document. + +Our vessel had left Cape Haitien just in time to miss exciting scenes. A +revolution had taken place, and it was the city against the whole +republic. The English gunboat got mixed up in the mêlée and bombarded +the city. The women took refuge on the men-of-war during the +bombardment. The man-of-war Bulldog ran on a reef in the harbour and +became a wreck. The English Government dismissed the captain for acting +without authority, and the sailing-master met the same fate for losing +the vessel. After waiting a reasonable time, I wrote to the Secretary of +the Navy as to how I was situated, but received no reply. Captain Howell +was in Washington, so I sent him a letter about my circumstances. He +attended to the case personally, and in a few days I received a copy of +the acceptance of my resignation on April 17, 1865. The copy was dated +June 14th, and I received my pay to that date. I then got a position as +watchman in the Brooklyn Navy Yard at sixty dollars a month. Renting a +suite of rooms, I furnished them nicely and settled down to life on +shore with my wife. A child was soon born to comfort our household. + +I was finally, at my own request, transferred to the harbour patrol +boat. There were nine of us, divided into three crews, twelve hours on +duty and twenty-four hours off. River pirates and deserters were our +special game. + +The war was ended, and that stopped desertion. The purchased gunboats +were sold at auction, and then there was nothing left for the river +pirates to plunder. Alas! our services were no longer needed, and we +were all discharged. Next I got a situation in the navy yard +machine-shops, for I was ambitious to become a first-class machinist. +Busy times were over, and men returning from the war overstocked the +labour market. A great reduction was ordered in all the navy yard +machine-shops, and, of course I, being a late arrival, had to be +discharged with the first lot. Gradually what money I had saved up was +used for necessary living expenses. Rent and provisions were still at +war prices, consequently I soon found myself dead broke, and with no +prospects of obtaining employment. + +I came to the conclusion that there was no hope of obtaining employment +in New York. Selling part of my furniture, I raised a few dollars; then +taking Horace Greeley's advice--"Go West, young man, go West!"--I left +New York, and have been away just thirty-two years--1898. + + * * * * * + +The manuscript breaks off abruptly at the time when Thompson moved West. +Almost from that change began his criminal career. It is known that he +served two terms in the penitentiary at Joliet, Ill., the last one being +for a period of twelve years. Both sentences were for burglary. In his +manuscript he refers to an experience in the prison at Jefferson City, +Mo., and it is also known that he died in prison in another State. + +In the last writing of Thompson, he solemnly affirmed his belief in a +"just and merciful God." To that divine justice and mercy let us, having +learned our own lesson from his life, leave him, judging not, lest we be +judged. + + +THE END + + + + +BOOKS BY FRANK T. BULLEN. + + +Deep-Sea Plunderings. + +Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. + +Mr. Bullen, who has proved himself a past master of deep-water +literature, affords in these pages a series of brilliant and often +dramatic pictures of the sailor's life and adventures. While the +picturesque enters into his book, he deals also with the stern verities +of fo'c'sle life, and he brings before the reader strange and +bewildering phases of deep-water adventuring which will lay firm hold +upon the imagination. + + +The Apostles of the Southeast. + +12mo. Cloth, $1.50. + +"Mr. Bullen's characters are living ones, his scenes full of life and +realism, and there is not a page in the whole book which is not brimful +of deepest interest."--_Philadelphia Item._ + + +The Log of a Sea-Waif. + +Being Recollections of the First Four Years of my Sea Life. + +Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. + +"So strong, original, and thrilling as to hold captive the attention of +the mature as well as of the youthful reader."--_Philadelphia Public +Ledger._ + + +The Cruise of the Cachalot, + +Round the World after Sperm Whales. Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. + +"It is immense--there is no other word. I've never read anything that +equals it in its deep-sea wonder and mystery, nor do I think that any +book before has so completely covered the whole business of +whale-fishing, and, at the same time, given such real and new sea +pictures. I congratulate you most heartily. It's a new world you've +opened the door to."--_Rudyard Kipling._ + + +Idylls of the Sea. + +12mo. Cloth, $1.25. + +"Amplifies and intensifies the picture of the sea which Mr. Bullen had +already produced.... Calm, shipwreck, the surface and depths of the sea, +the monsters of the deep, superstitions and tales of the sailors--all +find a place in this strange and exciting book."--_Chicago +Times-Herald._ + + + + +BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY. + + +The Quiberon Touch. + +A Romance of the Sea. With frontispiece. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. + +"A story to make your pulse leap and your eyes glisten. It fairly glows +with color and throbs with movement."--_Philadelphia Item._ + +"This story has a real beauty; it breathes of the sea. Fenimore Cooper +would not be ashamed to own a disciple in the school of which he was +master in these descriptions of the tug of war as it was in the +eighteenth century between battle-ships under sail."--_New York Mail and +Express._ + + +Commodore Paul Jones. + +A new volume in the GREAT COMMANDER SERIES, edited by General James +Grant Wilson. With Photogravure Portrait and Maps. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50 +net; postage, 11 cents additional. + +"A thousand times more interesting than any of the so-called historical +romances that are now in vogue."--_Spirit of the Times._ + +"Mr. Brady's vigorous style, vivid imagination, and dramatic force are +most happily exhibited in this book."--_Philadelphia Press._ + +"Incomparably fine. Being the work of a scholarly writer, it must stand +as the best popular life yet available. The book is one to buy and own. +It is more interesting than any novel, and better written than most +histories."--_Nautical Gazette._ + + +Reuben James. + +A Hero of the Forecastle. A new volume in the Young HEROES OF OUR NAVY +SERIES. Illustrated by George Gibbs and Others. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00. + +"A lively and spirited narrative."--_Boston Herald._ + +"Mr. Brady has made a stirring tale out of the material before him, one +of those brilliant and forceful descriptions of the glories of the old +wooden-walled navy, which stir the blood like a trumpet +call."--_Brooklyn Eagle._ + + + + +By EDGAR STANTON MACLAY, A. M. + + +A History of the United States Navy. (1775 to 1902.)--New and revised +edition. + +In three volumes, the new volume containing an Account of the Navy since +the Civil War, with a history of the Spanish-American War revised to the +date of this edition, and an Account of naval operations in the +Philippines, etc. Technical Revision of the first two volumes by +Lieutenant ROY C. SMITH, U. S. N. Illustrated. 8vo. Cloth, $3.00 net per +volume; postage, 26 cents per volume additional. + +In the new edition of Vol. III, which is now ready for publication, the +author brings his History of the Navy down to the present time. In the +prefaces of the volumes of this history the author has expressed and +emphasized his desire for suggestions, new information, and corrections +which might be utilized in perfecting his work. He has, therefore, +carefully studied the evidence brought out at the recent Schley Court of +Inquiry, and while the findings of that Court were for the most part in +accordance with the results of his own historical investigations, he has +modified certain portions of his narrative. Whatever opinions may be +held regarding any phases of our recent naval history, the fact remains +that the industry, care, and thoroughness, which were unanimously +praised by newspaper reviewers and experts in the case of the first two +volumes, have been sedulously applied to the preparation of this new +edition of the third volume. + + +A History of American Privateers. + +Uniform with "A History of the United States Navy." One volume. +Illustrated. 8vo. Cloth, $3.00 net; postage, 24 cents additional. + +After several years of research the distinguished historian of American +sea power presents the first comprehensive account of one of the most +picturesque and absorbing phases of our maritime warfare. The importance +of the theme is indicated by the fact that the value of prizes and +cargoes taken by privateers in the Revolution was three times that of +the prizes and cargoes taken by naval vessels, while in the War of 1812 +we had 517 privateers and only 23 vessels in our navy. Mr. Maclay's +romantic tale is accompanied by reproductions of contemporary pictures, +portraits, and documents, and also by illustrations by Mr. George Gibbs. + + +The Private Journal of William Maclay, + +United States Senator from Pennsylvania, 1789-1791. With Portrait from +Original Miniature. Edited by EDGAR STANTON MACLAY, A. M. Large 8vo. +Cloth, $2.25. + +During his two years in the Senate William Maclay kept a journal of his +own in which he minutely recorded the transactions of each day. This +record throws a flood of light on the doings of our first legislators. + + + + +MR. STOCKTON'S LAST NOVEL. + +Kate Bonnet. + +The Romance of a Pirate's Daughter. By FRANK R. STOCKTON. Illustrated by +A. I. Keller and H. S. Potter. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. + +"A capital story."--_London Times._ + +"A rattling good story."--_New York Sun._ + +"A sweet and charming story."--_Brooklyn Eagle._ + +"A delightfully cheerful book."--_New York Tribune._ + +"Most ludicrous story of the year."--_New York Journal._ + +"Just the book to make a dull day bright."--_Baltimore Sun._ + +"One of Stockton's most delicious creations."--_Boston Budget._ + +"A live, wide-awake, bold, hesitate-at-nothing story."--_Boston Herald._ + +"A bright and entertaining tale full of exciting incident."--_London +Athenæum._ + +"A characteristic blending of interesting realism and absurdity."--_New +York Life._ + +"Full of love, incident, adventure, and true Stocktonian +humor."--_Nashville, Tenn., American._ + +"Even with the charming heroine in tears, the reader remains +cheerful."--_New York Outlook._ + +"Nothing so fresh, picturesque, and amusing has been presented for a +long time."--_New York Press._ + +"A story of adventure written in Mr. Stockton's characteristic +vein."--_New York Commercial Advertiser._ + +"The funniest part of the story is the serene gravity with which the +author chronicles events."--_San Francisco Argonaut._ + +"The appearance of a new book by Frank Stockton stirs one to an +agreeable flicker of anticipation."--_New York Literary Digest._ + +"It is charming, and no one but Mr. Stockton could have written +it."--JULIAN HAWTHORNE, in the _Minneapolis Tribune_. + + + + +A PICTURESQUE BOOK OF THE SEA. + + +A Sailor's Log. + +_Recollections of Forty Years of Naval Life._ By Rear-Admiral ROBLEY D. +EVANS, U. S. N. Illustrated. Large 12mo. Cloth, $2.00. + +"It is essentially a book for men, young and old; and the man who does +not enjoy it is lacking in healthy red blood."--_Chicago Bookseller._ + +"A profoundly interesting book. There is not a line of bravado in its +chapters, nor a carping criticism. It is a book which will increase the +esteem and high honor which the American feels and willingly awards our +naval heroes."--_Chicago Inter-Ocean._ + +"It would be difficult to find an autobiography possessing more interest +than this narrative of forty years of active naval service. It equals +the most fascinating novel for interest; it contains a great deal of +material that has a distinct historical value.... Altogether it is a +most delightful book."--_Brooklyn Eagle._ + +"His is a picturesque personality, and he stands the supreme test by +being as popular with his officers and men as he is with the public +generally. His life has been one of action and adventure since he was a +boy, and the record of it which he has prepared in his book 'A Sailor's +Log' has not a dull line in it from cover to cover. It is all action, +action, and again action from the first page to the last, and makes one +want to go and 'do things' himself. Any boy between fifteen and nineteen +who reads this book and does not want to go to sea must be a sluggish +youth.... The book is really an interesting record of an interesting +man."--_New York Press._ + + + + +THE STORY OF THE WEST SERIES. + + +The Story of the Soldier. + +By General G. A. FORSYTH, U. S. A. (retired). Illustrated by R. F. +Zogbaum. A new volume in the Story of the West Series, edited by Ripley +Hitchcock. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. + +In the great task of opening the empire west of the Missouri the +American regular soldier has played a part large and heroic, but +unknown. The purpose of this book is to picture the American soldier in +the life of exploration, reconnoissances, establishing posts, guarding +wagon trains, repressing outbreaks, or battling with hostile Indians, +which has been so large a part of the army's active work for a hundred +years. + +No romance can be more suggestive of heroic deeds than this volume, +which appears most opportunely at a time when the Regular Army is facing +so many and so serious duties in both hemispheres. No one is better +entitled to write it than the brave officer who with his little handful +of men held the sandspit in the Arickaree for days against Roman Nose +and his thousands of warriors, and finally won their lives by sheer +dogged pluck and heroism. Mr. Zogbaum's illustrations are a most +valuable gallery of pictures of Western army life. + +"To General Forsyth belongs the credit of having gathered together for +the first time the story of the heroic work, invaluable to the progress +of our civilization, which regular soldiers performed in silence and +obscurity."--_Boston Herald._ + +"General Forsyth's identity with the army extends over a notable period +in its history, and he is among the few officers who remain who are able +to write of their personal knowledge of the thrilling experiences of our +soldiers on the plains."--_Washington Army and Navy Register._ + +"The soldierly qualities of the author appear on every page of the volume +in a precision of statement, a generosity of praise, and an urbanity of +temper. The narrative is commended to the interest and attention of every +student of our national life and development."--_Philadelphia Ledger._ + +"There is not a dull page in the book."--_Buffalo Commercial._ + +"The story presents a fresh and thrilling chapter of American +history."--_Cleveland World._ + + +D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +Spelling and hyphenation have been retained as they appear in the +original publication. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Story of a Strange Career, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF A STRANGE CAREER *** + +***** This file should be named 33631-8.txt or 33631-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/6/3/33631/ + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story of a Strange Career + Being the Autobiography of a Convict; an Authentic Document + +Author: Anonymous + +Editor: Stanley Waterloo + +Release Date: September 4, 2010 [EBook #33631] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF A STRANGE CAREER *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr /> + +<h1>THE STORY OF<br /> +A STRANGE CAREER</h1> + +<hr class="hr3" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="630" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr class="hr3" /> + +<p class="center"><span class="title">THE STORY OF</span><br /> +<span class="title">A STRANGE CAREER</span><br /> +<br /><br /> +<span class="sub">BEING</span><br /> +<span class="sub2">THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CONVICT</span><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +<span class="sub"><i>AN AUTHENTIC DOCUMENT</i></span><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +<span class="sub">EDITED BY</span><br /> +<span class="author">STANLEY WATERLOO</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 120px;"> +<img src="images/logo.jpg" width="120" height="134" alt="Logo" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="center"><span class="pub1">NEW YORK</span><br /> + +<span class="pub2">D. APPLETON AND COMPANY</span><br /> + +1902</p> + + +<hr class="hr3" /> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1902</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY</span><br /> +<i>Published August, 1902</i></p> + + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span> +INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> story that follows this introduction is literally true. There died +lately, in a Western State prison, a man of the class known as habitual +criminals. He was, at the time of his death, serving out a sentence for +burglary. For thirty years he had been under the weight of prison +discipline, save for short periods of freedom between the end of one +term and the beginning of another.</p> + +<p>Because of this man's exceptional qualities, as contrasted with those of +the multitude of criminals, he was induced, semi-officially, in a +friendly way, to write the story of his life. He accepted the +proposition made to him, though, consistent with his quality, not quite +fulfilling his pledge, omitting, as he did, certain hard details of the +later part of his criminal career. This was but natural, and, perhaps, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span>it is the one incident which shows that the man realized, in some +measure, the truth as to his own character.</p> + +<p>The account which makes this book was written in 1897 and 1898, when its +author was in the free world. It has been thought best, out of regard +for an estimable family, to omit from the printed work the real name of +the writer. Another name has been substituted for the actual one, but, +with the exception of a few necessary technical corrections, and changes +of names of people and of one vessel—the one in which the first voyage +was made—the manuscript appears almost as it left the hands of its +author.</p> + +<p>As a true tale, as a study of sociology, as a picture of one human life +somehow bent and twisted from the normal, this work, it seems to the +editor, is one of the most surprising of productions. Its frank +unconsciousness, its striking revelations, its absence from all pose, +combine to make it unique among the writings of men. The Confessions of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span>Rousseau appear, in phases, almost artificial compared with the simple +but startling revelation which is here given.</p> + +<p>It was not hopelessness, nor recklessness, nor penitence, which made +this man write down unflinchingly what he remembered of the story of his +life. A cheerful reminiscent vein runs throughout all he tells. His +sense of humour is ever present. Nowhere appears a hint of the tragedy +of his experience. Of that he was not conscious. He was as free from +remorse and self-upbraiding as a wild animal or a tree.</p> + +<p>The story, one would imagine, should appeal to those who think. From the +beginning can be seen, in the character of the runaway sailor and +one-time officer of the navy, traits which indicate his absolute +failure, eventually, as a man. He drifts. He is irresponsible. He +escapes from one dilemma only to get into another. He is thriftless, and +takes no thought for the morrow. He has no regard for the truth, nor any +for the rights of property. He lies and steals simply because lying and +stealing are the obvious things for him to do. He does not think of +doing anything else. The manner in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span> which the story is told is +characteristic, and should open the eyes of sentimentalists as to the +real attitude of habitual criminals. Never, from first to last, is there +an expression of genuine shame or the least contrition. There are, it is +true, occasional sentences in which the man calls himself a fool, and +betrays a glimmering of appreciation of the general want of sense and +wisdom in his course, but there is no ring of sincere repentance nor of +sorrow over a wasted life. This extraordinary character is simply of the +opinion that he has not been clever enough. He never suspects that he +has not been good enough to live a normal life among normal people. The +truth is, he had no clear ideas of right and wrong.</p> + +<p>Released from prison, and glad to be free, he always declared that now +he was determined to "keep out of trouble." With him "trouble" meant +"prison," and nothing else. Inevitably, surely, certainly, he was drawn +into ways of crime. As water seeks its level, so he gravitated towards +"trouble." To plan and execute an enterprise of robbery was the form<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span> of +activity most natural to him. He was hindered by no scruples, schooled +by no experience, tormented by no necessity. When arrested, and not +before, he considered that he was "in trouble." He fretted over his +punishment, but not over his offence.</p> + +<p>And yet this was a human being, one not without good traits. He was not, +physically, a coward; on the contrary, he was simply and naturally +fearless. He was kind of heart, gentle to children, and tender to +animals. Under discipline, he was patient and obedient, a model +prisoner, the wardens say. What he could not do was to stand alone and +be a man in the world.</p> + +<p>Looking outward, this man was a shrewd and appreciative observer. His +descriptions of natural scenes are vivid. There are few better stories +of the life of a prisoner of war than his, and his characterizations of +men and events are singularly apt. His eyes looked on the seamy side of +life, and saw with clearness when fixed on any one or anything but +himself. The conditions under which common sailors live have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span> rarely +been more vividly described. One can only wonder, while reading his +plain story, told without heat or passion, how any man could follow such +a life as he describes.</p> + +<p class="nb">The work is without precedent in character. It is fascinating as a life +story and as a study of human nature. It is a contribution to +unconscious literature.</p> + +<p class="right2"><span class="smcap">Stanley Waterloo.</span></p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span> +<a name="contents" id="contents"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<table summary="Contents"> +<tr> +<th class="tdr">CHAPTER</th> +<th class="tdr3" colspan="2">PAGE</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr">I.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">My first voyage</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#i">1</a></td> +</tr> + + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">II.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">Whaling in the South Pacific</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#ii">16</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">III.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">A sailor ashore</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#iii">32</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">IV.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">I take to the sea again</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#iv">46</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">V.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">On the brig Grenfalls</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#v">57</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VI.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">The "Flying Dutchman"</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#vi">68</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VII.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">In Her Majesty's service</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#vii">85</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">The cat-o'-nine-tails</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#viii">101</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">IX.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">The escape</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#ix">115</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">X.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">The sport of the waves</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#x">126</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XI.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">A glimpse of the Mediterranean</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xi">142</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XII.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">In American waters</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xii">153</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XIII.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">My third voyage</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xiii">164</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XIV.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">Pretty Jennie Bell</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xiv">181</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XV.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">Good-bye to England</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xv">198</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XVI.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">What money can do</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xvi">207</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XVII.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">The New York draft riots</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xvii">215</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XVIII.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">Acting ensign in the United States Navy</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xviii">226</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XIX.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">After blockade-runners</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xix">239</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XX.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">A prisoner of war</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xx">252</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXI.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">In the prison</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxi">264</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXII.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">Prison life and prison fare</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxii">274</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXIII.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">Disappointment and more waiting</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxiii">288</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span> +XXIV.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">A Cracker beauty</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxiv">297</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXV.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">Libby Prison</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxv">311</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXVI.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">A free man again</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxvi">323</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXVII.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">Fort Fisher</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxvii">336</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXVIII.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">The Island OF Haiti</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxviii">348</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXIX.</td> +<td class="tdl">—<span class="smcap">I Leave the sea and go West</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxix">357</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span> +THE STORY OF A STRANGE CAREER</h2> + + + +<hr class="hr3" /> + +<h2><a name="i" id="i"></a>CHAPTER I<br /> +<br /> +<small>MY FIRST VOYAGE</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">On</span> my mother's side I am of an old New York family. My great-grandfather +served as colonel in the war of 1812. My father was born in Dublin, +being a younger son of an Irish gentleman. He was educated to be a +druggist, his father paying a large bonus to have him apprenticed to a +celebrated firm in that business. His elder brother was ordained as a +clergyman in the Church of England, and is now a high dignitary in the +Church, if living. At the age of twenty, my father came to New York and +started in business. My mother, then about fourteen or fifteen years +old, became acquainted with him, and they were shortly afterward +married, the match being a runaway<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> one. I was born when mother was but +sixteen years old. My parents lived comfortably; they sent me to +boarding-schools at North Cornwall, Conn., Ballston Spa, N. Y., and the +Military School at Danbury, Conn., and finally to one of the New York +colleges. At that time I was very desirous to be a sailor, and have been +sorry for it ever since. My parents objected, but afterwards consented. +My father had many customers among the ship-owners and sea captains. At +that time New York ship-owners had several vessels in the China trade, +and sought to get well-taught American boys to educate them in +seamanship and navigation, the idea being to make them officers of their +ships as soon as they became competent. Seven boys were selected, I +being one of them.</p> + +<p>Father furnished me with a complete outfit for sea, and a set of +navigation instruments and books. One thing I thought lacking—that was +a pipe and tobacco. The sea-chest was sent to father's store. My younger +brother, Charlie, was anxious to know what sailors wore at sea, so he +examined the contents of the chest,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> and found a paper of cheap tobacco +and a two-cent pipe.</p> + +<p>Charles—"Oh, father, George smokes!"</p> + +<p>Father—"Why, George, do you use tobacco?"</p> + +<p>George—"No, father, I never have done so yet; but I always hear that +sailors smoke at sea."</p> + +<p>Father—"Well, George, throw that stuff away and come with me."</p> + +<p>He then took me to a cigar-store, and bought me twelve half-pound papers +of fine Turkish tobacco, some pipes, and a box containing one hundred +fine cigars. What was the result? I never used a pipeful of that +tobacco, nor a cigar, and not until years afterward, when I was +forty-eight years old and in Joliet Prison, did I acquire the tobacco +habit, first by chewing it and then by smoking pipes made out of tool +handles on holidays—our only opportunity in that "hell-hole."</p> + +<p>My father's friends had a full-rigged ship ready for sea at that time; +there were the captain, first, second, and third mates, and a crew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> of +about sixteen men of all nationalities. We seven boys were shipped on +board as apprentices, at the rate of four dollars a month. The voyage +was to be to Batavia, Island of Java, for a part cargo of coffee; from +there to Shanghai, China, for the balance of the cargo, the new crop of +tea, which would be ready for us by the time of our arrival.</p> + +<p>The ship—we'll call her the Prospero—was to go out in ballast, as they +had no cargo to send out. Three passengers were to go with us—a man, +his sister, and her child. The sister was the wife of a pilot and opium +smuggler in the Chinese waters. Ten kegs, containing five thousand +Mexican dollars each, were also sent on board to be delivered to the +branch firm in China. The fifty thousand dollars were placed in the male +passengers' state-room, under his berth.</p> + +<p>The ship was moved out from the dock, and anchored in the East River. +Next morning, early, a large tugboat came alongside the ship. On board +the tugboat was a large party, invited by the firm to have a pleasure +trip<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> while towing the ship out to sea. My father and mother were with +the party, many of their friends, the captain's wife, and our +passengers' friends among the number. It was a merry party. We weighed +anchor. They gave us three cheers, and, wishing us a happy voyage, +turned back for New York. We had commenced our voyage to the Indian +Ocean.</p> + +<p>No one had any idea how abruptly that voyage was to end, nor of the +misery that was to follow. In less than two months this despatch was +sent all over the country:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="right">"<span class="smcap">Charleston, S. C.</span>, <i>August, 1856</i>.</p> + +<p>"The ship Prospero has arrived here, its captain having been +murdered at sea. The first mate and two boys are under arrest by +the United States officers, accused of having committed the +murder."<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a></p> +</blockquote> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> +Our passengers took passage from Charleston in another ship +for China. They never reached their destination. The vessel caught fire +at sea and all aboard perished. Not a soul was ever heard from.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +Now comes the story of the mysterious murder. It has never been solved +to this day, although many years have passed since it occurred.</p> + +<p>The ship had been headed to the south-east, so as to get into the +trade-winds near the coast of Africa. When near the Cape Verde Islands +the captain was found dead in his bed, having been killed by being +struck in the head with a ship's axe, having his throat cut, and being +stabbed in the heart several times with a double-edged knife. The cabin +steward went into the captain's state-room at eight o'clock to wake him +for breakfast, and at once notified the first mate of the murder. The +mate first went to the state-room, and then came on deck and ordered all +the crew into the state-room. This is what we saw: the captain dead in +bed, the only clothing on him being an undershirt, while the blood had +stained all the bedding, had spurted up on the partitions around the +berth for three or four feet, and also on the floor. Beside the body lay +a small axe and a white handkerchief stained with blood, marked in one +corner with the letter "L" embroidered in red silk, which letter had +been partly picked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> out with a pen or knife, but was still discernible. +The mate then informed us that he was acting captain of the ship. In our +presence he wound up the two chronometers, which are always kept in the +captain's room, for on them are dependent the daily calculations of the +correct longitude.</p> + +<p>We were finally ordered upon deck. The crew conversed together, and +agreed among themselves that the ship should return to New York. The +mate insisted upon continuing the voyage, and also asked the crew if +they would allow him to place anyone under arrest whom he believed to be +the murderer. They assented, and he ordered Henry Leroy to be put in +irons.</p> + +<p>The boy Leroy's hands were put behind his back, and he was handcuffed, +then rusty iron chains were fastened to them and around his ankles. He +was placed in the second mate's cabin on deck and the door was locked.</p> + +<p>He was kept there until we reached Charleston. The weather was extremely +warm. When taken out, he was completely covered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> with iron rust, which +had stuck to his body with the perspiration, and he was not allowed to +wash himself.</p> + +<p>Shortly after Leroy was put in irons, he called for the second mate, and +had a long conversation with him. The result was that I was handcuffed, +hands behind my back, was taken on the quarter-deck, made to sit down +with my back to a stanchion, and lashed to it by the passing of a rope +several times around my body and once around my neck. I remained in that +position for forty-eight hours, and was then put into the first mate's +cabin with my hands fastened behind my back.</p> + +<p>The mate still insisted on continuing the voyage, the crew upon +returning. Then he proposed going back to Fayal, Western Islands, and +leaving Leroy and me there, to be sent to New York by the American +Consul, for trial. The crew would not agree to that. Nothing would +satisfy them but to return home. So the ship was put about and headed +for New York. We never got there, but fetched up at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> Bulls Bay, about +forty miles north of Charleston, S. C.</p> + +<p>The ship was anchored close to shore and the sails furled. Shortly +afterward a steamer was sighted coming down the coast. Signals of +distress were hoisted, and the steamer headed for us. The mate had one +of our boats lowered, and, with a boat's crew of four men, went aboard +the steamer. He wished to go to Charleston himself for a tugboat, also +to telegraph to New York, but the men with him would not let him go, so +he sent an order to Charleston for a tug, and a letter to the captain of +the revenue cutter, explaining the situation.</p> + +<p>The knife was never found; no blood stains could be found on any +clothing or person aboard the ship. The axe had always hung in brackets +over the captain's bed, that being the only trace that was left. The man +who did the deed must have been covered with blood. No noise had been +heard, although a number of persons were sleeping close by, and one half +of the crew were awake and on duty continually.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> The corpse was placed +in a water-cask, which was filled with brine and salt from the beef +barrels. After the inquest, it was shipped to New York for burial. Next +will be related the evidence against Leroy and myself.</p> + +<p>Henry Leroy was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., his parents being quite +wealthy. The elder brother was lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy +during the War of the Rebellion. Henry was the "black sheep" of the +family, and was sent to sea in order to tame him down. The captain was +instructed to be severe with him. He was very flighty, had a wild look +in his eyes, and was very quarrelsome. In less than three weeks he had +had four fights with the boys, the last one with me. There being no +cargo on board, the boys had quarters fixed up for them between decks. +Henry was in one watch and I in the other.</p> + +<p>One night, at twelve o'clock, Henry came below and I was to go on watch. +It was then we had the fight. There being only a thin partition between +our place and the cabin, the noise woke the captain. The next morning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +the captain tied Henry to a dry-goods box and gave him a severe flogging +with a rope's end. Henry afterward told some of the crew that he would +be revenged for that flogging; that was the evidence against him.</p> + +<p>Now for myself: All the boys would tell Henry all kinds of nonsense and +he would believe it. I at one time proposed to him that we should kill +everybody on board the ship; that we two should sail the ship to the +coast of Africa, take the fifty thousand dollars in silver (weighing +over four thousand pounds) and go home with it. Much to my surprise, he +was willing to do so. Two or three times afterwards I amused myself with +that yarn. That story, with some additions of his own, was the evidence +against me. Some of his schoolmates afterwards stated under oath that it +was impossible for him to tell the truth. A tugboat was sent to +Charleston, and the ship was towed to that port. The United States +Marshal came on board, and Henry and I were taken up to the city in the +revenue cutter and put in the police station until the inquest was held. +In a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> couple of days after our arrival the inquest was held on board the +ship. Leroy and I were present. The captain's body was laid on deck and +we were made to stand near it and look at the terrible sight while some +of the jurors felt of our pulses, to see if we were unusually excited. +Leroy testified that I had confessed to the murder at twelve o'clock the +night it occurred, and that I had told him of it when the watches were +changed. At my trial it was proved that I had not spoken to him from the +evening before the murder until we were on the revenue cutter.</p> + +<p>The coroner's jury ordered that we three be held for trial. So the mate +was handcuffed and the three of us were taken to the Charleston jail, +where we remained for about six months. As soon as the news reached New +York, my father and Leroy's brother got letters of introduction to the +most prominent men in Charleston and started for that city. In the +meantime we had our examination before the United States Court +Commissioner and were held over to the Federal grand jury without bail. +The ship's crew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> were detained in jail as witnesses. It was a picnic for +them, as they were each to receive one dollar and a half a day, +comfortable quarters, the freedom of a large yard for exercise, and +their food, with no work. On the ship it was hard labour with only +twelve dollars a month for the voyage.</p> + +<p>When my father and Mr. Leroy arrived they were welcomed by some of the +leading citizens, and in a short time made many friends. They at once +retained the four best lawyers in the city. We three prisoners were kept +separate, but, as Henry and myself boarded with the jailer's family, we +were together at meal hours. I made many friends, while Henry seemed to +be disliked by everybody. The mate was kept in a cell by himself all the +time. A leading Freemason came from New York to Charleston and retained +a competent law firm for his defence. The Freemasons were the only +friends he had, and they stood by him well.</p> + +<p>No indictment was found against Leroy by the grand jury. He was released +and put under bonds as a witness.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +My trial came first. It lasted nearly a month and created much +excitement North and South. Leroy's testimony was all there was against +me. In the cross-examination he was badly rattled, and told so many lies +that everybody got disgusted with him. He was proved to be a liar by +some of his old schoolmates. The jury acquitted me without leaving their +seats. They all shook hands with me, and I was congratulated by +everybody. I was put under bonds as a witness.</p> + +<p>The first mate's trial then took place. Circumstances looked bad for +him. His cruelty to Leroy and myself made a bad impression on the jury. +When I showed how I had been tied with ropes for two days, with my hands +fastened behind my back for seventeen nights and days in the roasting +hot weather, it actually made some of the jury grit their teeth. The +jury retired, and were out quite a number of hours. Finally, they +brought in a verdict of "Not guilty," but for a long time they stood ten +for guilty and two for acquittal. After that, he never could get a +mate's position on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> any ship in the United States, so he went to +Australia and, when last heard from, was captain of an English ship.</p> + +<p>The Prospero, on one of her voyages, was dismasted by a typhoon in the +China Sea, was towed into one of the treaty ports in China and used as a +coal hulk.</p> + +<p>I went back to New York with father and mother, was gladly received by +all my friends, and remained there until I took a notion in my thick +head to go on a whaling voyage to the Pacific Ocean.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +<a name="ii" id="ii"></a>CHAPTER II<br /> +<br /> +<small>WHALING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">I was</span> in the habit of walking around the docks of the East and North +Rivers in New York and looking at the shipping. Fronting the river were +a number of shipping offices for sailors, and some of them had a placard +offering eighty dollars advance for men for the whaling service. So, one +day, I went into one of the offices and stated my desires. I was very +cordially received. That evening, with several others, I was sent to New +Bedford, Mass. On our arrival there we were assigned to a sailors' +boarding-house. In about two weeks afterward I was shipped on board the +Courier, for a three years' cruise in the South Pacific Ocean, for the +capture of sperm whales. I was to get one barrel of oil for myself out +of every one hundred and ninety that we should capture.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> Sperm oil was +worth about two dollars a gallon. No petroleum had been discovered at +that time.</p> + +<p>I was furnished with a seaman's outfit, which, with my board bill and +expenses, amounted exactly to eighty dollars; that was the advance. I +signed an agreement that the captain should pay that amount out of the +first money due me. Captain Coffin, four mates, and four boat-steerers +were the officers of the ship, with twenty-eight men before the mast, a +cooper, blacksmith, carpenter, cook, and steward—forty-two men on the +vessel, and the captain's wife and little boy.</p> + +<p>The night before we sailed I wrote to my father and mother and let them +know what I had done. I thought at the time that I knew more than they +did. Well, the older I grow, the more I realize what a fool I have been +all my life, and never a greater one than I am now at the age of +sixty-two.</p> + +<p>One morning early we weighed anchor, and were soon out of sight of land; +then the voyage began in earnest. Much to my surprise, we had to take +turns perched up aloft for two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> hours at a time on the top-gallant +cross-trees, looking out for whales. Why, I never thought there was a +whale within five thousand miles of New Bedford at that time, but I was +mistaken. They are sometimes captured in sight of the harbour. The +boat-steerers were kept busy fixing up their harpoons and lances, +getting the boats ready, coiling the lines in the tubs etc. In the +meantime the mates were watching the crew very closely to see which men +were the most active.</p> + +<p>After we were at sea about ten days all hands were called aft to the +mizzen-mast. Then the mates, each in turn, picked out one man for his +own boat's crew. Being light and active, I was made stroke-oarsman of +the first mate's boat, and a lively job it proved to be, too. Soon we +got in the warm latitudes and calm days, and then the boats would be +lowered in order to give the crews exercise and practice in rowing. It +was hard work, but we soon became expert oarsmen.</p> + +<p>One day we sighted the Cape Verde Islands, and sailed among them for a +few days.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> Boats were sent ashore; rotten tobacco—outfit quality—was +traded to the natives for fruit; then I got in my work, so far as the +fruit went. The ship then steered for the Island of Martinbas-Trinidado, +21° south latitude, for the purpose of ascertaining whether our +chronometers were still correct, by comparing our observations with the +longitude of the island, as that is known to a certainty.</p> + +<p>Trinity Rock, as it is called also, is uninhabited, quite barren, and +only a few miles in circumference. That is the place where we had our +first adventure. The first mate's boat was to take the crew, with the +captain, his wife and child, also three old muskets and ammunition, and +land them in a seaman-like manner on the island. The boat's party with +the old army muskets were to kill a number of mythical goats on land.</p> + +<p>We pulled close to the shore, just outside of the heavy surf, trying to +find a safe place to land. Finally we came to an opening in the reef. +Inside, the water looked smooth and inviting, and there was also a nice +sandy beach.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> To the left of the reef was the wreck of a French ship, +the bowsprit pointing straight up into the air. While looking at the +wreck, we saw a large green turtle just ahead of the boat. Then visions +of turtle soup with our goat's meat dawned upon us. It chanced, though, +that in trying to capture that turtle we made a great mistake, for just +at that time a very-heavy surf came over the reef and capsized our boat. +Things were badly mixed for a time. Boat, oars, men, and the captain's +wife and child were going in every direction. Finally things quieted +down a little, and we landed on the beach. We got the boat and what oars +we could, and then took a rest on the burning hot sand. The weather +being very warm, the boat's crew all wore leather slippers and no +stockings. We had to run up and down on the sand with our bare feet, as +the aforesaid slippers were lost when the boat went over. I picked hard +little short thorns out of my feet for days afterward. They came from +dried-up vines that grew in the sand.</p> + +<p>The beach was honeycombed with large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> holes, and each hole contained a +big yellow land-crab. Every step we took, snap would go a big pair of +claws for our feet. We had also lost our straw hats, so we had the full +benefit of the sun on our bare heads. A number of wild land birds of a +good, healthy size would swoop down upon us. It was anything but a +pleasure at that time, and the muskets being lost also, the captain and +mate changed their minds about the goat business.</p> + +<p>The cause of our disaster was made clear to us in a short time. The surf +for about ten minutes would run low, and then would be followed by three +tremendous rollers in succession. It was the latter that wrecked us on a +barren island. We soon got tired of life on shore. The question was how +to get away.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, while we were on the goat expedition, the second mate's +boat had left the ship on a fishing excursion. They anchored the boat +near shore, outside the surf, and were hauling the fish in at a lively +rate. We needed their assistance. As the mate still had his shoes on his +feet, he went quite a distance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> down the beach and made signals for the +boat to follow him back. When they got opposite to us we explained the +situation. By watching for a good chance, they pulled in quickly and +threw us the end of a harpoon-line, and got outside of the reef. We +fastened the line to the bow of our boat, and when a low surf came in +launched it, were towed out by the other boat, and arrived on board the +ship very much disgusted with the whole business.</p> + +<p>The old Courier's yards were braced around and we were off for Cape +Horn, 56° south latitude. One day, it being quite calm, the lookouts at +the mast-head noticed a lot of sea-gulls flying around in a circle, and +under them something floating in the water. We thought it might be a +dead whale, so the mate's boat was lowered. We found it to be an old +cask, which must have been in the water for years, as it was thickly +covered with barnacles.</p> + +<p>We towed the cask to the ship and hoisted it on board. As it came out of +the sea we noticed that the staves were completely honeycombed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> by the +sea-worms. The water was spurting out as if it were a sprinkling-pot. We +had just got it over the ship's rail when it burst, and the contents +fell on the deck. It proved to be palm-oil, probably from some vessel in +the African trade that had been wrecked. It had, no doubt, drifted many +thousands of miles. We saved two barrels of oil out of our catch.</p> + +<p>The weather soon began to get much cooler, and storms were frequent; +then we began to see the albatross and Cape Horn pigeons. The latter is +about the size of a domestic pigeon, but has webbed feet and a hooked +bill, and is the only wild bird having variegated plumage, no two being +marked alike. We caught quite a number of the albatross, some measuring +seventeen feet from tip to tip of wing. We caught them with large +fishhooks baited with a big piece of salt pork. The bait would float on +the surface of the water. We had them walking all over the decks, as +they cannot fly unless they run on water to give them a good start. The +large webbed feet make excellent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> money pouches when dried and properly +dressed.</p> + +<p>In the month of January, midsummer in the southern hemisphere, we +sighted Staten Land, the extreme southern point of South America, and +ordinarily designated as Cape Horn. For the first time we then saw the +Pacific Ocean, "so near and yet so far," for just at this time we were +struck by a heavy northwest gale. A close-reefed main top-sail and storm +stay-sail was all we could carry with the ship headed as close to the +wind as possible, so as to ride over the mountain-like waves. The helm +was lashed hard down, as there was no steerage way.</p> + +<p>There we were, drifting to the south for about three weeks before the +gale broke, and we were able to make sail on the ship. It was daylight +for twenty-two hours, and the other two hours of the twenty-four could +not be called dark. Such days would be delightful for farmers in this +part of the world. Soon after the storm we got fair winds, and were on +our cruising grounds off the southern coast of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> Chile and northern part +of Patagonia (the new boundary gives the whole coast to Chile now).</p> + +<p>The ship's crew was then divided into four watches, with a boat-steerer +in charge and only one watch on duty at a time, so we had plenty of +leisure. Every night, all sail but two would be close reefed, top-sails +would be furled, then the ship would be headed offshore until midnight, +and would then go about and stand inshore until daylight, when all sail +would be set again. At certain seasons whales come down the coast going +south, and we were keeping a bright lookout for them.</p> + +<p>Each whaleboat's outfit consists of three harpoons, two lances, one +cutting-in spade, one tub with three hundred fathoms of +five-eighths'-inch whale-line, one extra tub with one hundred fathoms, +one tight keg containing boat compass, lantern, steel and flint, and +some sea biscuit. The latter articles are used only in case the boat is +lost from the ship, which frequently happens.</p> + +<p>There is a number of different species among the whales. They are all +mammals, bringing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> forth and suckling their calves. On attacking a cow +and calf together, it is the custom to kill the latter first, as the cow +will never desert her calf. The sulphur-bottom whale is the largest, but +it is never harpooned, as it is too dangerous, and will always run all +the line out of the tubs before it stops sounding. The sperm whale +furnishes the most valuable oil. The sperm whale throws its flukes, or +tail, up and down when attacked, so it is possible for a boat to +approach one head, or fluke, on. The right whale furnishes the common +oil, and in larger quantities; sometimes one fish will yield two hundred +and fifty barrels of oil, as well as many pounds of whalebone, now very +scarce and valuable. It hangs in large thin sheets from the jaws, wide +at the top, and tapering to a narrow point with hair-like fringe on the +edges. The right whale can be attacked only "head on," as they throw +their flukes from side to side. They are captured in the cold northern +seas, the sperm in southern waters. One hundred barrels is a large yield +from one fish of the latter species.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +We saw several whales, but could not get near them. Finally, one big +fellow was sighted, and all boats were lowered, the first mate's being +in the water first. Having a good fair wind, we set the boat's sail. In +a short time we were close to the whale. Being stroke-oarsman, it was my +duty to keep the sheet of the sail in my hand, having one turn around a +cleat. The boat-steerer stands up with a harpoon ready. Soon we were +right on top of the fish, the sheet was "let go," a harpoon was thrown +just as we were going over the whale's back, and then the fun began. The +line leads from the tub to a post in the stern of the boat—two turns +around it—and thence through a cleat in the boat's bows. The tub was +alongside me. I was kept busy throwing water on the line, so that the +friction would not set fire to the post, or "loggerhead." The mate was +holding that rope in his hand all the time, just keeping all the strain +on it possible without sinking the boat. If he had let a kink get into +that line as it came from the tub, the boat and crew would have gone +under water in quick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> order. If he had let the line slip off the +"loggerhead" it would probably have killed every man in the boat. The +noise and sawing of that rope, with the smoke and steam from the +"loggerhead," I can remember to this day. The whale stopped sounding at +last. We were watching which way the line would point as the whale was +coming up, and discovering that the line was directly under us, we got +away from that spot in a very lively manner, as that was a sure sign +that his whaleship intended to have a fight with the boat. They +frequently play that trick, and the crew have to jump into the water, +provided they have a chance to do so. In a few minutes our friend came +to the surface, spouted water, and then started off "dead to +windward"—they invariably do so—at a terrific speed. The boat-steerer +and mate now changed places, and all the men except myself reversed +positions, so as to face the boat's bow. They hauled in the line, and I +coiled it carefully back in the tub. When alongside of the whale, the +mate threw a lance as often as possible, aiming at a point just behind +the fin, at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> what is called the "life." It is a mass of very large veins +just under the backbone, that is used by the whale as a reservoir for +the extra blood which it requires while under water. When that is once +cut, a whale spouts blood instead of water. Down he went again. We had +to keep up that sort of work for about two hours, until finally the +blood was thrown from the spout, and we were completely covered with it. +In a little while our capture began to swim in a circle and on one side +with one fin out of water, and soon he was dead. Sharks made their +appearance in the water so close to the boat that we could strike them +with our oars, and hundreds of large sea-birds were wildly flying around +us, all attracted by the blood. In the meantime the other boats had been +rowing hard to overtake us if possible and assist, or pick us up, in +case of accident. As we were dead to windward, and several miles from +the ship, all the boats had to fasten on and tow the whale back, and a +big contract it was.</p> + +<p>On the ship everything had been made ready<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> for "cutting-in." The fish +was fastened alongside by heavy iron chains and, with heavy tackles from +the main masthead and loading to the windlass, the blubber was slowly +hoisted on deck. The captain and the mate did the cutting with +long-handled blubber spades. They kept cutting one continuous strip two +feet wide, and at every eight feet would cut a hole and hook in the next +tackle; and so they kept on hoisting and lowering until the blubber was +all on board. It was a process similar to peeling an orange. The strain +from the windlass kept the whale's body revolving in the water as the +blubber was cut. The head was cut off and hoisted on deck entire. The +chains being removed, the carcass, weighing many tons, sank to the +bottom, the sharks voraciously following it.</p> + +<p>Then a fire was built under the try-pots, with wood. As the oil was +boiled from the blubber it would be put in a cooling-pot and thence into +casks, the scraps being used for fuel. That work lasted for about a +week, everybody working hard. It was nothing but oil all over the +ship—clothing, food, and water—all had a liberal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> allowance. Eighty +barrels was the total of that catch. A few weeks later we sighted a +school of young whales. Several other ships being close at the time, it +was boats, whales, sharks, and everything mixed up.</p> + +<p>Our boatswain got knocked overboard while we were fast to a whale; +another boat picked him up. We got only two whales out of the lot, +fifteen barrels of oil out of one and twenty out of the other. Some of +the other ships got five and six. About that time the season on that +coast ended. The captain concluded to make for port and get fresh +provisions and water, and then make a trip north of the equator. The +water in our casks was getting rather stale; it tasted and smelled like +a strong decoction of dead rats. San Carlos, Chiloe Island, was the port +we anchored in. I took a look at the shore and made up my mind that if I +ever got my feet on dry land they would stay there.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +<a name="iii" id="iii"></a>CHAPTER III<br /> +<br /> +<small>A SAILOR ASHORE</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> water casks were hoisted up from the hold, lowered overboard and +towed ashore, to be filled with fresh water. In about a week's time we +finished that job, then all hands were to have twenty-four hours' +liberty on shore—eight men at a time. My name was one of the first to +be called. We received two dollars cash for spending money. Taking my +chum aside, I quietly bid him good-bye, and then got into the boat. +Everything was strange to me on shore—the customs, language, and +sights. I got acquainted with a young American from another ship, by the +name of Amos, and learned that he also was desirous to quit the oil +business. During the day we kept with the other sailors, visiting the +dance-houses. When evening came we both struck out for the woods.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +The natives were very kind to us, knowing that we were runaway sailors. +They would invite us to sleep in their houses during the nights, when +they would teach us to talk Spanish. It must have been very amusing to +them, as they were continually laughing and saying "Bueno" (good). In +the daytime we would go down to the beach to see whether our ships had +left harbour yet. In about three weeks' time we had the pleasure of +seeing both vessels standing out to sea. It was the last time that I saw +the Courier on that coast. Her old ribs now lie in the sands at the +mouth of Charleston Harbour, South Carolina. During the war the +Government purchased a number of condemned whalers and fitted them up +for sea, when they were loaded with stone and taken to Charleston +Harbour, dismantled, and sunk in the channels, in order to blockade the +harbour more effectually. The whole world made a fuss about it. That +blockading experiment was a dismal failure, as it was only a short time +until the waters of the Ashley and Cooper rivers, combined with the +ocean currents, washed out much deeper and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> better channels. I saw the +ship just before she was sunk and bade the old Courier a last farewell.</p> + +<p>A few days after our ships had left San Carlos we walked into town, +interviewed the captain of the port, and asked for our discharge, saying +that our ships had gone to sea and abandoned us in a foreign port. Well, +we got our papers all right. We needed them at that time, as nobody +could go from one town to another without having documents to show who +they were—not even the natives. The country is under strict military +government, the army having control of everything. My friend and I +finally came to the conclusion that we were in a bad fix, being in a +foreign country, not able to speak the language, and having no money. +There was no work to be obtained. After a while we made up our minds to +work our passage to Valparaiso on some merchant vessel. We remained +around the landing-dock for several days. Every captain we spoke to +replied to us kindly, but they had no places for us. In the meantime we +had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> taken trips to the beach, digging clams to eat. The people in the +town were not so liberal to us as were the natives who lived at a +distance.</p> + +<p>While loafing around the dock one day we got into conversation with an +American, a runaway whaler. He told us that he was a carpenter, had been +living several years in the country, and was married to a young Chilean +woman. He wanted Amos to go to another of the islands and work with him. +My friend would not go without me, so Tom, the carpenter, proposed that +I should also go, as there was a blacksmith by the name of Bill who +would be glad to have me as a helper. Now was the formation of a fine +quartette of Yankees begun! Amos was a graduate of a Down East reform +school, very handy with tools, a fine-looking young fellow, but he could +not read nor write, and he never could learn the Spanish language; +reference to a terribly ugly temper and vicious disposition completes +his description. Our new friend took us to his house, gave us an +introduction to his wife, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> very pretty young woman about sixteen years +old. (They marry as young as eleven and twelve years of age.)</p> + +<p>Manuela was not educated and was exceedingly lazy, with lax ideas as to +morality and virtue. Tom informed us that the next morning we would +start for the Island of Calabucco, as he had house rent free there and a +contract to lengthen a boat for a priest. During the night Amos got out +of bed, went to another house, and stole the only double-barrelled +shotgun in that town. Tom hid it in a mattress. After breakfast, we +carried what household goods there were down to the dock. A tool-chest, +a couple of pots, some dishes, a few clothes, and the bedding completed +the outfit.</p> + +<p>Everything was put on board a sloop, and then we started for our new +home. During the trip Señora Manuela was watching my friend Amos; the +result was that Tom told me that I should live with him, and Amos would +have to go to Bill's house. On our arrival we soon had our house in +order. Opposite to our place was the residence of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> priest. I saw a +number of dirty children—about eight—running about the place, also a +woman. As I got better acquainted I had every reason to believe that +poverty, piety, and celibacy were omitted from the Father's creed.</p> + +<p>After a rest of several days, we went to his reverence's yard and had a +look at the boat. It was an old yawl from some ship, very short and +broad. We were to make it three feet longer by piecing it in the centre. +The boss asked me for my advice. I knew a lot about boats then. Oh, yes; +a very easy job—if we only knew how! We waited a few days longer before +going to work. Money was very scarce in that town, so they used a small +cedar-board for currency. The size was about six feet long, six inches +wide, and half an inch thick. The value of each was about six cents. The +stores were small, and, for that reason, the cedar-boards were piled up +in the back yards until some merchant would buy them at the market +price—seven dollars a hundred—and ship them to Valparaiso. There were +no lights<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> in the streets at night-time, and the night watchman would +call out the hours and half-hours and the state of the weather during +the whole night, so that one could always know exactly his whereabouts. +My friend Amos, with his past experience, took advantage of that fact, +and induced me to go into the lumber business with him. Night after +night we were busy climbing over fences and carrying off cedar-boards. +About thirty-five each was considered a fair load for a trip. In the +daytime we took them to different places and made our purchases.</p> + +<p>One day we at Tom's house got excited. The double-barrelled shotgun was +gone. We watched our chance and stole it back from the house presided +over by Bill and Amos; however, they stole it back again in course of +time, and kept it. Tom's ranch did not suit me, so I went to work for a +native shoemaker. Amos quit Bill and went to Tom. I quit the shoemaker +and went with Bill. About that time Tom concluded it would be easier to +make a new boat out and out. The padre was of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> same opinion. He told +Tom he could have the old boat for his own use. So the job began in +earnest, but our friend was not a very good man for that kind of work; +he could not do anything until he took the old yawl apart for patterns +to work by. It was about one year before the new boat was finished. In +the town was a man who owned a launch—a home-made affair, with planks +two and a half inches thick. For oars he had rough, heavy poles with +pieces of boards fastened on the ends for blades. Nothing but a +boat-race would settle the point as to which was the faster. Our padre +was quite a sport. At any cock-fighting, gambling, horse- or boat-racing +he was always the umpire and prime mover. Eight sheep and one barrel of +cider were the stakes to be raced for. One Sunday morning, just after +mass, the race took place. The padre's boat came in about a half mile +ahead—the whole course was not two miles. Tom's reputation as a +boat-builder was away up in consequence, and he got the "big-head" +badly. That night he gave a select party at his house in honour of the +event.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> Aguardiente was the only refreshment served; and towards +midnight all were drunk, Tom especially so. A thin partition separated +the bedroom from the main apartment. Our host, in staggering around, +fell against the door, and tumbled on to his own bed, only to find it +already occupied. Then there was a row; the guest jumped out of the +window, with the other occupant a close second.</p> + +<p>My new employer, the blacksmith, was a fine-looking man of six feet two +inches in height, and built in proportion. He had a fair complexion and +light hair hanging in ringlets down his shoulders. He was from +Baltimore, Md. Swearing, drinking aguardiente, and talk—that was all he +was good for. His wife was a widow seventeen years of age when he +married her. They had three little boys, the most vicious little +wretches that I ever came in contact with. As for their home, it was +squalid and filthy. No floor, and the fire was in the centre of the only +room. On each side was a board resting on stone: that was the only place +we had to sit down. A most cheerful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> family circle we made. The children +were continually raising Cain, and Bill swearing at them in Spanish. As +yet none of the bosses had ever said anything about wages. However, I +never had any work to do, so that equalized affairs.</p> + +<p>One day Bill—or Guillermo, as he was called—was wanted at a saw-mill +on the mainland. A freshet had made a wreck of the mill and dam. None of +the natives was willing to work, so Bill induced Amos and me to go with +him. At last I was working for fifty cents a day. After a while we got +the dam repaired, and then fixed up the mill. It then dawned upon Don +Fernando's mind that he had no one to run the aforesaid mill. So he made +a contract with us to do the sawing at two cents a board, we to "find" +ourselves in food and cooking utensils. Bill sent for his family; Amos +and I occupied a small room in the mill for a living apartment, where we +were to keep bachelors' hall. Our stock of provisions was furnished on +credit from the employer's store. Wheat flour was worth eight cents a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +pound, but wheat was worth only fifty cents a bushel. This seeming +profit was used up in sending the wheat to Valparaiso for grinding and +then having it shipped back as flour, as no railroads were there then.</p> + +<p>The mill was a most primitive affair; the amount of labour was +astounding, the results of our toil much more so; a hundred boards was +our largest day's work, and I will guarantee that not any two of them +were of equal thickness at the end. Some days we would have no logs to +saw; other days there would be no water in the dam. Bill had one cent as +foreman, Amos and I each half a cent a board. Our average was about +twenty cents a day each.</p> + +<p>We found ourselves gradually getting into debt for provisions and +clothing. After talking over our financial affairs one evening, we came +to the conclusion that our prospects looked gloomy. About bedtime Amos +put on his hat and coat and invited me to do the same. He was always +sullen, so I never asked him any questions. When we were outside the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +room he informed me that in future he would live a —— sight cheaper +and better than he had been doing in the past. All I could say was, +"Amen, brother!" My friend proved to be a good forager; before morning +we had a nicely dressed sheep hanging up in our room, also a big supply +of potatoes under the bed. That was the only time in my life that I was +guilty of sheep-stealing. We lived high on roast mutton and potatoes; +but, alas! we were found out. They blamed Amos for the whole business; +but, on attempting to arrest him, they made a mistake, as he pulled out +a big knife, and coolly walked away from that part of the country. +Afterward he stole a horse; that was the last we heard about him in +Chile.</p> + +<p>Every one called me "Bueno muchacho" (good boy), while Amos was +designated "Muy picaro" (great rascal). Don Fernando Andrade was over +sixty years of age; he had a fine-looking wife and quite a number of +children—the oldest one twenty-six years, and the youngest six months +old. He took quite an interest in me, as I was always very quiet,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +polite, and strictly temperate. Finally, he had me live with his own +family, and treated me as if I were one of his own sons. They used to +laugh and make fun of me because I washed my hands and face twice a day. +In that part of the country they never wash themselves at all: "Se +maltrata el cuero" (it ill-treats the skin) was their reason, I presume; +laziness also. About that time I wrote to my father and mother in New +York. The postage then on a foreign letter was fifty cents, with only +one mail a month on that coast. In about four months I received an +answer from San Francisco, Cal. My father had failed in business in New +York, indorsing notes, and a panic ruined him. He was doing well in +California, and wanted me to come there. Don Fernando had a contract for +a large number of railroad-ties for Peru. The natives would cut and pile +them on the beach ready for loading. A schooner was sent up from Don +Carlos for a cargo of them. The captain was an Englishman, and we became +quite friendly. He offered to take me to San Carlos whenever I wished +to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> go. By the time the schooner was loaded I got homesick, and, all at +once, I made up my mind to go home, so I bid Don Fernando good-bye. He +was sorry to have me leave, but would not coax me to remain away from my +parents.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +<a name="iv" id="iv"></a>CHAPTER IV<br /> +<br /> +<small>I TAKE TO THE SEA AGAIN</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">At</span> San Carlos was a large ship receiving the ties as they were brought +from the different islands. The captain shipped me as an ordinary seaman +at ten dollars a month. The vessel was the Androkolis, of Copenhagen, +Denmark. Our destination was Callao, Peru. I never reached San +Francisco, although I sailed eighteen hundred miles towards that city. +San Carlos was 42° and Callao 12° south latitude. The crew of the +Androkolis was composed of Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, two Hollanders, +and one Englishman, every one of them speaking a different language from +mine, except the man from Liverpool, Jimmy Kincaid by name. Now Jimmy +and I became chums. He was very short and broad, and possessed unusually +large hands and feet. He was about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> twenty years old. We little knew +what hardships were in store for us when we became friends. If he is +alive to-day, he remembers, beyond all doubt, the night we saw the +Flying Dutchman while rounding Cape Horn on another vessel.<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a> We both +saw that vessel—of course it was only an illusion—but we were both +badly scared for a few minutes, as certain death appeared imminent. I +will explain it in time. There are a few thousand miles of sea to be +sailed over before we come to the story of that night.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_B_2"><span class="label">[B]</span></a> Like the Wandering Jew on land, there is a ship at sea +sailing on and on until doomsday, manned by a crew of very old Dutchmen, +who are expiating some sin.</p></div> + +<p>We had a very pleasant voyage. Sailing north towards the equator, the +weather was gradually getting warmer. In about four weeks' time we +sighted the Island of San Lorenzo, an immense, high rock which formed +the western side of Callao Harbour. The ship's sails were taken in and +furled, all but the top-sails. At last we came to anchor. Where our ship +lay in the bay was directly over the old <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>city. A number of years ago, +during one night, an earthquake submerged Callao and raised up San +Lorenzo from beneath the waters. Five miles inland is the city of Lima, +the capital of Peru and the burial-place of Pizarro, the conqueror of +that country. The only railroad on that coast at that time was the +five-mile track connecting the two cities. Jimmy and I rowed the captain +ashore in the ship's boat. Sitting on the steps when we arrived there +was my old friend Amos. We were much surprised to meet again. He told me +all about himself since leaving the saw-mill in Chile so abruptly. He +invited me to visit him at the hospital, although there was nothing in +his appearance to indicate that he was an invalid.</p> + +<p>Lighters came to the ship, and the unloading of our cargo commenced. +Jimmy and I were promoted to be cook and steward of the vessel, I being +the latter. One Sunday we had an afternoon holiday on shore. The captain +let us have only one dollar each out of the wages due to us. The first +place we visited was the hospital, in quest of Amos. It was a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> terribly +hot day. On a large grassy plain fronting the building were a number of +healthy-looking men playing a very lively game of ball. You can imagine +our surprise when Amos informed us that they were the patients belonging +to the hospital. The explanation was simple enough. Every man aboard of +an American ship has to pay twenty-five cents a month to support the +marine hospitals. A ship cannot get clearance papers until it is paid. +That entitles the sailors to admission to any marine hospital in the +United States when they are taken sick. If in a foreign port, the +American consul is obliged to pay for their keeping at whatever hospital +may be found in that place. The consul for Callao was a kind-hearted old +man by the name of Mills. Any American sailor who would go to him and +say, "I am sick, Consul," would get an order for admission at once. A +number of seamen imposed on him. It was an object for them to get their +board and clothing free while they were waiting only for seamen's wages +to rise as high as possible; then they would ship for some long voyage.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +The hospital authorities were easily enough satisfied, as they were well +paid, and the patients were able to attend to their own ailments.</p> + +<p>After our return to the ship, Jimmy was continually coaxing me to remain +in Peru with him, and live among the natives for a while. I was anxious +to get to San Francisco, but no ships in harbour were bound in that +direction, although a number arrived from there, loading with guano and +going around Cape Horn. At last I promised to go with Jimmy. He had +eighty dollars due him, and I twelve, but the captain would not +discharge us and pay us off. Then we got mad and determined to go +anyway. We got our clothes packed up in bags, ready for any chance we +could get to leave the ship. With the ship's telescope we took a good +look at the shores of the bay. At one place the beach looked as if it +would be a good landing-place for us; it appeared like the edge of a +mill-pond. Our chance soon came. The boat had not been hoisted up out of +the water, as was customary, but had been left overnight fastened to the +ship's side. Each sailor in turn had to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> stand "anchor watch" during the +night for one hour. He would then wake up his relief and go to bed. +There was a Dutchman whose turn would be at three o'clock in the +morning. I told him when he was called to awaken me, then he could go to +sleep again, as Jimmy and I had to make fresh bread for breakfast, and +we would do the anchor watching. Sure enough, "Dutchy" woke me up; then +I called Jimmy, and in a short time we had our clothes in the boat, also +a good double-barrelled shotgun, a pair of pistols, a silver watch, and +a couple of dozen of clean shirts belonging to the captain. We wished to +have something for the money that was due us.</p> + +<p>Away we went for the landing-place that we had selected. It was dark, +and quite difficult to see the beach; it appeared to us as though we +were close to a wall, several feet high, of rocks. The noise of the surf +also made us careful about landing. At last we discovered that it was +low tide, and the wall was only the wet cobble-stones left uncovered at +low water. We pulled hard, so as to run<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> through the surf, and we went +up the beach on a heavy roller. Jimmy stood in the bow of the boat, +ready to jump and hold the rope, or "painter," as it is called, as the +surf receded. He was a little slow in jumping, consequently the boat +went back with the surf in a hurry, Jimmy's feet went from under him, +and he landed head first on the rocks. The next roller brought the boat +in again; this time we succeeded, and got everything on land. The boat +was pushed out in the surf, and was found the next day floating bottom +up. We heard afterward that it was reported we had both been drowned.</p> + +<p>About nine o'clock I went to the hospital and told Amos what we had +done. He agreed to introduce us to a friend of his, who would take care +of us for a few days. That afternoon he brought a man with him to our +camping-place. In the evening everything was taken to a house in the +city. It very soon dawned upon us that we had got into the worst +sailors' "robbers' roost" that was in the town. Our clothing and +possessions were all locked up in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> room. We were made to understand +that to remain in the house would be the best thing we could do. From +what I afterward saw in that place I had reason to believe they meant +what they said. The Vigilance Committee in San Francisco had driven all +the tough characters out of the city. Quite a number of the worst ones +went to Callao and started sailor boarding-houses and saloons. They +formed a "ring" for mutual benefit. The English consul and a number of +the Peruvian port officers were in with them. A fine crowd of robbers +they were. They kept the sailors' wages high, beyond doubt, but only for +the reason that they would have more for themselves when they cheated +the seamen out of two months' advance pay. It is always customary to +give that much on long voyages, or "deep sea trips," as they call them. +After a few days' sojourn in our quiet boarding-house, we concluded that +any change would be for the better. The landlord informed us that a +small English brig was going up the coast, and that he could ship us +both as ordinary seamen. In the English<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> merchant marine a man cannot be +shipped unless he has a discharge from another vessel; in the American +service no papers are needed. We obtained discharges belonging to other +sailors, who had no use for them. The landlord took us to the English +consul's office. My name was to be Michael Murray. The clerk read the +law, as is customary; one rule especially—that any man assuming another +name would forfeit all wages. We had given bogus papers. When I went to +sign the articles I was rather embarrassed, as I had forgotten my new +name, so they had to tell me what it was. We were taken to our new ship, +which was anchored out in the bay.</p> + +<p>I was not greatly pleased when I found what was in store for me. The +wages were twenty-five dollars a month. The landlord had received fifty +dollars—two months' pay—in advance. He was to deduct my board bill and +give me the balance of the money, but I never got a cent of it. I had +been "shanghaied," as the sailors call it. Instead of going up the +coast, as I was told we were to do, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> found we were bound for Cork, +Ireland, a voyage of eighty-five hundred and twenty miles. The vessel +itself was a "holy terror," very heavily rigged, while everything on +board was old and played out, the rusty blocks, with heavy running gear, +making it very hard work for us, especially as we had a crew of only six +men, where twelve seamen, at least, should have been a crew for that old +tub. The cargo was guano in bulk, as a scow would be loaded with dirt. +Our sleeping quarters were in the forecastle, situated in the bow of the +vessel. Everything was covered with guano. As we had to live below, it +was our first object to clean up the place. Buckets of water were passed +down the scuttle, and the place was cleaned up as well as we could do +it; but it was of no use; the smell of ammonia made us sick. Some would +vomit, others bled at the nose, and a thick black phlegm would form in +our throats. The weather being warm, we slept on the deck, as we could +not endure it in the forecastle below.</p> + +<p>Guano is the droppings from sea-birds, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> have been accumulating for +thousands of years. The Chincha Islands, belonging to Peru, have an +inexhaustible supply. No rain ever falls in that country, consequently +nothing is washed away. The depth of the guano is from four to eight +feet. When a ship is to be loaded with guano, it has to go to Callao +first for a permit, then to the Chincha Islands. The cargo is put in by +Chinese coolies, and then the vessel returns to Callao for a clearance, +also to pay a certain amount per ton.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +<a name="v" id="v"></a>CHAPTER V<br /> +<br /> +<small>ON THE BRIG GRENFALLS</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> brig Grenfalls, of Sunderland, was our packet. Just before getting +up anchor we asked the captain if he intended to get more men for the +voyage. He curtly said "No." Then we came very near having a mutiny. +Finally we agreed to get up the anchor, especially as the captain +threatened to make a signal to the British man-of-war for assistance, so +we had to go anyway. I remember seeing the United States frigate +Merrimac in the harbour and wishing myself aboard her. The next time I +saw that vessel it had been transformed into an ironclad by the rebels, +and had destroyed the Congress and the Cumberland. The first week at sea +we had very pleasant weather. After that it became gradually colder and +stormy. No more sleeping on deck. The forecastle was the only place for +us then.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +Two quarts of water a day was our allowance, one pint each for +breakfast, dinner, and supper; the remaining pint was for drinking +during the following hours of the twenty-four. The hardtack that we had +to eat was covered with green mould and full of large white meal worms. +The salt pork was red with rust and filled with white spots. Probably +the hogs were killed on account of measles and pickled for sailors' use +at sea. The salt beef, or horse-meat, as it was called, was rather tough +eating; besides, everything we ate or drank was highly flavoured with +guano.</p> + +<p>Off the coast of Patagonia we encountered a heavy northwest gale of +wind; then our misery began in earnest. In harbour the deck was only +sixteen inches above water; in rough weather the seas were continually +washing over the decks. It was necessary to make gill guys by fastening +ropes diagonally across the deck from forward to aft. In going from one +place to another we could take hold of the guy nearest to us, then get +over and reach for the next before letting go of the first one. That was +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> only way to keep from being washed overboard or thrown against the +ship's rail.</p> + +<p>One night we heard water swashing under the forecastle deck. We told the +mate about it. There was a bulkhead dividing the forecastle from the +main hold; on the other side was a short half-deck. We cut a hole in it +and lowered a lantern. A lot of water could be plainly seen. The vessel +rolling would mix the guano with it. By working all of the men we got it +out. All the crew supposed it to be the same water that we used in +cleaning out our quarters, but we said nothing about it to the mate. We +used plenty of it and let it run into the hold. The next night we heard +the same swashing again; then we knew there was a leak somewhere. From +that time the muddy water had to be taken out in buckets and thrown on +the deck twice a day. The seas would wash it overboard. The leak was +found at last. A long iron bolt in the foremast rigging chains had +become rusty and worked loose. The bolt went through one of the knees +which supported the deck beams. Being below the loading line,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> the water +would come in and drop on the guano. It could not drain through and get +to the pumps.</p> + +<p>All our clothing got very rotten; shoes and boots became very hard; any +cuts or bruises on our bodies would not heal up; the palms of our hands +were full of black holes the size of a pin-head; the skin became very +thick, and would crack open at each finger-joint; our hair fell out, so +that we became prematurely bald. The windlass also, every time the brig +rolled, would slide a few inches from side to side, and would make the +deck-seams open enough to allow the water to drop through on our beds. +For three months our beds and clothing were dripping wet. When I went to +bed I would get to sleep at once, and it was hard to wake me up. Going +from a wet, steaming hot bed to stand watch on deck in that cold weather +was no joke. Each watch changes every four hours. Jimmy and myself were +in the mate's watch: two hours each at the wheel and two on the lookout. +The officers were the worst cowards that I ever came in contact with at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +sea. At one time the captain did not come on deck for two weeks. There +being no sun visible in that storm, no observations could be taken, so +we had to sail by "dead reckoning." The mate would sneak into the cabin +during most of the watch, and leave Jimmy and myself to take the chances +of being washed overboard. When it was my lookout I would go to the +cook's galley, and let the brig do her own watching. My chum did the +same as I. Two hours at wheel-steering would knock a prize-fighter out. +There was a very short iron tiller in the rudder-post. The wheel-chains +were iron and slack; consequently, every time the rudder would jerk, the +helmsman would be raised up a couple of feet, and then landed back again +almost quick enough to snap his head off. I was thrown clear over the +wheel several times. I tried the experiment of letting go a few times +when the wheel commenced to gripe; then I did come to grief; it would +whirl around one way and then back again. In trying to stop it, the +spokes would hit me a good rap on the knuckles. One eighth of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> a point +off the course is considered bad steering, but our old packet would +"yaw" off five whole points each way in spite of us. It seemed as if the +stern were trying to get ahead of the bow. Whenever I see a mule turning +his head back to look at his driver, it always reminds me of the old +brig Grenfalls. Besides the leak, a new danger confronted us.</p> + +<p>As we neared Cape Horn the seas became much higher and the storm +increased. The sun would rise at nearly ten o'clock in the morning, and +go down at two in the afternoon. The clouds were very heavy, and +seemingly close to the water. Heavy snow-storms were common. The wind, +however, was in our favour. Sometimes there would be a lull in the gale; +then more sail would have to be set to keep us ahead of the immense high +waves, else one might come over our stern and sink us. On the other hand +was the danger of going too fast; in that case the vessel would run +under and, loaded as it was, must go down like a piece of iron. Another +trouble was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> that we had to heave-to frequently, and that was very +dangerous. Now going before the wind and then swinging around head to +wind, as near as possible, compelled us to get into the trough of the +sea. If we had been struck by one of those huge waves broadside on, the +voyage would have terminated just then.</p> + +<p>The gale that brought us to Cape Horn followed the Pacific coast to +Staten Island, and then up the Atlantic Ocean. One day, as we were +sailing too slowly, a great wave almost broke over our stern. The main +top-gallant-sail was set in a hurry. A few hours afterward the wind +increased, and the light sail had to be taken in. Before Jimmy and I +could get aloft to furl it, there was nothing left. The wind had blown +it away in small pieces. That night we were compelled to heave to again. +No matter which way the tub's head was pointed, we were going in the +right direction, even if it were stern first, drifting before the wind. +Our cook and steward was a wild, red-headed fellow—Darwin's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> missing +link. My chum accused him of cheating us out of our pint of drinking +water. They were quarrelling all day about it. That night Reddy came to +the forecastle scuttle while I was getting some hard-tack ready for +eating—that is, hunting for meal worms. Reddy commenced the row again. +He was just going to paralyze Jimmy! I had not said a word yet, but my +chum was not going to be hurt if I could help it. At last the man became +quite brave. He told Jimmy he'd lick him and his chum together. The chum +was myself. So we invited him to come below. He lost no time in doing +so. Before he got half-way down we jumped for him. What a good thrashing +he got for his trouble! When we got through pounding him, he was dragged +to the opening in the bulkhead. Our intention was to throw him down the +hole into the water and the guano. We pushed too hard, so that he went +a-flying over the right place, very luckily, as he would have been +smothered in the guano-water. Reddy stayed in bed for two days. He told +the captain that the whole crew had tried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> to kill him. When he got out +of bed his face was blue, green, and yellow; this, with the eyes nicely +blacked and his red hair, made a fine combination of colours. Neither +one of us had been struck once, and there was no more trouble about +water.</p> + +<p>One night, just after being relieved from watch, all hands were called +to shorten sail. On deck I had to go again. There we were kept for +thirty-two hours, tending to the sails and bailing out water and guano. +A few nights afterward I was at the wheel. The mate sneaked into the +cabin; Jimmy was in the galley. There I was, tired out, my clothes +dripping wet with sea water and the wheel nearly jerking my arms off. +Suddenly the brig yawed off and was struck by a heavy sea. I could feel +the vessel quivering under my feet; with one hand I could not move the +wheel either way. I thought we were sinking and that my day had come. +The water on deck was above my knees. Suddenly the wheel began its old +tricks again, very much to my relief. The port bulwarks from the main to +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> fore-rigging had been carried away even to the deck. Spare spars +had to be fastened there by ropes until we got into port. The second +mate said it was my fault on account of bad steering.</p> + +<p>One day all hands were busy bailing water and guano out of the hold. I +was at the wheel again, trying my best to steer straight. It was of no +use; the old tub yawed around and was struck by a heavy sea. A large +quantity of water went down the scuttle and made more mud, all of which +had to be bailed out. How everybody did swear and growl! But I derived +some consolation on account of the second mate being nearly killed. The +water had knocked him off his feet and dashed him against the bulwarks. +When he came aft, rubbing his arms and legs, I had to grin. That was the +only time I ever felt really happy on that packet. Shortly afterwards he +took the wheel and sent me to help the bucket brigade. Very soon the +brig yawed again. I knew what would happen when I saw a heavy wave +coming, so got down the scuttle and shut it very quickly. After the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +commotion was all over I got on deck. Very much to my joy, the starboard +bulwarks had been carried away. My friend the second mate had nothing to +say about bad steering after that.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +<a name="vi" id="vi"></a>CHAPTER VI<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE FLYING DUTCHMAN</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">That</span> night we were compelled to heave to, for the waves were almost +sinking us. At two o'clock in the morning my chum was to relieve me at +the wheel. He was rather slow about doing it, too, as it was very +comfortable for him in the galley. I was about played out holding the +helm hard down, there being no steerage-way, as we were drifting to the +leeward. Our object was to keep the vessel head on to the seas as nearly +as possible, so as to ride over them as they came along. So much guano +had been taken from the forehold that it caused the brig to settle by +the stern and raise the forward part up, consequently every time the bow +dipped into a wave the water which came over would rush aft on the deck, +strike the taffrail, and give the man at the wheel a good shower-bath. +That<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> happened every few minutes. Between drenchings we had the cold +wind for a variety. The ship's clock was in the cabin skylight, visible +to the helmsman, whose duty it was to strike the bell one stroke for +every half hour. At four bells he was to be relieved; at eight bells the +watches would change; thus it would be four hours on deck and four hours +below until we arrived in port. Now I had been watching the clock very +anxiously for two hours, my whole body stiff and numb with the cold and +wet. Nearly a half hour after the right time, my friend Jimmy very +reluctantly made his appearance. I waited until he had hold of the wheel +and then I chided him in very impolite language. When I had said +everything that I could think of to hurt his feelings I stopped. In the +meantime I was holding on to a rope and sharing the shower-baths with +him. It helped to loosen my jaws, at any rate, even if it did no other +good.</p> + +<p>The cook's galley is a small house built on deck, in size about four by +six feet, with a sliding door on each side, the one to windward being +always kept shut except in very fine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> weather. Now I was hustling along +as fast as my stiff joints would allow me to get into the galley. There, +at least, I would be sheltered from the cold winds. I had got inside and +was turning to close the door, when I saw a sight which simply paralyzed +me. A large full-rigged ship with squared yards, all sails set, even to +the royals and studding-sails rigged out on both sides, was coming +straight for us, and distant only a few hundred yards. Our brig, being +hove to, was helpless to get out of the way. Certain destruction seemed +inevitable, with no possible hope of escaping a speedy death. I yelled +out at the top of my voice, "A ship on the lee beam!" Jimmy, at the +wheel, got a glimpse of the ship, and let out a yelp that brought the +mate on deck. The mate, who had been loafing in the cabin and shirking +his duty, also did some tall yelping when he saw our danger. There was +no chance to get on our knees to pray then. The decks were too wet and +slippery, besides, we had to use our hands to keep from being washed +overboard. As we could not do the proper thing in orthodox<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> style, we +did some tall cursing, as being the next best thing under the +circumstances. Swearing is a sailor's balm for many ills.</p> + +<p>We were terribly excited; only a few seconds and all would be over with +us. Our brig was drifting north at the rate of three miles an hour. The +strange vessel was heading south in that gale and with all sails set; +she should have been racing through the water at a twenty-knots rate. +You can imagine our surprise when we observed that the other vessel was +rapidly going backward and disappearing in a hazy mist. Suddenly there +was a break in the clouds, and we had a glimpse of the full moon for a +few minutes, for the first time in several weeks, although the nights +were nearly twenty hours in length. Soon we were in darkness again. That +was our first experience with the ship Flying Dutchman. The whole affair +had happened so suddenly and unexpectedly that we had no time to think. +The idea of a ship carrying all sail in that gale was ridiculous, but to +sail dead against the wind was still more so. We were very much +disgusted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> with ourselves for being so badly fooled, but, at the same +time, we were a greatly scared lot of sailors. The explanation was +simple enough. The clouds were black and heavy, flying low down near the +water. A rift in them allowed the moon to shine dimly between the edges +and cause the illusion. A few nights afterward we were running before +the wind. All hands were close-reefing the main top-sail. Off the port +bow we saw what appeared to be a ship on fire. Our course was altered to +that direction, and it proved to be the old Dutchman again. At last the +gale from the south broke up. We had got into the "pamperos"—westerly +winds from Buenos Ayres. The days were increasing in length, and the +weather became much warmer. The wind being on our beam, we could steer +straight, compared with what we had been doing before the wind. Besides, +the heavy rolling and lurching had diminished greatly. The effect of +heavy cargo, so much below the water-line, was greatly counteracted by +the wind striking us sideways. Going before the wind, the old brig +rolled terribly at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> times—so much so that we often expected the masts +to be snapped off, on account of the sudden jerking from side to side. +The forecastle was always wet and muddy, and, while eating, we would sit +on a chest, holding our pans in our laps, a cup in one hand, and +conveying the food to our mouths with the other, with both heels firmly +braced on the deck. Time and again an extra lurch would send us +a-sliding to the other side, bang against a chest or bunk, the food +flying in every direction. Back and forth we would go a dozen times +before we could stop. The sulphur and brimstone would hang in festoons +from the deck beams by the time we had stopped cursing the old brig.</p> + +<p>On the first clear day, instead of going to bed in my morning watch +below, eight to twelve in the morning, I went aloft to the fore-top, and +remained there the four hours enjoying the luxury of an airy wind-bath. +It was the first time in nearly three months that my clothing was dry, +and not so very dry then, either. The mates had been throwing out hints +about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> going into port for repairs. We had passed all the Pacific +harbours, and were doing the same with the Atlantic harbours, when, very +much to our joy, we sighted the Sugar Loaf, a very high conical rock, it +being the southern point of land at the entrance to the harbour of Rio +de Janeiro—River of January—Brazil, South America. So, much to our +joy, we were bound for port. My chum and I were of one mind—that was, +to quit the guano business P. D. Q.</p> + +<p>The entrance to the harbour was very narrow and well fortified. There +were steep rocks on each side. We were hailed from one of the forts and +asked the brig's name, destination, and last port. Our sails were +gradually taken in. At last we rounded to and dropped anchor. Rio is +admitted by all sailors to be the finest harbour in the world, and I +will guarantee that our old tub of a brig was the most dilapidated and +dirtiest specimen of the shipbuilder's handicraft that ever anchored in +it. It is a generally well-founded belief among sailors that rats will +desert a sinking ship. We often remarked that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> a rat had not been seen +on the Grenfalls during the voyage. I must say the rodents made a very +close calculation, if that was the reason for at some time quitting +their cosy quarters. My first act in port was to tie a rope around my +wet blankets and lower them into the water. By swashing them up and down +for awhile, I got considerable of the mud removed. Hanging in the hot +sun, they became dry by evening. So I enjoyed a good night's sleep on +deck. It was quite a contrast from what I had been doing for weeks +past—namely, getting into a soaking wet bed with all my clothes on, +dripping with water, and the sea dropping on me in small instalments +through the leaky decks.</p> + +<p>Our worthy captain was an entirely different man from what he was at sea +in the Cape Horn regions. Warm weather, with no danger to be feared, +made quite an improvement in his personal appearance. He was also more +self-important and domineering. The two mates and he were small men, +about five feet two inches in height. The way in which they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> murdered +the Queen's English was something simply terrible. "Mike, 'ow's 'er +'ead?" was the question often asked at the wheel when they wished to +know the point of the compass I was steering, so as to enter it in the +log-book. The disabled condition of the brig had been reported to the +English consul. He appointed three ship captains to "survey" our vessel, +and report whether it was seaworthy or not. They came on board and +examined everything. We, the sailors, took our knives and showed them +how rotten the remaining bulwarks were, how the decks leaked; in fact, +we did all we could to get the old tub condemned. It was estimated that +one hundred tons of guano had been dumped overboard; however, nothing +was said about the quantity of water that went with it. The captains +looked very wise, but said nothing. Finally, they got into their boats +and returned to shore. My shipmates and myself were in great hope that +the vessel would be condemned as unseaworthy. That meant our release and +three months' extra pay on account of being discharged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> in a foreign +port. Greatly to our disgust, the report was briefly: "The brig +Grenfalls, with necessary repairs, is fit to continue the voyage."</p> + +<p>In a few days we hoisted anchor and sailed up to a small island close to +the city. After considerable trouble we got the old tub fastened to a +small dock. Then we were allowed time to dispose of a mighty poor +dinner. All the remaining guano was to be taken out and placed on the +dock, a job which we did not like. Jim and myself, while eating, had a +quiet talk on the chances of getting our discharge from the vessel. We +both decided to declare war. No more guano work for us! We were eating +our last dinner on that boat, but we did not know it then. The war took +place in earnest, and most unexpectedly. Two explanations are necessary +before I proceed with the narrative. There was an able seaman in the +other watch, more intelligent than the average English sailor. His +vessel had been wrecked on the Pacific coast, and he had shipped with us +in order to return to England and sail in his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> former employer's service +again. From him I learned some facts in regard to English marine law. +English sailors always carry large jack-knives, a shackle at the butt +end, to which is fastened a lanyard, the latter going around the neck. +The knife, when not in use, is stuck in the waistband of the trousers. +With American sailors, a long knife, carried in a sheath and strapped +around the waist, is the fashion. It is a very necessary and useful +article on shipboard, used in cutting food—there are no forks—scraping +masts, repairing rigging, and so forth. It is always ready for instant +use in case of danger or accident. After dinner we had plenty of work to +do. Towards evening extra lines from the bow and stern were run ashore +and fastened to large rocks. Old canvas was cut in narrow strips and +wound around the ropes in every place where they were liable to chafe on +the sharp stones on the beach. We were still at that work at nine +o'clock, with no sign of supper yet. I made up my mind to quit work, and +had just got on deck when I heard the first mate and Jimmy talking +rather loudly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> by the cabin door. Too much work and nothing to eat was +the cause of the row. My chum was mad all over. Suddenly the mate caught +him by each wrist and gave his arms a quick, downward jerk. It was an +old trick, and very painful to a person whose arms were hanging down +loosely. In an instant Jimmy had his knife open and made a lunge for the +mate. The lanyard prevented the free action of the knife, but the blade +had scratched the skin on the mate's throat and made a long cut in the +neck of his tight-fitting, heavy knit undershirt. The mate began to run +and yell "Murder!" Around the deck he sprinted, with my chum after him. +Every few steps Jimmy would make a dig at him with the knife, only to +receive himself a jerk in the back of the neck from the lanyard. There +was an old box on the main hatch. Without being noticed by any of us, +our old enemy—the red-headed cook—was standing on it, with an iron +bolt in his hand. The mate took in the situation, though, and, on the +last lap, he crossed the deck at the main hatch. As Jimmy came along, +the cook<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> hit him a whack on the head with the piece of iron that laid +my poor friend on the deck <i>hors de combat</i>. The cook had no time to +gloat over his victory. He was howling out, "Wurrah, wurrah!" and made +remarkably quick time for the cabin, landing below without his feet +touching the stairs. A sailor was after him with a sheath-knife minus +the lanyard attachment. Our disabled shipmate was carried forward and +laid on deck. Having no fine Turkish sponges or decorated wash-bowls, we +could not dress his head according to modern style. We did the best we +could, however, which was to lower a bucket over the vessel's side and +fill it with dirty sea water. His head received several good bathings. +The treatment was liberal and heroic, the contents of a full bucket +being dumped on him at a time. It helped to revive him and to wash off +the blood, simultaneously.</p> + +<p>At last success rewarded our efforts. The patient sat up. When he had +got the salt water out of his mouth, he wanted to know "what in —— we +were trying to do with him?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> It being nearly ten o'clock, all hands +concluded to have supper. The cook was afraid to come on deck, so we +went to the galley and took all the food in sight. It was carried into +the forecastle. The chandelier—a tin cup full of grease with a rag for +a wick—was trimmed and lighted. Our frugal repast was interrupted by +the captain's sticking his head down the scuttle and inquiring if Jimmy +wanted a bandage and salve for his head. Jimmy very curtly told him to +"Go to ——." The captain was desirous that the crew should desert and +forfeit the money due to them, for he could get other men for one third +of the amount we were getting. Nine dollars a month for ordinary, and +eleven dollars a month for able seamen was the rate in Rio; while our +pay from Callao was twenty-five dollars and thirty-five dollars per +month. My chum and I had about forty dollars due to each of us, and I +intended to get it if possible. The rest of the men wanted to remain on +the vessel on account of the big wages, and the hardest part of the +voyage being over. Immediately after breakfast the next morning Jimmy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +and I went aft and called for the captain. We requested permission to +see the English consul, but received an evasive answer. It was to be a +game of bluff beyond all doubt, so my recently acquired knowledge of +marine law was to be tested. I stated plainly to the captain that seamen +were allowed by law to see the consul "if they had any complaints to +make." We demanded to be at once taken to the consul's office, as we +were not satisfied with our food and treatment, and wished for an +investigation. We said that he would have trouble if he refused to +comply with the law. Very reluctantly, he told us to get into the ship's +boat, and we rowed over to the city. On landing, he gave directions to +the consul's office, where, on arriving, we found that the captain had +taken a short cut and got there ahead of us. Consequently the consul +gave us a very cool reception and asked us what we wanted of him. He got +a brief synopsis of the trip around the Cape to commence with, then a +description of the food, next of the short allowance of water; and last, +we charged the captain with ignoring the law in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> regard to giving each +man the legal allowance of lime-juice a day.<a name="FNanchor_C_3" id="FNanchor_C_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_C_3" class="fnanchor">[C]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_C_3" id="Footnote_C_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_C_3"><span class="label">[C]</span></a> Years ago canned vegetables and fruit were unknown at sea; +for that reason lime-juice was served to the men daily, as a preventive +of scurvy. English vessels were nicknamed "lime-juicers" on that +account.</p></div> + +<p>The captain had considerable to say, himself. At last the consul refused +to discharge us. We were informed that we should have better food for +the future. The captain smiled with satisfaction, for a short time only. +All was not over yet. My last card was to be played and it won. "Well, +Consul, this man and I do not propose to go back to the captain's old +tub. We volunteer for Her Majesty's service!"</p> + +<p>The consul laughed, and informed the captain that he would be expected +at the office at two o'clock in the afternoon with our discharges and +the money which was due us.</p> + +<p>What clothing we had was badly rotted by the effect of salt water and +guano; therefore we had no reason to return to the Grenfalls for our old +rags. Out of the office we went in high glee. The first sailor I met on +the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>street gave us directions to a sailors' boarding-house. Portuguese +Joe was the landlord's title. No time was lost in making his +acquaintance. The mere fact that we were two sailors to be paid off that +day was sufficient recommendation.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +<a name="vii" id="vii"></a>CHAPTER VII<br /> +<br /> +<small>IN HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">No</span> money in advance, nor baggage as security for our board, was +required. Nothing in the house was too good for us; we could have +anything we wanted, and, oh, how glad the other boarders were to see us! +I almost felt at that time as if I had met about twenty long-lost +brothers. All that affection cost Jimmy and me several rounds of drink +for the "house." That afternoon we went to the consulate and received +our discharges and pay. The money was in Brazilian currency, and, +together, our money amounted to a hundred and fifty-five thousand +reis—twenty reis equal to a cent of United States money. Bookkeeping in +that country requires the use of a large number of figures.</p> + +<p>Our first venture was to get new suits of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> clothes and enjoy the luxury +of a much-needed fresh-water bath, when "Richard was himself again." +What a change in our mode of living! Fruit of all kinds to be had for +almost nothing; comfortable beds to sleep in; fresh food and vegetables +to eat. The only thing I objected to was that we had too many newly +found friends. I was strictly temperate at that time. Jimmy made me his +banker, with the condition that I should give him money only in small +amounts.</p> + +<p>Brazil is a very large country, and at that time was the only empire in +South America. Dom Pedro III was emperor. His palace was close to the +city of Rio. I saw him several times, as he frequently rode through the +city in his carriage, always escorted by his bodyguard of thirty +cavalrymen. He was a very fine-looking young man with fair complexion. +No doubt he was the most progressive ruler Brazil ever had. Now he is +dead and Brazil is a Republic. Rio de Janeiro is the capital, and a most +beautiful city it is. Viewing it from the bay in the night-time, it +resembles the dress-circle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> in an immensely large theatre, the +street-lights forming the rows of seats. The language is Portuguese, +much similar to Spanish. I had very little difficulty in making myself +understood when conversing with the natives. There was not a sewer in +the city. Large tubs about three feet high, eighteen inches in diameter, +were used in the houses for all refuse and waste material, and, when +filled, they were carried on the heads of slaves at night-time and +emptied into the bay. A large building at the water's edge was the +public dumping ground. The slaves were nearly all genuine Africans, +naked to the waist, the breast and face tattooed in different designs, +by scarring the skin with a knife.</p> + +<p>When one of those fellows came down the street on a dog-trot, singing +"Hoo! hoo! hoo! hoo!" I would get out of his way quickly. It was a +wonder to me how they could balance those heavy tubs on their heads and +keep swinging their arms at the same time.</p> + +<p>The native liquor is cashass, distilled from sugar-cane. Take equal +parts of pure alcohol<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> and water, put in a very liberal quantity of +creosote, and you will have a good sample of cashass—flavour, smell, +and strength will be the same as the genuine article. One evening, on +returning to the boarding-house, there was quite an excitement in the +dining-room. My friend Jimmy was laid out on the table, with three men +holding him down; he was in spasms and frothing at the mouth. My +impression was that he had been poisoned. After a while he quieted down +and went to sleep. The next morning he confidentially remarked to me +that he had no more use for any of "that —— cashass." My reason for +describing the liquor is to give an idea of its strength. Once, when I +was on an English man-of-war, it was probably the cause of a friend's +being drowned and of getting me into a serious scrape.</p> + +<p>I would frequently take a stroll down to the military dock where the +boat from the man-of-war landed. It was interesting to observe the +peculiarities of the different nationalities. The Americans were the +most intelligent, very neat in appearance, their clothing of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> fine +material and well made, dark blue flannel shirts embroidered with black +silk, a white silk star on each corner of the wide collars, a silk +ribbon with the name of the ship in gilt letters on the sailor hats. +When their boats landed the officers would get out, then the boat's +crew, with the exception of one man, going where they pleased, returning +after a time, and pulling off to their ship. Next were the Englishmen. +Their clothes fitted awkwardly. In appearance they were not so bright +and cheerful. No going ashore for them! A midshipman was always in +charge of the boat, every man being required to remain in his seat. The +Italians, Spanish, French, and Brazilians were a dirty, barefooted lot, +probably not one in ten being able to read or write. The English always +had difficulty in getting men for the navy. Low wages, flogging with the +cat-o'-nine-tails, and no chance for promotion, were the chief reasons. +A law was passed allowing any seaman in the British merchant service to +volunteer in any part of the world for Her Majesty's service. That was +the reason why I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> got my discharge from the Grenfalls. I remained at +Portuguese Joe's for two weeks, my money being spent in sight-seeing. +Then I went on board Her Majesty's frigate Madagascar and shipped for +five years as an ordinary seaman. My pay was one pound sixteen +shillings—about nine dollars—a month.</p> + +<p>I had to retain the name of Mike Murray on account of the discharge from +the last ship. Cloth was furnished to me—flannel and other +articles—for clothing, everything being charged to me excepting hammock +and bag. With the assistance of the other sailors, I soon had clothing +made and became a full-fledged man-of-war's-man. The Madagascar was a +very large frigate with two tiers of guns, and had been stationed at Rio +for a number of years without leaving the harbour. The admiral of the +South Atlantic station made her the flagship of the fleet. Only about +one third of the full complement of men was on board, and, consequently, +we had no drilling at the big guns or making and furling sails. But we +had "holystoning" decks enough to make up for it. At<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> four o'clock every +morning we were routed out of hammocks to wash decks. Sand and a little +water would be sprinkled on the deck, each man would have a piece of +flat sandstone, and then, on our knees, we would do some mighty hard +scouring, hence the name of "holystoning." Afterwards, with the use of +plenty of water, the sand and dirt would be washed off. Then, with +swabs, the deck would be dried and afterwards swept with brooms. By that +time it would be seven o'clock, and then we had breakfast.</p> + +<p>Jimmy came on board and shipped a few days after myself. We both +belonged to the same mess. He had a picnic, as I gave him my share of +grog to drink. Each mess was composed of fourteen men, each man in turn +being cook of the mess for one day. His work was to set the table, draw +rations, and bring the food from the galley. At twelve-thirty he would +take a bucket and get the grog. The grog was one half gill of Jamaica +rum and three half gills of water, mixed, making one half pint. Each +mess had a measure holding a little less<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> than that quantity. The cook +would give each man his allowance, and the difference in the measures +after fourteen men had been served would be considerable; that would be +the cook's perquisite. Orders had been given to refit the Madagascar +with entirely new rigging. The Brazilian Government had given permission +to use one of their ship-houses to work in. Every day a gang of us were +taken ashore to fit up the standing rigging. We were at that work for +two months. The experience and knowledge I acquired in that brief time +made me a good sailor. The English Government had the lease of a small +island in the harbour on which were erected a number of buildings +containing supplies for the navy. As we returned to the ship at night, +our boat would stop there and bring off the paymaster. One evening we +had to wait for him. As was the English custom, the boat was rowed a few +hundred yards from the dock, then "Peak oars!" was the order, each man +holding his oar straight up, the handle resting on the bottom of the +boat, the blade in the air. It was the second cutter with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> fourteen +oars, two men on each seat, quite a fine sight, but very tedious for the +men. We had a sudden change from the sublime to the ridiculous that +time. Two of the crew had got into an argument. One of them, getting +excited, emphasized his remarks by lifting his oar and bringing it down +on the bottom of the boat. That ended the debate abruptly. The boat, +being old and rotten, could not stand such treatment. The force of the +blow knocked a big hole in the bottom. In a few seconds all hands were +in the water, men and oars badly mixed up. Those of us who could swim +struck out for dry land, the remainder saving themselves by clinging to +the wreck.</p> + +<p>We had very little work to do after the old frigate was newly rigged. I +would look out of the gun-ports and watch the shipping in the harbour. +One day the United States brig Perry came in from a cruise on the +African coast and anchored close to us. She was a beautiful vessel. All +the crew appeared to be happy and contented. They were a fine, active +lot of men. I should have liked to exchange<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> places with any of them. +Finally they went on another cruise in quest of slavers. The next time I +saw the Perry was in Boston during the war, and I was then one of her +officers, in a position I little dreamed of holding when I watched her +leaving the harbour of Rio de Janeiro.</p> + +<p>I soon became discontented and homesick on the old frigate. My +messmates, knowing me to be a "blawsted Yankee," as they called me, made +me ill-natured. I usually returned what they gave. After several fights +they let me alone, but I was punished by being put on the black-list for +fighting. That meant being kept at work all day long cleaning +brass-work, etc. At dinner hour I would be on the quarter-deck with my +bowl of grog, an extra half pint of water being introduced, and I then +received a spoon with holes in it with which to sup the grog. With my +cap under my arm, I would be ordered to drink Her Majesty's health. It +was a tedious job sipping that infernal stuff out of the bowl with the +spoon. It would run out as fast as I dipped it up. Sometimes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> there +would be ten or twelve men undergoing the same punishment. In the +evening I would have to stand one hour on the quarter-deck, toeing one +of the seams. Poor Jimmy got into a scrape, so I had him drinking Her +Majesty's health with me. This was also the case with a half-breed +American Indian from Massachusetts, and a greenhorn from England, and a +very troublesome quartette we proved to be. That night all four of us +deserted. The first lieutenant had his gig condemned and got a new one +to replace it. While we were doing the seam-toeing act he came on deck +and ordered us to get into the new gig and pull around the ship, so that +he could see how it set in the water. A conversation between us while +rowing made it plain that all were anxious to run away. We went on the +gun deck and had a quiet talk. Everything was arranged for going ashore. +The boat could not be hoisted up, as there were no spare davits for it. +That just suited us.</p> + +<p>At bedtime we got into our hammocks with our clothes on, and about three +o'clock we got<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> our bags containing all our clothing and took them on +the gun deck. Matt, the half-breed, got into the boat from the gun ports +and hauled it around to the bow port. The bags were then handed down. +Jimmy had gone back for something and we were waiting for him. At last +he came and handed me a pocket-book. All of us got into the boat, and +away we went. No one had seen us leaving. There were three decks in that +frigate, the spar, the gun, and the lower or berth deck. The crew swung +their hammocks on the latter. What few officers and men there were on +duty at night would be on the spar deck, so there was no one on the gun +deck to bother us, and all below were asleep. Had there been a full +crew, arrangements would have been different and our plan frustrated. +When we got into the city, Matt and the greenhorn went ashore. Jimmy and +I concluded to take a trip up the bay. By seven o'clock we were quite a +distance from the city. The boat was run ashore and our bags were taken +out. The dry land was good enough for us. Something to eat was next in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +order. The pocket-book was then examined and found to contain eighty +thousand reis, Brazilian money—forty dollars. Then Jimmy explained how +he got it. A new man slept next to my worthy chum, and every night he +would place his pocket-book between the mattress and the canvas hammock, +and lie on the whole affair himself, feeling secure against all loss. +Just where the pocket-book lay there was a lump bulging out in the +canvas, so Jim cut a slit in the right place and the booty was his.</p> + +<p>A short distance from the landing-place were a number of +slaughter-houses, and the butchers were very much surprised to see two +man-of-war's-men with their baggage in their neighbourhood. One of their +number could speak Spanish, so a friendly conversation took place which +ended in their purchasing our clothes—bags and all. We received a fair +price, both parties being satisfied with the bargain. After eating a +good breakfast in one of their houses, we bade our new acquaintances +good-bye. With plenty of money in our pockets, and on shore, everything +seemed quite pleasant. Our plans were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> soon agreed upon—to take a +walking tour to the south, have a view of the country, get to the +seaport of St. Catharines, and ship on some vessel for the United +States. It was necessary to make a détour of the city to get on our +right road. After awhile we met a market-woman with fruit and bought +enough for our dinner. Sitting under a tree, we enjoyed our picnic very +much. All our money was then counted; there proved to be one hundred and +seventy thousand reis altogether. A fourteen-thousand-reis bill I put +inside the lining of my hat, the balance in my pocket. During the rest, +Jim proposed going into the city to make some purchases for our journey. +We went—and that was a grand mistake. When we passed the Hamburg House, +kept by a Dutchman, we were reminded that we were thirsty, so we went in +and sat down at a table and ordered a bottle of English ale. Just then I +noticed a young fellow go out of the door. After awhile I asked about +the ale—why they did not bring it? They replied that they had to send +out for it. Shortly afterwards the English consul's "runner" came in +with two vigilantes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> and, pointing to us, said, "Esas dos"—"Those two." +That settled it! We had been "given away" for the reward, three pounds +sterling—about fifteen dollars each—being the amount for apprehension +of deserters from Her Majesty's service, and off to the calaboose we +were marched. About twelve hours' liberty on shore was all we had +enjoyed. We were taken into the office and searched, and the money was +taken out of my pocket and carefully counted. They gave me a receipt for +it. Very greatly to their disgust, no big bank roll was found on my +chum. I never saw a cent of that money again. Our loss was somebody's +gain that time, sure enough. We were put into a cell with about fifteen +other prisoners, among them two sailors, deserters, from the English +sloop-of-war Siren. From them we found out the rules of our new +quarters. No food was furnished to prisoners—either to buy it, or have +friends bring it, was the custom. As they had been locked up for two +days without food, they had a yearning for something to eat. I called +the turnkey and made him understand in Spanish that I wanted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> coffee and +rolls for four. In Portuguese he made me understand that money would +have to be furnished first. I showed the receipt for money in the +office, but that would not do, so I took the fourteen-thousand-reis bill +out of my cap and handed it to him. He gave a queer, astonished look and +then a sickly smile, but we got the coffee and rolls, however. That +little luncheon cost me just two thousand reis. I considered myself +lucky to get the change back. They got nearly all of it, though, the +next day. Finally, we four deserters were taken outside the city limits +and, much to our surprise, landed in the penitentiary. Not having +committed any crime against the country, or having had a trial, we found +ourselves convicts "doing time" for nothing.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +<a name="viii" id="viii"></a>CHAPTER VIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">No</span> red tape was wasted upon us. The formalities were few. Being taken +into a small building, we took off all our clothing, which was tied in +bundles with our names on them; then, after we had each received a pair +of blue overalls and a blue shirt, the change was complete. Barefooted +and bareheaded, we were marched to the cell houses and locked up. Food +was scarce the first day. We had nothing to eat, as no rations had been +issued for us. The second day only one meal was provided, a small one at +that. The third day, however, we would get all the law allowed. My +appetite was getting quite keen about this time. When the prospect of +getting something to eat looked promising, they found out that a slight +mistake had been made in our case.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +The English consul had leased a small building on the premises as a +lock-up for British sailors who got into trouble or refused to do duty +on their respective ships. When the vessels were ready for sea, the +sailors would be put on board and all the expenses deducted from their +wages. So we were dressed up again and marched over to the consul's +pen. The same trouble about the food occurred there. If they had made +just one more mistake we certainly should have starved to death. In a +few days we were marched to the consulate and then returned to the +Madagascar. Our experience on shore had been a novelty but not +entirely a pleasant one. A warm reception was given us on the +frigate—twenty-eight days each of solitary confinement on bread and +water, twenty-one days on the black-list and lying in irons from +sunset until sunrise. The value of the lost boat and all expenses, +including the reward, was to be deducted from our wages, and, besides, +we would have to pay for a new outfit of clothing. At nine dollars a +month, it would be some time before our accounts would be squared up.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +Jim and I swore point-blank that we knew nothing about the boat, and +they never got it back. Somebody was ahead a new boat, anyhow. I never +paid my share of the loss, either. Matt, the half-breed, was caught in +a coffee-saloon before ten o'clock of the same morning and at once +taken back to the ship. On our arrival he was doing "solitary." The +greenhorn was the only one of the party to get away. Aft, on the lower +or third deck, was the midshipmen's and clerks' mess-room, on one side +of the deck. Abaft that was a bulkhead or partition which left a space +to the stern that was used as a store-room for the admiral's and +captain's supplies. In there was also a room used as the "solitary." +Forward of the partition was where the prisoners were kept in irons. +Iron bars ten feet in length, a knot on one end, a padlock on the +other, and a big lot of shackles completed the outfit. The men would +sit on deck in a row, each one placing a shackle on each ankle. The +first man would run the end of the bar through the eyes of his shackle +and then the next would do the same, the padlock<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> was fastened, and we +would be secure for the night. The bar lay underneath, resting on +deck. Walking or standing was impossible. The midshipmen and clerks +swung their hammocks above us. Once in a while we would rap on the +partition and, through the crack, would inquire about Matt's health +and comfort, "If the hardtack and water agreed with him, and how would +he like a nice beefsteak?" As Matt was in the "solitary," Jim and I +had to wait for our turn. So we were doing the black-list and iron +punishment together. About the time my black-list was half over I got +into more trouble.</p> + +<p>The captain lived on shore, near the Sugar Loaf. His boat had left the +ship and some article which he wanted had been forgotten. Such a +dereliction was simply terrible. The captain of a man-of-war in those +days was a trifle more despotic than the Czar of Russia. A cutter with +fourteen oars was "called away" in a hurry to rectify the mistake, but a +man was short for the crew. The lieutenant gave orders for some one to +get into the boat. Just then I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> was working by the companion-way—the +ladder on ship's side. Much to my surprise, I was told to be more active +in obeying orders and to get into the cutter. I did so. My being a +prisoner at the time seemed not to have been taken into consideration. +It was quite a distance to shore down the bay. The man next me on the +thwart gave me a nudge and said, "Mike, my mon, show 'em your 'eels on +shore." The others near me also had something to say, much to my +annoyance, as I did not want any one to suspect what my intentions were. +We landed soon after the captain's boat did. There being no midshipman +in the cutter, we all stepped on shore. One of the men spoke to the +coxswain in a low tone, and I was ordered back into the cutter. I +refused and stated that I was going to a saloon for a drink. I walked +away rather quickly. Looking back, I saw that all the men excepting one +were running after me. Then I ran as fast as possible towards a steep +rocky hill. I was gaining on them rapidly. Some perpendicular rocks +prevented my going farther in that direction. Then I turned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> around, +intending to run down the hill and break through the crowd for another +race. Just as I got near them, I stumbled, falling on my face and +rolling over into a hole full of muddy water. I was badly hurt and my +nose was bleeding freely. They took me to the cutter and pulled off to +the frigate.</p> + +<p>On our arrival all had to go on deck and stand in a line toeing a seam, +to be searched for smuggled liquor by the ship's corporal, the +lieutenant looking on. Then the coxswain reported me for attempting to +run away. The lieutenant saw that I was covered with mud and blood. He +asked me if the report was true. I answered "Yes," and told him that the +whole boat's crew were a dirty lot of curs for bringing me back after +inducing me to run. The lieutenant looked at them all slowly, and then +at me. With a contemptuous sneer, he said, "Thank you, men," and sent +them forward, at the same time ordering me to be put in irons. The +ship's corporal led me away below, at the same time growling about the +trouble he was having on my account. About half an hour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> afterward my +old friend, the corporal, made his appearance. He released me from irons +and escorted me on deck. The lieutenant asked me if I was badly hurt, +and all particulars in regard to my running away. Much to my surprise, +he told me to resume my work, that he was to blame in a measure himself, +as he had no right to allow a prisoner to leave the ship.</p> + +<p>My first business was to see the coxswain and some of the boat's crew +and give them a good plain cursing. In a few days afterward, Matt's time +in the "solitary" expired and I was locked up in his place. One half +pound of hardtack per day and one quart of water was my allowance. +Nothing very interesting occurred during the time, excepting once when +the captain's steward came into the store-room one day for some wine. He +spoke to me through the small iron-barred window which was in the +partition on the store-room side. He told me to get my tin cup and hold +it up to the bars. With a piece of paper he made a funnel and filled my +cup full of good sherry wine. Crackers and raisins were also given me, +so I had a high old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> time all to myself that day. The twenty-eight days +expired and all my punishment was over. Jimmy relieved me, and when he +went into the door it was the last time we ever saw each other. After +all the hard times and many scrapes we had got into together, we parted +without a chance to shake hands. I never heard of him afterward. Twice +while in Liverpool, England, I went to his address, 17 Lower Frederick +Street, but no one knew anything about him.</p> + +<p>Matt, the half-breed, and I got to be friendly and both of us were +determined to get away from the frigate. Our only chance was to swim +ashore, we not being trusted in any of the boats. It was necessary to +wait for a night when there would be no moon and a flood-tide running in +from the sea. In the meantime, to avert suspicion, I started making my +new clothing. The blue cloth for my best trousers at Government prices +was one pound sterling. That I had smuggled from the ship and on shore, +to be sold. I was to receive half of what it would sell for. In a few +days I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> received five milreis and a long skin of cashass. The cashass is +put in skins such as are used for bologna sausage. In that form it can +easily be secreted about a sailor's clothing and smuggled on board. The +cashass I gave to Matt for safe-keeping, as we should need a good drink +before taking our long swim. The five milreis in silver I put in a small +bag hanging round my neck. Every night we would sneak up to the gun +deck. The prospects not being favourable, we would postpone our trip. +One night while I was awake, the ship's corporal came to my hammock with +a lantern in his hands. He took a look at me and then went away. I knew +then that our plan to go was known. After that I remained in my hammock +and let Matt do the prospecting. Finally, one morning, we concluded to +make the attempt that night. During the day I had my bag from the rack +to do some sewing, and Matt came to me with a blue flannel shirt and +asked me to put it in my bag for a while, which, unfortunately, I did. +That night the corporal came to my hammock twice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> before midnight; then +I dozed off to sleep and was awakened by some one feeling my face. It +was Matt. He was quite drunk and insisted upon my taking a drink from +the skin. He said he was then going to the gun deck to get a rope ready +for getting into the water and would return for me when all was ready. +That was the last I saw of him. I waited for a while. The effects of the +strong liquor put me into a sound sleep. The next thing I knew was that +the crew were holystoning the gun deck. The noise of the stones right +over my head had awakened me. I put on my clothes and tried to sneak in +among them unobserved, but the attempt was a failure. The boatswain saw +me. "Hello, Mike, where did you come from? I thought you had gone ashore +with Matt," was the salute I received.</p> + +<p>It seems that when all hands were called, we were missed at once. Matt's +hammock, being the nearest, was examined. He being gone, it was +concluded that I was with him. I tried to play innocent, but it was of +no use. After breakfast I was ordered before the first lieutenant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> and +reported for not turning out to scrub decks, and then for aiding and +abetting desertion. My bag was brought from the rack and examined. The +blue cloth was missing. A stolen shirt, with the owner's name under the +collar, was found. Matt stole that shirt. It was the one he had asked me +to keep for him. Conduct detrimental to discipline in Her Majesty's +service was another charge. The lieutenant then laid down the law to me +in splendid style, and ended thus: "Now, Michael Murray, you have made +considerable trouble on this frigate, and I shall see that you get 'four +dozen.' Then you can desert—that is, if you get the chance. Corporal, +put him in irons." When the corporal put the padlock on the bar, he +said: "Mike, my lad, you're in for it now!"</p> + +<p>About five days afterward I was taken on the quarter-deck again. The +lieutenant wanted to know who brought the cashass on board to Matt and +myself. I replied that I knew nothing about it and that I had never seen +Matt with the liquor in his possession. Then I was told that Matt's body +had been found floating<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> in the bay. He had on all his clothes excepting +cap and shoes. Inside of his shirt was found the skin containing a small +quantity of cashass. He must have been quite drunk or he would not have +tried to swim such a distance with his clothes on; or it may be that he +fell overboard and that that was the reason he did not come back for me +as he promised.</p> + +<p>"Four dozen" on an English man-of-war means flogging with the +cat-o'-nine-tails. The "cat" is a hardwood handle eighteen inches long, +to one end of which are attached nine pieces of hard lines, about one +eighth of an inch in diameter and eighteen inches long. At the end of +each tail is a hard knot. When punishment is to be inflicted the "tails" +are soaked in strong brine. That makes them hard and heavy. A wooden +grating from a hatchway is placed on end, resting against the bulwarks. +All hands are called to witness punishment. Everybody must be present, +from the captain to the powder boys. The prisoner is stripped naked to +the waist, his feet are lashed to the bottom of the grating, and his +arms are stretched out full<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> length and fastened. The face and breast +are then close to the grating, with no chance remaining of moving the +body. The ship's surgeon watches to see that the prisoner does not die +while being punished. The boatswain's mate is on the left side. He +swings the "cat" over his head with the right hand, at the same time +drawing the tails through his left hand. At every stroke nine stripes +are cut on the prisoner's back, the knots at the same time making little +holes in the skin, about two seconds elapsing between each stroke. After +two dozen strokes have been given, the boatswain's mate steps to the +other side of the prisoner and gives the remaining two dozen, the skin +being cut by that means into diamond-shaped pieces. By the time the +punishment is over the man will be covered with blood and greatly +exhausted.</p> + +<p>I had been keeping very quiet for the last few days in order to avert +suspicion. I had been examining the old shackles, and found two that +would release me from the bar at any time. One was quite large. By +taking off my shoe I could squeeze my foot from the bar.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> The other +shackle must have been an odd one, as it had extra large eyes, and would +slip nicely over the knob at the end of the bar. I laid them on the deck +to have them handy, then I sent for the corporal to take me to the +water-closet. When I returned I picked up the shackles that I wanted and +placed them over my ankles. When he had gone I put all the other +shackles away out of reach so there could be no mixing up. My mind +rested easy then. I was having a chance to go before the flogging, +instead of after, as the lieutenant proposed. At last, the day for my +punishment was set. The captain had come on board the frigate and my +conduct was reported. I was brought before him and the charges read to +me. Orders were given to have me flogged with the "Thieves'" +cat-o'-nine-tails at eight o'clock the next morning. "Four dozen lashes +on the bare back." The "Thieves' cat" meant two knots in the tail +instead of one. I was to receive extra punishment for a crime I never +committed, but the finding of the shirt in my bag had been sufficient.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +<a name="ix" id="ix"></a>CHAPTER IX<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE ESCAPE</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> the corporal took me below again I asked him to let me get some +clean clothes from my bag. I selected a pair of white duck trousers and +a white shirt. I wanted the lightest suit that I could get. The corporal +probably thought that I intended dressing neatly for the whipping in the +morning. I was very particular in putting the shackles on my ankles, the +one with the large eyes going on the left leg, so as to be at the knob +end of the bar. The big one went on the right leg. I could not prevent +myself from grinning while he was so carefully locking the end of the +bar. He gave the lock an extra pull, to satisfy himself that it was +fast, and walked off. My hammock, instead of being lashed up sideways, +as customary, was merely rolled loosely and left on deck,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> so that I +could spread it out for sleeping at night-time. I made a sort of lounge +with it and took life easy, for the time being. At nine in the evening, +the midshipmen and clerks got into their hammocks, leaving their clothes +on top of their sea-chests. I spread out my bed and lay down. My +position had to be straight out, on my back, as the iron bar had to be +taken into consideration. Soon all but myself were asleep. Time passed +very slowly. I knew the corporal would have a look at me about midnight +and that then I should be ready for my trip. I could tell the time by +hearing the ship's bell striking every half hour. About one in the +morning, I was getting very uneasy in my mind, as I knew it was about +time for the tide to change and run out to sea—a very serious matter +for me. At last my friend made his appearance. Everything was secure and +satisfactory, so he went away. Then I commenced operations. First, I got +out of the shackles, and taking off all my clothing, tied it in a neat, +flat bundle. My money and knife I left hanging to my neck. Next I +gathered up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> some clothing belonging to the midshipmen and laid it on my +bed. Two pairs of shoes went next. One pair was stuck in the shackles, +the other pair was stuck, heels downward, into the first pair. Then two +caps were stuck together for a head. The whole, being covered over with +my blanket, made a very good dummy. I was highly pleased with my +midnight work. The toes, sticking straight up, gave a very artistic +effect to the job. Taking my hammock lashing and bundle, I went to the +midshipmen's messroom.</p> + +<p>With a stool to stand on, I took a view of the harbour from the small +port-hole—about twenty inches square. These holes are open in harbour +only for ventilation and light on the lower deck. At sea they must be +kept closed and lashed securely. As I expected, the tide was ebbing out +to sea. The ship had swung around "head on" to the city. I had no choice +but to go, however. Fastening my clothes to the end of the lashing, I +lowered them about eight feet, not intending to get them wet. Securing +the lashing to an eyebolt, inward, I got<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> out of the port-hole and let +myself down into the water. The clothes had been dropped too low and got +wet. That made them too heavy to fasten on the top of my head as I had +intended. I released the bundle from the lashing, keeping it in my left +hand, and then I drifted past the frigate's stern with the tide. In a +few minutes I commenced swimming at an angle from the frigate, and then +headed for the city. After a long swim I began to get tired and was +breathing hard from exertion. The bundle worried me, and the now swift +tide became too much to contend with. I had got only a short distance +past the frigate, and was convinced that I could not reach the city. +Then I turned back, repassed the frigate, and headed for the southern +shore. The tide, at the same time, carried me towards the entrance of +the harbour. I was in hopes of getting to land before I should be +carried past the Sugar Loaf. As a last recourse I could let the clothing +go, and that I would not do until it became a necessity. As I was +swimming at an angle with the tide, not so much exertion was needed. +Much to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> my relief I saw the dim outline of a vessel to my left. I then +swam with the tide, and in a few minutes I was holding on the +anchor-chain. I had a good rest and, at the same time, thought what was +best for me to do. I could easily get on board at the bow, but if it +were an English vessel my name would be "Dennis," sure enough. I +proposed to take no more chances than necessary that night. Finally I +let go of the chain and drifted to the stern. There I found the vessel's +boat in the water. I got the bundle into the boat and climbed in myself.</p> + +<p>The first thing I did was to read the vessel's name. I was then +satisfied that she was a Brazilian coaster. I wrung the water from my +clothes and was soon dressed up. There were no oars in the boat; if +there had been I would have cut the painter and sculled with a single +oar for the western shore. When I felt strong enough, I climbed up the +painter to the taffrail and got on deck. No one was to be seen, so I +commenced an investigation. She was a brig. On each side of the +quarter-deck was a cubby-hole—a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> small white house with sliding-doors, +just large enough for a man to sleep in. The starboard one was empty, so +I knew the captain was on shore. In the port side was the mate, asleep. +The cool night wind blowing on my clothes made me quite chilly. Not +having decided exactly what to do, I was standing by the wheel making up +my mind. A crisis was at hand. The mate crawled out of his hole, about +half awake, rubbing his eyes. He caught a glimpse of me, all dressed in +white, standing close to the wheel. Before I could say a word he gave a +terrible yell; then he stuttered out, "Por Dios, que es esta?"—"For +God's sake, what is that?" Staggering back a few steps, he turned around +and ran forward, disappearing down the forecastle scuttle. Then I went +to the taffrail and got the boat's painter ready for being cast off in +an instant; taking my knife from my neck, I opened it and fastened the +lanyard around my right wrist. If there was to be a hostile reception, I +intended to cast the boat loose and jump overboard. With the wind and +strong tide, I would land<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> somewhere, even if I had no oars. So I waited +for developments. In a few minutes five men came out of the forecastle. +They came aft in single file, the cook at the head with a lighted candle +in his hand, the mate bringing up the rear. Then, in spite of myself, I +had to laugh. It was the only time in my life at sea that I ever saw a +candle on ship's deck. There are two articles which an old-time +salt-water sailor has the most supreme contempt for—namely, a lantern +and an umbrella. When they got close to me they were a surprised lot of +men. By way of introduction, I said, "Yo soy un saltador Inglés"—"I am +an English deserter." They all commenced to laugh at the mate. We soon +became quite friendly, all hands considering the whole affair as a good +joke. Opening the cabin skylight, they told me to get in and have a good +sleep. The vessel was loaded with mahogany timber. The cabin bulkheads +had been taken out and the lumber loaded through the stern ports, +completely filling the brig from stem to stern. The extra sails were put +in the skylight on top of the cargo. That was my bed, and a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> good sleep +I had, even if my clothes were wet.</p> + +<p>About seven o'clock they woke me and gave me a breakfast. I exchanged +all my neat clothes with them, I getting a ragged blue jumper and +overalls and a ship hat with the rim all frayed out. My shoes, +stockings, and knife I retained for my own use. The boat had been hauled +alongside and loaded with firewood to be taken ashore. When ready I got +into it, and, taking an oar, helped row for shore. The mate gave me a +friendly parting and wished me success. I thanked him, and said: +"Cuidado por los brujos!"—"Look out for ghosts!" When close to shore I +asked to be landed on the beach, as it would not do for me to go near +the Government dock. They pulled close to a ledge of rocks and I jumped +out and thanked them for their kindness. Away I went for the railroad +track.</p> + +<p>Having heard that English contractors were building a new branch, it was +my intention to offer them my valuable services. I started down the +track quite lively and independent. The sun became very warm and my feet +sore.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> Then I got tired of continually looking at the telegraph-poles, +each one being numbered, like houses in a city. What the reason for that +was I never found out. Every station I came to I was ordered off the +track, but the explanation that I was to work on the road was +satisfactory. To my inquiries as to how far the new road was situated, +the answer was always the same, "A few leagues farther." My five milreis +now came into requisition. Some time in the afternoon I went into a +general store and purchased a glass of wine, some crackers and cheese. +After my feast was over, I continued my journey. Soon I had come among +the coffee plantations. They looked like large cherry orchards with the +trees full of ripe fruit. Two coffee grains flat side together, +surrounded by a spongy fibre, then a tough, smooth skin, the whole about +the size of a large cherry—that is the coffee bean while on the tree.</p> + +<p>I do not know how many miles I walked on the Terro Carril de Dom Pedro +III, but I was well tired out, and my head dizzy, from looking at the +numbers on the telegraph-poles.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> The same information—"A few leagues +farther on"—was becoming monotonous. Four milreis had been expended for +food. With but one milreis left I was getting discouraged. Suddenly I +changed my mind, and turned back for Rio de Janeiro. At the first +station I was ordered off the track. Then I had to walk on the wagon +road. One evening, about dusk, I arrived at the city, tired, hungry, and +footsore. Two "dumps"—large copper coins worth forty reis each—was the +last of my money. I invested one dump for a piece of cocoanut, the other +for bread. That was the last food I ever ate on Brazilian soil. I had +often heard sailors joking about "Mahogany Hotel-on-the-Beach," and +there I went for a night's lodging. A large pile of mahogany timber +hewed square for shipping, some pieces being several feet shorter than +others, would make a space large enough for a man to sleep in. No doubt +but that it was a very valuable edifice, but, at the same time, very +uncomfortable. My apartment was about eight feet in length and only +twenty inches in height and width. Early in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> morning I was out of +bed, with no money nor breakfast, hardly knowing what to do. There was +only one thing to be done, that was to get on some vessel and get away +from the city. While walking around the docks, I met the "runner" from +Portuguese Joe's boarding-house. He was an American. I tried to avoid +him, but it was useless. He had seen and recognised me.</p> + +<p>"Halloa, how long have you been ashore?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Oh, quite a long time," I replied.</p> + +<p>"See here, Murray, I know all about your deserting. Come down to the +house and stay until we can get you away."</p> + +<p>No, I would not take any chances in a boarding-house.</p> + +<p>"You want to ship, don't you? Come with me and I will put you on a +vessel right off."</p> + +<p>"How much in advance?"</p> + +<p>"Eighteen dollars," he answered.</p> + +<p>Then I told him how I was fixed, and also that he could ship me and keep +all the advance money for his trouble.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +<a name="x" id="x"></a>CHAPTER X<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE SPORT OF THE WAVES</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">We</span> at once went to the vessel. The captain, after asking a few +questions, took us into the cabin, and I signed the articles for a +voyage to Richmond, Va., as an able seaman, at fifteen dollars a month. +I was then given an advance note for eighteen dollars, which I handed to +the runner. I felt perfectly safe then, knowing that the note was not +payable until just forty-eight hours after the vessel left port. That +fact would prevent him from giving me up for the reward from the +frigate. My new vessel was a swift-sailing American clipper bark—the +name I have forgotten. The slaves were bringing large bags of coffee on +their backs and dropping them on deck. In a couple of days the cargo was +completed. There being a fair wind, the topsails were hoisted and +sheeted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> borne alongside the dock. The lines to the dock were cast off, +and our voyage to the United States began. I was aloft, loosing the main +royal, as we passed close by the old Madagascar. I took off my old straw +hat and waved it at the men on deck as they watched the Yankee clipper +go past. I was perfectly safe then. Within an hour we had passed the +Sugar Loaf. That was the last time in my life that I was to see the +beautiful harbour of Rio de Janeiro.</p> + +<p>What a contrast between the bark and the brig Grenfalls! It was child's +play to steer now. A slight movement of the wheel would keep the vessel +on the course. We had dry quarters on deck, fine weather, and plenty of +good food and water. The only thing unusual that occurred was the large +number of flying-fish that dropped on deck during the night-time. As +many as fifty would be found in the morning. They are about the size of +fresh-water herring. While flying they appear like streaks of bright +silver. The flight is only for a short distance, however. As soon as +their wings become<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> dry they drop at once. The dolphins are their +greatest enemy. In the equatorial regions, or "doldrums," as it is +called, we had the usual experience—the sea as smooth as glass, no air +stirring except in "cat's-paws" and coming from different directions. As +soon as the little ripples would be seen on the water, the back yards +would have to be braced in the proper direction to take advantage of +what little wind was coming. Day after day it was the same. At last we +got a steady wind and were soon on the American coast. Being in north +latitude, the days were rapidly becoming shorter and the weather very +cold and stormy. I suffered very much from the want of warm clothing. A +shirt and pair of drawers had been given me by a shipmate. Those and the +suits I had changed for with the Brazilians were all that I then +possessed. The latter part of December we arrived at Richmond. I was +paid off, seven dollars and fifty cents being the amount due me. A cheap +suit of clothes was bought with that money, and I was again in a strange +city "dead broke." I had one consolation, however,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> in knowing that I +had quit being proxy for Mike Murray.</p> + +<p>The large schooner Onrust was in the canal at Richmond loaded with +cement for Fort Taylor at Key West and the fort on the Dry Tortugas +Island. My late shipmates and myself shipped on her by the month, she +being a coasting vessel. It was a novel experience for us all to be on a +schooner. Everything was so different from a square-rigged ship. The +captain was also the owner. Economy was his motto. Instead of eating in +the forecastle, we had our meals in the cabin, the captain acting as +host. None of the crew felt as comfortable as if feeding in sailor style +and all etiquette dispensed with. In the forecastle was a small box +stove, and that was a nuisance. The watch below would make a wood fire +and go to sleep. It would only be a short time before the fire would be +out and then we would wake up shivering with the cold atmosphere. As yet +I did not enjoy the luxury of a bed or blankets. My finances, since +leaving the frigate, had been at a low point. Besides the trouble below, +we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> felt the cold more severely when on deck. All hands agreed on one +point—that the stove was a nuisance. That was my only experience with a +fire in the forecastle during my life on the sea. No matter how cold the +weather, clothing wet or dry, a sailor never catches cold on the ocean +if he will keep away from a stove. We sailed, instead of being towed, +down the James River. When near Fortress Monroe, the main boom snapped +short off near the jaws. Then there was trouble. We put into Norfolk for +a new boom. Everything being ready, we hoisted sail for a new start. And +such a job to get the main and foresails up on that brute of a schooner! +But our experience was yet to come. In a few days we were rounding Cape +Hatteras and a heavy gale came up. Then was the time the schooner showed +what she could do. The main-sail had to be lowered for reefing. The hour +was about midnight, and a dark, stormy winter night it was. The captain +was steering, as all the men were needed for reefing, the cook included.</p> + +<p>The first thing the Onrust did was to fall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> off into the trough of the +sea, and in the Gulf Stream, where we were at the time, the waves were +mighty lively. Then over the rails came the water and swashed around the +decks, knee deep. The cook had a nice lot of firewood neatly piled up +handy for use. That was travelling around in all directions, the +objective point being the sailors' shins. Suddenly the main boom got +loose and swung from one quarter to the other. It was "thump, thump," +and sparks of fire the size of a baseball were flying over our worthy +captain's head. The sheet blocks worked on heavy iron travellers, and +every roll of the schooner swung the heavy boom with terrific force. All +we could do was to look on and wait for the captain to get his craft +head on to the sea. Bang went the boom. It had snapped short off near +the jaws. Now both ends were loose, and affairs were becoming unpleasant +for us "square-rigged" sailors. The heavy cargo of cement was much below +the water-line, and there being no yards or heavy rigging aloft to +counterbalance it, made the schooner roll extra quick and lively. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +boom was very long and about fourteen inches in diameter. How it did +rattle over the top of the cabin! At last, with the use of ropes, we +managed to secure it. The main-sail, in the meantime, had been having +its share of the fun, much to our discomfort. A storm-sail was brought +from below and set. As that needed no boom or gaff, we had but little +trouble to get the schooner under control again. Next in order was to +save the main-sail. About fifty knots that fastened the sail had to be +untied, and they being wet, made the knots hard to loosen. The boom was +lying diagonally, partly on the cabin and over the port quarter. There +was a narrow passageway between the cabin and the bulwarks. I was in the +passageway at work, with my head between the top edge of the cabin and +the boom. In trying to unfasten a foot stop I poked my head a little too +far. When the next roll came the boom moved just enough to give my head +a most unmerciful squeeze. I saw more stars to the square inch than +could be seen with the Lick telescope! The pain actually lifted me off +my feet from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> the deck. When the boom rolled back, I dropped to the deck +all in a heap. Had the boom moved one half inch farther, my skull would +have been crushed. I have had many narrow escapes from death since, but +that night occurred the closest call of all. When the gale abated, the +boom was taken on deck and spliced and then placed in position again. +The captain was the chief carpenter.</p> + +<p>In a short time we were in warm latitudes, and well pleased to get away +from a northern winter. Passing through the Florida Keys, everything was +delightful and interesting. The water was very clear. In calm weather +the ocean's bottom could be plainly seen at twenty fathoms' depth. White +coral was everywhere—the islands formed of it. It was the coral that +made the water so transparent. On our arrival at Key West, part of the +cement was landed at Fort Taylor. Then we sailed for the Dry Tortugas +and landed the balance. The latter place was only a small island. +Nothing but broken coral and shells were to be seen. The fort was built +of brick, and about one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> third completed at that time. Little fishing +smacks kept the place supplied with fish and green turtles. That was the +first time that I saw the red snapper. It is a beautiful large fish, and +excellent eating. Several wrecking schooners were in the harbour. The +crews seemed to have a fine time. Their pay was a certain share of what +was taken from the numerous wrecks. Piracy and wrecking meant almost the +same thing in those days. One of the wreckers and myself wished to +exchange places, but my captain would not consent. The schooners were +about fifty or sixty tons burthen, with fourteen to twenty men for a +crew. Our vessel was about five hundred men for a ton and only four men +for a crew. Our main boom was larger than any mast in their whole fleet. +To hoist sail for them was only child's play. With us it was a big job.</p> + +<p>On leaving Tortugas we sailed for Mobile, Ala. On our arrival in port I +severed connections with the Onrust, at the same time making a vow that +if ever I shipped on a fore-and-after again, it would be a smaller +craft. I went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> to a sailor boarding-house, and remained on shore for +three weeks. Then I shipped on the C. C. Duncan for Liverpool, England. +Eighteen dollars per month was the pay, and thirty-six dollars in +advance. It was a fine, large American ship, a thousand tons burthen. +The owners were the banking firm of Duncan, Sherman & Co., No. 17 Wall +Street, New York City. The crew was composed of Swedes and Norwegians, +excepting three young Americans and myself. I was the only sailor +shipped in Mobile, the rest having been on board for a number of months. +To show the difference in cargoes, I will describe the loading of this +ship with cotton. In the first place, a hundred tons of stone ballast +had to be placed in the bottom. The bales of cotton at the warehouse +were put under powerful steam presses and reduced to one half the +original size. The old bands were tightened with levers, and two extra +bands added. Then the bale was sent to the ship and stowed as closely as +possible; then jack-screws were used, and a space made for an extra bale +to be jammed in, and, tier by tier,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> the cotton was screwed in by men +who made that work a specialty. Their pay was from three to five dollars +a day, with board included. The cargo was a solid, compact mass. The +bales averaged about five hundred pounds each, and yet, with that heavy +weight, the ship would not stand full sail in a moderate breeze. About +two weeks after leaving Mobile we had a severe gale. While close reefing +the main top-sail, one of the seamen was pulled over forward of the yard +by the sail, and instantly killed as he struck the deck.</p> + +<p>On that trip we saw a vessel, about two miles to windward of us, struck +by a heavy squall. Its light sails were quickly furled, and the +top-sails lowered. All preparations were made on our ship to do the +same. We waited quite a while, but no squall came. Not a rope had to be +let go. The wind must have shot high up in the clouds and passed over +us. About six weeks after leaving Mobile we arrived off Holyhead. There +a large tug-boat took us in tow, and we were soon going up the Mersey +River, and at anchor, waiting for high<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> tide in order to go into dock. +While coming up the river we were boarded by the custom-house officers. +All hands were ordered to bring out their tobacco. Then the search of +the ship began in earnest. With long, sharp-pointed steel wires they +prodded into everything and every place where tobacco could be hidden. +It was understood that what could be found would be confiscated. Much to +their disgust, none was found. What the officers had in the cabin was +put into a state-room, and the door fastened with the custom-house seal.</p> + +<p>This was my first trip to England. I'd had a good description of +Liverpool from sailors, and yet I was surprised at what was to be seen. +Each dock is an immense large basin, built of solid stone masonry, with +large store-houses surrounding it, the whole being inside of a high +wall, a large gate opening into the city. Policemen and custom-house +officers patrol it day and night. Nothing can pass without examination. +The tide from the sea rises from twenty to twenty-eight feet in +twenty-four hours. At<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> high tide the gates, like a lock in a canal, are +opened. The ships are then allowed to enter or go out. Within a half +hour the tide commences to lower, then the gates are closed until the +next high water. Everything was made ready on the ship for going into +dock. A tugboat had us near the gate waiting for our chance. Once +inside, we had no trouble securing the ship alongside the dock. Our big +anchors had to be taken on deck, that being one of the dock regulations. +By evening everything was in first-class shape and very little work left +to be done by us in port. After supper we all started to see the city +sights by night. I was the only stranger, the others having been there +before. The three Americans and myself had a very pleasant time and +returned on board the vessel about twelve o'clock. Before we had +undressed for bed we heard a heavy splash in the water from the forward +part of the vessel, then some one from another vessel sung out, "Man +overboard!" We ran to the top-gallant forecastle and could plainly see +the bubbles rising in the water, but the man<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> never came to the surface. +Grappling-hooks were sent for and the body was soon recovered. One of +the crew, a Norwegian, had gone to sleep on a coil of rope on the +forecastle and rolled overboard. The next morning, through superstition, +the crew all left the ship. We four Americans, of all the crew, alone +remained. The stevedore and his gang came on board to discharge the +cargo. I was anxious to see the first bale of cotton taken out. I had +seen how tightly it had been jammed in at Mobile. With tackle and hooks +and plenty of hard work, it was slowly pulled out. It took over a week +to discharge the entire cargo. I had bought a straw mattress in Mobile, +and, as it was not very comfortable, I emptied the tick and filled it +with cotton. That same day a young fellow came on board and asked me if +I had a cotton mattress that I would sell him. I told him I had one, but +needed it to sleep on. Finally a bargain was made—he wanted the cotton +only to sell. I was to receive a half-crown—sixty cents—and get the +tick back. I went to the dock gate with him and told the custom-house<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +officer that I was sending my bed to a boarding-house. The next day the +bed was sold again, and I continued the operation as long as there was +any loose cotton lying about the vessel. A half-crown in England was +considered quite a big pile of money. For two crowns a coat, pantaloons, +and vest could be purchased in those days. Our ship was chartered by the +French Government to take a cargo of coal from Cardiff, Wales, and +deliver it at Algiers, Africa. A few English navvies were hired to +assist working the ship. Then a powerful tug-boat took us out of the +dock and towed us around to Cardiff. After getting in the dock, the +navvies were sent back on the tug. There was only one dock, very wide +and long, without any walls around it. It was the private property of +the Marquis of Bute, a kid about five years old then. He owned nearly +the whole city—it was "Bute" road, "Bute" dock, "Bute" Castle, and +"Bute" everything else. We had to wait a number of days for our turn to +go under the chutes. At last we commenced loading. The lower hold was +about two thirds<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> filled, the balance of the load going on "between +decks," so as to leave part of the weight above the water-line. A full +complement of men was shipped and we were off for the Mediterranean +Sea.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +<a name="xi" id="xi"></a>CHAPTER XI<br /> +<br /> +<small>A GLIMPSE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Sailing</span> south, we arrived at the Straits of Gibraltar. The wind was dead +ahead. A strong current was running in from the Atlantic Ocean and we +managed to beat in past the Rock after tacking ship many times. All +hands were well tired out from bracing around the yards so often. On one +tack we would be headed for Spain, on the other it would be for Morocco. +During the night the wind died away. At daylight we found our ship was +rapidly drifting on to the rocky coast of Morocco. There was not a bit +of air stirring and the sea was as smooth as glass. Captain Otis was +very much discouraged, as the loss of so fine a vessel meant ruined +prospects for the future. He was quite a young man for such a +responsible position. The Moors on the shore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> had seen our danger and +spread the news to one another. Soon quite a number of small boats were +seen at the place where the ship would probably strike. It made all +hands feel a little nervous to see the reception which was awaiting us. +It was well known by sailors what a set of cutthroats the people were in +that locality. The officers and crew held a consultation as to what +should be done. My suggestion was acted upon, and that was, to take all +our boats and tow the ship, if possible, or at least to check her from +drifting, in hopes that a breeze might spring up. Strangely enough, I +was the only man on the ship who had ever seen the experiment tried. The +occasion took place when I was in the bushes at San Carlos watching my +old ship, the Courier, leaving the harbour. The wind having died away, +they lowered the boats and towed the ship a considerable distance. But +then the Courier was only half our size and had more and better boats +than we had. Our boats were quickly lowered and fastened in a row to a +rope from the ship's bows. By hard pulling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> we slowly turned the vessel +head to the current. The drifting was checked, and that was about all we +could do. Within half an hour a breeze sprang up and away started the +ship, swinging the boats around and towing them stern first. We had a +lively time in preventing them from capsizing when the towing business +was reversed.</p> + +<p>In a few days we sighted what appeared to be an immense hill of chalk, +perfectly white from the water's edge to the summit. That was Algiers. +Before night we were inside the breakwater and at anchor. That was the +most interesting port I ever saw. A large number of French troops were +stationed in the city. The Italian war was then in progress. Such a +contrast in people and dress was probably never seen before. Only the +Algerian and Moorish women seemed to be without gaiety. They were all +dressed alike, a light gauzy dress and a long veil of the same material +covering the head and face, leaving only the eyes uncovered. The rich +wore shoes; the poor went barefooted. The young had smooth skins on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +their wrists; the old were wrinkled. That was the only way we could tell +the difference between them. As to their beauty, we had no means of +judging. Other women were dressed in silk tights and gaily coloured +velvet jackets, the front being completely covered with jewels. In fact, +every conceivable sort of costume was to be seen. The streets were +always crowded; nobody seemed to be at home. The French soldiers were in +their element, all wearing their side-arms. One regiment of Turcos +looked fierce enough to annihilate a whole army. At nine in the evening, +an entire drum corps would double through the town beating tattoo. Then +the soldiers would disappear for the night. Wine was only eight cents a +quart bottle, so their dissipation did not cost them much, especially as +they did not get drunk. But how they could talk and get excited! An +Englishman with such an opportunity would drink more and talk less. Most +of our crew had a fondness for eau de vie—"water of life"—a cheap +brandy that cost us only fifteen cents a quart. Café royale was also a +favourite beverage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> with them—a cup of strong black coffee with brandy, +the latter being bought separate in a bottle. The coffee could be +doctored to any degree of strength. At first, my shipmates would take +one portion of brandy, a swallow of café royale, and in would go +another, and so it continued until each bottle was emptied. When ready +to pay the waiter, he would count the marks on the bottle at so much a +mark. There was no chance to dispute the bill, and no opportunity for +the waiter to defraud the boss. I was continually eating grapes—great +large bunches weighing two or three pounds each; they were white and +seedless, and only two cents a bunch. Algiers was once the great +stronghold of the Algerian pirates. They and the Moors laid a heavy +tribute on vessels of all nations that came within their clutches. The +United States sent a fleet of men-o'-war into their ports, destroyed +their vessels, and liberated a number of American seamen they held in +captivity. The city is built on the side of a very high and steep hill; +the streets running parallel with the harbour are level, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> cross +streets leading up are one continuous flight of steps. You can go into a +house on one street and descend from one basement to another and find +yourself on the top floor of a house on another street. That cannot be +done in any other city. Some of the old streets are only six feet wide, +the doors in the houses being very heavy and studded thickly with large +iron bolts. The windows are high from the ground and only twenty inches +square, with heavy iron bars, the whole place resembling a strong +prison. The new part of the city is quite modern in construction. The +French introduced new ideas when they captured the country.</p> + +<p>The French Government took the coal from our vessel as they needed it. +They were paying one hundred dollars a day for the time the ship was +detained in the harbour. One day I was sitting on the edge of the +fore-hatch, cleaning a brace-block, when suddenly my work ceased, and I +was laid up for a week. A man was aloft, tightening the truss bolts on +the foretop-sail yard. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> had a small iron bar which he was using at +the work. Contrary to all rules, he neglected to fasten it with a +lanyard. He had difficulty in turning the bolt with his hands, so he +reversed the operation by holding to the rigging with both hands and +pushing the iron bar with his feet. It was a success, so far as he was +concerned. The bolt went around, the bar slipped out, and, whirling +through the air, fetched me a whack on the side of the head. The mate +gave him a good cursing for his carelessness. I was picked up, my head +dressed, and was nicely tucked away in my little bed. In about ten +weeks' time the coal was all discharged, the ship cleaned up, and one +hundred tons of stone ballast taken on board. We left Algiers, and +commenced our voyage for New Orleans. We had pleasant weather while in +the Mediterranean Sea. A couple of days after leaving port, a large +Swedish sailor and myself were taken sick—headache and fever—then +pustules commenced to appear on our faces and hands. We all knew what +that meant. It was smallpox. At first the captain intended to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> put us in +the lower hold, but, as our vaccination marks showed very plainly, he +waited for further developments. The fresh sea air and plain style of +living were in our favour; varioloid was all the disease amounted to. +The rest of the crew were a badly scared lot of men for a few days.</p> + +<p>We sighted the Rock of Gibraltar, and were soon in the Straits, with a +fair wind driving us strong against the current. About three miles more +and we should be on the Atlantic Ocean. Suddenly the wind shifted dead +ahead. All we could do then was to go back and lie behind the Rock. All +sails were furled except the top-sails, and the ship hove to by backing +the main yards. We made several more unsuccessful attempts. The current +and wind were too much for us. We had a fine view of the Rock of +Gibraltar. The western side sloped very steeply to the bay. The eastern +part was perpendicular and inaccessible. A narrow, sandy strip of land +connected it with Spain. England, having possession of that +fortification, was there, like a big bulldog taking charge of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> the +entrance to a house against the occupant's will. For over a hundred +years the Spanish have been humiliated by their British guests. The Rock +commands the entrance to the Mediterranean, and is considered +impregnable. Improvements are being continually made. The galleries are +tunnelled through solid rock. The magazines, bomb-proofs, and casemates +cannot be penetrated by an enemy's shot. The upper guns can fire a +plunging shot on a ship's deck, but a ship cannot elevate its guns +enough to return the fire. The English can fire rifle bullets into +Spain. With the heavy guns they can drop shot and shell into Morocco and +into the Spanish forts, and, at the same time, throw tons of shot the +whole length of the Straits. As there are at present, in 1897, just that +number of guns in position, an enemy's fleet would receive a very warm +reception. An extra gun is mounted every year. By looking on the front +cover of an almanac, anybody can find out just how many cannon are +mounted on the Rock of Gibraltar. About the tenth day we got a fair wind +that took us through the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> Straits and into the Atlantic Ocean. The ship +was then headed southwest for the Gulf of Mexico. In six weeks' time we +sighted the lighthouse, and then the low sandy beach at the mouths of +the Mississippi River. A tugboat took us over the bar, and we let go the +anchor. When a tow of six vessels was obtained, a large tug towed us up +the river, each ship being fastened to the other with large hawsers, +stem and stern. It was a powerful boat to tow so many ships against the +strong current of the Mississippi. One man was at the wheel to keep the +ship straight after the tug, and all the rest of the crew were hard at +work unbending the sails and lowering them on deck. The third night, +about ten o'clock, we arrived at New Orleans. The ship was secured to +the levee, and the voyage on the C. C. Duncan was ended.</p> + +<p>A number of boarding-house runners came on board. Each one, of course, +was working for the "best house." It was two o'clock in the morning when +our work was finished. Then all the crew went ashore to enjoy a sleep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +on dry land. Captain Otis tried to induce us four Americans to remain on +the ship for another voyage. I gave him my reasons for leaving, as it +was my intention to return to my home from which I had been absent so +long. I received eighty-five dollars pay that was due me, and went by +steamboat to Mobile, Ala.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +<a name="xii" id="xii"></a>CHAPTER XII<br /> +<br /> +<small>IN AMERICAN WATERS</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">On</span> my arrival in Mobile, I went to work on a barge and received +forty-five dollars a month. We would be towed down the bay with a load +of cotton and back to the city with general freight. Ships drawing over +twelve feet of water could not go up the river, consequently they had to +receive and discharge in the lower bay, thirty-five miles from the city. +I was on the barge for two months and then shipped on the schooner +Pennsylvania, at thirty-five dollars a month. For a few weeks we brought +salt to the city from the ships in the bay. Then my wages were reduced +to eighteen dollars a month, as we were to take a cargo of pine lumber +to Havana, Cuba. The schooner was towed up the Alabama River to a new +sawmill.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +During the daytime we would load timber and at night all hands would go +'possum-hunting. A few pine-knots for torches and a couple of dogs were +all that was required for the sport. As soon as a 'possum was caught he +would be as dead as a door-nail, to all appearances. They were put in a +bag as fast as captured. On returning to the schooner, we dumped them +all into an empty barrel. In the morning they would be as lively as +crickets. When the barrel was hit hard with a stick, the whole lot would +pretend to die a most tragic death.</p> + +<p>When the schooner was loaded, we sailed for Havana. On our arrival in +that port, the lumber was discharged. The captain, as a speculation, +bought a car of oranges and bananas. The fruit was perfectly green when +brought on board. We immediately set sail for Mobile. Much to the +captain's disgust, the trip was a long one of calms and head winds and +great trouble. The weather was intensely warm. The oranges ripened very +quickly and then rapidly decayed. The fruit venture proved very +unprofitable. On our arrival in Mobile,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> only the bananas were fit for +sale. We had a nice job to clean the rotten oranges from the hold. I +never see a mouldy orange but that my memory goes back to that +remarkable trip.</p> + +<p>We were towed up to the sawmill for another load of lumber. +'Possum-hunting occurred at nights as before. One of the sailors and +myself wanted a pet to take to sea with us. So we went on shore on an +expedition by ourselves. We at last found a big "razor-back" sow with a +litter of pigs. Each of us decided that two little pigs were just the +thing needed on the schooner. Then the fun commenced. "Scotty" and +myself learned the fact that the pigs could do some good sprinting when +there was occasion for it, and just then was one of the occasions. For a +half hour we tried all sorts of tactics. It was of no use. What the +little pigs didn't know the old sow did. At last we came to a big +saw-log close to a fence. I was to stand at the end of the log while +"Scotty" was to drive the pig family between. Everything worked nicely. +I did not interfere with the sow. Making a grab, I got one pig<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> and was +laying for another. Just then there was a sudden change in the program. +The old sow was doing the chasing act. "Scotty" and I did not want any +more pigs! One was enough. It was "nip and tuck" as to who would win. +Scotty got a stick and was pounding the sow as a diversion. I made +tracks for the schooner. When I got on board I was nearly played out. +The captain took a look at the pig and myself. Then he wanted to know +why I didn't get a larger one while I was about it. When loaded, we +sailed again for Havana. We had a pleasant trip. The schooner was small +and very easy to handle. Captain Turner was a stout and short +middle-aged man, very good-natured, and inclined to be tricky in regard +to making money. We could draw our wages at any time we wished to do so. +We arrived in Havana in the month of June. The weather was very hot. +Every day at two o'clock we stopped discharging lumber, as the +custom-house officers would then go home. Every board and stick of +timber had to be measured on the dock. The crew would go<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> ashore and +visit the different places in the city. We all invested money in the +Royal Lottery, but drew no prizes. The tickets were sold on the streets +by venders, who received a commission on their sales. A person who could +not understand Spanish would suppose that they were selling newspapers. +The tickets were in large sheets, sixteen dollars for a whole and +proportionately, down to a sixteenth.</p> + +<p>A large American ship arrived in harbour from China with a load of +coolies for the Cuban plantations. The captain was sick, so he made +arrangements with Captain Turner to take his vessel, the Messenger, to +New York. Our mate was to take the schooner to Boston, with a cargo of +sugar and molasses. We took our cargo on board, boxes of sugar in the +hold and hogsheads of molasses for a deck load. I was now going home in +earnest. I purchased a lot of guava jelly and tropical preserves, +besides a number of presents for my relatives. I wrote to my mother, in +New York, telling her of my intentions, giving her the name of the +schooner and its port of destination. The fourth day of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> July, 1860, +early in the morning, we sailed out past Morro Castle. Our voyage to +Boston had begun. I felt happy with the prospect of soon being back +home. We had a very easy time on the schooner, there being nothing to do +except to take our turns at steering. On a full-rigged ship it would +have been different, as it is invariably the practice to keep the crew +continually at work most of the time, most usually aloft, repairing the +rigging. We had passed the most dangerous part of our trip, through the +Florida Keys; the wind was "wing and wing"—that is, the foresail was +out on one side and the main-sail on the other. A good strong breeze was +driving us north at a rapid rate. That night it was my turn at the wheel +from ten to twelve o'clock. It being cloudy, no stars were visible. For +that reason it was more difficult to steer straight. By selecting a +bright star ahead when the vessel is on the right course, it is easier +to see which way the wheel is to be turned. Steering by compass alone, +the vessel either "goes off" or "comes up" considerably before the +compass shows it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> The main boom was out to starboard the full length of +the sheet. A pennant—heavy rope—from the end of the boom was hooked to +a tackle and fastened forward in order to prevent the boom from swinging +back. I had been at the wheel about an hour, and was watching the +compass carefully. Suddenly the light in the binnacle went out. Then I +had neither stars nor compass to steer by. As we were going dead before +the wind, I tried to keep the old schooner straight, but it was useless. +In a few minutes she yawed to starboard, and the main-sail was taken +aback. All the strain of that big sail was then on the boom pennant and +tackle leading forward. Before anything could be done to relieve us from +our dilemma there was a sharp snap forward. The belaying-pin which held +the tackle had broken, the boom flew over to the other side, and the +sheet tautened out like a bow-string. It took hardly a second for the +sail to jibe over.</p> + +<p>I was lying on deck badly stunned, the wheel-post broken short off, and +the wheel broken into small pieces. The old Pennsylvania<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> was sailing in +all directions. The "sheet" may be better understood by calling it a +large double tackle. As the boom swung in, the sheet, of course, +slackened up, and the bights, going over the quarter-deck, had caught +everything in the way. If I had been caught under the arm or chin I +should have been hurled quite a distance from the schooner without any +possible chance of being rescued. Small tackles were fastened to the +tiller, and the schooner brought head to wind. The main-sail was then +lowered and furled. With only the forward sails set and all hands at the +tiller tackles, we managed to run before the wind on our right course +until daylight. The fragments of the wheel were picked up and, by using +a stout barrel-head as a foundation, it was reconstructed. While not +being a first-class affair, it answered all purposes. On the right side +of my body, from ankle to top of my head, I was sore for several days. +That was my second accident with main-booms, and both were narrow +escapes.</p> + +<p>Within a short distance of Boston, our stock of provisions ran short, so +we had to kill<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> our pet pig. He had grown to quite a respectable size. +It was much to our regret to slaughter our companion, but it had to be +done. As it was, we had nothing left to eat on our arrival in Boston. +The first thing after the anchor dropped was to row the cook ashore and +get some grub for supper. Captain Turner was on hand to meet us, having +arrived several days previously. His first inquiries were about the pig. +He intended to take it to his home. His wife had made a nice place for +it in the back yard as a domicile. We went to a dock the next day for +unloading cargo. A custom-house officer came on board to see that +everything was according to the manifest. He was very sociable to all +hands. About dinner-time he called me to one side, quietly informing me +that he was going to dinner and would not return for an hour or so, and +that, if the boys had anything to take ashore, they had better do it +while he was absent. I told the crew what he had said. As we all had a +quantity of cigars, we each chipped in a handful as a present. The +balance and my supply<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> of guava jelly was taken to a boarding-house. +When the officer returned from his dinner, I told him to look on my bed. +He took the hint—and the cigars too. I had to wait some time in Boston +before I could get my pay which was due me, and I had not written home +about my arrival, not knowing how soon I might start for New York. About +the third day, while standing on the schooner deck, I noticed a neatly +dressed lady coming down the dock. As it was an unusual place for a +woman, my curiosity was aroused. She seemed to be looking for some +vessel, so I stepped ashore and walked towards her, thinking I might be +of some service to her. She was looking for her son. I was the son. It +was a great surprise to me to see my mother so unexpectedly.</p> + +<p>"Now, George, you won't get away this time; you are going straight home +with me!" I was greeted.</p> + +<p>The way she knew the Pennsylvania had arrived was by reading the New +York Herald. That paper gave the daily arrival of ships in all the large +ports of the United States. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> told her my reasons for not writing and +why I was detained in Boston; then she was satisfied. I inquired about +my relations at home. They were all well and very anxious to see me. I +then asked about my father in San Francisco. She at once began to cry. +Then, for the first time, I noticed that she was dressed in mourning. +Father had been dead just three months. I went to a hotel with mother +and remained with her until evening; then she returned to New York. In a +short time I received my money. The next train was taking me to New York +and back to my friends from whom I had been separated for such a long +time. How glad they were to see me, and what a happy time we all had! +They never got tired of listening to the stories of my sailor life. I +remained at home for about six weeks. As I did not wish to remain idle +any longer, I concluded to return to Mobile, where I was well +acquainted, and there work at discharging cargoes from vessels. I was +satisfied that I could easily earn from two dollars and a half to three +dollars a day at that work during the winter.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +<a name="xiii" id="xiii"></a>CHAPTER XIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>MY THIRD VOYAGE</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">About</span> October 1, 1860, I intended to take passage on the ship Robert +Ely, for Mobile, but changed my mind, for the reason that the ship had a +crew of negroes instead of white men. The P. T. Bartram was almost ready +to sail; the crew were all shipped, so I paid ten dollars for steerage +passage, and was to furnish my own food. So many sailors wanted to go +South that it was difficult for me to ship as a sailor, the +boarding-house keepers having the preference with the shipping offices +for their boarders. The P. T. Bartram was a bark of about six hundred +tons burthen. The cargo was general merchandise—a little of everything. +The North at that time furnished the Southern States with everything +excepting raw cotton.</p> + +<p>We had a fine passage to the Gulf of Mexico,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> with fair prospects of a +speedy voyage. Slowly the fine breeze died away, the atmosphere became +unusually sultry, the barometer falling rapidly. Then we knew that +trouble was in store for us. It was not long in coming, either. A severe +hurricane from the West Indies struck us. All sail was taken in except +close-reefed main top-sail and fore-storm stay-sail. Then the bark was +hove to, head to wind. The wind roared and whistled through the rigging, +the waves commenced to rise rapidly and roll on deck, rain was pouring +down in torrents, and lightning seemed to be striking all around us. The +bark had a half deck extending to the main-mast. The after part was the +cabin, the rest was for storing freight. In there were several tons of +gunpowder. We did not know how soon the lightning might send us all +skyward. Partly for exercise and self-preservation, I was working with +the crew as one of them. The cook was with us also, since he had been +washed out of the galley by a heavy sea, and would take no more chances +among his pots and kettles. All hands kept aft on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> the vessel's +quarter-deck, no other place being safe from the heavy seas. The storm +kept increasing in violence, until finally the strain from the top-sails +bent the main-yard up and it snapped in two. All hands started aloft to +save the sails. I happened to be first, and went out to the weather +side, as is customary. When about half-way out the foot of the sail, it +flopped over the top-yard, struck me in the breast, and knocked me off +the yard. What a queer sensation I had while falling! So many thoughts +rushed through my brain in an instant, especially whether I would strike +on deck or go overboard! The vessel was heavily careened over to leeward +from the force of the wind, and luckily I struck in the lower rigging, +my arms going between the ratlins, where I hung on for life, the +pressure of the wind helping me considerably. My mishap was enough for +the other men—not one would venture on the yard. They just clung to the +rigging, and let the top-sail blow away in small pieces.</p> + +<p>With the top-sail gone, the bark fell off into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> the trough of the sea. +Then the sea washed over the decks. For the first time on the ocean I +saw the experiment tried of dragging a vessel head on to sea. The end of +a large hawser was fastened to the vessel's head, the rest put +overboard, in hopes that in dragging through the water the strain would +swing us head on. It was not a success. The waves washed the hawser all +around the bark's bow and sides. If we could have once got it +straightened out, the plan might have worked. Many a shipwrecked sailor +has been saved by a similar plan, when compelled to abandon a ship and +take to a small boat, by fastening a rope to the middle of an oar and +throwing it into the water. It has thus kept the boat's head to the +seas, and prevented it from swamping. The lee-pump was kept going +continually, and that was hard work. Two men at a time were at the +handle. The bark was badly strained and leaking considerably. At one +time we thought all the water was pumped out, but that was a mistake on +our part. The pump had commenced sucking, and no water was coming up. +The fact of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> no air hissing as usual seemed rather strange. The upper +box was taken out, and then an iron hook lowered down for the lower box. +When that was hauled up, the mystery was explained. About a pint of +nicely water-soaked beans was holding the clapper down. By using the +sounding rod, we found about fourteen inches of water below. The pump +was rigged again and started, and in a few more minutes it was the same +old trouble—more beans! The process of drawing the boxes was gone over +again. The same result followed—more beans! A barrel of that edible +fruit had broken open in the cargo, and every individual bean had found +its way to the pump-well. The comments were loud and deep, and the man +who invented beans was damned in all styles in several different +languages.</p> + +<p>Well, there was nothing else to do but pump the beans out on the +instalment plan. Just as soon as a certain quantity got on top of the +valve or clapper, it acted effectually as an automatic shut-off for the +water. The hurricane had been blowing for three days and our worst<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +danger—the terror of all sailors—was close at hand. We were drifting +towards the Florida reefs. A few hours more and the ship, with all +hands, would be a thing of the past. There was no possibility of escape +unless the gale abated or the wind shifted to another direction. Birds +by the hundreds were flying for our vessel. They were land birds of all +kinds and sizes, probably blown to sea from Cuba. Striking the rigging +or any part of the vessel, they would be instantly killed. Every nook +and corner on the deck was filled with their dead bodies. The wind blew +them around like so much dust. One was found in the compass-box, under +the compass. Its presence was made known by the smell of a decaying body +after the storm was over. The anchor-chain boxes had a fine assortment +sandwiched in between the big iron links. Those we could not get out +and, consequently, the odour was anything but pleasant in that locality. +The sea had changed in colour from green to a milky white. This showed +that we were getting into shoal water. The agitation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> of the waves was +bringing up fine white coral, which formed the bottom of the ocean in +the locality of the reef.</p> + +<p>Towards sundown the hurricane had passed us, the wind gradually veering +around to the north, which made a fair wind for us to Mobile. All sail +was set, the damage repaired as much as possible, the cook made a lot of +good strong coffee, and then all hands took turns in taking a +much-needed sleep.</p> + +<p>A remarkable sight on that trip I have forgotten to mention: one +pleasant evening the sun was exactly even on the west horizon and a +bright full moon on the eastern. It lasted only a few minutes, but it +was a beautiful sight. All the time I have passed on the ocean, I never +saw the phenomenon but that once.</p> + +<p>The next afternoon after the storm we sighted a vessel dead ahead. On +getting closer we saw a signal of distress flying. The ship had lost all +her masts close to deck, was almost on her beam ends, and rolling like a +log in the water. What did our gallant captain do but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> sail past without +giving any assistance! The signal indicated that the crew wanted to +abandon the wreck. All hands talked rather plainly to the captain +regarding his inhumanity. His excuse was that his own vessel was too +badly disabled to assist others. In a few days we were off Mobile +harbour and took the pilot on board. From him we got a description of +the storm at Mobile. The Robert Ely, the ship in which I had intended +taking passage at first, had arrived at the beginning of the storm, and +anchored outside of the harbour. The wind broke her from her anchorage +and wrecked her on the low, sandy island at the entrance of the bay. +Three of the crew were washed over the island into the bay on the +top-gallant forecastle and rescued. The remainder were drowned.</p> + +<p>The island had been under water. When we arrived it was completely +covered with the cargo and fragments of the wreck. Pianos, boxes and +barrels, all kinds of dry goods, were to be seen mixed up with the +spars, rigging, and timbers of the Robert Ely. We sailed in through the +channel and up the bay. As we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> drew only twelve feet of water we could +go up the city to a wharf. A tug-boat took us in tow, and, striking a +mud-bank, the good bark P. T. Bartram stuck there. Some of the cargo had +to be taken out in lighters to enable us to get up the Spanish River. +Much to our surprise, the dismasted wreck that we saw at sea was towed +in and got up to Mobile city ahead of us.</p> + +<p>I went ashore on board of a steamboat and, in a few hours, was back at +Campbell's boarding-house, giving a description of a storm in the Gulf +of Mexico. After I had finished my story, I was taken to the back yard +and saw two bales of cotton which they had captured floating in the +streets in front of the boarding-house. One third of the city had been +under water, the upper part of a wharf had been washed away, and a +flat-bottomed steamer had replaced it by standing squarely on top of the +spiles. Schooners and fishing-smacks were swept into the swamp and left +there—over a mile from the river. A great amount of damage had been +done all along the Gulf coast.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +The season was rather early for work among the shipping, consequently I +was idle. Sailors were needed for a ship ready for Liverpool, but no one +wanted to leave Mobile. The wages, eighteen dollars a month, remained +the same, and advance pay of fifty dollars was offered and increased to +one hundred, so I concluded to accept it. The trip to England would take +about five weeks, and, by immediately returning, I should still have a +long winter for work. The giving of nearly six months' advance pay was +to evade the marine law in regard to discharging sailors in a foreign +port. If sailors deserted on a vessel's arriving, the owners were not +responsible. My name was signed on the articles for the full voyage. +Campbell, the boarding-house keeper, got the one hundred dollars and +handed my share to me. I sent part of it to New York and retained twenty +dollars for myself. Bidding my acquaintances good-bye and promising to +be back in ten weeks, I went by steamboat down the bay and reported for +duty on the full-rigged ship Annie Size. Campbell's responsibility<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> for +the advance money then ceased. That was exactly thirty-seven years ago, +and I have never seen Campbell nor Mobile since.</p> + +<p>The Annie Size was a ship of one thousand tons burthen, loaded with +cotton for the Liverpool market. The difficulty in getting a crew +detained us several days. Two other men and I had made up our minds to +make a short cut in the voyage. The plan was to steal the ship's boat, +get ashore and foot it back to Mobile. As we had our advance money, +there was no particular desire on our part to see Liverpool. The next +morning, while the mates were eating breakfast, two of us got into the +boat. The third man weakened and squarely "flunked." With only us two to +steer as we had planned, our little scheme had to fail. The second mate +had come from the cabin and had seen us going away. He called the mate, +and that gentleman hailed another ship to send a boat to him. In the +meantime we were doing our best to reach shore. The other boat, with a +full crew, caught up with us within a few yards of the shore. We were +taken back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> to the ship and handcuffed until the day of sailing.</p> + +<p>Finally, the full crew was on board, and made a class of sailors that +the mate had no use for. Americans, Irish, Irish Americans—men of that +class usually stick together; on the other hand, a mixed crew of all +nationalities does the reverse.</p> + +<p>The anchor was weighed, our trip for Liverpool was begun, and our +destination would not be reached too soon for any of us. The first day +at sea war was declared. Our mate was the notorious bully, Billy +Shackleford. At one o'clock he came to the forecastle door and in a +gruff voice ordered watch on deck. "And he'd be —— if there would be +any afternoon watch below on his ship!" He was curtly told to "Go to +----"</p> + +<p>"Do you fellows know who Billy Shackleford is?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we know all about you, and any monkey business on your part, +overboard you go!"</p> + +<p>Billy was perfectly docile for the rest of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> that trip. That was the +toughest crew I ever sailed with—nearly all old acquaintances in +Mobile. The amount of money in our possession was over a thousand +dollars, in gold coin. Usually, sailors on a ship leaving port are all +dead broke. An Irishman, for security, had bound a rag around his ankle +containing sixty dollars. One morning his rag was missing. He bewailed +his loss at a terrible rate. Somebody had quietly shaved his original +style of money-belt with a razor while he was taking his sleep on deck +during a night-watch. I was the next victim; twenty dollars in gold was +taken from my sea chest. The chest had been opened with a key. I said +very little about my loss, as I had a strong suspicion that a certain +man had taken it. He had shown me how safe his money was. It was rolled +up in a rag in his trousers' pocket with a string tied around the +outside of the pocket, so that the money could not be reached unless the +string was untied, and that could not be done without removing his +trousers, as he explained to me. His custom was to get into bed +all-a-stand—that is,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> without undressing. The first stormy night we had +plenty of work to do, reefing the top-sails, and all of us were tired +and sleepy when our watch went below. All were soon asleep but myself, +for my hour of revenge had arrived. With a sharp penknife, I cut a slit +in the trousers of my dishonest friend, the end of the pocket containing +the gold slipped out, then I cut off the whole business. The money was +all I wanted, and the string, rag, and remnants of the pocket I left as +a souvenir.</p> + +<p>Ten five-dollar and one two-and-a-half gold pieces was the total amount. +I "planted" the money in a secure place and went to bed, and when my +misguided friend awoke there was more anguish in the camp. He had my +sympathy and consolation over the fact that we should both land in +Liverpool dead broke, and this made our friendship more binding.</p> + +<p>Instead of making a trip in five weeks, as we expected, we were over two +months in getting to port. For a wonder, no one was killed during the +voyage. The ship was towed up the Mersey River, and we arrived at +Liverpool<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> just at high tide and were taken alongside the outer dock, +ready to enter the gates as soon as they were opened. Every one of us +got our baggage and jumped on shore, and "dock-wallopers" had to be +hired in our stead to dock the ship. Bully Billy Shackleford was furious +at our leaving so abruptly, and he was politely invited to come on shore +and have a parting drink, which he very wisely declined to do.</p> + +<p>Each man had some favourite boarding-place, so we all became separated. +I went to Whitechapel and had my meals and lodging at what the English +call a "cook-shop." As I could not find a ship returning to Mobile, I +made up my mind to go to Cardiff, Wales, by railroad, and there probably +I could ship on some vessel loaded with railroad iron down to Mobile or +New Orleans. My stay in Liverpool was only for two days. I crossed the +river to Birkenhead—and now for my first trip on an English railroad.</p> + +<p>On my arrival at the railroad station I purchased a ticket for Cardiff; +then I wanted a check for my sea chest, but checking baggage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> was not a +custom in England, and an official addressed me thus: "Will you 'ave +your luggage booked?" My name and destination were duly inscribed. +"Sixpence, please." I got on the train thinking it would be smooth +sailing for "me luggage" and myself, but such was not the case. I was +told to change cars at a certain station, which I did, and, at the time, +I noticed that "me luggage" was on the platform at the station. Getting +on my train, another link of my journey was being made, and, about nine +o'clock that night, I found myself at a town called Open Gates, quite a +distance on the wrong road. They informed me that I should have changed +trains some distance back. "Why in —— didn't you tell me to?" was my +reply. A free ride back and a new start was made in the right direction, +and, finally, I brought up at a town called Newport. There the "line of +rails," as they are called, ended. Twelve miles from Cardiff only, and +"me luggage" and I had to take another road, and "me luggage" could not +be found and no one knew anything about it. Now, what puzzles me to this +day is what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> the "booking" meant. And I have never been able to find +out, although it is the English custom. I went to a cook-shop and +remained in Newport a couple of days, and in the meantime there were +many inquiries about the "Young Hamerican's luggage." It was finally +located, and when I changed cars the first time I learned that it was my +duty to have it placed in the luggage car. While I was on my way to Open +Gates, the chest was left on the platform, where I had last seen it. In +the course of time a continuation of the journey was made, and at last +Cardiff was reached. Hunting up an old acquaintance, he took me to a +nice, quiet boarding-place.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +<a name="xiv" id="xiv"></a>CHAPTER XIV<br /> +<br /> +<small>PRETTY JENNIE BELL</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">My</span> friend had introduced me to the landlord's wife and the only two +boarders in the house. They had resumed a four-handed game of cards. +Something familiar about the landlady's face attracted my attention. +"Have I not seen you before?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Quite likely," she replied.</p> + +<p>Then I remembered all about her. She had been a notorious woman of the +street in Liverpool. Many a time she had stopped me and my shipmates on +the Bute Road and asked us to treat her. Sailors are very liberal when +ashore, and very few girls are refused a drink. In England their +favourite tipple is "two pen'orth o' gin and a bit o' sugar, please." +The gin they drink, but the two little cubes of sugar are placed in +their pockets to be eaten when there is no prospect of a free drink.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +The next morning my very sociable hostess had a friendly chat with me. +For old acquaintance' sake I must take her to the public-house next door +and buy the gin. That place was quite respectable, but, like all +public-houses in England, women would patronize it with as much freedom +as men. I was simply paralyzed by an introduction I got to a very pretty +young woman, by the proprietor's wife. "This is an old lover of mine, +and he has come back to board with me." I was too polite to deny it, but +it was an infernal lie, all the same.</p> + +<p>I could not find a ship just then ready for Mobile. Having nothing to +do, I would frequently sit in the back-room of the public-house. +Everything was so cosy there! A bright fire in the grate made the room +quite cheerful. The proprietor and his wife were a fine-looking and +well-educated couple, always pleasant and sociable. Acquaintances were +continually dropping in for a visit, and a pleasant, merry time it was +for all. One of their friends was a young woman, about twenty years old, +with large brown eyes, always good-natured and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> pleasant. She was known +as Pretty Jennie Bell, and was, beyond all question, the belle of the +neighbourhood. She was married, but had left her husband on account of +his brutality. Nothing could be said against her character. It was then +Christmas-time. I was sitting in a chair watching the fire and thinking +of home. Every one in the room was laughing and looking at me. I raised +up my head, and saw a branch of mistletoe held over my head. Turning +around, I saw that "Pretty Jennie Bell" was the person who held it in +her hand. She started to run, but I very quickly caught her, and got the +kiss to which I was entitled. All the rest in the house must have a mug +of beer for the kiss that I had won. Such a happy time we had that +evening! Jennie and I had fallen in love with each other.</p> + +<p>I had met an old shipmate in Cardiff, who was the first mate of an +American bark. He recommended me to the captain, and I obtained the +position of second mate. I felt quite proud then. It was arranged +between Jennie and me that I should make a voyage, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> in the meantime +she would obtain a divorce; we would then get married and go to New +York. Our voyage was for Matanzas, Cuba, with a cargo of coal. A couple +of nights before we were to go, it was my turn to remain on the vessel. +The captain and mate were on shore. As I sat in the cabin reading a book +for pastime, I heard my name called. Jennie had come down to the dock +alone to see me. I went ashore, and asked her if she was not afraid to +come to such a dangerous place on a dark night. In an instant her arms +were around my neck. "George, don't leave me," was all she said. That +settled the business! I helped her on board the vessel, and took her +into the cabin. We sat there talking to each other until after midnight. +The mate then returned. I told him to get another second mate, as I had +changed my mind about going to sea. He laughed, and bade me good-bye.</p> + +<p>Jennie and I were both very happy then. The future was not thought +about. In a couple of weeks it became very apparent that I must earn a +living for my pretty wife. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> fact of having no trade and being +without influence to obtain suitable employment naturally made me +discouraged. The English navy was giving four pounds sterling as a +bounty for seamen. I shipped as an able seaman, on condition that I +should be put on a man-of-war belonging to Portsmouth Harbour. My +clothing and sea chest I sold. The proceeds and the bounty I gave to +Jennie. I was assigned to the line-of-battle ship St. Vincent, one +hundred and twenty guns. My term of service was for five years. Several +other men and myself were taken across the Bristol Channel, thence by +rail to Portsmouth. The St. Vincent was a very large ship, having five +decks, three tiers of broadside guns, and a crew of twelve hundred men. +I received some clothing and a hammock and found myself a full-fledged +English man-of-war's-man for the second time in my life.</p> + +<p>My attention was called to the bulletin offering inducements for +volunteers to the Gunnery Schoolship Excellent. Men of good education, +first-class seamen and physically perfect,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> were eligible. A man named +McMinn and I made applications for the required examination. Both of us +were taken on board the Excellent and most thoroughly examined. +Everything being satisfactory, we were transferred and made "seamen +gunners" and "submarine divers" in Her Majesty's service. The term of +service was altered to twenty-one years. Extra pay was allowed for the +grade of gunners. Two-pence—four cents—extra was allowed a day as +submarine diver and one shilling an hour while diving, and one penny a +day for each good-conduct stripe, three being the limit. A service +pension was to be granted for seventeen years' service, at eight pence a +day, that being additional to our regular pay. The Excellent was an old +frigate anchored close to the navy yard. She had no masts or rigging, +the crew having nothing more to do with the seamanship. We were divided +into four divisions, each division changing exercises daily. From nine +in the morning until three in the afternoon we were constantly drilling. +Breech- and muzzle-loading guns,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> broadside guns, howitzers and muskets +and rifles and pikes and cutlasses, all came in rotation, and target +practice daily with big guns and small arms. Then, by turns, we would +put on the submarine armour and practise at diving in thirty feet of +water. On Saturdays and Sundays we had a rest. Five days' drilling in a +week was sufficient. When a man-of-war was ready for sea an order would +be sent to the Excellent for the same number of seamen gunners as the +ship had guns. Then we would rank as Captains of the Guns and receive +pay as petty officers. For instance, a frigate of forty guns was ready +for sea; forty men from the Excellent would be sent on board. As soon as +the frigate returned from a cruise the forty men would be sent back to +continue their practice in gunnery. At three of the afternoon, every +day, three divisions were at liberty to go on shore and remain until +half-past seven the next morning.</p> + +<p>I at once rented a nicely furnished room for light housekeeping for one +half crown a week. Then I sent for Jennie. On her arrival,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> everything +was made pleasant and comfortable. I would be at home three nights out +of every four. Saturdays I would be at liberty at eleven o'clock in the +morning until Monday morning. My wife would draw one half my pay every +month, one quarter pay was given to me in cash monthly, and the other +quarter I could draw in clothing and other necessaries. I needed all my +pay, and it required sharp practice to get it. I could get one pound of +tobacco monthly. That cost one shilling, government price. I sold it +immediately for two shillings. I drew flannel, and sold it at a profit. +I kept my account about square with the paymaster. As I drank no grog, +tea and sugar were given me in lieu of it. McMinn and I were very +friendly. He was a temperance man and gave me his allowance of tea and +sugar. At the end of each month I had quite a quantity due me. My +half-pay was allotted to Mrs. Jennie Thompson, Portsmouth. Then we were +in a quandary. It was necessary for a wife to show a marriage +certificate before she could get the money. Now that was a document<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +that Jennie did not possess. That little obstacle did not bother us very +long. We went to the Register's office and were married in orthodox +style. Jennie did not worry much over the fact of committing bigamy. She +got the certificate and half-pay, too. We lived together very happily. I +never knew her to be ill-natured or say a cross word. I always had a +cordial welcome, and a pleasant smile awaited me. What money I earned +was spent to advantage. I neither drank liquor nor used tobacco. My +nights were always passed at home with Jennie, and happy hours they +were, too!</p> + +<p>One night, while my division was on duty aboard the ship, we had quite a +diversion from the ordinary routine. A big fire was seen on shore. All +boats were "called away" and our division landed at the navy yard, each +man carrying a ship's fire-bucket. A lieutenant had charge of the "fire +brigade" of about one hundred and fifty sailors. Nothing pleases a +sailor more than having something to do on land. Going to a fire was an +unusual treat. Steam<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> fire-engines were not invented at that time. For a +New York city man that fire was a comical sight. On our arrival at the +scene, we found a regiment of soldiers drawn up in double line around +the burning buildings. Behind them were about all the prostitutes in the +city—-and they were numerous in proportion to the population. The +soldiers opened ranks for us to pass inside the lines, the women +encouraging the sailors by singing out, "Go it, Excellents! Be lively, +my lads!" The troops had their muskets and, in their bright scarlet +uniforms, made a grand display. Only one old-fashioned fire-engine, +worked by hand, was to be seen. The old box was so leaky that the water +was spurting in all directions except the proper one. Our gallant +lieutenant, with his drawn sword pointed to the burning building, was +ordering us to put out the fire. The whole block was a row of small +two-story brick buildings. As one house would burn down, the next would +catch fire. The fire-buckets were of leather, with a rope thirty feet in +length attached to each one, for the purpose of hoisting water over the +ship's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> side and lowering it down the hatches in case of fire. On shore +the circumstances were different. The rope was a great impediment. But +something must be done to show what sailors could do at a fire.</p> + +<p>A dam of mud was made in the street gutter, the leaks in the fire-engine +furnishing abundance of water. All hands were formed in line and each +man, dipping up a bucketful of water, would run to the burning +structure, the lieutenant with his sword would point out the particular +second-story window into which he wanted the contents of the bucket +thrown, and so it would go. That plan was a dismal failure. It would +require men about twenty feet in height for that style of fire-fighting. +The agents of the insurance company asked us to tear down a building +about six houses to the leeward of the fire. By that means the fire +could be checked from spreading. The fun then began in earnest. A stick +of timber was used as a battering-ram for the outside; inside the +building the sailors were like a swarm of bees. One enterprising man +was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> boosted up into the attic; he did not remain there long, however, +for, making a misstep, he went through the second-story ceiling, his +body and a quantity of plastering landing on his shipmates below. That +building was a complete wreck in a very short time. While the wrecking +was in progress, some of the sailors had got on the roof of a building +next to the fire. Then the hose was pulled up, and during that process +the sailors close by got a good ducking occasionally. Somehow, the +sailors could not control the nozzle properly—-at least they said so. +In a short time the fire was put out, and there were four buildings not +damaged between the ruins and the wreck. How that insurance agent did +growl and rave!</p> + +<p>All hands picked up their buckets and were marched to the navy yard, and +on our way a saloon-keeper was called out of bed and the lieutenant +treated each man to a pint of beer. About daylight we were on board the +ship again. The sailor who so gallantly held the nozzle and squelched +the fire was in luck. The insurance company made him a present of ten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +shillings, and also wrote a letter to the captain of the Excellent, +praising the conduct of the aforesaid sailor. As he had ruined a fine +pair of trousers which cost him twenty shillings to replace, his reward +was considered quite small. The men in the house-wrecking business were +inclined to be envious; they were not even thanked for their hard work.</p> + +<p>By hard study and strict attention to duty, I soon became a good gunner. +The cutlass exercise I was very fond of. Every evening, when I remained +on board, I would get some good man to use the single sticks with me for +amusement, and, consequently, I became quite a good swordsman. In April +we received news in regard to the Rebellion in the United States. Jennie +and I had a long conversation on the subject, and both concluded that it +would be much better for me to be in the United States navy, where +promotion was possible. The pay was also much better. Besides, I was not +an Englishman, and it was my duty to fight for my country. It was +arranged that Jennie should go home to her parents, and remain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> there +until I could send for her from New York. I was to desert from the +Excellent.</p> + +<p>Now, deserting from that vessel was a serious affair, as neither labour +nor expense was spared in capturing a deserter. The penalty was not less +than one year in prison. It was very seldom that a gunner ran away, and +nearly every one who did so was caught. I got a canvas bag, such as +sailors use, instead of a chest. Taking it home, I filled it with any +old dresses or rags that Jennie could get. I brought two No. 3 +grape-shot from the ship, and put them in with the other trash. My +object was to have my baggage to take with me. I told McMinn of my +intentions. He had his discharge from the English merchant service, +which he gave to me, as it might be very useful. My sailor clothes I +sold, except the suit I had on. Jennie told our landlady that she was +going home on a visit. Everything being ready, we bade each other an +affectionate good-bye, and she went away. The next day I got a pass from +the captain for permission<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> to travel for twenty-four hours unmolested. +I got my man-of-war's suit changed, and, taking my baggage, and getting +on the cars, I was in London in a few hours.</p> + +<p>Securing my bag, I at once went to the Sailors' Home on the East India +Road, registering my name as John McMinn, also showing the discharge +from the merchant service. I stated that I had been home several months +on a visit. The Home was a very large building built by the Government +for the protection of sailors from the numerous boarding-house sharks. +The charges were just enough to cover all expenses, and each man had a +small room to himself, besides the use of the library and the +bathing-room. There was also a large sitting-room, and a shipping office +was on the lower floor. Men could be shipped there or paid off; in fact, +everything was done to protect sailors from being defrauded. Early the +next morning I went to London dock. In a short time I found an English +brig ready for sea. Showing my discharge to the captain, he told me that +I was just the kind of man he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> wanted, and gave me an order to be +shipped. I went to the Home and signed the Articles for a voyage to St. +Kitts, West Indies.</p> + +<p>An advance note for two pounds ten was given me, and the next day, at +ten o'clock, the brig was to sail, that being the time of high tide, and +the dock gates open. That also was the time that I would be proclaimed a +deserter from Her Majesty's service, it now being twenty-four hours +after my pass had expired. I had no intention of going to St. Kitts, and +about nine o'clock I settled my bill, and, picking up my bag, was going +out of the door, when I met one of the owners of the brig.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my lad, I came to ship another man in your place. We thought you +had backed out."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" I replied. "I am just on my way to the docks."</p> + +<p>"Then hurry, lad, you have no time to lose."</p> + +<p>Well, that brig went to sea with my name on the Articles. That was what +I wanted. But I was not one of the crew. I went to a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> shipping office, +threw my bag into a corner, and told them that I wanted to ship on a +vessel. I was sent to an American ship to see the mate, and from him I +got an order to be shipped. The voyage was around Cape Horn to Callao, +Peru, from there to Australia, and thence to the United States. That +trip would be around the world and would take a year to complete.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +<a name="xv" id="xv"></a>CHAPTER XV<br /> +<br /> +<small>GOOD-BYE TO ENGLAND</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Massey</span> was in charge of the shipping office, and, showing her the +order and saying that I would ship, I walked out, and straightway back +to the dock I went. I found the vessel that I really wanted. It was the +packet-ship Rhine, bound for New York with emigrants. From the mate I +got an order to be shipped from a certain office. I went to Massey's for +my bag, and, as I picked it up and started for the door, Mrs. Massey +asked me if I had backed out, and I curtly told her that I had. Then she +showed her good breeding. Such language I never heard a woman use +before. "— —, — who enticed you from this office? — — —!" Two +young men happened to be standing in front of the door. "— are these +the men?" she asked. "Yes," I answered, and what a tongue-lashing those +two fellows got!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> In the meantime I walked off. I found the right office +and shipped for New York. I received an advance note of two pounds ten. +A young man in the office offered to take me to a small boarding-house, +and arriving there, I was introduced to the landlord. He was an old +sailor, a native of Chile, and the fact of my having lived there made us +friends at once. I made a bargain for two days' lodging, a straw +mattress, sheath knife, tin pot, pan, and spoon. Besides, he was to have +five shillings extra for cashing my advance note. The difference he paid +me in cash. Then I went to the post-office and bought an order for every +cent I had, made payable to Jennie Bell, and, remaining in the house +until the sailing, I wrote a letter to Jennie, merely stating that I +would be in New York four weeks from that time. The money-order was +inclosed and the letter mailed just before the ship left the dock. We +sailed down the Thames River into the Channel, and at sundown the white +chalk cliffs of Dover were far astern. That was the last time I ever saw +the coast of England.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +The Rhine had a large number of steerage passengers on board. Men, +women, and children were all huddled together between decks. They all +got sea-sick, and it is a wonder that none of them died. The filth and +stench were terrible. The crew were a tough lot, being mostly old +"packet rats," as they are termed. They would stay on shore until their +advance money was all spent, then they would have to ship. They would +steal all of their clothing from their more provident shipmates. My bag +had been searched, but it only set them wondering as to who I was, with +all the old rags and the two grape-shot. In just one month's time we +sighted Sandy Hook, New York. The passengers were all on deck, getting +their first glimpse of America, and were all glad that the voyage was so +nearly ended. The twin lighthouses of the Highlands of Navesink were in +plain view; below them was a famous summer resort for New Yorkers. As I +stood on that deck watching the beautiful scenery, a dirty, ragged suit +of sailor's clothes on my back, not a cent of money in my pockets, had a +fortune-teller<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> then said to me—"See that hotel on the beach? One year +from now you will be staying there as a guest, and paying twenty-five +dollars a week for your accommodation. You will be the best-dressed +young man in the house and wearing diamond jewelry, with the waiters +eager to wait upon you, as you are very liberal in giving tips. And +Matilda, the proprietor's daughter, will be your betrothed wife"—I +should have laughed at the idea; but it all happened so in reality.</p> + +<p>As we sailed through the Narrows it became my turn to steer the ship; +the captain and pilot standing close to me conversing, I heard the pilot +say that the docks were crowded with ships, and that the Rhine would +have to remain anchored in the bay a week before docking. The captain +replied that it would give them a good opportunity to have all the +rigging tarred. Now, hearing that conversation nearly cost me my life. +Tarring a ship's rigging is about the hardest work and the dirtiest job +imaginable, and, besides, the hands and finger-nails are dyed a +dark-brown colour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> which remains for weeks. None of that work for me +just then! As the anchor dropped, my duty at the wheel was ended. The +boarding-house keepers came alongside and were soon on deck looking for +victims. A hard-looking case asked me if I had ever been in New York +before.</p> + +<p>"No, this is my first trip across the ocean."</p> + +<p>"Well, come to my house. I have a nice place."</p> + +<p>"All right," I answered, "I will go, on condition that you get my +clothes and take me from the ship right off."</p> + +<p>He told his runner to take his row-boat under the port bow. Going to the +forecastle, I pointed out my bag. I was to go in the boat; then he was +to throw me my valuable wardrobe. The passengers were at the rail, +looking at Castle Garden. Crowding in between, I found there was a rope +hanging over the ship's side, and, in an instant, I was on the rail, +grabbing hold of the rope. I intended going down "hand over hand" with +my feet on the vessel's side, but the rope was not fastened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> as I +supposed, consequently I fell about twenty feet, striking the water back +first and just barely missing the row-boat. The runner helped me in, +then down came the bag, and we were off for dry land. My career on the +ocean as a sailor before the mast had terminated most unexpectedly to +me, and that proved to be my last voyage.</p> + +<p>On landing, we walked to the worst locality in New York city. On the way +I was told that a brig bound for the West Indies needed a crew, and +would I ship on her? "Certainly," I replied. Now the intention was to +"shanghai" me (that is, steal my advance money), my landlord supposing +that I was a greenhorn. Finally, we entered a dirty old house on Cherry +Street, the worst street in the city at that time. I was invited to take +a drink, which I refused. The sleeping apartment was shown to me—-a +filthy room with bunks around the sides, made out of rough boards. The +brig was to sail the next day.</p> + +<p>"Well, I must have a new pair of shoes."</p> + +<p>"All right, come with me."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +He took me to a store and I selected a pair, which were charged to the +landlord.</p> + +<p>"Now I want a hair-cut and a shave."</p> + +<p>Into a barber-shop we went, and that was also charged up. Going back to +the house, I had my supper, and it was a holy terror for "shore food." I +loafed around the place until after dark, then I started for home, being +ashamed to have the neighbours see me in daylight in my ragged and still +wet clothing. As for the sailors' boarding-house, it was only a case of +"wolf eat wolf." They had simply caught the wrong man for a sucker.</p> + +<p>I rang the door bell and a strange servant girl asked me whom I wished +to see. Without answering, I walked in and opened the sitting-room door. +My return was a complete surprise. One of my cousins, a young lady, cast +pitiful glances at my clothing, as much as to say, "Poor fellow, he must +have had a hard time!" Fortunately, on leaving home the last time, I had +left my best suit of clothes behind. It was only a short time before I +had a good bath and was dressed like a civilized being.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> We remained in +the sitting-room talking until after midnight. My travels and the war +were the topics of conversation. Next morning I went to the post-office +and got a letter from Jennie. The detectives had traced her home and all +kinds of questions were asked in regard to me. But she knew nothing. +They said it made no difference, as they would have me back in England +in a few weeks, for I had shipped on an English ship for St. Kitts and +orders had been sent to the admiral of the station to arrest and send me +back in irons at the first opportunity.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon I went to the naval rendezvous, and passed examination +as an able seaman for the United States navy. The pay was eighteen +dollars a month, with chance of promotion. But there was a hitch in the +proceedings. The quota of able seamen was filled, and the best I could +do was to ship as an ordinary seaman at fourteen dollars a month. That I +refused to do, and I explained that I was fully capable of being a petty +officer, and that I would not throw away my chances for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> being rated as +such by shipping as an ordinary seaman. I was invited to come again in a +few weeks, as more men would be required, and they preferred young +Americans like myself in the navy. In a few days I had made up my mind +to go into the army. The companies and regiments throughout the Northern +States that were being organized had to be disbanded for lack of arms +and clothing, and also for the reason that the Government had no +expectation of needing their services, so my patriotism was squelched +for the time being. A number of my young friends had enlisted for three +months, under the first call for seventy-five thousand men. They nearly +all got back, and stayed home for the remainder of the war, having had +all the glory they wanted.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +<a name="xvi" id="xvi"></a>CHAPTER XVI<br /> +<br /> +<small>WHAT MONEY CAN DO</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">I wrote</span> to Jennie, telling her that arrangements had been made for her +to live with my mother for awhile, telling her also to let me know when +she would be ready to leave England, as the money would then be sent to +pay her expenses. In a month's time I received a very formal letter from +her sister stating that, through mediation of relatives, Jennie and her +first husband had become reconciled, and were again living together. I +showed the letter to my mother and explained everything. She was pleased +at the termination of the affair, but, somehow, she took no stock in my +wife's morality. I had about concluded that my valuable services would +not be needed in the war, so I went to Duncan & Sherman's banking house +in Wall Street, intending to ship in one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> of their vessels, if possible. +There I met Captain Otis, who was in command of the C. C. Duncan when I +made the voyage to Algiers. He had quit going to sea, and was married to +Mr. Duncan's only daughter. Through his influence, I obtained a good +situation as outdoor clerk for the banking house. My work was +principally about the shipping at the docks. I was delighted at the +prospect of remaining at home and living on dry land. The excitement +over the war had quieted down considerably in New York. Regiments +passing through the city for Washington were loudly cheered and soon +forgotten. In the meantime the rebels were strongly fortifying the +Southern coast, and loudly proclaiming that "Cotton was King." The +battle of Bull Run made it quite plain to both parties that they had a +big contract on their hands. The celebrated New York Fire Zouaves did +not go to Richmond as they intended. A number of them became +demoralized, and never stopped running until they got back to Fulton +Market, in New York.</p> + +<p>The few ships in the navy captured Port<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> Royal, in South Carolina. Some +of the Confederates from there never stopped until they reached Canada. +Then came Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island, N. C. The Government +secured all the steamers available for the use of the navy, even taking +the old Staten Island ferry-boats. Gold became very scarce and at a +premium. Legal-tender notes were then issued, and Government bonds sold +at a discount. For small change, postage-stamps were used. All the +silver coin was being hoarded up and withdrawn from circulation. A +revenue tax was placed on everything. On whisky it was two dollars a +gallon. Even the poor people had to pay for the revenue-stamps on the +pawn-tickets when they pledged articles. Before the war ended, good tea +was two dollars and a half a pound; coffee, from forty cents to a +dollar; sugar, twenty-two cents; a common round of beefsteak, +twenty-five; turkey, thirty-five cents a pound, and eggs sixty cents a +dozen. There was plenty of work, with high wages.</p> + +<p>I still kept my situation and was gradually working my way up. My +associates were very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> different from those I came in contact with while +a sailor. Knowing as much as I did about the Havana Lottery, I had great +faith in it. By very little persuasion, I got six young men to go in +with me to co-operate in the purchase of tickets, each one paying a +certain sum weekly. Every month tickets would be bought for the full +amount. The bankers, Taylor & Company, in Wall Street, were the agents. +For several months it was the same thing—-no prizes. In the month of +April, 1862, there was rejoicing in the club. We had drawn a fifty +thousand-dollar prize! Taylor & Company cashed it for us at a small +discount. The seven sharers received the money—-a little over seven +thousand dollars each. Then we all went to the devil. No use working +with all that wealth, so we left our situations.</p> + +<p>At first a silver watch costing thirty-five dollars was good enough for +me, then I changed it for a gold one worth one hundred and forty. A +diamond ring came next, for one hundred and twenty-five dollars. And of +course I must have a diamond breastpin, one hundred and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> twenty-five +more. I got to be very particular about the style of my clothing. A +bottle of wine with my suppers was just the thing. How I did lie back +and contrast the present with the past while on board a ship!</p> + +<p>Not feeling very well, I concluded to spend a few weeks at a summer +resort. My friends recommended me to Teller's Pavilion, at the +Highlands, Navesink, N. J. My expenses there were quite heavy: +twenty-five dollars a week for a nice room, one bottle of wine for +dinner, two dollars and a half extra. To be well waited on called for +liberal tips to the waiters. As my money had come easy it went easy. I +made a lot of friends, and usually paid all the bills for boating +parties and other amusements. I became acquainted with Miss Tillie +Teller, and with us it was a case of "love at first sight." Finally, we +became engaged. I presented her with a fine diamond engagement ring. The +season ended and I returned to New York.</p> + +<p>Having spent a large share of my money, I concluded to start in some +business with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> remainder, make a good living and marry Tillie. A +saloon on Broadway seemed a good investment. Well, as a saloon +proprietor I was a dismal failure. It was nothing but woe and misery. +Every one robbed me right and left. I got into debt, lost all my +respectable friends, broke my engagement with Tillie, and married +another girl; and that wife put the finishing touch on the whole +business. Annie was her name. She was very pretty, with blue eyes, light +hair, and petite figure. How innocent and childish in her ways! She +could make me believe almost anything. I had more rows on her account +than a prize-fighter could conveniently attend to. If we went on the +street-cars, to the theatre, or into a restaurant, there would be +trouble with some one in short order. It made no difference where we +lived, it would be the same old program; the first two days all would be +lovely, until she got acquainted with the neighbours, and then war would +be declared. And I, like a fool, believed her to be in the right. As +regards her education, it was much below the average standard. What she +lacked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> in that respect, however, was counterbalanced by her ingenuity +in inventing lies. It took a long time for me to discover her talent in +that line. Her fictions were not overdone; they were simply just good +enough to believe.</p> + +<p>Becoming disgusted with the saloon business, I concluded to sell out at +any price. I was in debt, head over heels, and what little money was +taken in was stolen by the barkeeper. I was offered four hundred and +fifty dollars for the place and accepted it. It cost me twelve hundred. +I made a great mistake in not insisting upon having my little angel of a +wife included in the sale, but it required a few more years' time for me +to become fully acquainted with all her virtues. She certainly was a +terror. As a diversion she would have a fit of hysterics. I was not well +posted on that female peculiarity. At first, I was badly scared and did +some lively petting and nursing. Finally, the thing became rather +monotonous, so that when she felt like thumping her head against the +door or bed-post, I would go to sleep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> and let her amuse herself to her +heart's content. She recovered muck quicker, as I found out by +experience. Taking a dose of laudanum was also a favourite trick, but, +unfortunately, she never took an effectual one.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +<a name="xvii" id="xvii"></a>CHAPTER XVII<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE NEW YORK DRAFT RIOTS</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">I had</span> sold all of my jewelry. The proceeds of the sale of the saloon +were nearly all paid out for my debts. My financial affairs were in a +low condition, with a loving wife to care for. What made my affairs +worse was the prospect of soon becoming a father. At that time there was +considerable war excitement in New York. The rebels had broken loose and +had invaded Pennsylvania. All the New York State militia were then sent +to the front. My mind was fully made up to enter the navy as soon as our +child was born and my wife well. The grade of ensign had been created in +the navy. Getting good recommendations from Duncan, Sherman & Company +and from Captain Otis, I made application to the Secretary of the +Navy—-Gideon Welles—-and received permission to be examined for the +position of ensign.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +The draft riots in the city had begun (July, 1863) and all business was +at a standstill. The three hundred dollars' clause was the cause of the +trouble. A man in moderate circumstances could pay that amount and be +exempt from military service, but a poor man would be compelled to go. +The State militia being away, the city was defenceless. Besides, there +were thirty thousand known criminals among the population, and a great +number of rebel sympathizers. The drawing of names for the draft took +place at Forty-second Street and Second Avenue. Early in the morning a +large mob gathered and very quickly drove the officers from the building +and gutted the place most thoroughly. The police from that precinct came +running up Second Avenue, and used their clubs very freely. When they +got close to the mob, affairs were different. The rioters disarmed the +police and gave them a most unmerciful beating, several being killed +outright. One had sought refuge in a house, where he was found hidden +under a mattress and thrown out of a second-story window.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> Everything in +the building was destroyed and the place set on fire. The same result +happened at every house where a policeman had been assisted or +sheltered. Next the Invalid Corps, composed of disabled soldiers, made a +charge on the crowd.</p> + +<p>They were disarmed and driven back, and in a short time news of the riot +spread over the city and pandemonium reigned for the time being. All +places of business were closed and not a policeman dared to leave the +station-houses. A number of good citizens took possession of the +armories and arsenals and guarded them from capture by the rioters. +Buildings in different parts of the city were set on fire, and the +firemen would be on hand with their engines, but would not be allowed to +throw a single stream of water. The Coloured Orphan Asylum was pillaged +and burnt to the ground. The Old Firemen's was an organization that gave +its services without pay, but its members were exempt from military +duty. Their engines were worked by hand, the companies having from +seventy-five to one hundred and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> twenty-five members each, and were +always present at the fires, but were powerless to do anything. The mob +had sense enough not to attempt to injure any of the engines, as that +would have precipitated a fight with the fire laddies, and they had the +reputation of being fighters from the word "Go."</p> + +<p>Down town, the rioters made an attack on the New York Tribune building, +but old Horace Greeley was prepared for war. The doors and windows were +barricaded with bales of paper and behind that were all the employees, +all heavily armed. The mob took in the situation and went after +something that was easier, such as chasing negroes into the East and +North rivers and watching them drown. At Twenty-first Street they caught +several and hanged them to lamp-posts; then straw mattresses were placed +under them and set on fire. United States marines were sent from the +Brooklyn Navy Yard to guard the United States Treasury building on Wall +Street, as well as the banks in that neighbourhood. Towards evening the +rioters became drunk and more reckless; nothing could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> be done to check +them, and all the respectable citizens anticipated a night of terror. +Fortunately, about eight o'clock a heavy rain commenced to fall, and +that caused the drunken brutes to disappear. The rain also extinguished +the fire in the many ruins in different localities. The next day the +weather was quite pleasant, and the rioters, early in the morning, +recommenced their work of destruction; houses would be pillaged and then +set on fire. The lower class of people, especially the women and +children from the tenement-houses, could be seen carrying off everything +that was portable. The thieves were very busy stealing all the valuables +when a house was first raided, and they were usually the first to make a +demonstration at any building, the mob being always ready to follow, on +general principles. The police remained in the station-houses, not one +of them daring to come outside, as it would have been certain death to +do so.</p> + +<p>Gun and hardware stores were broken into and looted of all arms and +ammunitions, and, by that means, a large number of the most desperate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +rioters became armed. A mob composed of about five thousand men started +for the Fifth Avenue Hotel, situated on Madison Square, considered at +that time the finest and most aristocratic hotel in the United States. +As they came close to the building, yelling loudly, "Burn the Fifth +Avenue! Loot the Fifth Avenue!" all anticipating an exciting time as +well as plenty of rich plunder, the whole thing was suddenly changed. +The occupants of the hotel had been watching the advance of the mob—not +knowing their intention—and as the rioters entered the Square, howling +and hooting, every window in the building was occupied by the guests, +who loudly cheered and waved handkerchiefs to show that they were in +full sympathy with the mob. That ended the affair, as the rioters were +not disposed to injure any of their openly avowed Copperhead friends. +The cheers were returned, and no other demonstration was made. The Fifth +Avenue was a regular resort for secessionists and rebel sympathizers +during the war. In any other country such a place would have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> been +closed up and all of the occupants put in prison.</p> + +<p>Towards night a few of the militia arrived in the city, and the rioters +killed a few of them by filing from the windows and house-tops in the +tenement districts. The morning of the third day more troops arrived, +and the mob scattered in all directions upon the approach of the +soldiers, only to mass together again in another locality. In the +morning a regiment of infantry marched down Second Avenue and the +colonel stopped on some private business on Twenty-seventh Street, when +two rioters sneaked up behind and knocked him senseless with a club. +Then the crowd quickly gathered, a rope was procured, and the colonel +was strung up to a lamp-post. In the meantime the regiment was marching +along in complete ignorance of their colonel's fate. The body was soon +cut down and dragged through the streets, receiving all kinds of +ill-treatment. Rioters' wives hurled paving-stones at the prostrate +body, and what was most strange was the fact of his retaining life until +late in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> the afternoon. He was a very powerful man and must have had +wonderful vitality. Near Tenth Street was a large building used as a +manufactory of muskets and revolvers. The rioters had broken in and were +helping themselves to everything portable, and, in fact, they were so +busy that they did not know that Colonel Lynch's regiment was at hand, +and when they did realize that fact it was too late, for, as they came +rushing out, they were shot down without mercy. A number of them jumped +out of the windows only to be killed or maimed for life as they struck +the sidewalk. Quite a large number was killed by soldiers, and those who +escaped spread to the different parts of the city and circulated the +story that the soldiers would shoot to kill.</p> + +<p>That night the riot was nearly ended, for more troops had arrived and +the police were again on duty. The next morning the bakers, butchers, +and grocers resumed business. Those people who had not a good supply of +provisions on hand had a hard time while the riot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> lasted, as not a +single article could be purchased. For three days not a street-car or +vehicle of any description could be seen on the streets, nor was a +coloured person, male or female, visible during the period; probably the +only time in the history of New York that such conditions prevailed, for +a New York negro, as a usual thing, is not very bashful about making his +presence apparent to all who come in contact with him. The Southern +sympathizers were actually the ones who brought on that riot, for they +were always up to some mischief, and a few months afterwards assisted +Dr. Blackburn to distribute clothing infected with small-pox to the +poorer classes in the city, but the plot failed.</p> + +<p>Next came the attempt to burn the whole city by starting fires +simultaneously in different localities. Each of the firebugs carried a +black satchel containing self-igniting chemicals, which were to be +dropped on the stairways of the large buildings. Barnum's Museum was set +on fire, and several other places also, with but little damage +resulting, and, about that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> time, any one caught with a black satchel +would suddenly come to grief.</p> + +<p>My wife having recovered from her confinement, and the riot being ended, +I went to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and underwent a medical examination. +Next, I was thoroughly examined in navigation and then in seamanship. +Having passed in all, I was ordered to return again in a few days and, +in the meantime, to provide myself with the regulation uniform. My money +was all spent by that time, so I borrowed enough with which to buy my +new outfit. In due time, I received my appointment as an acting ensign +in the navy. The pay was thirteen hundred dollars a year. There were +three classes of officers in the navy: first, the regulars; second, the +volunteers, composed of officers who had resigned previously to the war; +and third, the acting officers who volunteered from the merchant +service. The rank and pay was the same in all classes. I was at once +ordered to the St. Lawrence, for instruction in gunnery. Quite a number +of ensigns and masters' mates was on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> board, getting initiation as to +how a ship's battery should be handled. The first day's exercise was +sufficient for me; I was pronounced proficient and excused from further +drill. The other officers were surprised at my learning my duties so +quickly, but I never mentioned my experience on the gunnery-ship +Excellent.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +<a name="xviii" id="xviii"></a>CHAPTER XVIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>ACTING ENSIGN IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">General Canby</span>, who commanded the troops in New York city, had chartered +six tug-boats for patrolling the river fronts, and each one had a +howitzer and guns, in charge of an ensign. I was sent to take charge of +the boat Rapid, and my instructions were to remain at Castle Garden dock +and await orders. As there was no more rioting, my chance for killing a +few rebel sympathizers was lost. One day a young man approached me and +inquired for the tug-boat Rapid, as he wished to see Ensign Thompson.</p> + +<p>"You are speaking to him now," I answered.</p> + +<p>He looked at me rather quizzically for a few seconds, and said his name +was John Murray.</p> + +<p>"The fact is, you are living with my wife."</p> + +<p>"The devil I am!" I replied.</p> + +<p>"Such is the case," he stated. "I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> arrested and compelled to marry +her, and, after living together for a year, she ran away from me in +Canada and came to New York. Now I wish to get a divorce so that I can +marry a girl to whom I am at present engaged."</p> + +<p>At first he talked of having her arrested for bigamy. I told him that +even if he did that, he would still have to get a divorce, and that a +man who would ruin a girl and then contemplate sending her to prison was +a contemptible cur. Finally it was arranged that the divorce notice +should be served on her, and a decree asked for. My interview with Annie +was rather stormy. I told her that I would not marry her again, but I +would take care of her and would treat her as a wife as long as she +behaved herself. That was my last matrimonial venture; and I was a man +married to two women and yet legally a bachelor.</p> + +<p>About the 1st of September, General Canby gave me orders to return the +howitzer and sailors to the navy yard, also for me to report to the St. +Lawrence. In a few days I was ordered to Boston, to join the United +States<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> brig Perry. On my arrival, the captain indorsed my orders as +having reported. Next, I went to the navy agent, and received two +hundred dollars as advance pay and my mileage expenses from New +York—-twenty-one dollars and ten cents. All naval officers are allowed +ten cents a mile when ordered to the different naval stations. The next +day I reported as ready for duty. Being next in rank to the captain, +made me executive officer. The Perry was the vessel I admired so much +when in Rio de Janeiro. Now the circumstances were altogether different. +It was a most undesirable vessel to be attached to in war times. There +would be no chance of active service or prize money. The Perry's day had +passed with the advent of fast steamers for blockade-running. In the +early part of the war she captured the rebel privateer Dixie after a +short engagement, and that was the end of her victories. And not one +cent of prize money was ever credited to her account.</p> + +<p>The Perry was a man-of-war of the fourth rate, carrying ten broadside +guns and one howitzer.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> She was a very fast sailer, but very cranky or +top-heavy, on account of the heavy battery on deck and her lofty spars. +An acting master was in command. Under him were five acting ensigns and +three active master's mates. Captain (by courtesy) William D. Urann was +a thorough seaman, but a mighty mean person. He was a close-fisted +down-East Yankee. I was the only ensign on the brig for about a month, +the master's mates acting as watch officers. At last we got four other +ensigns, and every one of them was my senior, so that fact dropped me to +navigating officer. The commandant of the navy yard reported to the +naval department that the United States brig Perry was ready for sea. +Then the trouble began. Both officers and sailors were trying all kinds +of plans to get transferred to some of the steam gunboats. Some of the +crew complained about the foremast being rotten. The boss carpenter was +sent on board to examine it. After boring a few augur holes in it he +pronounced it sound. Then the crew had other complaints about the +vessel. Now,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> when a sailor gets to growling he can do it to perfection, +and the result was that the commandant sent a number of the growlers to +the receiving ship, very much to their joy. They were all good seamen. +In their place we received some very useless negroes to fill our +complement of men. The officers complained of being sick, and everything +else they could think of, so an extra ensign was sent on board to assist +us. As that gentleman was my junior by a few days, he had to be the +navigator and I became a watch officer. We were to pass many a day of +misery together in Southern prisons.</p> + +<p>Very much to the commandant's relief and our own disgust, the anchor was +weighed, and we set sail for Charleston, S. C. All went nicely until we +got near Cape Hatteras, when, during a storm, some of the fore-rigging +carried away. We all examined the parted stays, and pronounced them +rotten, and the officers had quite a consultation as to what should be +done under the circumstances. Finally, the captain said that if the six +ensigns would go aloft<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> and examine the rigging, and then make an +individual report that the vessel was unseaworthy, he would put back for +New York. We gave our report in very quickly, and the brig was headed +for Sandy Hook, N. Y. On our arrival at the navy yard, when the reasons +for our coming into port were made known, there was a big rumpus, sure +enough. The presumption on our captain's part was simply enormous! Had +not the commandant of the Boston navy yard reported the Perry as ready +for sea? All the officers on the vessel got on their dignity, and we +pointed to the rotten rigging to corroborate our opinions. The Navy +Department ordered a court of inquiry, and all the ensigns were called +before the court and individually questioned in regard to seamanship, +their experience on the ocean, and their reasons for stating the rigging +to be unfit for sea. It happened, for a wonder, that we six ensigns were +all experienced seamen, and much above the average. The questions were +promptly answered, and rather plainly, too. The court was composed of +regular officers, and something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> must be done to exonerate the +commandant at Boston. Volunteer officers were considered as interlopers, +and tolerated only as a necessity. The result was that Acting-Master +William D. Urann was deemed unfit to command a vessel, and was detached +from the brig Perry and ordered to report for duty to the commandant of +the Mississippi flotilla. He was there but a few weeks when his merits +as an experienced officer were recognised, and he was promoted to acting +lieutenant, ranking with a captain in the army.</p> + +<p>I may as well explain the grades of rank now: A captain in the navy has +rank with a colonel in the army; commander, with a lieutenant-colonel; +lieutenant-commander, with a major; lieutenant, with captain; master, +with first lieutenant; ensign, with second lieutenant.</p> + +<p>The fact of our captain being relieved did not prevent orders being +issued to have the brig repaired, and the riggers from the yard came on +board and made things lively for a while.</p> + +<p>In about a month's time we were ready,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> and started for Charleston. All +went nicely until after we passed Cape Hatteras. I had an attack of some +light fever, and was on the sick list. On board was a master's mate by +the name of Bridges. He had been recommended for promotion to ensign, +and ordered to Boston for examination, but, failing to pass, he was +attached to the Perry, and every one on our vessel was desirous to +assist him in gaining experience. For that reason he was allowed to +stand my watch while I was sick, and usually some of the ensigns would +be on deck to see that everything was all right. But early one evening +we had just finished supper, and all of us sat in the ward-room having a +social chat. Feeling as if some fresh-air exercise would benefit me, I +went on deck, and, looking to the windward, I saw that a heavy squall +would soon strike us. Mr. Bridges was serenely promenading the deck, +totally oblivious of any impending danger, while the brig was sailing +close to the wind with every stitch of canvas set. I told Bridges to +have the light sails taken in as quickly as possible, at the same time +calling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> his attention to the squall. No time was lost by me in getting +to the ward-room, and informing the executive that he was needed on deck +to have all hands shorten sail. While I was speaking, the squall struck +us and nearly capsized the brig, and it was hard work for us to get on +deck, on account of the vessel careening over so much. Then there was an +exciting time; the crew had become panic-stricken for a few minutes. +Orders were given to let go everything. The pressure of the wind, the +mast lying at such a great angle, prevented the yards from coming down. +The wheel was in front of the cabin door, the excitement brought the +captain out, and he yelled to put the wheel hard down. Now that was the +first time that he ever gave an order on deck, and it nearly ended the +Perry's career, then and there.</p> + +<p>The navigating officer has to stand regular deck watch with the others +while at anchor, and the executive is expected to be on board during the +day and have charge of everything in general. One of the master's +mates—-not Mr. Bridges—-was also put on watch duty, and, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> six +ensigns, our turn on watch was only four hours out of every twenty-four; +in fact, we had so much leisure time that we did not know how to pass it +away. All the work required of the crew was to scrub decks before +breakfast and a half-hour's drilling at the broadside guns. Arrants and +myself would take a boat and crew and go fishing every pleasant day. +Taking the sounding lead with us, we were soon able to find good fishing +grounds. The bottom of the lead has a large hole that is filled with +hard tallow—-"arming the lead." When the lead strikes the bottom it +will bring up anything that it comes in contact with, be it sand, mud, +or gravel, and, if rocks, the tallow will bear the impression. By that +means, it can be known to a certainty what the bottom is composed of in +that locality. For fishing, we would sound until we found a bank +composed of shells and gravel, and there we were sure of catching all +the fish we wanted.</p> + +<p>Now, for our captain's mistake No. 2. He had gotten the idea into his +head that we were not close enough to the land. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> weather had been +quite pleasant and the sea smooth. An experienced seaman has no use for +land unless it is in a secure harbour, and, much to our surprise, the +captain ordered the sails loosened and the anchor weighed, and we stood +in for the shore. The leadsman was continually taking soundings and, +when in three fathoms, the brig was brought head to wind and the anchor +let go. There we were in eighteen feet of water, the brig's draft being +twelve feet. This left just six feet of water between our keel and a +nice hard sandy bottom. The captain was well satisfied with the vessel's +position, as he remarked that no blockade-runner could now pass without +being seen. A few nights afterward his mind underwent a mighty sudden +change, when a heavy gale came on from the eastward about midnight, and +the waves got high and every few minutes the sea would lift us up, then +let us down with a heavy thud on that "nice sandy bottom." The fact was +we were anchored in the breakers. The top-sails were reefed and set, +then the anchor was weighed, the foresail was braced sharp<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> up and back, +so as to bring the vessel's head to the southward, but it was of no use; +the brig would not swing around in the breakers but only drift astern +towards the beach. The anchor was again let go, then a rope was put into +the hawse-hole, the other end outside the port and fastened on the +quarter-deck. The cable was unshackled at the fifteen fathoms shackle, +the rope fastened to it, and the chain let run out of the hawse-hole. As +the brig drifted astern the rope fastened on the quarter gradually +tautened until the strain on the anchor checked us, allowing the vessel +to swing around until her top-sails filled. A buoy was then attached to +the rope and the latter let go. Away we went, leaving the anchor behind, +and then came the hard work in earnest—-beating off a lee shore in a +heavy gale of wind. When the gale was over we found our brig to the +south-east of Charleston and a considerable distance from our station, +so back we went as fast as the vessel would sail. While passing the +entrance to Charleston Bay we espied a small schooner stranded on the +shoals. Here was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> a chance to display our valour and zeal for the +service.</p> + +<p>Arrants and I were in charge of the second cutter, with the boat's crew +heavily armed. When we got on the shoals we found the "suspicious" craft +to be a small schooner of about fifteen tons. The sails were neatly +furled and the cabin entrance carefully boarded up. There were neither +cargo nor provisions on board, and on the stern, in freshly painted +letters, was the name Old Abe, which we thought was strange for a rebel +craft. There was not a house nor living being in sight in any direction, +so we set fire to the mysterious craft and returned to the brig.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +<a name="xix" id="xix"></a>CHAPTER XIX<br /> +<br /> +<small>AFTER BLOCKADE-RUNNERS</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">On</span> arrival at Murrell Inlet, we sought the wooden buoy, and got it on +board; the line was put through the hawse-pipe, and we all tugged at it +until we got hold of the chain, when that was put around the windlass +and the anchor hove up. Having had enough of that locality, we anchored +farther out to sea in deeper water. In a couple of weeks, our nearest +neighbour, the gun-boat at Georgetown Bay, brought us our mail and some +fresh beef. They had a tale of woe to unfold. It seems they had captured +a small schooner and made use of it as a pleasure yacht. One night it +had broken adrift and stranded on some sand shoals. They had intended, +some pleasant day, to fasten a rope to it and have the gun-boat pull it +off, but they sorrowfully stated that the "—- rebs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> had burned it up." +We hadn't a word to say. It was the Old Abe.</p> + +<p>The enemy was in the habit of making night attacks on our vessels +whenever they had the opportunity. It would have been an easy matter for +them to send small boats and men from Charleston overland and make +things quite lively for us. To prevent any surprise party coming on +board, we put up the "boarding nettings" and kept men on guard in +different parts of the brig. George Brinsmaid, one of the coloured men +on board, was useless for going aloft, or anything else, for that +matter, so he had extra guard duty to perform. He was given a loaded +rifle and stationed at the port gangway. It made no difference how often +the officer of the deck would go to him, that fellow was sure to be +found asleep. I had bucketful after bucketful of water thrown on him +during my watch, but it had no perceptible effect in keeping him awake, +for he was constitutionally sleepy. The fact that he was so useless +formed circumstances which resulted in his death.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +I had become quite tired of doing nothing but fishing, so I asked the +captain if I could take the "dingey," the smallest boat on a man-of-war, +and with two men go into the Inlet on an exploring expedition. He was +desirous to have me go and find out if any vessels were in there, and, +selecting two volunteers from the crew, we were ready to leave the brig +about daylight. The boat was landed close to the southern point at the +entrance to the Inlet. I walked cautiously around the nearest house +without finding any footprints in the soft, white sand. That convinced +me that no one was in the house. Getting into the boat, I had the men +row slowly into the Inlet, the high, dry, soft marsh grass concealing us +from view of any one who might be in that locality. At the southern end +of the Inlet we saw a schooner, which probably had run the blockade, +and, as it was not prudent just then, we proceeded no farther in that +direction; the northern branch was also explored, but nothing was to be +found there. We had been absent from the brig nearly four hours; the +captain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> had become uneasy on our account and had taken the first cutter +with an armed crew to look for us. We met him at the entrance to the +Inlet. When told of what we had seen, he concluded to go ashore himself +on the northern point. There we managed to shoot a couple of razor-back +hogs that had been feeding on the beach. We raised such a rumpus that +the rebel cavalry were making preparations to give us a warm reception. +Their camp was in the woods about a mile from the beach. We could see +them saddling their horses and acting in an excited manner. We found out +afterward that the rebels had only sixteen men in camp at that time. +Having had all the fun and exercise we wanted on shore, and out of +respect to the rebels, we got into the boats and returned to the brig.</p> + +<p>A few nights afterward, we discovered a boat nearing the vessel. Hailing +it, we were informed that some refugees wished to come on board. Consent +being given, they came alongside, and, after asking a few questions, we +allowed them to come on board. There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> were eight men in the party, all +desirous of joining the Federal army. Their boat being old and leaky, we +destroyed it. They gave us what information they could about the rebels. +Two regiments of Georgia cavalry were guarding the coast, being divided +into squads of sixteen to twenty men each, each squad a couple of miles +distant from the other. The schooner had run the blockade some time +previous, having brought in a general cargo of merchandise. As we were +anxious to know all about the schooner, it was decided that Ensign +Arrants and myself should take the first cutter, with the crew well +armed, and land at daybreak on the beach. By walking across the land +which separated the end of the Inlet from the beach, we would be safer +than rowing the boat into the narrow Inlet. We landed without being seen +by the rebels, and, getting on the schooner, we soon ascertained that +preparations were being made to run the blockade with a cargo of +turpentine. If we had only burned the old schooner there and then, it +would have been a wise act on our part. As my instructions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> were not to +destroy it, if there was any probability of its preparing for leaving +the Inlet, I reluctantly ordered the men back to the boat and returned +to the brig. A house was near the schooner in which was stored a large +quantity of the turpentine, and some of the cavalry slept there, as we +were informed by some of the refugees. By setting fire to everything we +could have done considerable damage, besides capturing some prisoners. +Captain Gregory was in favour of letting the schooner run out and then +taking her as a prize, for turpentine was very valuable at that time and +prize-money would make quite an addition to our pay.</p> + +<p>About every week Arrants and myself would take a boat with six men and +land on the southern point at the deserted house. By climbing I would +get on the roof, and by the aid of powerful marine glasses I could see +what progress was being made with loading on the schooner. Our last +reconnoitring expedition nearly resulted in serious disaster. This time +we had landed on the north point first. Arrants<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> and I each had a rifle, +but the six men forming the boat's crew were unarmed. While walking +between the sand dunes, we espied a razor-back sow with two young pigs. +I shot at the sow as she was running away. The bullet ploughed a deep +gash in her back, which only increased her speed. We did not get her, +but did capture the two little pigs alive. We were laughing and the +porkers squealing, when I happened to look around and discovered a +couple of mounted Confederates behind one of the sand dunes. They +probably thought the boat's crew was armed, and for that reason did not +attack it. However, we lost no time in getting into the boat with our +pigs. The sand dunes are pyramids of sand from fifteen to twenty feet in +height, and are caused by the strong winds drifting the dry, white sand +on the beach. If those two men had had spunk enough, by keeping behind +the dunes they could have made it very unpleasant for us in the boat, as +the Inlet was not over fifty yards in width. We then landed on the +southern point a distance from the house and, telling the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> crew to row +slowly up the beach, pursued our investigations. We had reason to +believe some one had been watching us, as there were fresh footprints in +the sand leading from the deserted building to the one near the +schooner, about half a mile distant.</p> + +<p>When we got to the house I told Arrants that I would get on the house +and take a look at the blockade-runner. The building stood on piles +about six feet in height and, as the steps leading to the house were +gone, it was necessary for me to do some climbing. I turned around to +give my rifle to Arrants, and just then caught sight of about twenty +cavalrymen coming from the other house towards us, and they seemed to be +in a big hurry about it, too. We Yankees did not have any particular +business to detain us there, so we made a hasty retreat for the boat. +The latter was about fifty feet from the shore. I told the men to pull +in quick. Arrants and myself ran into the water about knee deep. We +caught the boat and stopped it from coming any farther. My companion and +I then got into the craft in a very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> undignified style for officers. If +the enemy had come right up to us they could have captured us without +firing a shot, as we should have been perfectly helpless. Instead of +doing so, they dismounted at the edge of the sand dunes and fired quite +an assortment of lead at us from rifles, double-barrelled shotguns, and +old-fashioned muskets carrying large bullets with three buckshot +additional. They made us fellows feel nervous with their careless +shooting. While the Southerners were shooting, we had to turn the boat +completely around and head out to sea. The man with the bow oar tried to +push the bow around by putting the blade of the oar on the hard sandy +bottom and shoving it, and was so energetic that the oar snapped in two. +At last we got around, and for a few minutes some good sprinting was +done.</p> + +<p>The coxswain in the stern then had the best chance of being struck by +the bullets, and doubled himself in a way that would have aroused the +envy of a contortionist. The men at the oars laid as low as possible for +them to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> row. I was shoved out at full length, shoving at the stroke oar +while the men pulled. Arrants was doing the same thing with the second +oar. My left cheek was badly stung in different places—I supposed at +first by buckshot—but a rifle ball had struck the handle of the oar on +which I was shoving, and, my head being close to it, the splinters from +the dry ash wood had struck in my face. That bullet had just barely +missed my head. As soon as we got out of the range of the buckshot, +Arrants and myself returned the fire with our rifles. The Confederates +then quickly took their horses and got behind the sand dunes. The battle +was over. One of our men had his right eyelid grazed by a buckshot just +enough for a single drop of blood to ooze out. A rifle bullet went +through the stern of the boat, passing between the coxswain's legs, +thence between the whole boat's crew, until it reached the man in the +bow, where it passed his left side and elbow, removing some cuticle from +each. That fellow was scared, sure enough, at first, but after we pulled +his shirt off to stop the blood and found<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> the skin was only peeled off, +he concluded to live a little while longer. It was a miracle that every +one of us was not killed or seriously wounded. We were in a compact +space and the enemy had nothing in the way of a counter-fire to prevent +taking deliberate aim.</p> + +<p>We got back to the brig, and handed up our prize pigs for Christmas +gifts, then told of our adventure with the rebels. The boat was hoisted +up and inspected. It had twenty-two buckshot marks, and was pierced +through and through by six bullets. My face was badly spotted by the +splinters from the oar. We were all congratulated upon our narrow +escape. Captain Gregory vowed vengeance on the Southerners for their +conduct, and, that night, plans were arranged for the next day to "carry +the war into Africa." Then we went to bed, excepting those on duty.</p> + +<p>Next morning at eight o'clock we tried again and sailed as close to the +beach as possible and anchored. An officer was stationed aloft with a +pair of marine glasses, that he might see over the sand dunes and have a +good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> view of the rebel schooner. For three hours we tried to put a +shell into the blockade-runner with our guns, but could not do so on +account of the sand dunes interfering with our range. At twelve o'clock +Captain Gregory decided to land a boat's crew; and that was his mistake +No. 3. We all well knew there would be resistance offered to our +landing, under the circumstances, but I received orders to set fire to +the schooner, and therefore had nothing to say. Sixteen of the best men +were selected and armed with rifles, and to each was also given a navy +revolver, or else a boarding-pistol, carrying an ounce bullet. Arrants +was ordered to assist me. The paymaster, a new officer from Boston, +volunteered his services, for he thought he would have a picnic, and, +besides, his admiring friends had presented him with an expensive sword +and revolver, and these weapons he intended taking back home with him +all covered with rebel gore. We three officers carried a whole +arsenal—sword, rifle, and revolver. As we expected to meet not more +than twenty Confederates, we felt confident<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> of victory, especially as +we were better armed and could load our guns more rapidly, having +improved cartridges. The enemy had to tear the paper on theirs with +their teeth, while ours could be used without that process, as they were +encased in combustible paper.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +<a name="xx" id="xx"></a>CHAPTER XX<br /> +<br /> +<small>A PRISONER OF WAR</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">We</span> took the first cutter for a landing party, and the second cutter was +manned with an armed crew of six men to take care of our boat while we +were on shore. A small keg, filled with tarred rope yarns and a bottle +of turpentine, was given to me with which to set the schooner on fire. I +told Captain Gregory to send George Brinsmaid along with us to carry the +keg, as he was of no use on the brig, and might be of some use on dry +land. Everybody thought it would be a good joke, so Mr. Brinsmaid was +ordered into the boat, and promoted to the office of bearer of +combustibles. My instructions were plain enough: "To land and set fire +to the schooner and house, and do all the damage possible."<a name="FNanchor_D_4" id="FNanchor_D_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_D_4" class="fnanchor">[D]</a> In case +we were attacked, we were to get behind the sand dunes and defend +ourselves, while the guns on the brig would shell the rebels.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_D_4" id="Footnote_D_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_D_4"><span class="label">[D]</span></a> It was denied afterward that any such order had been +given.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p></div> + +<p>All being ready, we started for the shore. Before landing, I had a long +rope attached to the bow of our boat and fastened to the stern of the +second cutter. When we got on shore, the second cutter towed our boat +just clear of the surf, ready for us to get into in a hurry, with the +bow headed towards the sea. George Brinsmaid had the keg to carry, and +was placed in the centre of the party. Then we started for the sand +dunes, intending to carry desolation and dismay into the Southern +Confederacy.</p> + +<p>When we got to the sand dunes, indications pointed strongly to the fact +that we had got into a bad scrape. The sand was covered with a large +number of horse tracks, as if a whole regiment of horses had been +tramping around. I had not much time to take in the situation, as the +enemy made a charge between us and the boats. They came in double file; +the left file came for us, the right going for the boats.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> I looked at +the brig, expecting to see the guns shelling the rebs on the open, but, +much to my surprise, the captain had allowed the brig to swing around +stern to shore, and not a gun could be brought to bear on the enemy.</p> + +<p>I told the men to get behind the dunes and fire only at the enemy +nearest to them. We were scattered a few feet apart so as not to be in a +compact body. The first man came into view just in front of me. He was +riding to the top of the dune. Knowing that the rifle would carry high +at such a short distance, I aimed low at his breast. The bullet struck +him square in the forehead and the horse gave a jump and threw him off, +the body rolling down the steep dune to our feet. That checked the enemy +for a few seconds, as they saw that it would be safer to attack us +dismounted. For about five minutes that was a warm place. Buckshot, +bullets, and sand were flying in all directions. The party attacking the +boat were unsuccessful, so they circled around and got in our rear. Then +we were completely surrounded and had to surrender. Two of the +Confederates<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> were killed and several wounded, and besides, they lost +three horses. On our side two were killed, and nearly every one of us +wounded. After we had surrendered, James Pinkham was lying face down on +the ground, a bullet having passed through both of his hips, and, +because he could not get up when ordered to do so, a rebel lieutenant +shot him in the back with his revolver. A young Irishman by the name of +Tobin, belonging to our party, had reloaded his rifle and was standing +close to Pinkham. The rebel lieutenant said, "You —— Yankee, come here +and give up your arms!" Tobin advanced with both hands stretched out, +the rifle in his left and a boarding-pistol in his right. When he got +within about fifteen feet of the lieutenant, he blazed away at him with +the pistol, dropped it and ran across the salt marsh to the woods, about +half a mile distant. He missed the lieutenant, but killed his horse. A +cavalryman started after Tobin and, when near to him, called him to +halt. Tobin turned around and pointed his rifle at the man. The latter's +gun being empty,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> he halted, and off went the Irishman again for the +woods. Another man started in pursuit with a loaded rifle, and, when +close enough, he shot Tobin in the leg, and the poor fellow afterwards +died in Andersonville Prison.</p> + +<p>The Southerners who did not come until the fight was all over, did all +the blustering and had the most to say. They did certainly call us +anything but gentlemen, and also were very indignant because Brinsmaid +had been taken prisoner. "You Yankee —— ——, get in line there with +your nigger brother!" was the first order we got. We were taken to the +edge of the woods and everything was confiscated, whether of value or +not. The enemy wrangled considerably among themselves, with the result +that George Brinsmaid was taken to a tree about fifty yards from us, a +horse's halter put around his neck, and he was hanged on one of the +limbs; then two charges of buckshot were fired into his breast. The poor +fellow never spoke a word after leaving the brig. In the fight his left +hand had been shot off by buckshot, but not a groan was heard from him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +Some of the Confederates proposed hanging all of us, on account of +having a "nigger" with us, and, judging from what I had seen of their +actions, I almost came to the conclusion that the proposition would be +carried out. However, in a little while the excitement passed away and +they began to be sociable. The wounded were all examined and wads of raw +cotton put into the wounds. One man came to me with his left hand +bandaged up. He inquired if I was badly hurt.</p> + +<p>"Well," says he, "you're in luck to be alive now. I took deliberate aim +at you as you stood with your back towards me while loading your rifle. +My —— shotgun burst and blowed off three of my fingers, and that is +what saved you."</p> + +<p>In his eagerness to kill a Yankee, he had put too heavy a charge in his +gun, and it had burst just where he gripped the barrels with his left +hand. My sack coat was cut in several places. One shot struck me in the +arm near the shoulder and went about six inches between the muscles +towards the elbow. That little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> piece of lead has been my constant +companion for just thirty-four years the 5th of December. I can always +tell when wet weather is coming, by feeling a dull pain in my right arm. +During the general conversation, I found out the cause of so many men +being ready to receive us on shore. It seems that the first shell we had +fired from the brig went very high over the schooner and landed in the +camp in the woods. They were enjoying an after-breakfast smoke when it +fell in their midst. It was laughable to hear them twitting each other +about vacating their quarters. We could not make them believe that it +was a chance shot. They insisted that one of the refugees on our vessel +had pointed out their camp to us. They also believed that they had +killed all the men but one in the boat the day before. Arrants and +myself told them that we were the two officers on shore, but they would +have it that we were both killed. The continual report of our broadside +guns had been heard for quite a distance north and south of Murrell +Inlet. All the rebel pickets thought that a blockade-runner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> had been +run ashore by the Yankees, so all hastened to the scene of action, +especially as there might be a prospect of looting the vessel if ashore. +When they arrived and found out the true state of affairs they concluded +to remain, in the hope that we would send men ashore to burn the +schooner. There were present two companies of cavalry—one each from the +Fifth and Twenty-first Georgia Regiments and under command of Captains +Bowers and Harrison. There was where Captain Gregory made a blunder in +sending us ashore after cannonading the schooner. Instead of a few men +to contend with, we had a force of one hundred and twenty to give us a +warm reception, which they did in most orthodox style.</p> + +<p>If still living, one of those misguided men is telling his grandchildren +how he captured my sword, for which I had paid twenty-five good dollars. +The rifle and the revolver belonged to the Government.</p> + +<p>At four o'clock that afternoon we started for Charleston, S. C. Those +who were too badly wounded to walk were put in an old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> wagon. Our boat's +coxswain had been hit in the head with a number of buckshot. He must +have had a tough skull, as the shot cut furrows in his scalp and removed +some of his hair. The blood flowed very freely. He was compelled to walk +the whole distance. We had a guard of ten men, under command of the +lieutenant that Tobin had tried to kill. Well, that fellow made things +as unpleasant as possible for us, in order to have revenge for the +killing of his horse. The road was composed of white, dry sand, and at +every step we took we would sink to our ankles. The cavalry horses were +fast walkers, and we had to keep up with them. We came to a stream of +cold water, and we were forced to wade through it. There was a +footbridge for pedestrians on one side of the road, but we were not +allowed to go over it. The cavalrymen got on their knees on the saddles, +and their horses, plunging through the water, splashed it over our +heads; consequently, we got a good drenching. Walking was more difficult +for us weighted with water; besides, it was night-time, and in the month +of December<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span>—rather late in the season for a cold-water bath.</p> + +<p>At nine o'clock in the evening we arrived at our destination, Georgetown +Bay, having walked, or rather been driven, twenty-five miles in five +hours' time. It was all we could do to keep up with the horses. A squad +was in our rear with orders to run us down if we lagged behind. We were +placed in an old log house, the floor being covered to the depth of two +inches with sheep-manure. The wounded were laid in the filth, without +anything being done towards making them comfortable. Two pailfuls of +small, raw sweet potatoes were given us for our supper. That night, +December 5, 1863, will never be erased from my memory; tired and sore in +every limb, my feet badly swollen, the wounded arm hurting, wet and +hungry, I lay down in the manure and tried to sleep, but could not; the +cold and the wet clothes kept me chilled through and through. The poor +fellows who were wounded were continually moaning, but we were powerless +to alleviate their misery.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +We had plenty of reason for growling about the quality of our potato +supper, but the following morning's breakfast was omitted altogether. +About nine o'clock we were divided into squads and taken across the bay +in sailboats. Those who were badly wounded were taken to the hospital; +the rest of us were placed in the Georgetown jail, and a dirty room +about twelve feet square was kindly placed at our disposal. At three in +the afternoon we had breakfast, dinner, and supper combined. The menu +consisted only of one dish—a pan of cold boiled rice. With a piece of +stick it was cut into equal shares, and each man took his portion in his +hand and devoured it at his leisure. We remained there five days. The +only event of interest which occurred there was my being taken out to +General Tropier's headquarters. He asked a few questions about the +gunboat which was blockading the entrance to Georgetown Bay. My answers +were rather evasive. Then I did some talking about the treatment we had +received after being taken prisoners. He said that in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> future we would +not be abused while under his control.</p> + +<p>About four o'clock of the fifth day we were taken from the jail, and, +with a cavalry guard, we were started for Charleston, S. C. It was a +triangular journey. Straight down the coast Charleston was distant sixty +miles, but the Yankees had the water routes, and consequently we had to +walk forty-three miles west to King's Tree, the nearest railroad +station. Thence, by railroad, we were taken sixty-five miles southeast +to Charleston. Lieutenant Burroughs was in charge of the party. He +allowed us to walk at an ordinary gait, and was very kind and civil to +us.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> +<a name="xxi" id="xxi"></a>CHAPTER XXI<br /> +<br /> +<small>IN THE PRISON</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">At</span> nine o'clock we arrived at the Black River Ferry, where a halt was +made for the night. We were then taken into the ferryman's house. +Lieutenant Burroughs ordered supper for four. Arrants, the paymaster, +and myself were invited by him to supper. It was the only time I had a +civilized meal while in the Confederacy. We all slept on the hard floor, +a fire in the room keeping us warm. At daylight we crossed the river on +a primitive ferry. A rope was fastened to each bank of the river, and an +old-flat boat was held in place by it, and pulled back and forth by hand +power. At noon we halted for a rest and to cook the dinner—some more +boiled rice. Late at night we arrived at King's Tree. The next day, in +the afternoon, we got to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> Charleston, and were at once given in charge +of the provost-marshal. After the taking of our names and rank the party +was separated. The sailors were escorted to the jail by a guard, and a +young lieutenant very politely informed us that we would go with him by +a different route, so as not to attract the attention of the citizens. +He took us through the burnt district.</p> + +<p>What a wonderful change there was since I had last been in that city! +All business was suspended. A large area was in ruins from the fire, +grass was growing in the streets, and there was desolation everywhere. +We could plainly hear the guns firing from our batteries on Norris +Island. On arriving at the jail, the lieutenant shook hands with us and +bade us good-bye. We were taken to the top floor and had an entire +corridor to ourselves. There being about sixteen large cells, twelve +feet square, we had plenty of room—in fact, each of us could have had +an entire suite to himself had he desired it.</p> + +<p>Everything looked very familiar to me, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> it was the same place in +which I was confined before my trial in 1856. The newspapers, giving an +account of our capture, stated that I was supposed to be the same George +Thompson who had been tried in the United States District Court for +murder a few years previously. On account of the notice in the +newspapers in regard to my being a prisoner of war and confined in the +jail, a number of citizens visited me, but, having no permit from the +commandant, they had their trouble for nothing. Major John Ryan, chief +of subsistence on General Beauregard's staff, and an old friend of my +father, was the only person allowed to see me. Our interview was quite +sociable at first, then we gradually became belligerent, while +conversing about the war and its issues. He had questioned me about my +rank and the amount of pay I received in the Federal navy. Then the +proposition was made that I join the rebel navy with the rank of +lieutenant. When I refused, he became exceedingly wrathy. Finally he +cooled down a little, and said that General Beauregard would send for me +very soon,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> as he wished to have an interview with me. I replied that it +would only be waste of time for him to do so. Now, from the questions +that had been asked me, I knew exactly what the rebs wanted to know. +They had sent out a torpedo boat to sink the Ironsides, but it was a +failure. An ensign was killed by a rifle-bullet from the torpedo boat, +but no damage was done to the ship when the torpedo exploded. Admiral +Dahlgren had ordered a raft of timber to be placed all around the +Ironsides in order to prevent any more torpedo boats getting near enough +to do any damage. The rebs could see with telescopes from Sumter that +the Yankee sailors were hard at work around the ship, but could not find +out what was being done. The Charleston papers stated that the Ironsides +was in a sinking condition, and could only be kept above water by the +use of heavy timbers. That same torpedo boat afterward destroyed the +Housatonic, but the boat and crew were never seen afterward. In all +probability they blew themselves up at the same time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +General Beauregard retained all officers captured by his troops in case +he should need them as hostages. Consequently, Columbia, S. C, was to be +our place of abode, instead of Libby Prison at Richmond, where the +officers were generally confined. While in the Charleston jail we heard +from our friends quite frequently. Gilmore's guns would send shells into +the city. They sounded like a heavy wagon-wheel going over a rough +pavement. Next would be a heavy thud, and, in a few seconds more, a +terrible explosion. At first, percussion shells were used, but quite a +large percentage of them would turn in their flight through the air, and +as they would not strike fuse first, no explosion would take place. A +lot of men were always watching for such shells to strike. With shovels +and pickaxes they would dig them out of the ground. The rebel ordnance +department paid one hundred dollars in Confederate currency for every +unexploded shell delivered. The next move was for the Yankees to change +from percussion to time fuses. The first shell did not explode on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> +striking, so a crowd, as usual, started to unearth it. Quite a number of +spectators were watching the fun. Suddenly the operations were +suspended. The time fuse exploded the shell, killing several persons and +wounding a number more. Of course the Yankees were loudly cursed for +playing such a mean trick, but the ordnance department got no more of +our shells. The second day after our arrival a shell passed over the +jail and landed in a frame building only a block distant. When it +exploded, timbers and boards flew in all directions. We could see the +dust and splinters in the air quite plainly from our window. Somehow, I +felt pleased whenever one of those missiles came along, although we were +liable to be killed at any time by one of them.</p> + +<p>Much to my surprise, a single mattress and blanket were sent up to me by +some of my former acquaintances. I considered it only proper that such +good fortune should be shared with Arrants and the paymaster, so we used +the mattress for a pillow, and, by sleeping "spoon fashion," we made the +blanket cover us<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> all. I may state now that it was the only time that we +had a blanket during our entire imprisonment. In all of that part of the +building there was no furniture of any description. We had to utilize +the floor for all purposes. Our food consisted of cold boiled rice, and +was brought to us twice a day in a tin pan. Table etiquette was +dispensed with for the time being, and our fingers had to be used for +disposing of the food. The evening of the seventh day some of the +provost guard took us to the railroad depot en route for Columbia. While +waiting for the train to start, a couple of women got into conversation +with us. They bade us "Good luck" and handed us each a quart bottle of +corn whisky. The provost guard drank the most of it. At any rate, it +helped to pass away the night in a cheerful manner. In the morning we +arrived at the Richland County jail, Columbia, S. C. That was to be our +resting-place for several months.</p> + +<p>The following is the substance of the official report of our capture, +etc., made to the Secretary of the Navy by Admiral Dahlgren:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> +"Two boys who had been sent on shore in the dingey at Murrell Inlet for +a barrel of sand for holystoning decks had been killed by the rebels. A +few weeks later Acting Ensign Myron W. Tillson, with thirteen men, were +captured at the same place while trying to burn a blockade-runner. +Believing Acting Master Gregory to be a discreet and experienced +officer, I sent his vessel to blockade the Inlet, also instructing him +not to send any men on shore. Three officers and sixteen men were also +captured from his vessel. I inclose his report. On a personal interview +he claimed that his orders were not obeyed by Acting Ensign Arrants, and +that the latter was responsible for the capture of the men. Having had +so much trouble at Murrell Inlet, I decided to send a strong force of +marines and sailors to that place to destroy the schooner and other +property, as well as to remove any disposition to exult on the part of +the rebels for capturing so many of our men."</p> + +<p>Then followed the report of the expedition as made by Acting Master +Gregory, detailing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> the amount of damage done. The Secretary of the Navy +then issued the following general order, which was read at general +muster on each vessel in the squadron:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="noi">"<span class="smcap">General Orders, No. ——.</span></p> + +<p>"For flagrant disobedience of orders from his commanding officer +and being responsible for a number of men having been captured +by the rebels, Acting Ensign William B. Arrants is dismissed +from the United States Navy. While the Department does not wish +to discourage acts of gallantry or enterprise, strict obedience +of orders must be insisted on.</p> + +<p class="right2">"<span class="smcap">Gideon Welles</span>,</p> + +<p class="right3">"<i>Secretary of the Navy</i>."</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>The whole blame had been put upon Arrants. Upon my arrival in +Washington, I reported to the Secretary of the Navy in person, giving +him a full report of the whole affair in writing. He asked me a number +of questions in regard to Captain Gregory. As the naval records showed +that my commission antedated that of Arrants by about three months, it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +proved conclusively that Captain Gregory had misrepresented when he +stated that the expedition had been commanded by Arrants. A great +injustice had been done. An order was at once issued restoring Acting +Ensign William B. Arrants to the naval service from the date of +dismissal.</p> + +<p>Captain Gregory, in order to screen himself, had put all the blame on +Arrants, supposing him to be dead. When he found out we were about to be +exchanged he concluded that it was about time for him to resign from the +service. By that means he escaped from serious consequences which would +have resulted from his conduct. The punishment meted out by +court-martial was generally severe during the time of the Rebellion.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> +<a name="xxii" id="xxii"></a>CHAPTER XXII<br /> +<br /> +<small>PRISON LIFE AND PRISON FARE</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Eleven</span> naval officers gave us a most cordial reception when the captain +in charge of the prison introduced us as fresh fish. All were eager to +learn the latest news of the war, and especially about the prospects of +exchanging prisoners of war in the near future. Now it happened that we +were well posted on the "exchange" question—namely, that the +authorities at Washington had notified the rebels that the cartel was +ended, and no more exchanges would be made. Our men, when received, were +disabled from duty on account of sickness caused by lack of proper food +and clothing, as well as inhuman treatment. On the other hand, the +rebels were returned in better health and more comfortably clothed than +at the time of capture. The advantage to the rebel army,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> under the +circumstances, would be too great to permit of any further exchanges. It +was policy to let the Union men remain as prisoners, as they would be +useless for a long time for active duty. Keeping the rebels in prison +would deprive the rebel army of a large number of able men, who, +released, would be immediately available for active duty.</p> + +<p>Our fellow-prisoners were down-hearted at first, when told the dictum; +but soon their cheerful remarks showed that they believed our Government +was pursuing a wise course under the circumstances. The jail was a +three-story building, the two lower floors being used exclusively for +the confinement of debtors. The third story was fitted up with cells for +the criminals. At that time there was no State prison in South Carolina. +The longest sentence a prisoner could receive was two and one half years +in jail. Murder, robbery, burglary, arson, and rape were punishable by +death. A man whose punishment was commuted from death could only be +confined for the maximum jail sentence. We fourteen naval officers were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> +confined in one room on the first floor. The size of the apartment was +sixteen by twenty feet. When we lay on the floor at night there was but +little vacant space. Sixteen army officers were confined in a room on +the other side of the main hall. One half-hour in the morning and in the +afternoon was allowed us to go into the yard, in order to wash and +attend to our toilet, and only four were permitted to go at one time. +For that reason we had to be in a hurry, so as to give all an +opportunity. When the half-hour had expired, we were counted and the +door locked. The army officers were then let out for the same length of +time. We received our rations every ten days, in an uncooked condition. +Unbolted corn-meal was the staple food. Two ounces of old, mouldy bacon +was allowed each person for the ten days, that being the only animal +food we received. Sometimes a small quantity of rice was also allowed. +In the yard was a small brick building used as a kitchen, where the +cooking was done. Opposite, and extending the whole length of the yard, +was an old wooden barracks in which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> were confined about sixty privates. +One private was detailed for the navy and one for the army officers. Not +much skill was required for the cooking, but considerable ingenuity was +needed to devise ways and means. In our mess the officers had managed to +get a table, two long benches, ten pie-plates, and some knives and +forks. Two meals a day was all that our rations would stand. This was +our regular menu for about nine months for every meal: Corn-meal, +slapjacks, corn-bread, corn-meal gravy, and corn-meal coffee. Our bacon +was used for making the gravy and greasing the old tin pan which we +utilized as a griddle. Corn-meal was burned nearly black for making the +coffee. At one time our rations missed connections for nearly two days, +and there was woe and agony. We divided the time about equally in +damning the Confederacy and praying for something to eat. There were two +iron-barred windows in our room which overlooked the yard of our +next-door neighbour. A man, wife, and little boy lived there. A passage +way about twelve feet wide separated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> the jail and a one-story cottage. +One of our windows was exactly opposite their bedroom window, but both +too high from the ground for the rebel sentry on guard in the passage +way to see into either of them. Our neighbour's name was Crane. The +family were strong Unionists, and we carried on a daily conversation by +slate-writing. All the latest news was given to us, as well as any +information which we desired.</p> + +<p>Mr. Crane was a young man about thirty years of age, and he had a +special permit from the rebel government exempting him from military +service, on account of being a wagon-maker and needed by the citizens in +Columbia to do their work. A girl about eighteen years old finally came +to reside with the family. We immediately christened her "Union Mary," +and kept that girl busy receiving and throwing kisses at us. She seemed +to have nothing else to do but to watch our window. As we had plenty of +leisure time, some one of the party was continually making distant love +to her. At last<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> she let us know that she wanted to go North and live +with the Yankees. Nearly all of us wrote a letter telling her how to get +a pass through the lines and recommending her to our relatives. She +succeeded all right. The father of one of the officers got her a good +situation and gave her a fine start in life, out of gratitude for the +news which she brought him from his son.</p> + +<p>A few weeks afterward Mr. Crane was ordered to report for military duty +at Richmond. He and several companions got off the cars at the nearest +point to our lines and were successful in getting through. The next we +heard of him was through his wife, who said that he had reached New York +city and was earning very high wages at his trade.</p> + +<p>A company of home guards, composed of fifty men under command of a +captain, first, second, and third lieutenants, were our guardian angels. +The guard-room adjoined ours on the first floor. Their camp was outside +the city limits. Every morning, at eight o'clock, the relief would come +in and remain on duty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> for twenty-four hours. We became well acquainted +with all, and were quite sociable. Three of the privates let us know +that they were Union sympathizers. Many a favour they did for us, by +assisting us to communicate with Union people in the city. In the month +of March, 1864, all hopes of being exchanged before the ending of the +war were given up. Every one of us was in favour of making an attempt to +escape from prison, if possible. Lieutenant Preston and myself were to +do the engineering part; the others agreed to work under our +instructions. Preston was a regular officer, and myself being a +volunteer removed any cause for believing that any favouritism would be +shown during the progress of building a tunnel. After eight in the +evening the guards never opened our door. Then we commenced operations.</p> + +<p>A large brick fire-place was situated between the two windows. The +bricks on one end were taken up and a hole was made that allowed us to +get under the floor. Preston and myself worked nearly all night. First, +we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> stopped up several ventilating holes with pieces of clay and brick. +All the brickbats were piled in a corner to be out of our way. We found +there would be plenty of space to pile up the dirt that would be taken +from the tunnel, the height of the floor from the ground being about +three feet. Directly under the window facing Crane's house we started a +shaft three feet square. The dirt, as we removed it, was piled over the +ventilating hole; there being no danger of any noise being heard by the +sentry in the alley or a light seen, we ceased operations for the night. +The bricks in the fire-place were replaced, and we retired for the night +to our luxurious couches—the bare floor—for much-needed rest. The +entrance to our lower regions must be attended to first, as the bricks +had a very insecure foundation. One of the guards very kindly consented +to carry our compliments and a request to Mrs. Crane for the loan of a +saw, hammer, nails, and a piece of board, as we wished to make a shelf. +During the afternoon we had everything in readiness. The bricks were +removed and put in a soap<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span> box, cleats were hastily nailed to the floor +timbers, pieces of board laid across, and the bricks replaced. Ashes +were then filled into the cracks. It was a first-class job when +finished, and we could defy detection. One of us went into the kitchen +in the yard and stole our own poker from the cook. It was a piece of +flat iron, and the only instrument procurable for excavating purposes. +The officers were divided into working parties, two in each squad, each +to work two hours at a time. Preston would direct and assist in the +work, from eight until twelve midnight, and I from twelve to four in the +morning.</p> + +<p>It was necessary to be careful about the construction of the tunnel, as +it was to be run under a sentry's feet. If there should happen to be a +cave-in and a reb drop down among the toilers, it would be rather +embarrassing. Crane's house was built in the Southern style for all +wooden buildings, resting on supports about two feet in height. Our +objective point was about the centre of his habitation. We could crawl +to the other side, and by getting over a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> board fence would practically +become "prisoners-at-large."</p> + +<p>The ground was favourable for our work, being composed of stiff red +clay. All felt happy and cheerful as the work progressed, and the +monotony of being so closely confined was somewhat relieved. On the +corner of the square in which the jail was located was the city hall. We +could hear the hours and half hours as they were struck, quite plainly, +so we had no trouble about the time of quitting work. It was necessary +for us to have a point to start our measurements from, and after much +discussion, we selected a window-sill in our room directly over the +tunnel-shaft. It was a strange place to locate it, but from that point +every part of the work was measured to an inch. By fastening a wad of +wet paper to a thread we ascertained the exact distance between Crane's +house and the inside of the jail wall. One of us held the thread on the +window-sill while the other kept throwing the wad until it struck the +clapboard. When the sentry walked past our window he gave us the +opportunity, and, by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> lowering the wad to the ground, we got the height +of the passage-way which the sentry patroled. The shaft was sunk nine +feet, and was considerably lower than the foundation of the building. +Then the tunnel was started, being two feet wide and three feet in +height, the top being arched. For a distance of fourteen feet it was +perfectly level, then it was started on an angle towards the surface of +the ground.</p> + +<p>About that time we had to stop operations for a few days. Orders had +been sent by General Beauregard to put Lieutenant-Commander E. P. +Williams and Ensign Benjamin Porter in irons, and hold them as hostages +for a rebel naval lieutenant, who was sentenced to be hanged by the +Federal Government for piracy on Lake Erie. Williams was selected as the +highest in rank, Porter for the reason that he had the most influential +friends. The two officers were shackled together, hands and legs, and +were doomed to be inseparable companions for the time being, with a +chance of being hanged. Not knowing but that the officers or guards +might enter our room during the night to look at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> hostages, it was +deemed advisable to leave the tunnel alone. The handcuffs and shackles +were of the old style, shutting together by a spring bolt. To open them +the key was inserted, and turning it a number of times would screw the +bolt back. The key and spindle had threads cut like a common bolt and +nut. Sailors understood the mechanism perfectly. By taking a piece of +soft wood the size of the keyhole and boring a hole in the centre +slightly smaller than the spindle, and twisting it around in the +keyhole, threads would be cut in it, and the handcuffs opened. Another +plan was to make a slip-noose of fine twine, and by slipping it over the +spindle, the bolt could also be drawn back. During business hours our +two unfortunate companions were fettered together, but the remainder of +the time they could meander around separately. We had plenty of +amusement in drilling them to get into proper position for being +shackled as soon as there was any indication of the door being opened.</p> + +<p>Supplementary orders soon arrived that Porter and Williams should be +confined by themselves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> in a separate room. A small room next to that of +the army officers was selected. Being on the first floor, it was an easy +matter for us to release them when we were ready to escape. Work was at +once resumed. Our greatest difficulty was in getting candles enough to +supply us with light. Finally, the last night's work was finished. The +tunnel was twenty-two feet in length. According to our diagram we were +six inches from the surface of the ground under Crane's house. We were +afraid to make a small hole to the surface to make sure that our +measurements were correct, for if there should be any depression in the +ground, the first rainstorm would let the water into our excavation. We +divided ourselves into parties of two or three, each to select our own +route to the Federal lines. A small school atlas was borrowed, and maps +made of the different routes we intended to take. Lieutenant Brower, +Arrants, and myself decided to go south twenty-five miles, and follow +the Santee River east to the sea-coast, then taking our chances of +reaching a Federal gunboat. Corn-meal was baked brown,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> and with a +little salt added, by mixing it with water it would be ready for eating. +Matches were put into bottles to prevent them from getting wet. In fact, +all preparations were made for our journey that we could think of.</p> + +<p>It occasionally happens that people make fools of themselves in +assisting others. Well, that is just what we did; some of us thought it +would not be right to leave the army officers behind. A vote was taken +and all were in favour of giving the army officers a chance to go with +us. They were notified and one week's time given them in which to get +ready. They were instructed to be cautious, and that we would make an +opening in their fire-place also as soon as Porter and Williams were +released. The latter were to have the first chance for their liberty.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> +<a name="xxiii" id="xxiii"></a>CHAPTER XXIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>DISAPPOINTMENT AND MORE WAITING</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">About</span> the second day afterward circumstances indicated that our +intention to escape was known to the officers of the guard. They would +come into our room, ostensibly for a friendly visit, but we noticed that +they were examining the windows and floor while chatting with us. Within +a foot of the building was a six-foot board fence, and that was taken +away, giving the sentry on duty a full view of our side of the walls. +Then we knew, for certain, that something was wrong. On Saturday morning +permission was obtained to have the room floor scrubbed. Everything was +piled on the table and a general housecleaning took place. All of us +then went into the yard until the floor got dry. As we anticipated, the +officer on duty went into the room during our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span> absence and gave it a +thorough inspection, but nothing was discovered. We congratulated +ourselves upon the successful issue of our game of bluff.</p> + +<p>Sunday night, about eight o'clock, we heard an unusual noise in the +guard-room, which sounded very much like sawing a hole in the floor. +After a while the racket ceased, and we resumed our slumbers. Suddenly +our room door was opened, Captain Sennes with several of the guards +walked in, some armed with muskets and others with lighted candles. We +were counted and reported as "all present."</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, I have found your hole!" was the startling announcement.</p> + +<p>The whole affair was so ludicrous and unexpected that we began laughing. +Captain Sennes was excited, and well pleased with the idea of having +discovered our plan of escape.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen, I shall have to keep a guard in your room for the +remainder of the night."</p> + +<p>Of course we had no objections. About<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> three o'clock in the morning he +changed his mind and ordered us to be escorted into the room occupied by +Williams and Porter. All the little portable articles we possessed, +which might tempt the cupidity of the rebs, were hastily gathered up and +our change of quarters soon effected. There was no more sleep for us. So +much excitement in one night was too much for our delicate systems.</p> + +<p>In the morning Captain Sennes concluded to confine the navy and army +officers on the second floor. That part of the building was the "bull +pen" for the conscripts. Every part of South Carolina was thoroughly +searched for shirkers from military duty. The "poor whites," as they +were called, would be taken from their families, manacled two together, +and brought to the jail. When a squad of fifty was obtained, they would +be sent to the front and distributed among different regiments. As a +class they were very ignorant, but few of them knowing what the war was +about.</p> + +<p>"What do you 'uns want to come down here and whip we 'uns for?" was +their only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> argument. But at the same time they would fight—there was +no mistaking that fact.</p> + +<p>Our new quarters were very uncomfortable in many respects: there were +dirt and filth everywhere. An old box-stove in a small room was our +fire-place. The conscripts had no firewood, so they had used the doors +and frames for fuel, then the window-sashes and casings were utilized, +and next was the lath from the partitions. That floor had plenty of +ventilation. No difference which way the wind would come from, we got +the full benefit of it. The rooms were divided between us, the army +taking one side of the building, the naval officers the other, the +hall-way being used as a promenade by all the tenants. No attempt was +made to keep us separate as in the past, for the reason that the doors +and partitions were lacking. The view of the city in our locality was +very good. When we got tired of looking from one side of the building we +could cross over and take a view in the opposite direction. The +newspapers had blood-curdling articles in regard to our attempt at +escaping. We were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> alluded to as "Yankee hirelings," and other pet names +were bestowed upon us. Even poor Mrs. Crane got a roasting because her +house happened to be over the exit of the tunnel. Quite a number of +visitors came to the jail to view our work, but finally the whole affair +became stale and forgotten. Then it occurred to Captain Sennes that it +would be quite proper to plug the hole up. He was very anxious to know +who engineered the work, but, very naturally, every one was bashful +about claiming that honour. At last he unbosomed himself: "Gentlemen, as +you constructed the tunnel, probably you can inform me how to fill it +up." Now that question was a poser to all of us. A great many +suggestions were made, but all proved unsatisfactory. Finally, the +captain had the shaft filled up with brickbats and broken bottles. In +the passage-way between the two buildings they dug down to the tunnel +and put in a load of clay. With every rainstorm the clay would settle +and leave a big hole. From observation and much debating on the subject, +it was conceded that the proper<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> plan would have been to dig it up from +end to end. Our new quarters were quite uncomfortable. I devised all +sorts of schemes to keep myself warm at night. Sleeping on a bare floor, +the lack of blankets, and the cold wind, made a combination which it was +useless to contend against. All I could do was to wait patiently for +daylight, and then, by walking and exercising, get myself warmed up.</p> + +<p>The sixty privates in the yard also caught the tunnel mania. The +barracks had a wooden floor. Two boards were removed, and an excavation +made to the rear of the building. The exit was in an adjoining garden. +Not much skill in engineering was displayed on their part. They simply +dug until they felt like stopping. The distance from the surface was +ascertained by pushing a stick up through the ground. It was left there +projecting above the surface. We were informed of their plans and +intention to escape that night. It seems that Captain Sennes was also +fully posted as to what was going on. A number of the rebs were +stationed in the garden. The stick projecting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> from the ground indicated +the place from which the prisoners would emerge. Orders were given to +let a number of the Yankees come out, then to fire into the crowd and +kill as many as possible. Fortunately, the first man to come out—Peter +Keefe—happened to see one of the rebs. He gave the alarm to his +companions. Being still on his hands and knees, he thought his best +chance would be in making a bold run for liberty. As he jumped up a reb +fired, the bullet shattering Keefe's left knee. The leg had to be +amputated. The next day all the privates were removed from the yard and +confined with us. That made affairs still worse, there being hardly +space enough for us to lie down at night. Two escaped prisoners from +Andersonville were added to our numbers. They arrived late at night, +and, as it was dark, we could not see what they looked like. The +lieutenant of the guard asked us to find a place for them to lie down. +Brayton slept on the table. Calling the men, he said they could find +room enough underneath.</p> + +<p>After daylight we gathered around our new<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> companions. They were still +handcuffed together. It was a pitiful sight to look at them, dirty and +ragged, with their ankles swollen up by scurvy. The face of one of them +was badly swollen, and covered with pustules. The surgeon was at once +sent for. He pronounced it to be small-pox. The sick man was sent to the +pest-house; his companion was isolated in the barracks. The first one +finally recovered, but his companion caught the infection and died. In a +few days Brayton showed symptoms of small-pox, was removed to the +pest-house, and also died. William Brayton was a sail-maker in the +United States navy; his rank was that of warrant officer, a distinct +grade from the line or staff officers. He was wounded and taken prisoner +during the midnight surprise attack on Fort Sumter by the navy. A bullet +had shattered his right forearm, and also went through the fleshy part +of his right leg. Fortunately Captain Sennes realized the danger of +having the officers and privates confined together. Besides, it was not +a customary thing on either side, and, consequently, the privates were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> +returned to the barracks in the yard, much to our satisfaction. They had +the freedom of the yard nearly all day, which made them satisfied with +the change.</p> + +<p>I commenced to feel sick and discouraged, and had an inclination to lie +on the floor continually. The surgeon examined me and gave me some +quinine pills, saying that I probably had malarial fever. For several +mornings he visited me, and was very particular about looking at my +tongue. Finally a peculiar white mark showed on the tip end. There was +no mistaking that mark. I had typhoid fever. Orders were given to send +for the ambulance, and have me taken to the hospital. A large church on +the outskirts of the town was to be my future abode. It was called the +Second North Carolina Hospital. Why it received that name I could never +find out. Opposite to it was the beautiful mansion and grounds belonging +to General Wade Hampton, the pride of South Carolina. That misguided +hero went through the war all right, only to lose a leg afterward, most +unromantically, by a kick from a mule.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> +<a name="xxiv" id="xxiv"></a>CHAPTER XXIV<br /> +<br /> +<small>A CRACKER BEAUTY</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A parole</span> was made out for me to sign, but it was very difficult for me +to sign my name. I managed to keep on my feet for a few hours, and the +change and novelty seemed to give me strength. Early in the evening I +undressed and got into bed, and there I remained for six weeks. Surgeon +Thompson told me I had the "slow" typhoid fever, that I would have to be +very patient, and not to worry. Most of the time I was in a stupor, but +had a dim consciousness of what was passing around me. One of the +privates from the yard had the fever. He arrived a few days after +myself. Milk punch was given to him; within a week he died. My treatment +was different. The medicine tasted like turpentine and camphor. But no +milk punch was given me at any time. At last the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> fever broke and I +slowly recovered. Large bed-sores made their appearance on both hips. In +fact I was sore all over from lying in bed such a long time. At a +distance of twenty-five feet every object would quadruple to my vision. +If there was one man, I would see four. Any object hanging on the wall +especially strengthened the optical delusion.</p> + +<p>When able to sit up on my bed I would talk to Peter Keefe. His cot was +just across the passage-way from my own. The amputation was skilfully +done, but it took a long time for the stump to heal up. He did not care +so much for the loss of the leg as he did for the failure of the plan to +escape.</p> + +<p>Two "Cracker" girls swept the basement floor and brought us our food. +They may have been styled nurses on the pay-rolls for all I know. +However, I made a great mistake in not making love to both, comparing +them to angels, and trying to make them believe that they had saved me +from an early grave. Instead I would make critical remarks about their +lack of charms to Keefe, in their presence.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> The younger one was about +twenty years of age. She wore low calfskin shoes and white stockings +which needed a good washing. Many of my remarks referred to their soiled +condition. While manipulating the broom she displayed wonderful talent +for going to sleep. About every tenth movement she would stand still, +resting on the broom-handle, and take a short nap. Then would follow +another few strokes and more nap, the same routine continuing until the +job was finished.</p> + +<p>The hospital steward was also of the "Cracker" type, and a most devout +Methodist. Somehow we were not bosom friends. He was very much afraid I +would say something to shock the "sweeping beauty." Finally I got tired +of his infernal canting and tersely told him to go to the devil, +advising him at the same time to marry the girl with the dirty +stockings, as I was very certain he was the right man for the husband. +Events were quiet for a couple of days. Hostilities soon broke out. The +doctor had ordered a soft-boiled egg to be given me. Beauty brought it +to me in a glass<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> tumbler and skipped away in a hurry. There was more +salt than egg. Fortunately, she had not stirred it up, so I skimmed off +the egg carefully and ate it. Then I gazed at the tumbler. There was at +least one inch of solid salt in the bottom. Keefe had been watching me +and was highly amused. But Beauty discreetly kept out of my way for the +remainder of the day. I informed the surgeon that I was very dainty +about eating eggs and preferred them served in the shell; so that salt +racket was stopped. I will always believe that Beauty and her acting +husband put up a job on me.</p> + +<p>A very angular woman with sanctimonious visage and a huge Bible in her +hand squatted herself by my bed. The way she read the Scriptures to me +would make a dead man turn over in his coffin. In about five minutes +there was war in earnest. The surgeon happened to come in just then and +ordered her out of the hospital. The next episode was through a friendly +German. He was a sailor, and, being in one of the Southern ports during +the early<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> of the Rebellion, he, like many other sailors, was forced +into the rebel army. In one of the battles he had been wounded by a +piece of shell. As he was now convalescent, he was at leisure to go +where he pleased. He spoke about the large quantities of blackberries +that were to be found in the woods. I asked him to bring me some the +next time he gathered any. While taking a morning nap a plate of nice, +large blackberries had been left on the table at my bedside. When I +awoke I was perfectly delighted at the sight. I had been craving for +fruit for some days past. They seemed too nice to eat. Temptation was +strong, however, and I picked up a single berry and put it in my mouth. +My intention was to eat the whole plateful—one at a time. The surgeon +just then passed near me.</p> + +<p>"Well, surgeon, this is a great treat," I said to him. He seemed quite +nervous when he saw the berries.</p> + +<p>"How many have you eaten?"</p> + +<p>"This is the first one," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Well, that is lucky for you. Had you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> eaten twelve of them, you would +have been a dead man inside of twenty-four hours." He asked who gave +them to me. Well, that I knew nothing about, as I was asleep and +supposed that Beauty had left them for me. He took away the plate and +went after Beauty. My German sailor friend was not found out, but the +chasm between Dirty Stockings and myself was greatly widened.</p> + +<p>I soon became convalescent. A reb with a loaded musket escorted me back +to my old quarters in the jail. My fellow-prisoners gave me a cordial +reception. It was at one time thought by them that I would remain +permanently in the South. All monotony in our prison life was now over. +Exciting news was heard every day. Sherman's army was marching through +Georgia. The rebs were drawing our troops away from their base of +supplies. All the "invading hirelings" were to be killed, gobbled up, +and other dire calamities were to befall them. Wheeler's cavalry went +howling through Columbia on their way to annihilate Sherman's "bummers." +The citizens cheered,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs and +threw kisses at them. Those fellows were going to raise —— sure +enough. We had a good view of the whole proceeding from our window. A +few cat-calls were given by us to help along the excitement. Not many +weeks afterward that same cavalry went through Columbia again, but their +noses were pointed in the opposite direction, with Sherman's cavalry not +many miles in the rear. Those gallant defenders of the South looted all +the stores on Main Street, and carried all they could conveniently get +away with. No ladies threw kisses at them that time.</p> + +<p>The Yankee officers confined in Libby Prison were removed to Charleston +and placed under the fire of the Federal guns in hopes that the shelling +of the city would be stopped. Through some means, the locality in which +the prisoners were confined was made known to the Union troops, +consequently none were killed. Several changes of localities were made, +always with the same result. Finally the rebel provost-marshal and +several of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> guards were killed by Yankee shells, and then the +prisoners were all sent to Columbia and confined in a stockade on the +other side of the river—"Camp Sorghum," as it was christened by the +Yankees. The prisoners at Andersonville were hastily sent to different +parts of the Confederacy to keep them out of reach of Sherman's troops.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, there will arrive this evening one hundred and seventeen +Yankee officers, and arrangements will have to be made for them to share +your quarters," was Captain Sennes's announcement.</p> + +<p>We made hasty preparations to receive the "fresh fish." They ranked from +second lieutenant up to colonel. Such a motley and reckless lot I never +met before. All had been captured inside the rebel forts when the mine +was exploded at Petersburg. We were uncomfortably crowded for room with +so many men, and Captain Sennes proposed to the old prisoners that we +should sign a parole and return to our quarters on the first floor. We +readily agreed to it. On our part, we were not to escape by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> tunnelling, +or from the yard; on their part, our door was to be left open, with +liberty to go into the yard when necessary, and also one hour in the +morning and afternoon for recreation.</p> + +<p>Williams and Porter had been released from irons. The six officers +highest in rank among the new arrivals were assigned to the rooms which +they had vacated, and granted the same privileges as we. On Main Street +was the printing establishment of Ball & Keating. The building extended +across the rear of our yard. We were greatly surprised to see a number +of young ladies taking a good view of the prisoners from a second-story +window. The rebs had gotten scared, and had moved the Bureau of Printing +and Engraving from Richmond to Columbia. Ball & Keating's establishment +was selected for the printing of the Confederate currency. The money was +not worth stealing. An ordinary burglar could have taken away a +cart-load of the notes. At night the money was left loose in the +different rooms, the same as a lot of hand-bills in a common<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> +printing-office. The lady employés, as a means of recreation, would gaze +at the Yankee hirelings in the prison-yard. A number of the privates had +no coats or shirts, and were barefoot. The sight must have been very +interesting.</p> + +<p>When the officers were in the yard the privates had to remain in the +barracks. That was the time that those young ladies from Virginia showed +their good breeding. If one of us happened to get within spitting +distance of a window, up would go their noses and down would come the +saliva. At first we were inclined to be angry, but that was just what +those females liked, so we changed our tactics, and threw kisses back +when they spat. By that means the spitting was stopped. Every day we +would hear exciting news from different sources.</p> + +<p>What interested us most came direct from the Secretary of the +Confederate navy. He authorized some gentlemen to make arrangements for +a special exchange of prisoners. They called upon us and made the +proposition that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> two naval officers should be paroled and sent to +Washington to see if an exchange of naval prisoners, regardless of rank +or numbers, could be effected. Lieutenant-Commanders Williams and +Prendergast were given the mission. Both were given paroles for thirty +days. If our Government consented to the proposition, they were to +remain North; if not, they were to return to Richmond within a specified +time. All the necessary documents were given to them, and they were +started for Richmond the next day and taken to our lines on a +flag-of-truce boat. Inside the thirty days we were notified that the +exchange would be made. Great was the joy among our party at the +prospect of soon returning home. It was soon known in Columbia that we +were to be exchanged. Then I became mixed up in a mysterious affair +which I have never been able to solve. Captain Sennes came to our room +with a woman.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Thompson, this lady has an order from the commandant to see you."</p> + +<p>He then went out. The lady introduced herself as Mrs. Hall, of +Washington, D. C. She<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> had been South during the war; her husband was in +Washington, and she had not been able to hear from him, and "would I be +kind enough to deliver a letter to him?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly." I was willing to help her in any way possible. We conversed +a short time on ordinary topics.</p> + +<p>"Do you know Colonel Dent?"</p> + +<p>"No, I have never heard of such a person."</p> + +<p>"Why, he is General Grant's brother-in-law, and is confined in this +jail."</p> + +<p>"Well, that is news to me. No one ever knew of his being here."</p> + +<p>"It is a fact. He is confined on the top floor with the criminals, and I +see him very often. He gave me a number of letters which he wishes taken +to General Grant. Will you take them?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, provided you answer a few questions. How did you know my name?"</p> + +<p>"Through a lady who knew you while you were in the hospital."</p> + +<p>"Why do you select me to carry letters for a man about whom I know +nothing?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> +"Because you were recommended to me."</p> + +<p>"Very well, I will take them, provided I am allowed to know their +contents. It seems strange to me that Colonel Dent should be confined in +this jail as a criminal and not one of us Yankee prisoners know anything +about it."</p> + +<p>She assured me that he was Grant's brother-in-law, and had been arrested +for some transaction about a plantation near New Orleans. There were +several letters in the package, a petition to the Governor of Wisconsin, +and a long letter written in short-hand. "He was a good Democrat, a +loyal citizen.—See that my land in Wisconsin is not sold for +non-payment of taxes," are some of the extracts. The others related to +family affairs. The short-hand notes I could not read. What the petition +was for I have forgotten. Mrs. Hall then presented me with a finely +embroidered silk tobacco-pouch. Thanking me for my kindness, she bade me +good-bye. When, afterward, I thought the affair over, I came to the +conclusion that the letters were only a subterfuge to draw my suspicions +from the short-hand notes. Not a word had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> said in the letters +about the cause of his arrest or about his being confined as a criminal. +As I had promised to deliver the packet, I concluded to take the risk of +getting myself in trouble with the Confederate authorities. They had a +habit of searching the prisoners before crossing the line.<a name="FNanchor_E_5" id="FNanchor_E_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_E_5" class="fnanchor">[E]</a></p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E_5" id="Footnote_E_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_E_5"><span class="label">[E]</span></a> A number of years afterward, I was confined in the prison +in Jefferson City, Mo. At that place guards were kept on the walls night +and day. Convicts were selected as night watchmen for the different +shops. It was my good fortune to be watchman in the saddle-tree shop. At +that time Colonel John A. Joyce and General Williams—members of the +Whisky Ring during Grant's administration—were serving a sentence of +two years each. Joyce was cell-housekeeper in the negroes' building +during the daytime, and Williams was storekeeper. Every evening they +would come to my shop, and a pot of good coffee would be cooked on the +stove. A couple of hours would be pleasantly passed in talking over past +events. Generals Grant and Babcock were frequently mentioned in +connection with the Whisky Ring. I told them all about Colonel Dent's +being confined in the Columbia jail, and asked if they knew anything +about the circumstances. Both of them commenced laughing; then the +subject was dropped.</p> +</div> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> +<a name="xxv" id="xxv"></a>CHAPTER XXV<br /> +<br /> +<small>LIBBY PRISON</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Squads</span> of naval prisoners frequently passed through Columbia on their +way to Richmond. At last orders were given for us to be ready at four +o'clock the next morning. There was no sleeping that night in our room. +Four of the guards were detailed to escort us to Libby Prison. As we +left the jail, the army officers came to the windows and gave us three +cheers and a "tiger." They little imagined then how soon they would have +their own freedom. It was not long afterward until Sherman's "bummers" +captured the city. The prisoners escaped from the jail before the rebs +could remove them. As our troops entered the city the ex-prisoners found +plenty of willing hands to help them set fire to the jail, city hall, +and treasury buildings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span> +The first part of our journey was made in passenger coaches. In North +Carolina we were changed to box-cars. When we got to Virginia travelling +became worse; the train had to move very slowly. The Yankee cavalry had +destroyed all the roads as much as possible. At one place, for a +distance of thirty miles, not a house or a fence-rail could be seen. +Twisted railroad iron was quite abundant. The only wood visible was the +stumps of telegraph-poles in the ground. We were eight days in getting +to Richmond, and well tired out with the trip. We were taken to the +provost-marshal's office and thence to Libby Prison. Our squad was the +last to arrive. About seventy-five officers and five hundred sailors and +marines comprised all the Yankee naval prisoners. The sailors were +confined at the extreme end of the building, a brick wall separating us. +We had plenty of room for exercise in that big warehouse. The army +officers had not taken all their companions with them when they went to +Charleston, as we soon found out to our dismay. Every crack<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span> in the +floor of that prison was filled with vermin, and the largest and finest +specimens of the pest that could be found in the whole United States. In +Columbia we had not been troubled with vermin, but in Libby it was +impossible to get rid of them. The most of our spare time was devoted to +hunting for game in our clothing, and no one ever complained about +having bad luck. We were expecting almost hourly to be put on a +flag-of-truce boat. Day after day passed, with no signs of our leaving. +An old negro who brought in our rations of corn-bread informed us that +the exchange might not take place, as Ben Butler was doing all he could +to prevent it. General Ben Butler, or "Beast Butler," as he was called +by the rebs, had command of the troops at City Point. Through neglect on +his part to carry out the plan of the campaign he got "bottled up" by +the rebels and probably prolonged the war. We had positive information +that the naval rebel prisoners were on the boat at City Point, but why +Butler should interfere was an enigma to us. It was a peculiarity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> of +his to be always on the wrong side of the fence.</p> + +<p>Master's Mate William Kitching, being desirous of having conversation +with one of the boat's crew, had removed a couple of bricks from the +partitions which separated the officers from the sailors. He told some +of the men to pass the word for all of his men to come to the aperture. +Much to his surprise he was informed that all the men belonging to his +boat had died at Andersonville. Not one of the thirteen sailors were +living. The other officers went to the hole and called for their men +also. Only a very few answered to their names. Out of the sixteen +sailors captured with me only three answered. About seventy-five per +cent of the sailors had died in the different prisons. What puzzled us +all was the fact of there being so many prisoners that none of us could +identify. The men must have had consultation among themselves, as during +the afternoon the situation of affairs was fully explained to us. +Information had been received at the different prisons that the sailors +were to be exchanged.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> They originated a plan to help all the soldiers +possible. Sailors gave their most intimate friends the names of their +deceased shipmates, the names of the ships, where and when captured, the +names of the officers, and, in fact, all information that would be +useful. The scheme had been successful, so far. They were told to +continue the deception, and the officers would assist them in doing so. +We had been in Libby three weeks and nothing definite was known, and we +might go back South for all we knew.</p> + +<p>About nine in the evening the stairs leading to the second floor were +lowered.<a name="FNanchor_F_6" id="FNanchor_F_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_F_6" class="fnanchor">[F]</a> One officer was called by name and taken into the office, +and when he returned another was called, and so on, until all of us had +been interviewed by the notorious Major Turner. The name of our ship, +where and when captured, how many men we had, and a lot of other +questions were asked. That racket continued until about three o'clock in +the morning. Each of us had asked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> him about our prospects of being +exchanged. "That is an affair about which I know nothing," was his +answer. Of course, none of us thought about sleeping that night. Walking +the floor and discussing the situation suited us better under the +circumstances. About four o'clock there was more excitement. A day's +ration of food was issued to each one. It consisted of two small pieces +of corn-bread, and of mighty poor quality. At five o'clock that evening, +Major Turner, and his equally notorious clerk, Ross, came to the head of +the stairs. Our names were called, and each one sent down to the hall. +An engineer's name was called, but that gentleman was ordered to stand +by the door. When the list was exhausted the door was locked and the +engineer left in the room. It was afterward learned that he stated to +Turner that he belonged to an army transport. We were formed in line, in +squads of four, facing the door. At six o'clock in the evening the doors +were opened, and the order, "Forward, march," given.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_F_6" id="Footnote_F_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_F_6"><span class="label">[F]</span></a> The stairs were hung on heavy hinges, and every night they +would be hoisted up by a pulley, similar to a trap-door.</p></div> + +<p>Outside was a strong escort of rebels. Our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> hearts were fairly in our +mouths for a short time. If we turned for the left it would be for the +flag-of-truce boat; if to the right, it meant an indefinite stay in +prison. It was the "left," and all doubts were removed—we were going +home! The sailors were brought out and followed in our rear. It was an +interesting trip down the James River. We had a fine view of the rebel +batteries. Three iron-clads were passed, and several pontoon bridges +across the river had to be opened on our approach. The most interesting +thing was the sunken obstructions, with the secret channels. +Considerable skill was required to get the boat through them. The guns +from Grant's and Lee's batteries could be plainly heard. Next in view +were the rebel shells exploding high in air over Dutch Gap, Ben Butler's +celebrated canal. Finally we espied some Yankee pickets, then came +Aiken's Landing. The boat was fastened to the dock, and all went on +shore and waited for the Commissioners of Exchanges to receive us. In a +short time Major Mumford arrived. He was on horseback, and a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> flag of +truce was stuck in his boot-leg. His salutation was:</p> + +<p>"Boys, the ambulance will be here in a few minutes with the +Confederates. You can either ride or walk, but get over to our boat as +soon as you can, as the exchange may yet fall through."</p> + +<p>As soon as the rebel prisoners came in sight we started off. Walking was +good enough for us. What a contrast between the two parties! The rebel +officers were all dressed in new Confederate uniforms—probably +furnished by rebel sympathizers in the North—and the sailors all had +good clothing, and were healthy in appearance. They also seemed happy +about going home, even if they were bidding good-bye to coffee and tea. +The least said about our party the better. We were only sorry that we +had not time to catch a few pecks of vermin for the others to take back +to the Confederate States of America.</p> + +<p>On the rebel boat there was a brass band, and, as a parting compliment, +they regaled us with the old familiar tune, "Then you'll remember<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span> me." +There was a large bend in the river below Aiken's Landing, and our boat +was quite a distance around the bend. We walked about a mile and a half +across the strip of land, many of the disabled sailors following us in +ambulances. On the dock were a large number of trunks, with a sentry +guarding them. We were told that it was the baggage belonging to the +rebel officers. Quite a number of our party made a rush for the trunks, +with the intention of dumping them into the river. The guard said, "Go +ahead, boys, I won't stop you," but Major Mumford advised them not to do +it, as it might cause serious trouble. Then all went on board our boat, +the Martha Washington. Several barrels of steaming hot coffee were +ready.</p> + +<p>"Boys, help yourselves. Crackers and cheese in the boxes!"</p> + +<p>In a short time the Sanitary Commission boat came alongside. Clothing +was furnished to all, and anything that could be done for the men was +done cheerfully. Nothing was too good for the ex-prisoners. Surgeons +were busy attending to the sick.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> +Scurvy and bowel complaints were the most common trouble. The officers +were assigned to the after cabin, and the men were all given comfortable +beds. From Libby to the Martha Washington made a wonderful change in our +spirits. No one, to see us then, would recognise us as the miserable set +of beings of a few hours past. In the cabin we had a fine dinner set +before us, and bottles of whisky galore.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, drink plenty of whisky while eating," were the orders from +the surgeon.</p> + +<p>The captain apologized for the lack of some extras that had been +intended for us. The rebels had been on the boat for nearly three weeks, +luxuriating on our provisions while we were enjoying ourselves in Libby. +Secretary of War Stanton and "Beast Butler" brought about the event, +they being opposed to the exchange. In the afternoon we steamed down the +river. I had an interview with Major Mumford, and told him briefly about +Colonel Dent.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the colonel is a prisoner in the South. He is also Grant's +brother-in-law."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span> +"Well, I have a packet of letters from him to General Grant. How can I +deliver them to him?"</p> + +<p>"Give them to me. Grant is now at City Point. The boat will stop there, +and I will see that he gets them," he replied.</p> + +<p>I then handed him the package. He never asked me a single question in +regard to Colonel Dent, and he did not give me a chance to ask him any +questions. That ended the affair as far as I was concerned.</p> + +<p>We stopped at City Point for half an hour on our way to Fortress Monroe. +During the trip I had conversations with many of the sailors. They had +suffered terribly during their imprisonment. Insufficient food and +exposure had caused much sickness. Some of them had slept on the bare +ground for months without any shelter. Nearly all had the scurvy. That +any of them had lives to be exchanged was a miracle. The soldiers were +very exultant at the success of their ruse in getting through the lines, +and well they might be, for to-day there are seventeen thousand graves +of their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> fellow-prisoners at Andersonville. Quite a number of sick men +were also on the boat, having been sent from different hospitals in the +South. The rebs thought that was the easiest way to get rid of them. We +stopped at Fortress Monroe for a short time, and then proceeded to +Annapolis, Md., and early next morning we were landed at the Naval +Academy wharf. Sixteen men had died on that short trip from Aiken's +Landing.</p> + +<p>The sailors were cared for by the proper officials, and the officers +were given transportation to Washington. Then I was a free man, after +having been a prisoner of war for three hundred and eleven days.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> +<a name="xxvi" id="xxvi"></a>CHAPTER XXVI<br /> +<br /> +<small>A FREE MAN AGAIN</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">I took</span> the first train for Washington, arriving there late at night. +Going to the Metropolitan Hotel, I registered myself as from Columbia, +S. C. The clerk looked at me for a moment, and asked if I had any +baggage.</p> + +<p>"Neither baggage nor money," I replied.</p> + +<p>He commenced laughing, and told a bellboy to show me up to a room. I +remained in Washington two days. My written report was made out; then I +reported in person to Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy. He was a +fine old gentleman, and expressed his joy at the exchange being made. I +have already narrated the particulars regarding Captain Gregory and his +reports. I was instructed to go home, report my arrival, give my +address, and await orders. My next visit was to the Fourth Auditor,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span> for +some of the back pay due me. In a short time I had some much-needed +respectable clothing. As yet I had not fully recovered from the typhoid +fever. My hair was dead, and rapidly falling out. A barber was +consulted, and he discovered that a new crop had commenced to grow. So +the old hair was cut off even with the new. Mrs. Hall's husband was then +next in order. Upon inquiry, I found that he was a cheap gambler, and +not in town just then, so I left his letter with some of his friends.</p> + +<p>I arrived in New York on Sunday morning, and went to my wife's last +address. She had changed quarters to another locality. On going there, I +was informed that she was in a certain boarding-house in Brooklyn. At +that place I was directed to another boarding-house. Finally I found the +young lady. Our child had died three months previously. During our +conversation I said:</p> + +<p>"Why, Annie, I only received two of your letters while I was in prison."</p> + +<p>"That is all I wrote to you," she very innocently replied.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> +Before leaving Boston on the brig Perry, I had made an allotment of +fifty dollars per month to her, which she received from a naval agent on +the first of each month. Well, that frugal little wife, to use a slang +expression, was "dead broke," and in arrears for her board bill. I was +happy to be back with her, so I had no fault to find. Theatres and +pleasure trips were in order and my past miseries forgotten. In due time +I received all my back pay. My clothing had been sent home from the +Perry, and a sword and a few other articles were all I had to purchase +for my new outfit.</p> + +<p>Orders were received for me to report to Commander John C. Hall, for +duty on board the United States steamer Nereus, at the Brooklyn Navy +Yard. The Nereus was a large screw steamer, with splendid accommodations +for sailors and officers. The captain and executive were regulars, the +other officers were volunteers. The acting master was a navigating +officer. Four ensigns were watch officers. Our quarters consisted of a +large ward-room, with state-rooms on each side. The latter were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> +furnished with single berths, and sets of drawers underneath, a +combination dressing-case and desk, and a stationary wash-stand. +Coloured ordinary seamen were detailed as ward-room boys, one for each +officer. Their duties were to take care of the state-rooms and wait on +the table, for which service they received nine dollars per month extra, +paid by the officers. The steward and cook were paid as petty officers +by the Government. One hundred dollars were paid by each of the officers +as initiation fee and mess fund on joining the vessel, and afterward a +<i>pro rata</i> of the expense was charged to each. There was quite a +contrast between the Nereus and the Perry. The ward-room officers +consisted of one lieutenant, one master, four ensigns, paymaster, +surgeon, and chief engineer. The master's mate and second and third +engineers each had separate mess-rooms in the steerage.</p> + +<p>Seven of the officers were ex-prisoners of war. A few months afterward +Captain Howell stated that we were the wildest lot he ever commanded; it +only took a short time for him to form his opinion, however. The vessel +was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> ordered to the squadron at Cape Haitien, Hayti, West Indies. The +Panama steamers had to be convoyed through the Mariguana Passage, thence +between Cape Maisi, Cuba, and San Nicolas la Mole, Hayti, to Navassa +Island. The rebel steamer Alabama had captured one of the Panama boats, +securing eight hundred thousand dollars in gold bullion, and had bonded +the steamer for the same amount, to be paid when the Confederacy gained +its independence. Fort Fisher was to be attacked, and Captain Howell got +permission to join the expedition with his vessel. All of us were +pleased with the chance to pay up old scores with the rebels. The +corn-meal was still rankling in our systems. Steam was gotten up, and, +under charge of a pilot, we started for Sandy Hook. Before we got a +hundred yards from the dock the trip very abruptly ended. The pilot ran +too close to a large floating buoy, and the result was that one of the +propeller blades caught the heavy chain by which the buoy was anchored. +The engines were slowly reversed. It was of no use. That chain was there +to stay, and we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span> were securely fastened by the stern. I shall never +forget that December night. It was my watch on deck from twelve to four +in the morning. The thermometer was twenty-one degrees below zero, and I +thought I would freeze to death. The men on deck I sent below out of the +cold wind, but I had no place for shelter, as the deck was clear fore +and aft.</p> + +<p>The next day a submarine diver examined the propeller blade. The chain +was jammed in between the stern-post and the centre of the screw. A +floating derrick was fastened to our stern, the buoy and anchor were +hoisted on it, and our vessel was thus taken into the dry dock. It was +quite a job to free the chain. That little mishap detained us one week. +We made another start and got to Fortress Monroe. Taking a monitor in +tow, we went to Fort Fisher. Nearly all the expedition had arrived, and +the bombardment was begun. That expedition was probably the worst +"fizzle" of the whole war. There were over sixty ships in the fleet, +each carrying from four to forty-four guns, besides several monitors +carrying fifteen-inch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span> guns. The total number of guns was about six +hundred. The rebels considered Fort Fisher as being impregnable, and it +was, beyond all doubt, a strong fort. It was built on a narrow strip of +land between Cape Fear River and the ocean. There was an embankment over +a mile in length, twenty-five feet thick and twenty feet high. About two +thirds of it faced the sea; the other third ran across the strip of land +as protection from land attack. Still stronger than these were the +traverses, which prevented an enfilading fire. These were hills about +forty feet in height, and broad and long in proportion, about twenty of +them along the sea face of the fort. Inside of them were the +bomb-proofs, large enough to shelter the whole garrison. In front of the +works was a strong palisade. Between each of the traverses was mounted +one or two large guns, none less than one-hundred-and-fifty pounders, +all of the guns of English manufacture. One, in particular, was an +enormous Armstrong gun, mounted on a rosewood carriage—a present from +Sir William Armstrong, of England.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> Fort Castle and Fort Anderson also +protected the Cape Fear River. The channel was filled with sunken +torpedoes. Torpedoes were also buried in the sand in front of Fort +Fisher. An immense mound, one hundred feet in height, was erected on the +beach and a large gun mounted on the summit.</p> + +<p>Now for a description of the whole affair in a plain and truthful +manner. I have read many descriptions of the capture of Fort Fisher, and +have seen pictures portraying it, but all were exaggerations. An old +steamer, the Louisiana, was fitted up in imitation of a blockade-runner, +and two hundred and fifteen tons of gunpowder were loaded in the hold. +Fuses were connected with an exploding clockwork and the powder. It was +supposed that such a quantity of powder exploding so near the fort would +do great damage, besides killing all of the garrison. The idea was +suggested by Ben Butler. General Grant had given Butler orders to send +General Weitzel with five thousand troops for the capture of the fort, +and afterward to capture Wilmington,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span> so that Sherman could receive +supplies for his army. Butler ignored the orders, and took personal +command of the troops, leaving Weitzel at City Point. The squadron was +at Fort Fisher on time. Butler with his troops had not arrived. Then +began the trouble. Admiral Porter gave orders to explode the +powder-boat, and all arrangements were quickly made. The squadron was to +steam ten miles out at sea. All safety valves were to be opened, lest +the concussion might cause the boilers to explode. Under cover of +darkness the powder-boat was towed by the steamer Wilderness close to +the fort. The clockwork was set, also a fire was laid in case the +clockwork failed. The crew were taken off by the Wilderness. The clock +arrangement proved a failure, but the fire, in time, caused an +explosion. Not a particle of damage was done to the fort. We afterward +learned that most of the Confederates were asleep, and some of them +never heard the explosion. The next day Butler arrived with his +transports. He was terribly angry about the powder-boat affair. In the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span> +meantime the fleet, by divisions, had formed a line of battle. The +ironclads were close to the shore. Their fire was to be direct. The +other ships were to fire at angles with the fort so as to make an +enfilading fire as much as possible. The bombardment from so many guns +was terrific. The Confederates were soon driven into the bomb-proofs. +During the day nearly all their guns were dismounted. The next day was +Christmas, 1864. Early in the morning the landing of the troops began. +Every boat in the fleet was brought into requisition. A clear strip of +land extended from the fort to the woods, about a mile in length. A spot +near the centre of the clear space was selected as the best place for +the troops to land. A heavy surf was running on the beach. Every time a +boat-load was landed it was necessary for the crew to wade out into the +surf with the boat, and, at the proper time, jump in and pull through +the first breaker. If not quick enough, the boat would be keeled over +and over, high up on the beach. Everything was progressing finely; no +one doubted but that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span> the fort would be captured before night. All the +white troops were on shore. We were busily engaged in landing Butler's +pet coloured troops. What was our astonishment on receiving orders to +re-embark the troops and bring off the negroes first, and then Ben +Butler's transports started immediately for Washington, with that +gallant hero on board! A heavy gale of wind set in from the northeast +and continued to increase in fury as the night approached; consequently +the surf was getting worse and it was very difficult for the boats to +get clear of the beach. Those "niggers" would rush for every boat and +overload it, with the result that it would be swamped. If ever "niggers" +got a cursing, they certainly got it that night. About midnight my boat +was swamped three times in succession. I was thoroughly disgusted. The +crew and I were well tired out. We had had nothing to eat since morning, +our clothing was soaking wet from constantly being in the surf, and the +cold wind was chilling our bodies. The boat was lifted up sideways and +the water dumped out.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span> Everything was made ready for a new start, but +this time I held my revolver in hand:</p> + +<p>"Now, the first nigger who attempts to get in my boat will be shot!" and +I meant what I said. It was hard work for us to get through the surf, +and I felt certain that no more troops could be taken off that night. It +was very dark and cloudy. I steered for the lights which were on the +Nereus. We had gone about half the distance when the boat suddenly +capsized and dumped all hands into the water. What caused that mishap I +could never find out; it has always been a puzzle to me. It was lucky +that none of us was hurt. Our clothing was very heavy, and made it +difficult for us to keep from sinking, especially in such a rough sea. +My sword and revolver made additional weight for me. We managed to hold +on to the boat occasionally. In a few minutes we heard the splashing of +oars in the water, and, by yelling, we attracted the attention of the +boat's crew. They carefully approached and pulled us out of the sea. The +boat was one of the launches belonging<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span> to the frigate Wabash. They took +our boat in tow and rowed us to the Nereus. I was the only officer on +our vessel who got back with his boat not damaged. The others were all +badly disabled, and were left on the beach. About seven hundred of the +soldiers were left on shore, and there they had to remain for three +days. All night long the division to which the Nereus belonged fired +shells into the woods to prevent Confederate troops from Wilmington +making any attempt to capture our men. When the gale abated they were +embarked. The first attack on Fort Fisher had ended in a grand fizzle, +simply because Butler and Porter were at loggerheads. The army +transports went back to City Point. The men-of-war weighed anchor and +started for Beaufort, S. C. The few guns that still remained mounted at +Fort Fisher fired a parting salute, in derision at our departure.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span> +<a name="xxvii" id="xxvii"></a>CHAPTER XXVII<br /> +<br /> +<small>FORT FISHER</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">On</span> our arrival at Beaufort all was bustle and activity. Ammunition and +coal were taken on board, the small boats repaired, and everything was +made ready for another expedition. Porter was continually sending +despatches to Washington. Butler was there in person. Between them there +was a lively war of words. The new expedition sailed for Fort Fisher. +During our absence the enemy had repaired the fort, and the garrison had +been increased from six hundred to a thousand men. General Terry arrived +with his transports, having on board five thousand white troops. The +fort was bombarded, and the garrison driven into the bomb-proofs. +Several of our hundred-pounder rifled guns exploded, doing considerable +damage, and that class of guns was not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span> used any more during the action. +On the 14th of January the troops were all landed. On the 15th two +thousand sailors and marines were also landed, each vessel sending a +detachment. The quota from the Nereus was fifty men, Ensign Dayton and +myself being in command. We received printed orders from Admiral Porter:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>"When you get in the fort, if the rebels refuse to surrender, +four seamen must take each rebel and throw him over the +ramparts."</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>That is one extract. There was more in the same strain. The men had been +notified in advance as to who had been detailed for the assaulting +party, but not so the officers. When the men were ready to get into the +boats, Dayton and I were called from our gun divisions and received +orders to take charge of them.</p> + +<p>Our preparations were hastily made; each of us took a ship's cutlass, +revolver, and breech-loading carbine, and then filled our pockets with +ammunition. The surgeon was on hand with a supply of tourniquets and +bandages,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span> which he jammed into our pockets while giving us brief +lectures on the compression of arteries. In a short time the sailors +were landed; the marines were detailed as sharp-shooters, each one +having his knapsack as a portable breastwork. About one o'clock the army +was ready for the assault in the rear end of the fort. The marines +deployed to their position; the sailors moved up the beach in double +column, the ships firing over us.</p> + +<p>Some of the enemy came out of their bomb-proofs and kept continually +firing into our columns. The beach was perfectly level, with no friendly +trees or rocks to afford us any protection. Our destination was the sea +face of the fort. To get there it was necessary to march two thirds of a +mile parallel with the fort, and within easy range—a few hundred yards. +We would willingly have gone a little more to the left if the Atlantic +Ocean had permitted. Before getting to our proper position, a signal +from the flagship ordered us to lie down on the beach. The shot and +shell were whistling over our heads at a terrible rate, and sometimes +an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> over-zealous gunner would make a slight error and drop them among +our men instead of into the fort. Some of the enemy also made it +interesting from their side of the fence. Quite a number was killed or +wounded among our party. The water was splashed up in a lively way by +the bullets. Strangely enough, every wounded sailor, if able, would +crawl to the water and lie down, so that the surf, as it rolled up the +beach, kept his body wet. It was low tide at the time, and, as we lay +down on the wet sand, we soon became chilled through. Nearly two hours +we remained in that position. A large gun just opposite me, inside the +fort, still remained mounted. I noticed that the muzzle was elevated to +aim at the fleet, but was gradually being depressed, so that it was in +range with our men. The gunners could be seen putting in the powder and +two stands of grape-shot. It was left in that position, and the gunners +disappeared. One of our iron-clads was close inshore, just opposite the +loaded gun. About every ten minutes they would fire a fifteen-inch, with +a reduced charge of powder,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span> consequently we could see every shell as it +passed over us. They all went about five feet above the gun and exploded +in the rear. Why they did not attempt to dismount it I cannot imagine. +They certainly must have seen the enemy loading it.</p> + +<p>A projectile from a rifled gun in the fleet got to tumbling "end over +end" in the air. It landed within six feet of me. The sand flew in every +direction, nearly blinding some of the men. For a few seconds we all +felt nervous. If it was a percussion fuse shell the danger was past; if +a time fuse, it would explode, and the only means of safety was to lie +flat on the ground. To attempt to run away would be very dangerous. For +a few seconds we all remained quiet. No hissing sound could be heard, +and then the missile was examined, and proved to be a solid shot; but we +were, for awhile, badly scared.</p> + +<p>The soldiers could be seen beginning the attack at the rear of the fort. +Then came Admiral Porter's terrible blunder. The signal was given for +the fleet to "cease firing," then for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span> the sailors to advance. We had +quite a distance to go up the beach before making a "right face" and +rushing into the fort. The Confederates had anticipated that very +movement on our part, and were prepared for it. They rushed out of the +bomb-proofs, and gave our troops a murderous fire of musketry without +our being able to return the fire. Then the big gun was discharged, and +it made a terrible gap in our column. The detachment just ahead of ours +was almost annihilated as they received the full charge of grape-shot. +Some of the men were thrown several feet into the air. Each of the +grape-shot weighed three pounds. There must have been nearly a hundred +in the charge, as it was a double load from a hundred-and-fifty pounder. +About two hundred men near the head of the column had reached some low +sand-dunes which protected them, but the men following them became +panic-stricken, and fell back upon those in their rear. The whole column +was thrown into disorder, and compelled to retreat, the enemy keeping up +a heavy fire as we passed down the beach. As badly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span> whipped as the +sailors were, they deserved great credit for one thing: not a wounded +shipmate was deserted; all were carried off. The dead were all dragged +up above high-water mark, so that the tide would not carry their bodies +out to sea. Had we marched up to our proper position, under cover of +fire from the fleet, and the attack then been made, results would have +been different, but being killed outright, through lack of good +judgment, would discourage almost anybody! The plan of the attack was +good. With the sailors assaulting the front and the soldiers the rear, +the enemy would have been between two fires. Colonel Pennypacker, with +his regiment, was inside the fort, the other regiments on the outside of +the traverses; they were gradually driving the enemy back. Signals were +made to the fleet where to throw their shells so as to avoid hitting our +own troops. The sailors were reorganized, and manned the trenches across +the open ground, to prevent re-enforcements to the Confederates coming +from Wilmington. By that arrangement, a regiment armed with seven-shot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span> +repeating rifles was relieved and added to the assaulting party at the +fort.</p> + +<p>Night came on and the fight still continued. Signals by light were made +to the fleet how to direct their fire. At one o'clock in the morning the +battle was ended by the enemy surrendering. The last prop was knocked +from under the Confederacy; their great source of supplies was cut off. +Blockade-running was ended. General Sherman would have a new base of +supplies. Richmond would soon have to be evacuated. The day the fort was +captured, Ben Butler was in Washington, demonstrating to the +authorities, theoretically, why Fort Fisher was impregnable. Captain +Breeze and Lieutenants Cushing, Preston, and Porter, from the flagship +Malvern, had command of the sailors. Preston and Porter were +fellow-prisoners of mine at Columbia. Both were killed early in the +attack, Preston by a shell from the fleet, and Porter by a bullet. +Cushing, with all his bravery, was not the last officer of the retreat +down the beach—not by long odds. It is now a matter of history that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span> +Captain Breese with two hundred sailors actually got inside the fort and +remained there until nightfall. That is all bosh. The fact is, they were +behind the sand-dunes when the panic occurred—it being much safer to +remain there than to be running the gauntlet down to the sea. After dark +they retreated in good order. If they had really got into the fort, I +will guarantee that they would not have remained there very long. The +sailor who got closest to the traverses was an ensign from the gunboat +Sassacus, and he was killed. Ensign Dayton, my fellow-officer, had not +been seen by me since we landed. When I next saw him it was on board the +Nereus. He said he had been with Captain Breese. He received some very +plain talk from me for not helping to look after our own men. There was +enough to be attended to—the wounded to be sent to the vessel, the dead +to be identified and buried, and, the most difficult job, to corral the +live ones and get them off to the Nereus. They were scattered all over +our newly acquired territory. It was not every day they could get<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span> +ashore, and they were certainly making good use of their opportunities.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning the dead sailors were laid side by side, forming a +long row. Their caps, having the ship's name on in gilt letters, were +placed on their breasts, and a slip of paper, giving his full name, was +fastened to each man's shirt. It was a weird sight. All of them were +fine-looking young men. I had placed the names on the men belonging to +the Nereus, and went towards the fort, and as I got near the traverses I +was nearly thrown off my feet by a sudden shaking of the ground; then I +saw an immense conical-shaped mass of earth and timbers thrown high into +the air; then a large circle of dust descended and covered everything in +our vicinity. We all looked as if we had been pulled through a chimney. +One of the magazines in the fort had blown up. The remnant of a +Wisconsin regiment was stationed in the fort after its surrender, and +the explosion killed nearly all.</p> + +<p>Quite a number of us assisted in getting the dead and wounded from the +ruins. At<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span> first it was supposed that a torpedo connected by wires with +Fort Anderson had caused the disaster, but it was afterward decided that +it had been an accident. The Confederate prisoners were then furnished +with shovels, and forced to dig up a number of torpedoes that had been +buried on the outside of the fortification.</p> + +<p>No wonder our troops had hard work to capture that place, for, by the +peculiar construction of the interior defences, it was easy to repel the +attacking forces. Towards evening I succeeded in getting the survivors +of our detachment on board the Nereus, and was very particular about +having our quota of small-arms sent with them—carbines, revolvers, and +cutlasses, fifty-two of each. No questions were asked about their being +the same ones we took ashore with us. The gunner's report was "All arms +returned," and nothing more was necessary. The fact that Dayton brought +his extra equipments unknown to me was not commented on.</p> + +<p>My report, accounting for all the men, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span> given to the executive +officer, and then I had something to eat. I went to bed, having had no +sleep for thirty-six hours, but I had enough glory to last me for a long +time. The next night the rebels blew up Forts Caswell and Anderson, and +beat a hasty retreat for Wilmington. General Terry soon after captured +the latter place. The hospital transport came alongside the Nereus and +took off our wounded men, and I have never seen or heard of one of them +since. Our anchor was weighed and we returned to Beaufort for a supply +of ammunition and coal, and as soon as possible started for the West +Indies to join our squadron.</p> + +<p>About eight days after our departure from Beaufort we sighted Turks +Island, and, going through the Mariguana Passage, we soon had a view of +the high mountains of the Island of Haiti. The weather was fine and +quite a contrast to that of New York. The awnings were spread to protect +us from the hot sun, and heavy clothing was discarded.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span> +<a name="xxviii" id="xxviii"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE ISLAND OF HAITI</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Cape Haitien</span> is a queer little town built on the shore of a bay at the +foot of a very high mountain. When the French possessed the place it was +called "La petite Paris," but an earthquake tumbled all the buildings, +and generally wrecked the whole place. A great many of the ruins still +remain. Some of the stone was utilized for new habitations, but most of +it was left where it had fallen.</p> + +<p>The negroes had no ambition to restore the place to its former grandeur, +and only a few white men were to be found among its inhabitants. +Mahogany, logwood, and coffee were the only exports, and those only in +small quantities. We had arrived on a Sunday afternoon, and several of +us went on shore to visit the American consul, as an act of courtesy, +and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span> then strolled through the town. Whisky was not allowed on board a +man-of-war, and it was quite natural for us to want a drink on our +arrival in a foreign country. Stopping at the only hotel, we ordered a +"brandy smash," and it nearly paralyzed the whole crowd. The atmosphere +was quite warm, and so was the brandy and water. There was no ice in the +whole town, and of all the mixed drinks I ever had that was the worst. +We had received some gold money from the paymaster, and a five-dollar +piece was given in payment for the aforesaid drinks. Well, the change +that was returned almost finished what the "smash" had not quite done, +for about sixty-four one-dollar bills were counted out, each printed on +bright yellow paper, about five by seven inches in size. "Une +Gourde"—meaning "one dollar"—was printed in large and small letters +all over the face of the note, and then, in French, something about its +redemption at a certain period.</p> + +<p>The landlord was a Frenchman and had learned to speak English while on +board an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span> American whaling vessel. He gave us considerable information +about the town, and also advised us to have our gold exchanged for his +Haitien currency, so we each got five dollars' worth from him. The +"gourdes" were at a discount of ninety-three per cent, making each one +worth seven cents in gold. Such a roll of bills as we received! The +bundles had to be put in our coat-tail pockets, no other place being +large enough to hold them. The only amusement in town that would take +place that night was a masquerade ball. Each of our drinks came to one +"gourde," rather cheap for brandy. We bade our host adieu until evening +and returned to the Nereus. Lieutenant Mullen, the surgeon, paymaster, +three ensigns, and three engineers made up a party to "take in" the +masquerade.</p> + +<p>Special permit was required to be absent after sundown, as we were under +war regulations. No time was lost in getting to the hotel. The landlord +piloted us to the ballroom. Two "gourdes" were charged each for +admission. A large store with a brick floor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span> was the extemporized +ballroom. In one corner, on a platform, was the orchestra, and four +"niggers" with clarionets composed it. In another end of the room was +the office, with a window opening into the store-room, that place being +transformed into a temporary barroom, the window-sill being the bar over +which the drinks were served. Lieutenant Mullen belonged in Baltimore, +Md., and he had no use for "niggers" under any circumstances, but he did +like liquor, and it seemed to have very little effect on him. When the +music struck up we all chose partners, with the exception of Mullen, +that gentleman selecting one side of the window-sill and keeping it all +night. My partner was neatly dressed and genteel in appearance, and, as +she was closely masked, I could not tell whether she was pretty or not. +She wore white kid gloves, and, as part of her wrists was exposed, I +could see by the smooth skin that she was young, and probably a +quadroon. That girl had the advantage of me, as I had no mask, and she +knew with whom she was dancing while I did not. However, both<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span> of us +seemed satisfied, for we were partners in every waltz.</p> + +<p>About two in the morning we had to leave our coloured partners, for the +boat was to be at the landing for us at that hour. In the streets there +were no lamps. A light, drizzling rain made the darkness more intense. +Our most direct route was by a street facing the beach. A number of +warehouses had large quantities of logwood piled in front, and the +pieces were very crooked and lying in all positions. The doctor and I +were walking together. His vision was concentrated on the logwood, and +finally he expressed himself:</p> + +<p>"Say, Thompson, did you ever see so many anchors piled up in a street +before?"</p> + +<p>Of course Cape Haitien had a military dock for the men-of-war boats to +land at. On the shore end was a small guard-house, and as we passed it I +noticed a light through the open doorway. Looking inside, I saw several +Haitien soldiers sleeping soundly. In one corner of the shanty was a +most primitive lamp—a glass tumbler partly filled with water, and a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span> +small quantity of oil on the top of it with a lighted wax taper floating +in it. Here was an opportunity to make myself a benefactor to my +fellow-officers. Without any hesitation I stole the lamp.</p> + +<p>"Hello, gentlemen, allow me to carry a light down the wharf for you!"</p> + +<p>Just then an engineer named Patterson gave my hand a knock, and away +went the whole illuminating apparatus. My eyes were blinded by the +sudden change from light to darkness. I walked about three steps, and +off the dock I went head first into the water. The unexpected immersion +improved my eyesight wonderfully, and when I got back on the dock I +could walk without a light. Patterson thought the whole affair a huge +joke. When we reached the Nereus it came my turn to laugh. Naval +etiquette requires officers to go up the companion-ladder according to +rank—the seniors first. Mr. Patterson, being lowest in grade, was to go +up last, and by some means he lost balance and fell out of the boat; +when he came to the surface of the water, some of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span> the sailors pulled +him into the boat. He was not at all funny when he reached the deck.</p> + +<p>Grasping his hand, I said, "Shipmate, I feel sorry for you."</p> + +<p>That was our only night on shore. Captain Howell was of the opinion that +we could have pleasure enough during the daylight in the future. Hardly +a day passed that some of us was not raising "Old Ned." After supper we +would sit in the ward-room and relate our adventures, and some of them +were comical. By no means could we get into high society in that town. +We were politely referred to as persons of unfortunate colour. That was +the only country I ever visited where a white man, if he behaved +himself, was not as good as a "nigger." The east half of the island is +the Republic of Haiti, formerly belonging to France, and the language +spoken is French.</p> + +<p>The western part is the Republic of San Domingo, formerly belonging to +Spain, and the language spoken is Spanish. The whole island had, at one +time, been very prosperous, but the slaves had formed a conspiracy, and +in one night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span> had massacred all the whites and gained their +independence, France and Spain never being able to reconquer them. The +negroes became quite indolent. Very little clothing is needed in that +warm climate, and fruit, growing with little cultivation, provides them +with food. Revolutions are of frequent occurrence. On the 1st, 11th, and +21st of each month two of our ships would sail from Cape Haitien to meet +the California mail steamers, one going north to Turks Island, the other +south to Navassa Island. Our first trip was to the latter place. The +island was about three miles in circumference and almost inaccessible. +It was the breeding-place of sea-birds. A company belonging to +Baltimore, Md., had possession, and were shipping the guano to different +parts of Europe. We arrived some hours before the mail steamer was due.</p> + +<p>A kedge anchor was fastened to a heavy rope and dropped overboard, +fish-lines were brought into service, and the sport began. The only +question with us was, What kind of fish will the next be? Such a variety +I never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span> saw in my life in any part of the world—all different sorts, +sizes, and shapes were landed on deck. The steamer came in sight and our +anchor was pulled up. When the steamer came close by, a boat was sent to +her with mail from our fleet, two cakes of ice were presented to us, and +the vessel started for the passage. Before the mail steamer, being much +the faster boat, was out of sight, it being of no use to convoy a vessel +we could not see, we did the next best thing—returned to Cape Haitien. +The steamer at Turks Island adopted the same tactics, with the exception +of receiving the mail instead of sending it.</p> + +<p>The Neptune, Galatea, Proteus, and Nereus certainly had an easy time on +convoy duty.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span> +<a name="xxix" id="xxix"></a>CHAPTER XXIX<br /> +<br /> +<small>I LEAVE THE SEA AND GO WEST</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">About</span> the 1st of April I sent in my resignation. I had become tired of +sailor life, the war was nearly ended, and the fact that I was married +made me desirous to make a living on dry land. It was a foolish whim of +mine to throw away such a good opportunity, especially after having +advanced so far in my chosen profession. A fresh supply of naval stores +was needed on the Nereus, and for that reason we were ordered to Key +West, then to return to Cape Haitien. We went first to Navassa and met +the mail steamer, and the letter containing my resignation went in that +mail pouch. We then steered for Cape Mayzi, at the eastern end of Cuba, +and, going around the cape, we sailed west along the coast. Morro Castle +was sighted, and we entered the harbour of Havana.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span> I was well +acquainted with the city, but everything appeared different to me then. +The United States naval uniform allowed me to visit places where +formerly, in common seaman's garb, I should have been denied.</p> + +<p>The lottery-ticket venders were as busy as of yore, but, somehow, I did +not feel like patronizing them. I drew the shares of only one prize in +my life, but plenty of blanks. A drawing took place while I was in the +city, and a number of us went to see it. The drawing was in a building +like a theatre. Prizes ranging from two hundred and fifty thousand +dollars down to one hundred dollars were in the wheel. The numbers of +the tickets were in another. A remarkable audience was in the seats; +rich and poor, black and white, and of all nationalities. Great +excitement prevailed until the numbers of all the great prizes were +called out. Then the crowd began to leave. Such low prizes as twenty +thousand and ten thousand dollars interested no one.</p> + +<p>We remained one week in Havana and then sailed for Key West, eighty +miles distant; we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span> were only a few hours at sea, and then our anchor was +dropped in Key West harbour. That place had changed wonderfully since my +last visit. From an indolent little fishing village and the home of the +"wreckers" it had become a lively little town. The army and navy were +well represented, and there was hustle and hurry everywhere. Wine and +beer were the only liquors allowed on the island, and the beer cost +fifty cents a bottle, so there must have been quite a profit for +somebody. Our stores had been placed on board, then the coal was +received, and when the bunkers were nearly filled it was discovered that +some of the lower deck beams were getting out of place. An order was +given to have the Nereus examined, and a report was given of her +condition. The news of the surrender of Lee was received, and quite a +celebration of the event took place. Next came the news of the +assassination of President Lincoln.</p> + +<p>The Nereus was condemned as "unfit for service," and orders were given +for us to return to New York. About the 10th of May the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span> Nereus arrived +at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and her career as a man-of-war was ended. The +paymaster received notice from the Fourth Auditor at Washington that my +resignation had been accepted on the 17th day of April, and he said that +he would have my account made out at once. I informed the gentleman that +he would do no such thing, and that when I should receive notice through +Captain Howell that my resignation had been accepted I should be +released from service, and not before then. Captain Howell decided that +I was right. The acceptance had been sent to Cape Haitien, and I was in +New York. The Nereus was put out of commission and the crew discharged. +All the officers, except myself, were "detached" and granted two months' +leave of absence. I was placed on waiting orders. The Neptune, Proteus, +and Galatea had also arrived from Cape Haitien. My discharge should have +been on one of those vessels, but no one knew anything about the missing +document.</p> + +<p>Our vessel had left Cape Haitien just in time to miss exciting scenes. A +revolution had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[361]</a></span> taken place, and it was the city against the whole +republic. The English gunboat got mixed up in the mêlée and bombarded +the city. The women took refuge on the men-of-war during the +bombardment. The man-of-war Bulldog ran on a reef in the harbour and +became a wreck. The English Government dismissed the captain for acting +without authority, and the sailing-master met the same fate for losing +the vessel. After waiting a reasonable time, I wrote to the Secretary of +the Navy as to how I was situated, but received no reply. Captain Howell +was in Washington, so I sent him a letter about my circumstances. He +attended to the case personally, and in a few days I received a copy of +the acceptance of my resignation on April 17, 1865. The copy was dated +June 14th, and I received my pay to that date. I then got a position as +watchman in the Brooklyn Navy Yard at sixty dollars a month. Renting a +suite of rooms, I furnished them nicely and settled down to life on +shore with my wife. A child was soon born to comfort our household.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[362]</a></span> +I was finally, at my own request, transferred to the harbour patrol +boat. There were nine of us, divided into three crews, twelve hours on +duty and twenty-four hours off. River pirates and deserters were our +special game.</p> + +<p>The war was ended, and that stopped desertion. The purchased gunboats +were sold at auction, and then there was nothing left for the river +pirates to plunder. Alas! our services were no longer needed, and we +were all discharged. Next I got a situation in the navy yard +machine-shops, for I was ambitious to become a first-class machinist. +Busy times were over, and men returning from the war overstocked the +labour market. A great reduction was ordered in all the navy yard +machine-shops, and, of course I, being a late arrival, had to be +discharged with the first lot. Gradually what money I had saved up was +used for necessary living expenses. Rent and provisions were still at +war prices, consequently I soon found myself dead broke, and with no +prospects of obtaining employment.</p> + +<p>I came to the conclusion that there was no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[363]</a></span> hope of obtaining employment +in New York. Selling part of my furniture, I raised a few dollars; then +taking Horace Greeley's advice—"Go West, young man, go West!"—I left +New York, and have been away just thirty-two years—1898.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p>The manuscript breaks off abruptly at the time when Thompson moved West. +Almost from that change began his criminal career. It is known that he +served two terms in the penitentiary at Joliet, Ill., the last one being +for a period of twelve years. Both sentences were for burglary. In his +manuscript he refers to an experience in the prison at Jefferson City, +Mo., and it is also known that he died in prison in another State.</p> + +<p>In the last writing of Thompson, he solemnly affirmed his belief in a +"just and merciful God." To that divine justice and mercy let us, having +learned our own lesson from his life, leave him, judging not, lest we be +judged.</p> + + +<h3>THE END</h3> + + + +<hr class="double1" /> + +<h2>BOOKS BY FRANK T. BULLEN.</h2> + +<hr class="double2" /> + +<p class="title2">Deep-Sea Plunderings.</p> + +<p class="sub3 hang">Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50.</p> + +<p>Mr. Bullen, who has proved himself a past master of deep-water +literature, affords in these pages a series of brilliant and often +dramatic pictures of the sailor's life and adventures. While the +picturesque enters into his book, he deals also with the stern verities +of fo'c'sle life, and he brings before the reader strange and +bewildering phases of deep-water adventuring which will lay firm hold +upon the imagination.</p> + + +<p class="title2">The Apostles of the Southeast.</p> + +<p class="sub3 hang">12mo. Cloth, $1.50.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Bullen's characters are living ones, his scenes full of life and +realism, and there is not a page in the whole book which is not brimful +of deepest interest."—<i>Philadelphia Item.</i></p> + + +<p class="title2">The Log of a Sea-Waif.</p> + +<p class="sub3 hang">Being Recollections of the First Four Years of my Sea Life. +Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50.</p> + +<p>"So strong, original, and thrilling as to hold captive the attention of +the mature as well as of the youthful reader."—<i>Philadelphia Public +Ledger.</i></p> + + +<p class="title2">The Cruise of the Cachalot,</p> + +<p class="sub3 hang">Round the World after Sperm Whales. Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, +$1.50.</p> + +<p>"It is immense—there is no other word. I've never read anything that +equals it in its deep-sea wonder and mystery, nor do I think that any +book before has so completely covered the whole business of +whale-fishing, and, at the same time, given such real and new sea +pictures. I congratulate you most heartily. It's a new world you've +opened the door to."—<i>Rudyard Kipling.</i></p> + + +<p class="title2">Idylls of the Sea.</p> + +<p class="sub3 hang">12mo. Cloth, $1.25.</p> + +<p>"Amplifies and intensifies the picture of the sea which Mr. Bullen had +already produced.... Calm, shipwreck, the surface and depths of the sea, +the monsters of the deep, superstitions and tales of the sailors—all +find a place in this strange and exciting book."—<i>Chicago +Times-Herald.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="double1" /> + +<h2>BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY.</h2> + +<hr class="double2" /> + +<p class="title2">The Quiberon Touch.</p> + +<p class="sub3 noi">A Romance of the Sea. With frontispiece. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50.</p> + +<p>"A story to make your pulse leap and your eyes glisten. It fairly glows +with color and throbs with movement."—<i>Philadelphia Item.</i></p> + +<p>"This story has a real beauty; it breathes of the sea. Fenimore Cooper +would not be ashamed to own a disciple in the school of which he was +master in these descriptions of the tug of war as it was in the +eighteenth century between battle-ships under sail."—<i>New York Mail and +Express.</i></p> + + +<p class="title2">Commodore Paul Jones.</p> + +<p class="sub3 noi">A new volume in the <span class="smcap">Great Commander Series</span>, edited by General +James Grant Wilson. With Photogravure Portrait and Maps. 12mo. +Cloth, $1.50 net; postage, 11 cents additional.</p> + +<p>"A thousand times more interesting than any of the so-called historical +romances that are now in vogue."—<i>Spirit of the Times.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Brady's vigorous style, vivid imagination, and dramatic force are +most happily exhibited in this book."—<i>Philadelphia Press.</i></p> + +<p>"Incomparably fine. Being the work of a scholarly writer, it must stand +as the best popular life yet available. The book is one to buy and own. +It is more interesting than any novel, and better written than most +histories."—<i>Nautical Gazette.</i></p> + + +<p class="title2">Reuben James.</p> + +<p class="sub3 noi">A Hero of the Forecastle. A new volume in the Young <span class="smcap">Heroes of +Our Navy Series</span>. Illustrated by George Gibbs and Others. 12mo. +Cloth, $1.00.</p> + +<p>"A lively and spirited narrative."—<i>Boston Herald.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Brady has made a stirring tale out of the material before him, one +of those brilliant and forceful descriptions of the glories of the old +wooden-walled navy, which stir the blood like a trumpet +call."—<i>Brooklyn Eagle.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="double1" /> + +<h2>By EDGAR STANTON MACLAY, A. M.</h2> + +<hr class="double2" /> + +<p class="title2 hang">A History of the United States Navy. (1775 to 1902.)—<small>New and revised +edition.</small></p> + +<p class="sub4 noi">In three volumes, the new volume containing an Account of the +Navy since the Civil War, with a history of the Spanish-American +War revised to the date of this edition, and an Account of naval +operations in the Philippines, etc. Technical Revision of the +first two volumes by Lieutenant <span class="smcap">Roy C. Smith</span>, U. S. N. +Illustrated. 8vo. Cloth, $3.00 net per volume; postage, 26 cents +per volume additional.</p> + +<p>In the new edition of Vol. III, which is now ready for publication, the +author brings his History of the Navy down to the present time. In the +prefaces of the volumes of this history the author has expressed and +emphasized his desire for suggestions, new information, and corrections +which might be utilized in perfecting his work. He has, therefore, +carefully studied the evidence brought out at the recent Schley Court of +Inquiry, and while the findings of that Court were for the most part in +accordance with the results of his own historical investigations, he has +modified certain portions of his narrative. Whatever opinions may be +held regarding any phases of our recent naval history, the fact remains +that the industry, care, and thoroughness, which were unanimously +praised by newspaper reviewers and experts in the case of the first two +volumes, have been sedulously applied to the preparation of this new +edition of the third volume.</p> + + +<p class="title2">A History of American Privateers.</p> + +<p class="sub4 noi">Uniform with "A History of the United States Navy." One volume. +Illustrated. 8vo. Cloth, $3.00 net; postage, 24 cents +additional.</p> + +<p>After several years of research the distinguished historian of American +sea power presents the first comprehensive account of one of the most +picturesque and absorbing phases of our maritime warfare. The importance +of the theme is indicated by the fact that the value of prizes and +cargoes taken by privateers in the Revolution was three times that of +the prizes and cargoes taken by naval vessels, while in the War of 1812 +we had 517 privateers and only 23 vessels in our navy. Mr. Maclay's +romantic tale is accompanied by reproductions of contemporary pictures, +portraits, and documents, and also by illustrations by Mr. George Gibbs.</p> + + +<p class="title2">The Private Journal of William Maclay,</p> + +<p class="sub4 noi">United States Senator from Pennsylvania, 1789-1791. With +Portrait from Original Miniature. Edited by <span class="smcap">Edgar Stanton +Maclay</span>, A. M. Large 8vo. Cloth, $2.25.</p> + +<p>During his two years in the Senate William Maclay kept a journal of his +own in which he minutely recorded the transactions of each day. This +record throws a flood of light on the doings of our first legislators.</p> + + + +<hr class="double1" /> + +<h2>MR. STOCKTON'S LAST NOVEL.</h2> + +<hr class="double2" /> + +<p class="sub5 noi">Kate Bonnet.</p> + +<p class="sub3">The Romance of a Pirate's Daughter. By <span class="smcap">Frank R. Stockton</span>. +Illustrated by A. I. Keller and H. S. Potter. 12mo. Cloth, +$1.50.</p> + +<p>"A capital story."—<i>London Times.</i></p> + +<p>"A rattling good story."—<i>New York Sun.</i></p> + +<p>"A sweet and charming story."—<i>Brooklyn Eagle.</i></p> + +<p>"A delightfully cheerful book."—<i>New York Tribune.</i></p> + +<p>"Most ludicrous story of the year."—<i>New York Journal.</i></p> + +<p>"Just the book to make a dull day bright."—<i>Baltimore Sun.</i></p> + +<p>"One of Stockton's most delicious creations."—<i>Boston Budget.</i></p> + +<p>"A live, wide-awake, bold, hesitate-at-nothing story."—<i>Boston Herald.</i></p> + +<p>"A bright and entertaining tale full of exciting incident."—<i>London +Athenæum.</i></p> + +<p>"A characteristic blending of interesting realism and absurdity."—<i>New +York Life.</i></p> + +<p>"Full of love, incident, adventure, and true Stocktonian +humor."—<i>Nashville, Tenn., American.</i></p> + +<p>"Even with the charming heroine in tears, the reader remains +cheerful."—<i>New York Outlook.</i></p> + +<p>"Nothing so fresh, picturesque, and amusing has been presented for a +long time."—<i>New York Press.</i></p> + +<p>"A story of adventure written in Mr. Stockton's characteristic +vein."—<i>New York Commercial Advertiser.</i></p> + +<p>"The funniest part of the story is the serene gravity with which the +author chronicles events."—<i>San Francisco Argonaut.</i></p> + +<p>"The appearance of a new book by Frank Stockton stirs one to an +agreeable flicker of anticipation."—<i>New York Literary Digest.</i></p> + +<p>"It is charming, and no one but Mr. Stockton could have written +it."—<span class="smcap">Julian Hawthorne</span>, in the <i>Minneapolis Tribune</i>.</p> + + + +<hr class="double1" /> + +<h2>A PICTURESQUE BOOK OF THE SEA.</h2> + +<hr class="double2" /> + +<p class="title2">A Sailor's Log.</p> + +<p class="sub3 noi"><i>Recollections of Forty Years of Naval Life.</i> By Rear-Admiral +<span class="smcap">Robley D. Evans</span>, U. S. N. Illustrated. Large 12mo. Cloth, $2.00.</p> + +<p>"It is essentially a book for men, young and old; and the man who does +not enjoy it is lacking in healthy red blood."—<i>Chicago Bookseller.</i></p> + +<p>"A profoundly interesting book. There is not a line of bravado in its +chapters, nor a carping criticism. It is a book which will increase the +esteem and high honor which the American feels and willingly awards our +naval heroes."—<i>Chicago Inter-Ocean.</i></p> + +<p>"It would be difficult to find an autobiography possessing more interest +than this narrative of forty years of active naval service. It equals +the most fascinating novel for interest; it contains a great deal of +material that has a distinct historical value.... Altogether it is a +most delightful book."—<i>Brooklyn Eagle.</i></p> + +<p>"His is a picturesque personality, and he stands the supreme test by +being as popular with his officers and men as he is with the public +generally. His life has been one of action and adventure since he was a +boy, and the record of it which he has prepared in his book 'A Sailor's +Log' has not a dull line in it from cover to cover. It is all action, +action, and again action from the first page to the last, and makes one +want to go and 'do things' himself. Any boy between fifteen and nineteen +who reads this book and does not want to go to sea must be a sluggish +youth.... The book is really an interesting record of an interesting +man."—<i>New York Press.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="double1" /> + +<h2>THE STORY OF THE WEST SERIES.</h2> + +<hr class="double2" /> + +<p class="title2">The Story of the Soldier.</p> + +<p class="sub3 noi">By General <span class="smcap">G. A. Forsyth</span>, U. S. A. (retired). Illustrated by R. +F. Zogbaum. A new volume in the Story of the West Series, edited +by Ripley Hitchcock. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50.</p> + +<p class="sub4">In the great task of opening the empire west of the Missouri the +American regular soldier has played a part large and heroic, but +unknown. The purpose of this book is to picture the American +soldier in the life of exploration, reconnoissances, +establishing posts, guarding wagon trains, repressing outbreaks, +or battling with hostile Indians, which has been so large a part +of the army's active work for a hundred years.</p> + +<p class="sub4">No romance can be more suggestive of heroic deeds than this +volume, which appears most opportunely at a time when the +Regular Army is facing so many and so serious duties in both +hemispheres. No one is better entitled to write it than the +brave officer who with his little handful of men held the +sandspit in the Arickaree for days against Roman Nose and his +thousands of warriors, and finally won their lives by sheer +dogged pluck and heroism. Mr. Zogbaum's illustrations are a most +valuable gallery of pictures of Western army life.</p> + +<p>"To General Forsyth belongs the credit of having gathered together for +the first time the story of the heroic work, invaluable to the progress +of our civilization, which regular soldiers performed in silence and +obscurity."—<i>Boston Herald.</i></p> + +<p>"General Forsyth's identity with the army extends over a notable period +in its history, and he is among the few officers who remain who are able +to write of their personal knowledge of the thrilling experiences of our +soldiers on the plains."—<i>Washington Army and Navy Register.</i></p> + +<p>"The soldierly qualities of the author appear on every page of the +volume in a precision of statement, a generosity of praise, and an +urbanity of temper. The narrative is commended to the interest and +attention of every student of our national life and +development."—<i>Philadelphia Ledger.</i></p> + +<p>"There is not a dull page in the book."—<i>Buffalo Commercial.</i></p> + +<p>"The story presents a fresh and thrilling chapter of American +history."—<i>Cleveland World.</i></p> + +<hr class="thick1" /> + +<p class="center sub4">D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK.</p> + +<hr class="thick2" /> + + + +<hr class="white" /> +<p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> + +<p class="center">Spelling and hyphenation have been retained as they appear in the +original publication.</p> + +<hr class="white" /> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Story of a Strange Career, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF A STRANGE CAREER *** + +***** This file should be named 33631-h.htm or 33631-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/6/3/33631/ + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story of a Strange Career + Being the Autobiography of a Convict; an Authentic Document + +Author: Anonymous + +Editor: Stanley Waterloo + +Release Date: September 4, 2010 [EBook #33631] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF A STRANGE CAREER *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +THE STORY OF A STRANGE CAREER + + + + + THE STORY OF + A STRANGE CAREER + + BEING + THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A CONVICT + + _AN AUTHENTIC DOCUMENT_ + + EDITED BY + STANLEY WATERLOO + + + NEW YORK + D. APPLETON AND COMPANY + 1902 + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1902 + BY D. APPLETON AND COMPANY + _Published August, 1902_ + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The story that follows this introduction is literally true. There died +lately, in a Western State prison, a man of the class known as habitual +criminals. He was, at the time of his death, serving out a sentence for +burglary. For thirty years he had been under the weight of prison +discipline, save for short periods of freedom between the end of one +term and the beginning of another. + +Because of this man's exceptional qualities, as contrasted with those of +the multitude of criminals, he was induced, semi-officially, in a +friendly way, to write the story of his life. He accepted the +proposition made to him, though, consistent with his quality, not quite +fulfilling his pledge, omitting, as he did, certain hard details of the +later part of his criminal career. This was but natural, and, perhaps, +it is the one incident which shows that the man realized, in some +measure, the truth as to his own character. + +The account which makes this book was written in 1897 and 1898, when its +author was in the free world. It has been thought best, out of regard +for an estimable family, to omit from the printed work the real name of +the writer. Another name has been substituted for the actual one, but, +with the exception of a few necessary technical corrections, and changes +of names of people and of one vessel--the one in which the first voyage +was made--the manuscript appears almost as it left the hands of its +author. + +As a true tale, as a study of sociology, as a picture of one human life +somehow bent and twisted from the normal, this work, it seems to the +editor, is one of the most surprising of productions. Its frank +unconsciousness, its striking revelations, its absence from all pose, +combine to make it unique among the writings of men. The Confessions of +Rousseau appear, in phases, almost artificial compared with the simple +but startling revelation which is here given. + +It was not hopelessness, nor recklessness, nor penitence, which made +this man write down unflinchingly what he remembered of the story of his +life. A cheerful reminiscent vein runs throughout all he tells. His +sense of humour is ever present. Nowhere appears a hint of the tragedy +of his experience. Of that he was not conscious. He was as free from +remorse and self-upbraiding as a wild animal or a tree. + +The story, one would imagine, should appeal to those who think. From the +beginning can be seen, in the character of the runaway sailor and +one-time officer of the navy, traits which indicate his absolute +failure, eventually, as a man. He drifts. He is irresponsible. He +escapes from one dilemma only to get into another. He is thriftless, and +takes no thought for the morrow. He has no regard for the truth, nor any +for the rights of property. He lies and steals simply because lying and +stealing are the obvious things for him to do. He does not think of +doing anything else. The manner in which the story is told is +characteristic, and should open the eyes of sentimentalists as to the +real attitude of habitual criminals. Never, from first to last, is there +an expression of genuine shame or the least contrition. There are, it is +true, occasional sentences in which the man calls himself a fool, and +betrays a glimmering of appreciation of the general want of sense and +wisdom in his course, but there is no ring of sincere repentance nor of +sorrow over a wasted life. This extraordinary character is simply of the +opinion that he has not been clever enough. He never suspects that he +has not been good enough to live a normal life among normal people. The +truth is, he had no clear ideas of right and wrong. + +Released from prison, and glad to be free, he always declared that now +he was determined to "keep out of trouble." With him "trouble" meant +"prison," and nothing else. Inevitably, surely, certainly, he was drawn +into ways of crime. As water seeks its level, so he gravitated towards +"trouble." To plan and execute an enterprise of robbery was the form of +activity most natural to him. He was hindered by no scruples, schooled +by no experience, tormented by no necessity. When arrested, and not +before, he considered that he was "in trouble." He fretted over his +punishment, but not over his offence. + +And yet this was a human being, one not without good traits. He was not, +physically, a coward; on the contrary, he was simply and naturally +fearless. He was kind of heart, gentle to children, and tender to +animals. Under discipline, he was patient and obedient, a model +prisoner, the wardens say. What he could not do was to stand alone and +be a man in the world. + +Looking outward, this man was a shrewd and appreciative observer. His +descriptions of natural scenes are vivid. There are few better stories +of the life of a prisoner of war than his, and his characterizations of +men and events are singularly apt. His eyes looked on the seamy side of +life, and saw with clearness when fixed on any one or anything but +himself. The conditions under which common sailors live have rarely +been more vividly described. One can only wonder, while reading his +plain story, told without heat or passion, how any man could follow such +a life as he describes. + +The work is without precedent in character. It is fascinating as a life +story and as a study of human nature. It is a contribution to +unconscious literature. + + STANLEY WATERLOO. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I.--MY FIRST VOYAGE 1 + + II.--WHALING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC 16 + + III.--A SAILOR ASHORE 32 + + IV.--I TAKE TO THE SEA AGAIN 46 + + V.--ON THE BRIG GRENFALLS 57 + + VI.--THE "FLYING DUTCHMAN" 68 + + VII.--IN HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE 85 + + VIII.--THE CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS 101 + + IX.--THE ESCAPE 115 + + X.--THE SPORT OF THE WAVES 126 + + XI.--A GLIMPSE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN 142 + + XII.--IN AMERICAN WATERS 153 + + XIII.--MY THIRD VOYAGE 164 + + XIV.--PRETTY JENNIE BELL 181 + + XV.--GOOD-BYE TO ENGLAND 198 + + XVI.--WHAT MONEY CAN DO 207 + + XVII.--THE NEW YORK DRAFT RIOTS 215 + + XVIII.--ACTING ENSIGN IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY 226 + + XIX.--AFTER BLOCKADE-RUNNERS 239 + + XX.--A PRISONER OF WAR 252 + + XXI.--IN THE PRISON 264 + + XXII.--PRISON LIFE AND PRISON FARE 274 + + XXIII.--DISAPPOINTMENT AND MORE WAITING 288 + + XXIV.--A CRACKER BEAUTY 297 + + XXV.--LIBBY PRISON 311 + + XXVI.--A FREE MAN AGAIN 323 + + XXVII.--FORT FISHER 336 + + XXVIII.--THE ISLAND OF HAITI 348 + + XXIX.--I LEAVE THE SEA AND GO WEST 357 + + + + +THE STORY OF A STRANGE CAREER + + + + +CHAPTER I + +MY FIRST VOYAGE + + +On my mother's side I am of an old New York family. My great-grandfather +served as colonel in the war of 1812. My father was born in Dublin, +being a younger son of an Irish gentleman. He was educated to be a +druggist, his father paying a large bonus to have him apprenticed to a +celebrated firm in that business. His elder brother was ordained as a +clergyman in the Church of England, and is now a high dignitary in the +Church, if living. At the age of twenty, my father came to New York and +started in business. My mother, then about fourteen or fifteen years +old, became acquainted with him, and they were shortly afterward +married, the match being a runaway one. I was born when mother was but +sixteen years old. My parents lived comfortably; they sent me to +boarding-schools at North Cornwall, Conn., Ballston Spa, N. Y., and the +Military School at Danbury, Conn., and finally to one of the New York +colleges. At that time I was very desirous to be a sailor, and have been +sorry for it ever since. My parents objected, but afterwards consented. +My father had many customers among the ship-owners and sea captains. At +that time New York ship-owners had several vessels in the China trade, +and sought to get well-taught American boys to educate them in +seamanship and navigation, the idea being to make them officers of their +ships as soon as they became competent. Seven boys were selected, I +being one of them. + +Father furnished me with a complete outfit for sea, and a set of +navigation instruments and books. One thing I thought lacking--that was +a pipe and tobacco. The sea-chest was sent to father's store. My younger +brother, Charlie, was anxious to know what sailors wore at sea, so he +examined the contents of the chest, and found a paper of cheap tobacco +and a two-cent pipe. + +Charles--"Oh, father, George smokes!" + +Father--"Why, George, do you use tobacco?" + +George--"No, father, I never have done so yet; but I always hear that +sailors smoke at sea." + +Father--"Well, George, throw that stuff away and come with me." + +He then took me to a cigar-store, and bought me twelve half-pound papers +of fine Turkish tobacco, some pipes, and a box containing one hundred +fine cigars. What was the result? I never used a pipeful of that +tobacco, nor a cigar, and not until years afterward, when I was +forty-eight years old and in Joliet Prison, did I acquire the tobacco +habit, first by chewing it and then by smoking pipes made out of tool +handles on holidays--our only opportunity in that "hell-hole." + +My father's friends had a full-rigged ship ready for sea at that time; +there were the captain, first, second, and third mates, and a crew of +about sixteen men of all nationalities. We seven boys were shipped on +board as apprentices, at the rate of four dollars a month. The voyage +was to be to Batavia, Island of Java, for a part cargo of coffee; from +there to Shanghai, China, for the balance of the cargo, the new crop of +tea, which would be ready for us by the time of our arrival. + +The ship--we'll call her the Prospero--was to go out in ballast, as they +had no cargo to send out. Three passengers were to go with us--a man, +his sister, and her child. The sister was the wife of a pilot and opium +smuggler in the Chinese waters. Ten kegs, containing five thousand +Mexican dollars each, were also sent on board to be delivered to the +branch firm in China. The fifty thousand dollars were placed in the male +passengers' state-room, under his berth. + +The ship was moved out from the dock, and anchored in the East River. +Next morning, early, a large tugboat came alongside the ship. On board +the tugboat was a large party, invited by the firm to have a pleasure +trip while towing the ship out to sea. My father and mother were with +the party, many of their friends, the captain's wife, and our +passengers' friends among the number. It was a merry party. We weighed +anchor. They gave us three cheers, and, wishing us a happy voyage, +turned back for New York. We had commenced our voyage to the Indian +Ocean. + +No one had any idea how abruptly that voyage was to end, nor of the +misery that was to follow. In less than two months this despatch was +sent all over the country: + + "CHARLESTON, S. C., _August, 1856_. + + "The ship Prospero has arrived here, its captain having been + murdered at sea. The first mate and two boys are under arrest by + the United States officers, accused of having committed the + murder."[A] + + [A] Our passengers took passage from Charleston in another ship for + China. They never reached their destination. The vessel caught + fire at sea and all aboard perished. Not a soul was ever heard + from. + +Now comes the story of the mysterious murder. It has never been solved +to this day, although many years have passed since it occurred. + +The ship had been headed to the south-east, so as to get into the +trade-winds near the coast of Africa. When near the Cape Verde Islands +the captain was found dead in his bed, having been killed by being +struck in the head with a ship's axe, having his throat cut, and being +stabbed in the heart several times with a double-edged knife. The cabin +steward went into the captain's state-room at eight o'clock to wake him +for breakfast, and at once notified the first mate of the murder. The +mate first went to the state-room, and then came on deck and ordered all +the crew into the state-room. This is what we saw: the captain dead in +bed, the only clothing on him being an undershirt, while the blood had +stained all the bedding, had spurted up on the partitions around the +berth for three or four feet, and also on the floor. Beside the body lay +a small axe and a white handkerchief stained with blood, marked in one +corner with the letter "L" embroidered in red silk, which letter had +been partly picked out with a pen or knife, but was still discernible. +The mate then informed us that he was acting captain of the ship. In our +presence he wound up the two chronometers, which are always kept in the +captain's room, for on them are dependent the daily calculations of the +correct longitude. + +We were finally ordered upon deck. The crew conversed together, and +agreed among themselves that the ship should return to New York. The +mate insisted upon continuing the voyage, and also asked the crew if +they would allow him to place anyone under arrest whom he believed to be +the murderer. They assented, and he ordered Henry Leroy to be put in +irons. + +The boy Leroy's hands were put behind his back, and he was handcuffed, +then rusty iron chains were fastened to them and around his ankles. He +was placed in the second mate's cabin on deck and the door was locked. + +He was kept there until we reached Charleston. The weather was extremely +warm. When taken out, he was completely covered with iron rust, which +had stuck to his body with the perspiration, and he was not allowed to +wash himself. + +Shortly after Leroy was put in irons, he called for the second mate, and +had a long conversation with him. The result was that I was handcuffed, +hands behind my back, was taken on the quarter-deck, made to sit down +with my back to a stanchion, and lashed to it by the passing of a rope +several times around my body and once around my neck. I remained in that +position for forty-eight hours, and was then put into the first mate's +cabin with my hands fastened behind my back. + +The mate still insisted on continuing the voyage, the crew upon +returning. Then he proposed going back to Fayal, Western Islands, and +leaving Leroy and me there, to be sent to New York by the American +Consul, for trial. The crew would not agree to that. Nothing would +satisfy them but to return home. So the ship was put about and headed +for New York. We never got there, but fetched up at Bulls Bay, about +forty miles north of Charleston, S. C. + +The ship was anchored close to shore and the sails furled. Shortly +afterward a steamer was sighted coming down the coast. Signals of +distress were hoisted, and the steamer headed for us. The mate had one +of our boats lowered, and, with a boat's crew of four men, went aboard +the steamer. He wished to go to Charleston himself for a tugboat, also +to telegraph to New York, but the men with him would not let him go, so +he sent an order to Charleston for a tug, and a letter to the captain of +the revenue cutter, explaining the situation. + +The knife was never found; no blood stains could be found on any +clothing or person aboard the ship. The axe had always hung in brackets +over the captain's bed, that being the only trace that was left. The man +who did the deed must have been covered with blood. No noise had been +heard, although a number of persons were sleeping close by, and one half +of the crew were awake and on duty continually. The corpse was placed +in a water-cask, which was filled with brine and salt from the beef +barrels. After the inquest, it was shipped to New York for burial. Next +will be related the evidence against Leroy and myself. + +Henry Leroy was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., his parents being quite +wealthy. The elder brother was lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy +during the War of the Rebellion. Henry was the "black sheep" of the +family, and was sent to sea in order to tame him down. The captain was +instructed to be severe with him. He was very flighty, had a wild look +in his eyes, and was very quarrelsome. In less than three weeks he had +had four fights with the boys, the last one with me. There being no +cargo on board, the boys had quarters fixed up for them between decks. +Henry was in one watch and I in the other. + +One night, at twelve o'clock, Henry came below and I was to go on watch. +It was then we had the fight. There being only a thin partition between +our place and the cabin, the noise woke the captain. The next morning +the captain tied Henry to a dry-goods box and gave him a severe flogging +with a rope's end. Henry afterward told some of the crew that he would +be revenged for that flogging; that was the evidence against him. + +Now for myself: All the boys would tell Henry all kinds of nonsense and +he would believe it. I at one time proposed to him that we should kill +everybody on board the ship; that we two should sail the ship to the +coast of Africa, take the fifty thousand dollars in silver (weighing +over four thousand pounds) and go home with it. Much to my surprise, he +was willing to do so. Two or three times afterwards I amused myself with +that yarn. That story, with some additions of his own, was the evidence +against me. Some of his schoolmates afterwards stated under oath that it +was impossible for him to tell the truth. A tugboat was sent to +Charleston, and the ship was towed to that port. The United States +Marshal came on board, and Henry and I were taken up to the city in the +revenue cutter and put in the police station until the inquest was held. +In a couple of days after our arrival the inquest was held on board the +ship. Leroy and I were present. The captain's body was laid on deck and +we were made to stand near it and look at the terrible sight while some +of the jurors felt of our pulses, to see if we were unusually excited. +Leroy testified that I had confessed to the murder at twelve o'clock the +night it occurred, and that I had told him of it when the watches were +changed. At my trial it was proved that I had not spoken to him from the +evening before the murder until we were on the revenue cutter. + +The coroner's jury ordered that we three be held for trial. So the mate +was handcuffed and the three of us were taken to the Charleston jail, +where we remained for about six months. As soon as the news reached New +York, my father and Leroy's brother got letters of introduction to the +most prominent men in Charleston and started for that city. In the +meantime we had our examination before the United States Court +Commissioner and were held over to the Federal grand jury without bail. +The ship's crew were detained in jail as witnesses. It was a picnic for +them, as they were each to receive one dollar and a half a day, +comfortable quarters, the freedom of a large yard for exercise, and +their food, with no work. On the ship it was hard labour with only +twelve dollars a month for the voyage. + +When my father and Mr. Leroy arrived they were welcomed by some of the +leading citizens, and in a short time made many friends. They at once +retained the four best lawyers in the city. We three prisoners were kept +separate, but, as Henry and myself boarded with the jailer's family, we +were together at meal hours. I made many friends, while Henry seemed to +be disliked by everybody. The mate was kept in a cell by himself all the +time. A leading Freemason came from New York to Charleston and retained +a competent law firm for his defence. The Freemasons were the only +friends he had, and they stood by him well. + +No indictment was found against Leroy by the grand jury. He was released +and put under bonds as a witness. + +My trial came first. It lasted nearly a month and created much +excitement North and South. Leroy's testimony was all there was against +me. In the cross-examination he was badly rattled, and told so many lies +that everybody got disgusted with him. He was proved to be a liar by +some of his old schoolmates. The jury acquitted me without leaving their +seats. They all shook hands with me, and I was congratulated by +everybody. I was put under bonds as a witness. + +The first mate's trial then took place. Circumstances looked bad for +him. His cruelty to Leroy and myself made a bad impression on the jury. +When I showed how I had been tied with ropes for two days, with my hands +fastened behind my back for seventeen nights and days in the roasting +hot weather, it actually made some of the jury grit their teeth. The +jury retired, and were out quite a number of hours. Finally, they +brought in a verdict of "Not guilty," but for a long time they stood ten +for guilty and two for acquittal. After that, he never could get a +mate's position on any ship in the United States, so he went to +Australia and, when last heard from, was captain of an English ship. + +The Prospero, on one of her voyages, was dismasted by a typhoon in the +China Sea, was towed into one of the treaty ports in China and used as a +coal hulk. + +I went back to New York with father and mother, was gladly received by +all my friends, and remained there until I took a notion in my thick +head to go on a whaling voyage to the Pacific Ocean. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +WHALING IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC + + +I was in the habit of walking around the docks of the East and North +Rivers in New York and looking at the shipping. Fronting the river were +a number of shipping offices for sailors, and some of them had a placard +offering eighty dollars advance for men for the whaling service. So, one +day, I went into one of the offices and stated my desires. I was very +cordially received. That evening, with several others, I was sent to New +Bedford, Mass. On our arrival there we were assigned to a sailors' +boarding-house. In about two weeks afterward I was shipped on board the +Courier, for a three years' cruise in the South Pacific Ocean, for the +capture of sperm whales. I was to get one barrel of oil for myself out +of every one hundred and ninety that we should capture. Sperm oil was +worth about two dollars a gallon. No petroleum had been discovered at +that time. + +I was furnished with a seaman's outfit, which, with my board bill and +expenses, amounted exactly to eighty dollars; that was the advance. I +signed an agreement that the captain should pay that amount out of the +first money due me. Captain Coffin, four mates, and four boat-steerers +were the officers of the ship, with twenty-eight men before the mast, a +cooper, blacksmith, carpenter, cook, and steward--forty-two men on the +vessel, and the captain's wife and little boy. + +The night before we sailed I wrote to my father and mother and let them +know what I had done. I thought at the time that I knew more than they +did. Well, the older I grow, the more I realize what a fool I have been +all my life, and never a greater one than I am now at the age of +sixty-two. + +One morning early we weighed anchor, and were soon out of sight of land; +then the voyage began in earnest. Much to my surprise, we had to take +turns perched up aloft for two hours at a time on the top-gallant +cross-trees, looking out for whales. Why, I never thought there was a +whale within five thousand miles of New Bedford at that time, but I was +mistaken. They are sometimes captured in sight of the harbour. The +boat-steerers were kept busy fixing up their harpoons and lances, +getting the boats ready, coiling the lines in the tubs etc. In the +meantime the mates were watching the crew very closely to see which men +were the most active. + +After we were at sea about ten days all hands were called aft to the +mizzen-mast. Then the mates, each in turn, picked out one man for his +own boat's crew. Being light and active, I was made stroke-oarsman of +the first mate's boat, and a lively job it proved to be, too. Soon we +got in the warm latitudes and calm days, and then the boats would be +lowered in order to give the crews exercise and practice in rowing. It +was hard work, but we soon became expert oarsmen. + +One day we sighted the Cape Verde Islands, and sailed among them for a +few days. Boats were sent ashore; rotten tobacco--outfit quality--was +traded to the natives for fruit; then I got in my work, so far as the +fruit went. The ship then steered for the Island of Martinbas-Trinidado, +21 deg. south latitude, for the purpose of ascertaining whether our +chronometers were still correct, by comparing our observations with the +longitude of the island, as that is known to a certainty. + +Trinity Rock, as it is called also, is uninhabited, quite barren, and +only a few miles in circumference. That is the place where we had our +first adventure. The first mate's boat was to take the crew, with the +captain, his wife and child, also three old muskets and ammunition, and +land them in a seaman-like manner on the island. The boat's party with +the old army muskets were to kill a number of mythical goats on land. + +We pulled close to the shore, just outside of the heavy surf, trying to +find a safe place to land. Finally we came to an opening in the reef. +Inside, the water looked smooth and inviting, and there was also a nice +sandy beach. To the left of the reef was the wreck of a French ship, +the bowsprit pointing straight up into the air. While looking at the +wreck, we saw a large green turtle just ahead of the boat. Then visions +of turtle soup with our goat's meat dawned upon us. It chanced, though, +that in trying to capture that turtle we made a great mistake, for just +at that time a very-heavy surf came over the reef and capsized our boat. +Things were badly mixed for a time. Boat, oars, men, and the captain's +wife and child were going in every direction. Finally things quieted +down a little, and we landed on the beach. We got the boat and what oars +we could, and then took a rest on the burning hot sand. The weather +being very warm, the boat's crew all wore leather slippers and no +stockings. We had to run up and down on the sand with our bare feet, as +the aforesaid slippers were lost when the boat went over. I picked hard +little short thorns out of my feet for days afterward. They came from +dried-up vines that grew in the sand. + +The beach was honeycombed with large holes, and each hole contained a +big yellow land-crab. Every step we took, snap would go a big pair of +claws for our feet. We had also lost our straw hats, so we had the full +benefit of the sun on our bare heads. A number of wild land birds of a +good, healthy size would swoop down upon us. It was anything but a +pleasure at that time, and the muskets being lost also, the captain and +mate changed their minds about the goat business. + +The cause of our disaster was made clear to us in a short time. The surf +for about ten minutes would run low, and then would be followed by three +tremendous rollers in succession. It was the latter that wrecked us on a +barren island. We soon got tired of life on shore. The question was how +to get away. + +In the meantime, while we were on the goat expedition, the second mate's +boat had left the ship on a fishing excursion. They anchored the boat +near shore, outside the surf, and were hauling the fish in at a lively +rate. We needed their assistance. As the mate still had his shoes on his +feet, he went quite a distance down the beach and made signals for the +boat to follow him back. When they got opposite to us we explained the +situation. By watching for a good chance, they pulled in quickly and +threw us the end of a harpoon-line, and got outside of the reef. We +fastened the line to the bow of our boat, and when a low surf came in +launched it, were towed out by the other boat, and arrived on board the +ship very much disgusted with the whole business. + +The old Courier's yards were braced around and we were off for Cape +Horn, 56 deg. south latitude. One day, it being quite calm, the lookouts at +the mast-head noticed a lot of sea-gulls flying around in a circle, and +under them something floating in the water. We thought it might be a +dead whale, so the mate's boat was lowered. We found it to be an old +cask, which must have been in the water for years, as it was thickly +covered with barnacles. + +We towed the cask to the ship and hoisted it on board. As it came out of +the sea we noticed that the staves were completely honeycombed by the +sea-worms. The water was spurting out as if it were a sprinkling-pot. We +had just got it over the ship's rail when it burst, and the contents +fell on the deck. It proved to be palm-oil, probably from some vessel in +the African trade that had been wrecked. It had, no doubt, drifted many +thousands of miles. We saved two barrels of oil out of our catch. + +The weather soon began to get much cooler, and storms were frequent; +then we began to see the albatross and Cape Horn pigeons. The latter is +about the size of a domestic pigeon, but has webbed feet and a hooked +bill, and is the only wild bird having variegated plumage, no two being +marked alike. We caught quite a number of the albatross, some measuring +seventeen feet from tip to tip of wing. We caught them with large +fishhooks baited with a big piece of salt pork. The bait would float on +the surface of the water. We had them walking all over the decks, as +they cannot fly unless they run on water to give them a good start. The +large webbed feet make excellent money pouches when dried and properly +dressed. + +In the month of January, midsummer in the southern hemisphere, we +sighted Staten Land, the extreme southern point of South America, and +ordinarily designated as Cape Horn. For the first time we then saw the +Pacific Ocean, "so near and yet so far," for just at this time we were +struck by a heavy northwest gale. A close-reefed main top-sail and storm +stay-sail was all we could carry with the ship headed as close to the +wind as possible, so as to ride over the mountain-like waves. The helm +was lashed hard down, as there was no steerage way. + +There we were, drifting to the south for about three weeks before the +gale broke, and we were able to make sail on the ship. It was daylight +for twenty-two hours, and the other two hours of the twenty-four could +not be called dark. Such days would be delightful for farmers in this +part of the world. Soon after the storm we got fair winds, and were on +our cruising grounds off the southern coast of Chile and northern part +of Patagonia (the new boundary gives the whole coast to Chile now). + +The ship's crew was then divided into four watches, with a boat-steerer +in charge and only one watch on duty at a time, so we had plenty of +leisure. Every night, all sail but two would be close reefed, top-sails +would be furled, then the ship would be headed offshore until midnight, +and would then go about and stand inshore until daylight, when all sail +would be set again. At certain seasons whales come down the coast going +south, and we were keeping a bright lookout for them. + +Each whaleboat's outfit consists of three harpoons, two lances, one +cutting-in spade, one tub with three hundred fathoms of +five-eighths'-inch whale-line, one extra tub with one hundred fathoms, +one tight keg containing boat compass, lantern, steel and flint, and +some sea biscuit. The latter articles are used only in case the boat is +lost from the ship, which frequently happens. + +There is a number of different species among the whales. They are all +mammals, bringing forth and suckling their calves. On attacking a cow +and calf together, it is the custom to kill the latter first, as the cow +will never desert her calf. The sulphur-bottom whale is the largest, but +it is never harpooned, as it is too dangerous, and will always run all +the line out of the tubs before it stops sounding. The sperm whale +furnishes the most valuable oil. The sperm whale throws its flukes, or +tail, up and down when attacked, so it is possible for a boat to +approach one head, or fluke, on. The right whale furnishes the common +oil, and in larger quantities; sometimes one fish will yield two hundred +and fifty barrels of oil, as well as many pounds of whalebone, now very +scarce and valuable. It hangs in large thin sheets from the jaws, wide +at the top, and tapering to a narrow point with hair-like fringe on the +edges. The right whale can be attacked only "head on," as they throw +their flukes from side to side. They are captured in the cold northern +seas, the sperm in southern waters. One hundred barrels is a large yield +from one fish of the latter species. + +We saw several whales, but could not get near them. Finally, one big +fellow was sighted, and all boats were lowered, the first mate's being +in the water first. Having a good fair wind, we set the boat's sail. In +a short time we were close to the whale. Being stroke-oarsman, it was my +duty to keep the sheet of the sail in my hand, having one turn around a +cleat. The boat-steerer stands up with a harpoon ready. Soon we were +right on top of the fish, the sheet was "let go," a harpoon was thrown +just as we were going over the whale's back, and then the fun began. The +line leads from the tub to a post in the stern of the boat--two turns +around it--and thence through a cleat in the boat's bows. The tub was +alongside me. I was kept busy throwing water on the line, so that the +friction would not set fire to the post, or "loggerhead." The mate was +holding that rope in his hand all the time, just keeping all the strain +on it possible without sinking the boat. If he had let a kink get into +that line as it came from the tub, the boat and crew would have gone +under water in quick order. If he had let the line slip off the +"loggerhead" it would probably have killed every man in the boat. The +noise and sawing of that rope, with the smoke and steam from the +"loggerhead," I can remember to this day. The whale stopped sounding at +last. We were watching which way the line would point as the whale was +coming up, and discovering that the line was directly under us, we got +away from that spot in a very lively manner, as that was a sure sign +that his whaleship intended to have a fight with the boat. They +frequently play that trick, and the crew have to jump into the water, +provided they have a chance to do so. In a few minutes our friend came +to the surface, spouted water, and then started off "dead to +windward"--they invariably do so--at a terrific speed. The boat-steerer +and mate now changed places, and all the men except myself reversed +positions, so as to face the boat's bow. They hauled in the line, and I +coiled it carefully back in the tub. When alongside of the whale, the +mate threw a lance as often as possible, aiming at a point just behind +the fin, at what is called the "life." It is a mass of very large veins +just under the backbone, that is used by the whale as a reservoir for +the extra blood which it requires while under water. When that is once +cut, a whale spouts blood instead of water. Down he went again. We had +to keep up that sort of work for about two hours, until finally the +blood was thrown from the spout, and we were completely covered with it. +In a little while our capture began to swim in a circle and on one side +with one fin out of water, and soon he was dead. Sharks made their +appearance in the water so close to the boat that we could strike them +with our oars, and hundreds of large sea-birds were wildly flying around +us, all attracted by the blood. In the meantime the other boats had been +rowing hard to overtake us if possible and assist, or pick us up, in +case of accident. As we were dead to windward, and several miles from +the ship, all the boats had to fasten on and tow the whale back, and a +big contract it was. + +On the ship everything had been made ready for "cutting-in." The fish +was fastened alongside by heavy iron chains and, with heavy tackles from +the main masthead and loading to the windlass, the blubber was slowly +hoisted on deck. The captain and the mate did the cutting with +long-handled blubber spades. They kept cutting one continuous strip two +feet wide, and at every eight feet would cut a hole and hook in the next +tackle; and so they kept on hoisting and lowering until the blubber was +all on board. It was a process similar to peeling an orange. The strain +from the windlass kept the whale's body revolving in the water as the +blubber was cut. The head was cut off and hoisted on deck entire. The +chains being removed, the carcass, weighing many tons, sank to the +bottom, the sharks voraciously following it. + +Then a fire was built under the try-pots, with wood. As the oil was +boiled from the blubber it would be put in a cooling-pot and thence into +casks, the scraps being used for fuel. That work lasted for about a +week, everybody working hard. It was nothing but oil all over the +ship--clothing, food, and water--all had a liberal allowance. Eighty +barrels was the total of that catch. A few weeks later we sighted a +school of young whales. Several other ships being close at the time, it +was boats, whales, sharks, and everything mixed up. + +Our boatswain got knocked overboard while we were fast to a whale; +another boat picked him up. We got only two whales out of the lot, +fifteen barrels of oil out of one and twenty out of the other. Some of +the other ships got five and six. About that time the season on that +coast ended. The captain concluded to make for port and get fresh +provisions and water, and then make a trip north of the equator. The +water in our casks was getting rather stale; it tasted and smelled like +a strong decoction of dead rats. San Carlos, Chiloe Island, was the port +we anchored in. I took a look at the shore and made up my mind that if I +ever got my feet on dry land they would stay there. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A SAILOR ASHORE + + +The water casks were hoisted up from the hold, lowered overboard and +towed ashore, to be filled with fresh water. In about a week's time we +finished that job, then all hands were to have twenty-four hours' +liberty on shore--eight men at a time. My name was one of the first to +be called. We received two dollars cash for spending money. Taking my +chum aside, I quietly bid him good-bye, and then got into the boat. +Everything was strange to me on shore--the customs, language, and +sights. I got acquainted with a young American from another ship, by the +name of Amos, and learned that he also was desirous to quit the oil +business. During the day we kept with the other sailors, visiting the +dance-houses. When evening came we both struck out for the woods. + +The natives were very kind to us, knowing that we were runaway sailors. +They would invite us to sleep in their houses during the nights, when +they would teach us to talk Spanish. It must have been very amusing to +them, as they were continually laughing and saying "Bueno" (good). In +the daytime we would go down to the beach to see whether our ships had +left harbour yet. In about three weeks' time we had the pleasure of +seeing both vessels standing out to sea. It was the last time that I saw +the Courier on that coast. Her old ribs now lie in the sands at the +mouth of Charleston Harbour, South Carolina. During the war the +Government purchased a number of condemned whalers and fitted them up +for sea, when they were loaded with stone and taken to Charleston +Harbour, dismantled, and sunk in the channels, in order to blockade the +harbour more effectually. The whole world made a fuss about it. That +blockading experiment was a dismal failure, as it was only a short time +until the waters of the Ashley and Cooper rivers, combined with the +ocean currents, washed out much deeper and better channels. I saw the +ship just before she was sunk and bade the old Courier a last farewell. + +A few days after our ships had left San Carlos we walked into town, +interviewed the captain of the port, and asked for our discharge, saying +that our ships had gone to sea and abandoned us in a foreign port. Well, +we got our papers all right. We needed them at that time, as nobody +could go from one town to another without having documents to show who +they were--not even the natives. The country is under strict military +government, the army having control of everything. My friend and I +finally came to the conclusion that we were in a bad fix, being in a +foreign country, not able to speak the language, and having no money. +There was no work to be obtained. After a while we made up our minds to +work our passage to Valparaiso on some merchant vessel. We remained +around the landing-dock for several days. Every captain we spoke to +replied to us kindly, but they had no places for us. In the meantime we +had taken trips to the beach, digging clams to eat. The people in the +town were not so liberal to us as were the natives who lived at a +distance. + +While loafing around the dock one day we got into conversation with an +American, a runaway whaler. He told us that he was a carpenter, had been +living several years in the country, and was married to a young Chilean +woman. He wanted Amos to go to another of the islands and work with him. +My friend would not go without me, so Tom, the carpenter, proposed that +I should also go, as there was a blacksmith by the name of Bill who +would be glad to have me as a helper. Now was the formation of a fine +quartette of Yankees begun! Amos was a graduate of a Down East reform +school, very handy with tools, a fine-looking young fellow, but he could +not read nor write, and he never could learn the Spanish language; +reference to a terribly ugly temper and vicious disposition completes +his description. Our new friend took us to his house, gave us an +introduction to his wife, a very pretty young woman about sixteen years +old. (They marry as young as eleven and twelve years of age.) + +Manuela was not educated and was exceedingly lazy, with lax ideas as to +morality and virtue. Tom informed us that the next morning we would +start for the Island of Calabucco, as he had house rent free there and a +contract to lengthen a boat for a priest. During the night Amos got out +of bed, went to another house, and stole the only double-barrelled +shotgun in that town. Tom hid it in a mattress. After breakfast, we +carried what household goods there were down to the dock. A tool-chest, +a couple of pots, some dishes, a few clothes, and the bedding completed +the outfit. + +Everything was put on board a sloop, and then we started for our new +home. During the trip Senora Manuela was watching my friend Amos; the +result was that Tom told me that I should live with him, and Amos would +have to go to Bill's house. On our arrival we soon had our house in +order. Opposite to our place was the residence of the priest. I saw a +number of dirty children--about eight--running about the place, also a +woman. As I got better acquainted I had every reason to believe that +poverty, piety, and celibacy were omitted from the Father's creed. + +After a rest of several days, we went to his reverence's yard and had a +look at the boat. It was an old yawl from some ship, very short and +broad. We were to make it three feet longer by piecing it in the centre. +The boss asked me for my advice. I knew a lot about boats then. Oh, yes; +a very easy job--if we only knew how! We waited a few days longer before +going to work. Money was very scarce in that town, so they used a small +cedar-board for currency. The size was about six feet long, six inches +wide, and half an inch thick. The value of each was about six cents. The +stores were small, and, for that reason, the cedar-boards were piled up +in the back yards until some merchant would buy them at the market +price--seven dollars a hundred--and ship them to Valparaiso. There were +no lights in the streets at night-time, and the night watchman would +call out the hours and half-hours and the state of the weather during +the whole night, so that one could always know exactly his whereabouts. +My friend Amos, with his past experience, took advantage of that fact, +and induced me to go into the lumber business with him. Night after +night we were busy climbing over fences and carrying off cedar-boards. +About thirty-five each was considered a fair load for a trip. In the +daytime we took them to different places and made our purchases. + +One day we at Tom's house got excited. The double-barrelled shotgun was +gone. We watched our chance and stole it back from the house presided +over by Bill and Amos; however, they stole it back again in course of +time, and kept it. Tom's ranch did not suit me, so I went to work for a +native shoemaker. Amos quit Bill and went to Tom. I quit the shoemaker +and went with Bill. About that time Tom concluded it would be easier to +make a new boat out and out. The padre was of the same opinion. He told +Tom he could have the old boat for his own use. So the job began in +earnest, but our friend was not a very good man for that kind of work; +he could not do anything until he took the old yawl apart for patterns +to work by. It was about one year before the new boat was finished. In +the town was a man who owned a launch--a home-made affair, with planks +two and a half inches thick. For oars he had rough, heavy poles with +pieces of boards fastened on the ends for blades. Nothing but a +boat-race would settle the point as to which was the faster. Our padre +was quite a sport. At any cock-fighting, gambling, horse- or boat-racing +he was always the umpire and prime mover. Eight sheep and one barrel of +cider were the stakes to be raced for. One Sunday morning, just after +mass, the race took place. The padre's boat came in about a half mile +ahead--the whole course was not two miles. Tom's reputation as a +boat-builder was away up in consequence, and he got the "big-head" +badly. That night he gave a select party at his house in honour of the +event. Aguardiente was the only refreshment served; and towards +midnight all were drunk, Tom especially so. A thin partition separated +the bedroom from the main apartment. Our host, in staggering around, +fell against the door, and tumbled on to his own bed, only to find it +already occupied. Then there was a row; the guest jumped out of the +window, with the other occupant a close second. + +My new employer, the blacksmith, was a fine-looking man of six feet two +inches in height, and built in proportion. He had a fair complexion and +light hair hanging in ringlets down his shoulders. He was from +Baltimore, Md. Swearing, drinking aguardiente, and talk--that was all he +was good for. His wife was a widow seventeen years of age when he +married her. They had three little boys, the most vicious little +wretches that I ever came in contact with. As for their home, it was +squalid and filthy. No floor, and the fire was in the centre of the only +room. On each side was a board resting on stone: that was the only place +we had to sit down. A most cheerful family circle we made. The children +were continually raising Cain, and Bill swearing at them in Spanish. As +yet none of the bosses had ever said anything about wages. However, I +never had any work to do, so that equalized affairs. + +One day Bill--or Guillermo, as he was called--was wanted at a saw-mill +on the mainland. A freshet had made a wreck of the mill and dam. None of +the natives was willing to work, so Bill induced Amos and me to go with +him. At last I was working for fifty cents a day. After a while we got +the dam repaired, and then fixed up the mill. It then dawned upon Don +Fernando's mind that he had no one to run the aforesaid mill. So he made +a contract with us to do the sawing at two cents a board, we to "find" +ourselves in food and cooking utensils. Bill sent for his family; Amos +and I occupied a small room in the mill for a living apartment, where we +were to keep bachelors' hall. Our stock of provisions was furnished on +credit from the employer's store. Wheat flour was worth eight cents a +pound, but wheat was worth only fifty cents a bushel. This seeming +profit was used up in sending the wheat to Valparaiso for grinding and +then having it shipped back as flour, as no railroads were there then. + +The mill was a most primitive affair; the amount of labour was +astounding, the results of our toil much more so; a hundred boards was +our largest day's work, and I will guarantee that not any two of them +were of equal thickness at the end. Some days we would have no logs to +saw; other days there would be no water in the dam. Bill had one cent as +foreman, Amos and I each half a cent a board. Our average was about +twenty cents a day each. + +We found ourselves gradually getting into debt for provisions and +clothing. After talking over our financial affairs one evening, we came +to the conclusion that our prospects looked gloomy. About bedtime Amos +put on his hat and coat and invited me to do the same. He was always +sullen, so I never asked him any questions. When we were outside the +room he informed me that in future he would live a ---- sight cheaper +and better than he had been doing in the past. All I could say was, +"Amen, brother!" My friend proved to be a good forager; before morning +we had a nicely dressed sheep hanging up in our room, also a big supply +of potatoes under the bed. That was the only time in my life that I was +guilty of sheep-stealing. We lived high on roast mutton and potatoes; +but, alas! we were found out. They blamed Amos for the whole business; +but, on attempting to arrest him, they made a mistake, as he pulled out +a big knife, and coolly walked away from that part of the country. +Afterward he stole a horse; that was the last we heard about him in +Chile. + +Every one called me "Bueno muchacho" (good boy), while Amos was +designated "Muy picaro" (great rascal). Don Fernando Andrade was over +sixty years of age; he had a fine-looking wife and quite a number of +children--the oldest one twenty-six years, and the youngest six months +old. He took quite an interest in me, as I was always very quiet, +polite, and strictly temperate. Finally, he had me live with his own +family, and treated me as if I were one of his own sons. They used to +laugh and make fun of me because I washed my hands and face twice a day. +In that part of the country they never wash themselves at all: "Se +maltrata el cuero" (it ill-treats the skin) was their reason, I presume; +laziness also. About that time I wrote to my father and mother in New +York. The postage then on a foreign letter was fifty cents, with only +one mail a month on that coast. In about four months I received an +answer from San Francisco, Cal. My father had failed in business in New +York, indorsing notes, and a panic ruined him. He was doing well in +California, and wanted me to come there. Don Fernando had a contract for +a large number of railroad-ties for Peru. The natives would cut and pile +them on the beach ready for loading. A schooner was sent up from Don +Carlos for a cargo of them. The captain was an Englishman, and we became +quite friendly. He offered to take me to San Carlos whenever I wished +to go. By the time the schooner was loaded I got homesick, and, all at +once, I made up my mind to go home, so I bid Don Fernando good-bye. He +was sorry to have me leave, but would not coax me to remain away from my +parents. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +I TAKE TO THE SEA AGAIN + + +At San Carlos was a large ship receiving the ties as they were brought +from the different islands. The captain shipped me as an ordinary seaman +at ten dollars a month. The vessel was the Androkolis, of Copenhagen, +Denmark. Our destination was Callao, Peru. I never reached San +Francisco, although I sailed eighteen hundred miles towards that city. +San Carlos was 42 deg. and Callao 12 deg. south latitude. The crew of the +Androkolis was composed of Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, two Hollanders, +and one Englishman, every one of them speaking a different language from +mine, except the man from Liverpool, Jimmy Kincaid by name. Now Jimmy +and I became chums. He was very short and broad, and possessed unusually +large hands and feet. He was about twenty years old. We little knew +what hardships were in store for us when we became friends. If he is +alive to-day, he remembers, beyond all doubt, the night we saw the +Flying Dutchman while rounding Cape Horn on another vessel.[B] We both +saw that vessel--of course it was only an illusion--but we were both +badly scared for a few minutes, as certain death appeared imminent. I +will explain it in time. There are a few thousand miles of sea to be +sailed over before we come to the story of that night. + + [B] Like the Wandering Jew on land, there is a ship at sea sailing + on and on until doomsday, manned by a crew of very old + Dutchmen, who are expiating some sin. + +We had a very pleasant voyage. Sailing north towards the equator, the +weather was gradually getting warmer. In about four weeks' time we +sighted the Island of San Lorenzo, an immense, high rock which formed +the western side of Callao Harbour. The ship's sails were taken in and +furled, all but the top-sails. At last we came to anchor. Where our ship +lay in the bay was directly over the old city. A number of years ago, +during one night, an earthquake submerged Callao and raised up San +Lorenzo from beneath the waters. Five miles inland is the city of Lima, +the capital of Peru and the burial-place of Pizarro, the conqueror of +that country. The only railroad on that coast at that time was the +five-mile track connecting the two cities. Jimmy and I rowed the captain +ashore in the ship's boat. Sitting on the steps when we arrived there +was my old friend Amos. We were much surprised to meet again. He told me +all about himself since leaving the saw-mill in Chile so abruptly. He +invited me to visit him at the hospital, although there was nothing in +his appearance to indicate that he was an invalid. + +Lighters came to the ship, and the unloading of our cargo commenced. +Jimmy and I were promoted to be cook and steward of the vessel, I being +the latter. One Sunday we had an afternoon holiday on shore. The captain +let us have only one dollar each out of the wages due to us. The first +place we visited was the hospital, in quest of Amos. It was a terribly +hot day. On a large grassy plain fronting the building were a number of +healthy-looking men playing a very lively game of ball. You can imagine +our surprise when Amos informed us that they were the patients belonging +to the hospital. The explanation was simple enough. Every man aboard of +an American ship has to pay twenty-five cents a month to support the +marine hospitals. A ship cannot get clearance papers until it is paid. +That entitles the sailors to admission to any marine hospital in the +United States when they are taken sick. If in a foreign port, the +American consul is obliged to pay for their keeping at whatever hospital +may be found in that place. The consul for Callao was a kind-hearted old +man by the name of Mills. Any American sailor who would go to him and +say, "I am sick, Consul," would get an order for admission at once. A +number of seamen imposed on him. It was an object for them to get their +board and clothing free while they were waiting only for seamen's wages +to rise as high as possible; then they would ship for some long voyage. +The hospital authorities were easily enough satisfied, as they were well +paid, and the patients were able to attend to their own ailments. + +After our return to the ship, Jimmy was continually coaxing me to remain +in Peru with him, and live among the natives for a while. I was anxious +to get to San Francisco, but no ships in harbour were bound in that +direction, although a number arrived from there, loading with guano and +going around Cape Horn. At last I promised to go with Jimmy. He had +eighty dollars due him, and I twelve, but the captain would not +discharge us and pay us off. Then we got mad and determined to go +anyway. We got our clothes packed up in bags, ready for any chance we +could get to leave the ship. With the ship's telescope we took a good +look at the shores of the bay. At one place the beach looked as if it +would be a good landing-place for us; it appeared like the edge of a +mill-pond. Our chance soon came. The boat had not been hoisted up out of +the water, as was customary, but had been left overnight fastened to the +ship's side. Each sailor in turn had to stand "anchor watch" during the +night for one hour. He would then wake up his relief and go to bed. +There was a Dutchman whose turn would be at three o'clock in the +morning. I told him when he was called to awaken me, then he could go to +sleep again, as Jimmy and I had to make fresh bread for breakfast, and +we would do the anchor watching. Sure enough, "Dutchy" woke me up; then +I called Jimmy, and in a short time we had our clothes in the boat, also +a good double-barrelled shotgun, a pair of pistols, a silver watch, and +a couple of dozen of clean shirts belonging to the captain. We wished to +have something for the money that was due us. + +Away we went for the landing-place that we had selected. It was dark, +and quite difficult to see the beach; it appeared to us as though we +were close to a wall, several feet high, of rocks. The noise of the surf +also made us careful about landing. At last we discovered that it was +low tide, and the wall was only the wet cobble-stones left uncovered at +low water. We pulled hard, so as to run through the surf, and we went +up the beach on a heavy roller. Jimmy stood in the bow of the boat, +ready to jump and hold the rope, or "painter," as it is called, as the +surf receded. He was a little slow in jumping, consequently the boat +went back with the surf in a hurry, Jimmy's feet went from under him, +and he landed head first on the rocks. The next roller brought the boat +in again; this time we succeeded, and got everything on land. The boat +was pushed out in the surf, and was found the next day floating bottom +up. We heard afterward that it was reported we had both been drowned. + +About nine o'clock I went to the hospital and told Amos what we had +done. He agreed to introduce us to a friend of his, who would take care +of us for a few days. That afternoon he brought a man with him to our +camping-place. In the evening everything was taken to a house in the +city. It very soon dawned upon us that we had got into the worst +sailors' "robbers' roost" that was in the town. Our clothing and +possessions were all locked up in a room. We were made to understand +that to remain in the house would be the best thing we could do. From +what I afterward saw in that place I had reason to believe they meant +what they said. The Vigilance Committee in San Francisco had driven all +the tough characters out of the city. Quite a number of the worst ones +went to Callao and started sailor boarding-houses and saloons. They +formed a "ring" for mutual benefit. The English consul and a number of +the Peruvian port officers were in with them. A fine crowd of robbers +they were. They kept the sailors' wages high, beyond doubt, but only for +the reason that they would have more for themselves when they cheated +the seamen out of two months' advance pay. It is always customary to +give that much on long voyages, or "deep sea trips," as they call them. +After a few days' sojourn in our quiet boarding-house, we concluded that +any change would be for the better. The landlord informed us that a +small English brig was going up the coast, and that he could ship us +both as ordinary seamen. In the English merchant marine a man cannot be +shipped unless he has a discharge from another vessel; in the American +service no papers are needed. We obtained discharges belonging to other +sailors, who had no use for them. The landlord took us to the English +consul's office. My name was to be Michael Murray. The clerk read the +law, as is customary; one rule especially--that any man assuming another +name would forfeit all wages. We had given bogus papers. When I went to +sign the articles I was rather embarrassed, as I had forgotten my new +name, so they had to tell me what it was. We were taken to our new ship, +which was anchored out in the bay. + +I was not greatly pleased when I found what was in store for me. The +wages were twenty-five dollars a month. The landlord had received fifty +dollars--two months' pay--in advance. He was to deduct my board bill and +give me the balance of the money, but I never got a cent of it. I had +been "shanghaied," as the sailors call it. Instead of going up the +coast, as I was told we were to do, I found we were bound for Cork, +Ireland, a voyage of eighty-five hundred and twenty miles. The vessel +itself was a "holy terror," very heavily rigged, while everything on +board was old and played out, the rusty blocks, with heavy running gear, +making it very hard work for us, especially as we had a crew of only six +men, where twelve seamen, at least, should have been a crew for that old +tub. The cargo was guano in bulk, as a scow would be loaded with dirt. +Our sleeping quarters were in the forecastle, situated in the bow of the +vessel. Everything was covered with guano. As we had to live below, it +was our first object to clean up the place. Buckets of water were passed +down the scuttle, and the place was cleaned up as well as we could do +it; but it was of no use; the smell of ammonia made us sick. Some would +vomit, others bled at the nose, and a thick black phlegm would form in +our throats. The weather being warm, we slept on the deck, as we could +not endure it in the forecastle below. + +Guano is the droppings from sea-birds, which have been accumulating for +thousands of years. The Chincha Islands, belonging to Peru, have an +inexhaustible supply. No rain ever falls in that country, consequently +nothing is washed away. The depth of the guano is from four to eight +feet. When a ship is to be loaded with guano, it has to go to Callao +first for a permit, then to the Chincha Islands. The cargo is put in by +Chinese coolies, and then the vessel returns to Callao for a clearance, +also to pay a certain amount per ton. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +ON THE BRIG GRENFALLS + + +The brig Grenfalls, of Sunderland, was our packet. Just before getting +up anchor we asked the captain if he intended to get more men for the +voyage. He curtly said "No." Then we came very near having a mutiny. +Finally we agreed to get up the anchor, especially as the captain +threatened to make a signal to the British man-of-war for assistance, so +we had to go anyway. I remember seeing the United States frigate +Merrimac in the harbour and wishing myself aboard her. The next time I +saw that vessel it had been transformed into an ironclad by the rebels, +and had destroyed the Congress and the Cumberland. The first week at sea +we had very pleasant weather. After that it became gradually colder and +stormy. No more sleeping on deck. The forecastle was the only place for +us then. + +Two quarts of water a day was our allowance, one pint each for +breakfast, dinner, and supper; the remaining pint was for drinking +during the following hours of the twenty-four. The hardtack that we had +to eat was covered with green mould and full of large white meal worms. +The salt pork was red with rust and filled with white spots. Probably +the hogs were killed on account of measles and pickled for sailors' use +at sea. The salt beef, or horse-meat, as it was called, was rather tough +eating; besides, everything we ate or drank was highly flavoured with +guano. + +Off the coast of Patagonia we encountered a heavy northwest gale of +wind; then our misery began in earnest. In harbour the deck was only +sixteen inches above water; in rough weather the seas were continually +washing over the decks. It was necessary to make gill guys by fastening +ropes diagonally across the deck from forward to aft. In going from one +place to another we could take hold of the guy nearest to us, then get +over and reach for the next before letting go of the first one. That was +the only way to keep from being washed overboard or thrown against the +ship's rail. + +One night we heard water swashing under the forecastle deck. We told the +mate about it. There was a bulkhead dividing the forecastle from the +main hold; on the other side was a short half-deck. We cut a hole in it +and lowered a lantern. A lot of water could be plainly seen. The vessel +rolling would mix the guano with it. By working all of the men we got it +out. All the crew supposed it to be the same water that we used in +cleaning out our quarters, but we said nothing about it to the mate. We +used plenty of it and let it run into the hold. The next night we heard +the same swashing again; then we knew there was a leak somewhere. From +that time the muddy water had to be taken out in buckets and thrown on +the deck twice a day. The seas would wash it overboard. The leak was +found at last. A long iron bolt in the foremast rigging chains had +become rusty and worked loose. The bolt went through one of the knees +which supported the deck beams. Being below the loading line, the water +would come in and drop on the guano. It could not drain through and get +to the pumps. + +All our clothing got very rotten; shoes and boots became very hard; any +cuts or bruises on our bodies would not heal up; the palms of our hands +were full of black holes the size of a pin-head; the skin became very +thick, and would crack open at each finger-joint; our hair fell out, so +that we became prematurely bald. The windlass also, every time the brig +rolled, would slide a few inches from side to side, and would make the +deck-seams open enough to allow the water to drop through on our beds. +For three months our beds and clothing were dripping wet. When I went to +bed I would get to sleep at once, and it was hard to wake me up. Going +from a wet, steaming hot bed to stand watch on deck in that cold weather +was no joke. Each watch changes every four hours. Jimmy and myself were +in the mate's watch: two hours each at the wheel and two on the lookout. +The officers were the worst cowards that I ever came in contact with at +sea. At one time the captain did not come on deck for two weeks. There +being no sun visible in that storm, no observations could be taken, so +we had to sail by "dead reckoning." The mate would sneak into the cabin +during most of the watch, and leave Jimmy and myself to take the chances +of being washed overboard. When it was my lookout I would go to the +cook's galley, and let the brig do her own watching. My chum did the +same as I. Two hours at wheel-steering would knock a prize-fighter out. +There was a very short iron tiller in the rudder-post. The wheel-chains +were iron and slack; consequently, every time the rudder would jerk, the +helmsman would be raised up a couple of feet, and then landed back again +almost quick enough to snap his head off. I was thrown clear over the +wheel several times. I tried the experiment of letting go a few times +when the wheel commenced to gripe; then I did come to grief; it would +whirl around one way and then back again. In trying to stop it, the +spokes would hit me a good rap on the knuckles. One eighth of a point +off the course is considered bad steering, but our old packet would +"yaw" off five whole points each way in spite of us. It seemed as if the +stern were trying to get ahead of the bow. Whenever I see a mule turning +his head back to look at his driver, it always reminds me of the old +brig Grenfalls. Besides the leak, a new danger confronted us. + +As we neared Cape Horn the seas became much higher and the storm +increased. The sun would rise at nearly ten o'clock in the morning, and +go down at two in the afternoon. The clouds were very heavy, and +seemingly close to the water. Heavy snow-storms were common. The wind, +however, was in our favour. Sometimes there would be a lull in the gale; +then more sail would have to be set to keep us ahead of the immense high +waves, else one might come over our stern and sink us. On the other hand +was the danger of going too fast; in that case the vessel would run +under and, loaded as it was, must go down like a piece of iron. Another +trouble was that we had to heave-to frequently, and that was very +dangerous. Now going before the wind and then swinging around head to +wind, as near as possible, compelled us to get into the trough of the +sea. If we had been struck by one of those huge waves broadside on, the +voyage would have terminated just then. + +The gale that brought us to Cape Horn followed the Pacific coast to +Staten Island, and then up the Atlantic Ocean. One day, as we were +sailing too slowly, a great wave almost broke over our stern. The main +top-gallant-sail was set in a hurry. A few hours afterward the wind +increased, and the light sail had to be taken in. Before Jimmy and I +could get aloft to furl it, there was nothing left. The wind had blown +it away in small pieces. That night we were compelled to heave to again. +No matter which way the tub's head was pointed, we were going in the +right direction, even if it were stern first, drifting before the wind. +Our cook and steward was a wild, red-headed fellow--Darwin's missing +link. My chum accused him of cheating us out of our pint of drinking +water. They were quarrelling all day about it. That night Reddy came to +the forecastle scuttle while I was getting some hard-tack ready for +eating--that is, hunting for meal worms. Reddy commenced the row again. +He was just going to paralyze Jimmy! I had not said a word yet, but my +chum was not going to be hurt if I could help it. At last the man became +quite brave. He told Jimmy he'd lick him and his chum together. The chum +was myself. So we invited him to come below. He lost no time in doing +so. Before he got half-way down we jumped for him. What a good thrashing +he got for his trouble! When we got through pounding him, he was dragged +to the opening in the bulkhead. Our intention was to throw him down the +hole into the water and the guano. We pushed too hard, so that he went +a-flying over the right place, very luckily, as he would have been +smothered in the guano-water. Reddy stayed in bed for two days. He told +the captain that the whole crew had tried to kill him. When he got out +of bed his face was blue, green, and yellow; this, with the eyes nicely +blacked and his red hair, made a fine combination of colours. Neither +one of us had been struck once, and there was no more trouble about +water. + +One night, just after being relieved from watch, all hands were called +to shorten sail. On deck I had to go again. There we were kept for +thirty-two hours, tending to the sails and bailing out water and guano. +A few nights afterward I was at the wheel. The mate sneaked into the +cabin; Jimmy was in the galley. There I was, tired out, my clothes +dripping wet with sea water and the wheel nearly jerking my arms off. +Suddenly the brig yawed off and was struck by a heavy sea. I could feel +the vessel quivering under my feet; with one hand I could not move the +wheel either way. I thought we were sinking and that my day had come. +The water on deck was above my knees. Suddenly the wheel began its old +tricks again, very much to my relief. The port bulwarks from the main to +the fore-rigging had been carried away even to the deck. Spare spars +had to be fastened there by ropes until we got into port. The second +mate said it was my fault on account of bad steering. + +One day all hands were busy bailing water and guano out of the hold. I +was at the wheel again, trying my best to steer straight. It was of no +use; the old tub yawed around and was struck by a heavy sea. A large +quantity of water went down the scuttle and made more mud, all of which +had to be bailed out. How everybody did swear and growl! But I derived +some consolation on account of the second mate being nearly killed. The +water had knocked him off his feet and dashed him against the bulwarks. +When he came aft, rubbing his arms and legs, I had to grin. That was the +only time I ever felt really happy on that packet. Shortly afterwards he +took the wheel and sent me to help the bucket brigade. Very soon the +brig yawed again. I knew what would happen when I saw a heavy wave +coming, so got down the scuttle and shut it very quickly. After the +commotion was all over I got on deck. Very much to my joy, the starboard +bulwarks had been carried away. My friend the second mate had nothing to +say about bad steering after that. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE FLYING DUTCHMAN + + +That night we were compelled to heave to, for the waves were almost +sinking us. At two o'clock in the morning my chum was to relieve me at +the wheel. He was rather slow about doing it, too, as it was very +comfortable for him in the galley. I was about played out holding the +helm hard down, there being no steerage-way, as we were drifting to the +leeward. Our object was to keep the vessel head on to the seas as nearly +as possible, so as to ride over them as they came along. So much guano +had been taken from the forehold that it caused the brig to settle by +the stern and raise the forward part up, consequently every time the bow +dipped into a wave the water which came over would rush aft on the deck, +strike the taffrail, and give the man at the wheel a good shower-bath. +That happened every few minutes. Between drenchings we had the cold +wind for a variety. The ship's clock was in the cabin skylight, visible +to the helmsman, whose duty it was to strike the bell one stroke for +every half hour. At four bells he was to be relieved; at eight bells the +watches would change; thus it would be four hours on deck and four hours +below until we arrived in port. Now I had been watching the clock very +anxiously for two hours, my whole body stiff and numb with the cold and +wet. Nearly a half hour after the right time, my friend Jimmy very +reluctantly made his appearance. I waited until he had hold of the wheel +and then I chided him in very impolite language. When I had said +everything that I could think of to hurt his feelings I stopped. In the +meantime I was holding on to a rope and sharing the shower-baths with +him. It helped to loosen my jaws, at any rate, even if it did no other +good. + +The cook's galley is a small house built on deck, in size about four by +six feet, with a sliding door on each side, the one to windward being +always kept shut except in very fine weather. Now I was hustling along +as fast as my stiff joints would allow me to get into the galley. There, +at least, I would be sheltered from the cold winds. I had got inside and +was turning to close the door, when I saw a sight which simply paralyzed +me. A large full-rigged ship with squared yards, all sails set, even to +the royals and studding-sails rigged out on both sides, was coming +straight for us, and distant only a few hundred yards. Our brig, being +hove to, was helpless to get out of the way. Certain destruction seemed +inevitable, with no possible hope of escaping a speedy death. I yelled +out at the top of my voice, "A ship on the lee beam!" Jimmy, at the +wheel, got a glimpse of the ship, and let out a yelp that brought the +mate on deck. The mate, who had been loafing in the cabin and shirking +his duty, also did some tall yelping when he saw our danger. There was +no chance to get on our knees to pray then. The decks were too wet and +slippery, besides, we had to use our hands to keep from being washed +overboard. As we could not do the proper thing in orthodox style, we +did some tall cursing, as being the next best thing under the +circumstances. Swearing is a sailor's balm for many ills. + +We were terribly excited; only a few seconds and all would be over with +us. Our brig was drifting north at the rate of three miles an hour. The +strange vessel was heading south in that gale and with all sails set; +she should have been racing through the water at a twenty-knots rate. +You can imagine our surprise when we observed that the other vessel was +rapidly going backward and disappearing in a hazy mist. Suddenly there +was a break in the clouds, and we had a glimpse of the full moon for a +few minutes, for the first time in several weeks, although the nights +were nearly twenty hours in length. Soon we were in darkness again. That +was our first experience with the ship Flying Dutchman. The whole affair +had happened so suddenly and unexpectedly that we had no time to think. +The idea of a ship carrying all sail in that gale was ridiculous, but to +sail dead against the wind was still more so. We were very much +disgusted with ourselves for being so badly fooled, but, at the same +time, we were a greatly scared lot of sailors. The explanation was +simple enough. The clouds were black and heavy, flying low down near the +water. A rift in them allowed the moon to shine dimly between the edges +and cause the illusion. A few nights afterward we were running before +the wind. All hands were close-reefing the main top-sail. Off the port +bow we saw what appeared to be a ship on fire. Our course was altered to +that direction, and it proved to be the old Dutchman again. At last the +gale from the south broke up. We had got into the "pamperos"--westerly +winds from Buenos Ayres. The days were increasing in length, and the +weather became much warmer. The wind being on our beam, we could steer +straight, compared with what we had been doing before the wind. Besides, +the heavy rolling and lurching had diminished greatly. The effect of +heavy cargo, so much below the water-line, was greatly counteracted by +the wind striking us sideways. Going before the wind, the old brig +rolled terribly at times--so much so that we often expected the masts +to be snapped off, on account of the sudden jerking from side to side. +The forecastle was always wet and muddy, and, while eating, we would sit +on a chest, holding our pans in our laps, a cup in one hand, and +conveying the food to our mouths with the other, with both heels firmly +braced on the deck. Time and again an extra lurch would send us +a-sliding to the other side, bang against a chest or bunk, the food +flying in every direction. Back and forth we would go a dozen times +before we could stop. The sulphur and brimstone would hang in festoons +from the deck beams by the time we had stopped cursing the old brig. + +On the first clear day, instead of going to bed in my morning watch +below, eight to twelve in the morning, I went aloft to the fore-top, and +remained there the four hours enjoying the luxury of an airy wind-bath. +It was the first time in nearly three months that my clothing was dry, +and not so very dry then, either. The mates had been throwing out hints +about going into port for repairs. We had passed all the Pacific +harbours, and were doing the same with the Atlantic harbours, when, very +much to our joy, we sighted the Sugar Loaf, a very high conical rock, it +being the southern point of land at the entrance to the harbour of Rio +de Janeiro--River of January--Brazil, South America. So, much to our +joy, we were bound for port. My chum and I were of one mind--that was, +to quit the guano business P. D. Q. + +The entrance to the harbour was very narrow and well fortified. There +were steep rocks on each side. We were hailed from one of the forts and +asked the brig's name, destination, and last port. Our sails were +gradually taken in. At last we rounded to and dropped anchor. Rio is +admitted by all sailors to be the finest harbour in the world, and I +will guarantee that our old tub of a brig was the most dilapidated and +dirtiest specimen of the shipbuilder's handicraft that ever anchored in +it. It is a generally well-founded belief among sailors that rats will +desert a sinking ship. We often remarked that a rat had not been seen +on the Grenfalls during the voyage. I must say the rodents made a very +close calculation, if that was the reason for at some time quitting +their cosy quarters. My first act in port was to tie a rope around my +wet blankets and lower them into the water. By swashing them up and down +for awhile, I got considerable of the mud removed. Hanging in the hot +sun, they became dry by evening. So I enjoyed a good night's sleep on +deck. It was quite a contrast from what I had been doing for weeks +past--namely, getting into a soaking wet bed with all my clothes on, +dripping with water, and the sea dropping on me in small instalments +through the leaky decks. + +Our worthy captain was an entirely different man from what he was at sea +in the Cape Horn regions. Warm weather, with no danger to be feared, +made quite an improvement in his personal appearance. He was also more +self-important and domineering. The two mates and he were small men, +about five feet two inches in height. The way in which they murdered +the Queen's English was something simply terrible. "Mike, 'ow's 'er +'ead?" was the question often asked at the wheel when they wished to +know the point of the compass I was steering, so as to enter it in the +log-book. The disabled condition of the brig had been reported to the +English consul. He appointed three ship captains to "survey" our vessel, +and report whether it was seaworthy or not. They came on board and +examined everything. We, the sailors, took our knives and showed them +how rotten the remaining bulwarks were, how the decks leaked; in fact, +we did all we could to get the old tub condemned. It was estimated that +one hundred tons of guano had been dumped overboard; however, nothing +was said about the quantity of water that went with it. The captains +looked very wise, but said nothing. Finally, they got into their boats +and returned to shore. My shipmates and myself were in great hope that +the vessel would be condemned as unseaworthy. That meant our release and +three months' extra pay on account of being discharged in a foreign +port. Greatly to our disgust, the report was briefly: "The brig +Grenfalls, with necessary repairs, is fit to continue the voyage." + +In a few days we hoisted anchor and sailed up to a small island close to +the city. After considerable trouble we got the old tub fastened to a +small dock. Then we were allowed time to dispose of a mighty poor +dinner. All the remaining guano was to be taken out and placed on the +dock, a job which we did not like. Jim and myself, while eating, had a +quiet talk on the chances of getting our discharge from the vessel. We +both decided to declare war. No more guano work for us! We were eating +our last dinner on that boat, but we did not know it then. The war took +place in earnest, and most unexpectedly. Two explanations are necessary +before I proceed with the narrative. There was an able seaman in the +other watch, more intelligent than the average English sailor. His +vessel had been wrecked on the Pacific coast, and he had shipped with us +in order to return to England and sail in his former employer's service +again. From him I learned some facts in regard to English marine law. +English sailors always carry large jack-knives, a shackle at the butt +end, to which is fastened a lanyard, the latter going around the neck. +The knife, when not in use, is stuck in the waistband of the trousers. +With American sailors, a long knife, carried in a sheath and strapped +around the waist, is the fashion. It is a very necessary and useful +article on shipboard, used in cutting food--there are no forks--scraping +masts, repairing rigging, and so forth. It is always ready for instant +use in case of danger or accident. After dinner we had plenty of work to +do. Towards evening extra lines from the bow and stern were run ashore +and fastened to large rocks. Old canvas was cut in narrow strips and +wound around the ropes in every place where they were liable to chafe on +the sharp stones on the beach. We were still at that work at nine +o'clock, with no sign of supper yet. I made up my mind to quit work, and +had just got on deck when I heard the first mate and Jimmy talking +rather loudly by the cabin door. Too much work and nothing to eat was +the cause of the row. My chum was mad all over. Suddenly the mate caught +him by each wrist and gave his arms a quick, downward jerk. It was an +old trick, and very painful to a person whose arms were hanging down +loosely. In an instant Jimmy had his knife open and made a lunge for the +mate. The lanyard prevented the free action of the knife, but the blade +had scratched the skin on the mate's throat and made a long cut in the +neck of his tight-fitting, heavy knit undershirt. The mate began to run +and yell "Murder!" Around the deck he sprinted, with my chum after him. +Every few steps Jimmy would make a dig at him with the knife, only to +receive himself a jerk in the back of the neck from the lanyard. There +was an old box on the main hatch. Without being noticed by any of us, +our old enemy--the red-headed cook--was standing on it, with an iron +bolt in his hand. The mate took in the situation, though, and, on the +last lap, he crossed the deck at the main hatch. As Jimmy came along, +the cook hit him a whack on the head with the piece of iron that laid +my poor friend on the deck _hors de combat_. The cook had no time to +gloat over his victory. He was howling out, "Wurrah, wurrah!" and made +remarkably quick time for the cabin, landing below without his feet +touching the stairs. A sailor was after him with a sheath-knife minus +the lanyard attachment. Our disabled shipmate was carried forward and +laid on deck. Having no fine Turkish sponges or decorated wash-bowls, we +could not dress his head according to modern style. We did the best we +could, however, which was to lower a bucket over the vessel's side and +fill it with dirty sea water. His head received several good bathings. +The treatment was liberal and heroic, the contents of a full bucket +being dumped on him at a time. It helped to revive him and to wash off +the blood, simultaneously. + +At last success rewarded our efforts. The patient sat up. When he had +got the salt water out of his mouth, he wanted to know "what in ---- we +were trying to do with him?" It being nearly ten o'clock, all hands +concluded to have supper. The cook was afraid to come on deck, so we +went to the galley and took all the food in sight. It was carried into +the forecastle. The chandelier--a tin cup full of grease with a rag for +a wick--was trimmed and lighted. Our frugal repast was interrupted by +the captain's sticking his head down the scuttle and inquiring if Jimmy +wanted a bandage and salve for his head. Jimmy very curtly told him to +"Go to ----." The captain was desirous that the crew should desert and +forfeit the money due to them, for he could get other men for one third +of the amount we were getting. Nine dollars a month for ordinary, and +eleven dollars a month for able seamen was the rate in Rio; while our +pay from Callao was twenty-five dollars and thirty-five dollars per +month. My chum and I had about forty dollars due to each of us, and I +intended to get it if possible. The rest of the men wanted to remain on +the vessel on account of the big wages, and the hardest part of the +voyage being over. Immediately after breakfast the next morning Jimmy +and I went aft and called for the captain. We requested permission to +see the English consul, but received an evasive answer. It was to be a +game of bluff beyond all doubt, so my recently acquired knowledge of +marine law was to be tested. I stated plainly to the captain that seamen +were allowed by law to see the consul "if they had any complaints to +make." We demanded to be at once taken to the consul's office, as we +were not satisfied with our food and treatment, and wished for an +investigation. We said that he would have trouble if he refused to +comply with the law. Very reluctantly, he told us to get into the ship's +boat, and we rowed over to the city. On landing, he gave directions to +the consul's office, where, on arriving, we found that the captain had +taken a short cut and got there ahead of us. Consequently the consul +gave us a very cool reception and asked us what we wanted of him. He got +a brief synopsis of the trip around the Cape to commence with, then a +description of the food, next of the short allowance of water; and last, +we charged the captain with ignoring the law in regard to giving each +man the legal allowance of lime-juice a day.[C] + + [C] Years ago canned vegetables and fruit were unknown at sea; for + that reason lime-juice was served to the men daily, as a + preventive of scurvy. English vessels were nicknamed + "lime-juicers" on that account. + +The captain had considerable to say, himself. At last the consul refused +to discharge us. We were informed that we should have better food for +the future. The captain smiled with satisfaction, for a short time only. +All was not over yet. My last card was to be played and it won. "Well, +Consul, this man and I do not propose to go back to the captain's old +tub. We volunteer for Her Majesty's service!" + +The consul laughed, and informed the captain that he would be expected +at the office at two o'clock in the afternoon with our discharges and +the money which was due us. + +What clothing we had was badly rotted by the effect of salt water and +guano; therefore we had no reason to return to the Grenfalls for our old +rags. Out of the office we went in high glee. The first sailor I met on +the street gave us directions to a sailors' boarding-house. Portuguese +Joe was the landlord's title. No time was lost in making his +acquaintance. The mere fact that we were two sailors to be paid off that +day was sufficient recommendation. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +IN HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE + + +No money in advance, nor baggage as security for our board, was +required. Nothing in the house was too good for us; we could have +anything we wanted, and, oh, how glad the other boarders were to see us! +I almost felt at that time as if I had met about twenty long-lost +brothers. All that affection cost Jimmy and me several rounds of drink +for the "house." That afternoon we went to the consulate and received +our discharges and pay. The money was in Brazilian currency, and, +together, our money amounted to a hundred and fifty-five thousand +reis--twenty reis equal to a cent of United States money. Bookkeeping in +that country requires the use of a large number of figures. + +Our first venture was to get new suits of clothes and enjoy the luxury +of a much-needed fresh-water bath, when "Richard was himself again." +What a change in our mode of living! Fruit of all kinds to be had for +almost nothing; comfortable beds to sleep in; fresh food and vegetables +to eat. The only thing I objected to was that we had too many newly +found friends. I was strictly temperate at that time. Jimmy made me his +banker, with the condition that I should give him money only in small +amounts. + +Brazil is a very large country, and at that time was the only empire in +South America. Dom Pedro III was emperor. His palace was close to the +city of Rio. I saw him several times, as he frequently rode through the +city in his carriage, always escorted by his bodyguard of thirty +cavalrymen. He was a very fine-looking young man with fair complexion. +No doubt he was the most progressive ruler Brazil ever had. Now he is +dead and Brazil is a Republic. Rio de Janeiro is the capital, and a most +beautiful city it is. Viewing it from the bay in the night-time, it +resembles the dress-circle in an immensely large theatre, the +street-lights forming the rows of seats. The language is Portuguese, +much similar to Spanish. I had very little difficulty in making myself +understood when conversing with the natives. There was not a sewer in +the city. Large tubs about three feet high, eighteen inches in diameter, +were used in the houses for all refuse and waste material, and, when +filled, they were carried on the heads of slaves at night-time and +emptied into the bay. A large building at the water's edge was the +public dumping ground. The slaves were nearly all genuine Africans, +naked to the waist, the breast and face tattooed in different designs, +by scarring the skin with a knife. + +When one of those fellows came down the street on a dog-trot, singing +"Hoo! hoo! hoo! hoo!" I would get out of his way quickly. It was a +wonder to me how they could balance those heavy tubs on their heads and +keep swinging their arms at the same time. + +The native liquor is cashass, distilled from sugar-cane. Take equal +parts of pure alcohol and water, put in a very liberal quantity of +creosote, and you will have a good sample of cashass--flavour, smell, +and strength will be the same as the genuine article. One evening, on +returning to the boarding-house, there was quite an excitement in the +dining-room. My friend Jimmy was laid out on the table, with three men +holding him down; he was in spasms and frothing at the mouth. My +impression was that he had been poisoned. After a while he quieted down +and went to sleep. The next morning he confidentially remarked to me +that he had no more use for any of "that ---- cashass." My reason for +describing the liquor is to give an idea of its strength. Once, when I +was on an English man-of-war, it was probably the cause of a friend's +being drowned and of getting me into a serious scrape. + +I would frequently take a stroll down to the military dock where the +boat from the man-of-war landed. It was interesting to observe the +peculiarities of the different nationalities. The Americans were the +most intelligent, very neat in appearance, their clothing of fine +material and well made, dark blue flannel shirts embroidered with black +silk, a white silk star on each corner of the wide collars, a silk +ribbon with the name of the ship in gilt letters on the sailor hats. +When their boats landed the officers would get out, then the boat's +crew, with the exception of one man, going where they pleased, returning +after a time, and pulling off to their ship. Next were the Englishmen. +Their clothes fitted awkwardly. In appearance they were not so bright +and cheerful. No going ashore for them! A midshipman was always in +charge of the boat, every man being required to remain in his seat. The +Italians, Spanish, French, and Brazilians were a dirty, barefooted lot, +probably not one in ten being able to read or write. The English always +had difficulty in getting men for the navy. Low wages, flogging with the +cat-o'-nine-tails, and no chance for promotion, were the chief reasons. +A law was passed allowing any seaman in the British merchant service to +volunteer in any part of the world for Her Majesty's service. That was +the reason why I got my discharge from the Grenfalls. I remained at +Portuguese Joe's for two weeks, my money being spent in sight-seeing. +Then I went on board Her Majesty's frigate Madagascar and shipped for +five years as an ordinary seaman. My pay was one pound sixteen +shillings--about nine dollars--a month. + +I had to retain the name of Mike Murray on account of the discharge from +the last ship. Cloth was furnished to me--flannel and other +articles--for clothing, everything being charged to me excepting hammock +and bag. With the assistance of the other sailors, I soon had clothing +made and became a full-fledged man-of-war's-man. The Madagascar was a +very large frigate with two tiers of guns, and had been stationed at Rio +for a number of years without leaving the harbour. The admiral of the +South Atlantic station made her the flagship of the fleet. Only about +one third of the full complement of men was on board, and, consequently, +we had no drilling at the big guns or making and furling sails. But we +had "holystoning" decks enough to make up for it. At four o'clock every +morning we were routed out of hammocks to wash decks. Sand and a little +water would be sprinkled on the deck, each man would have a piece of +flat sandstone, and then, on our knees, we would do some mighty hard +scouring, hence the name of "holystoning." Afterwards, with the use of +plenty of water, the sand and dirt would be washed off. Then, with +swabs, the deck would be dried and afterwards swept with brooms. By that +time it would be seven o'clock, and then we had breakfast. + +Jimmy came on board and shipped a few days after myself. We both +belonged to the same mess. He had a picnic, as I gave him my share of +grog to drink. Each mess was composed of fourteen men, each man in turn +being cook of the mess for one day. His work was to set the table, draw +rations, and bring the food from the galley. At twelve-thirty he would +take a bucket and get the grog. The grog was one half gill of Jamaica +rum and three half gills of water, mixed, making one half pint. Each +mess had a measure holding a little less than that quantity. The cook +would give each man his allowance, and the difference in the measures +after fourteen men had been served would be considerable; that would be +the cook's perquisite. Orders had been given to refit the Madagascar +with entirely new rigging. The Brazilian Government had given permission +to use one of their ship-houses to work in. Every day a gang of us were +taken ashore to fit up the standing rigging. We were at that work for +two months. The experience and knowledge I acquired in that brief time +made me a good sailor. The English Government had the lease of a small +island in the harbour on which were erected a number of buildings +containing supplies for the navy. As we returned to the ship at night, +our boat would stop there and bring off the paymaster. One evening we +had to wait for him. As was the English custom, the boat was rowed a few +hundred yards from the dock, then "Peak oars!" was the order, each man +holding his oar straight up, the handle resting on the bottom of the +boat, the blade in the air. It was the second cutter with fourteen +oars, two men on each seat, quite a fine sight, but very tedious for the +men. We had a sudden change from the sublime to the ridiculous that +time. Two of the crew had got into an argument. One of them, getting +excited, emphasized his remarks by lifting his oar and bringing it down +on the bottom of the boat. That ended the debate abruptly. The boat, +being old and rotten, could not stand such treatment. The force of the +blow knocked a big hole in the bottom. In a few seconds all hands were +in the water, men and oars badly mixed up. Those of us who could swim +struck out for dry land, the remainder saving themselves by clinging to +the wreck. + +We had very little work to do after the old frigate was newly rigged. I +would look out of the gun-ports and watch the shipping in the harbour. +One day the United States brig Perry came in from a cruise on the +African coast and anchored close to us. She was a beautiful vessel. All +the crew appeared to be happy and contented. They were a fine, active +lot of men. I should have liked to exchange places with any of them. +Finally they went on another cruise in quest of slavers. The next time I +saw the Perry was in Boston during the war, and I was then one of her +officers, in a position I little dreamed of holding when I watched her +leaving the harbour of Rio de Janeiro. + +I soon became discontented and homesick on the old frigate. My +messmates, knowing me to be a "blawsted Yankee," as they called me, made +me ill-natured. I usually returned what they gave. After several fights +they let me alone, but I was punished by being put on the black-list for +fighting. That meant being kept at work all day long cleaning +brass-work, etc. At dinner hour I would be on the quarter-deck with my +bowl of grog, an extra half pint of water being introduced, and I then +received a spoon with holes in it with which to sup the grog. With my +cap under my arm, I would be ordered to drink Her Majesty's health. It +was a tedious job sipping that infernal stuff out of the bowl with the +spoon. It would run out as fast as I dipped it up. Sometimes there +would be ten or twelve men undergoing the same punishment. In the +evening I would have to stand one hour on the quarter-deck, toeing one +of the seams. Poor Jimmy got into a scrape, so I had him drinking Her +Majesty's health with me. This was also the case with a half-breed +American Indian from Massachusetts, and a greenhorn from England, and a +very troublesome quartette we proved to be. That night all four of us +deserted. The first lieutenant had his gig condemned and got a new one +to replace it. While we were doing the seam-toeing act he came on deck +and ordered us to get into the new gig and pull around the ship, so that +he could see how it set in the water. A conversation between us while +rowing made it plain that all were anxious to run away. We went on the +gun deck and had a quiet talk. Everything was arranged for going ashore. +The boat could not be hoisted up, as there were no spare davits for it. +That just suited us. + +At bedtime we got into our hammocks with our clothes on, and about three +o'clock we got our bags containing all our clothing and took them on +the gun deck. Matt, the half-breed, got into the boat from the gun ports +and hauled it around to the bow port. The bags were then handed down. +Jimmy had gone back for something and we were waiting for him. At last +he came and handed me a pocket-book. All of us got into the boat, and +away we went. No one had seen us leaving. There were three decks in that +frigate, the spar, the gun, and the lower or berth deck. The crew swung +their hammocks on the latter. What few officers and men there were on +duty at night would be on the spar deck, so there was no one on the gun +deck to bother us, and all below were asleep. Had there been a full +crew, arrangements would have been different and our plan frustrated. +When we got into the city, Matt and the greenhorn went ashore. Jimmy and +I concluded to take a trip up the bay. By seven o'clock we were quite a +distance from the city. The boat was run ashore and our bags were taken +out. The dry land was good enough for us. Something to eat was next in +order. The pocket-book was then examined and found to contain eighty +thousand reis, Brazilian money--forty dollars. Then Jimmy explained how +he got it. A new man slept next to my worthy chum, and every night he +would place his pocket-book between the mattress and the canvas hammock, +and lie on the whole affair himself, feeling secure against all loss. +Just where the pocket-book lay there was a lump bulging out in the +canvas, so Jim cut a slit in the right place and the booty was his. + +A short distance from the landing-place were a number of +slaughter-houses, and the butchers were very much surprised to see two +man-of-war's-men with their baggage in their neighbourhood. One of their +number could speak Spanish, so a friendly conversation took place which +ended in their purchasing our clothes--bags and all. We received a fair +price, both parties being satisfied with the bargain. After eating a +good breakfast in one of their houses, we bade our new acquaintances +good-bye. With plenty of money in our pockets, and on shore, everything +seemed quite pleasant. Our plans were soon agreed upon--to take a +walking tour to the south, have a view of the country, get to the +seaport of St. Catharines, and ship on some vessel for the United +States. It was necessary to make a detour of the city to get on our +right road. After awhile we met a market-woman with fruit and bought +enough for our dinner. Sitting under a tree, we enjoyed our picnic very +much. All our money was then counted; there proved to be one hundred and +seventy thousand reis altogether. A fourteen-thousand-reis bill I put +inside the lining of my hat, the balance in my pocket. During the rest, +Jim proposed going into the city to make some purchases for our journey. +We went--and that was a grand mistake. When we passed the Hamburg House, +kept by a Dutchman, we were reminded that we were thirsty, so we went in +and sat down at a table and ordered a bottle of English ale. Just then I +noticed a young fellow go out of the door. After awhile I asked about +the ale--why they did not bring it? They replied that they had to send +out for it. Shortly afterwards the English consul's "runner" came in +with two vigilantes and, pointing to us, said, "Esas dos"--"Those two." +That settled it! We had been "given away" for the reward, three pounds +sterling--about fifteen dollars each--being the amount for apprehension +of deserters from Her Majesty's service, and off to the calaboose we +were marched. About twelve hours' liberty on shore was all we had +enjoyed. We were taken into the office and searched, and the money was +taken out of my pocket and carefully counted. They gave me a receipt for +it. Very greatly to their disgust, no big bank roll was found on my +chum. I never saw a cent of that money again. Our loss was somebody's +gain that time, sure enough. We were put into a cell with about fifteen +other prisoners, among them two sailors, deserters, from the English +sloop-of-war Siren. From them we found out the rules of our new +quarters. No food was furnished to prisoners--either to buy it, or have +friends bring it, was the custom. As they had been locked up for two +days without food, they had a yearning for something to eat. I called +the turnkey and made him understand in Spanish that I wanted coffee and +rolls for four. In Portuguese he made me understand that money would +have to be furnished first. I showed the receipt for money in the +office, but that would not do, so I took the fourteen-thousand-reis bill +out of my cap and handed it to him. He gave a queer, astonished look and +then a sickly smile, but we got the coffee and rolls, however. That +little luncheon cost me just two thousand reis. I considered myself +lucky to get the change back. They got nearly all of it, though, the +next day. Finally, we four deserters were taken outside the city limits +and, much to our surprise, landed in the penitentiary. Not having +committed any crime against the country, or having had a trial, we found +ourselves convicts "doing time" for nothing. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE CAT-O'-NINE-TAILS + + +No red tape was wasted upon us. The formalities were few. Being taken +into a small building, we took off all our clothing, which was tied in +bundles with our names on them; then, after we had each received a pair +of blue overalls and a blue shirt, the change was complete. Barefooted +and bareheaded, we were marched to the cell houses and locked up. Food +was scarce the first day. We had nothing to eat, as no rations had been +issued for us. The second day only one meal was provided, a small one at +that. The third day, however, we would get all the law allowed. My +appetite was getting quite keen about this time. When the prospect of +getting something to eat looked promising, they found out that a slight +mistake had been made in our case. + +The English consul had leased a small building on the premises as a +lock-up for British sailors who got into trouble or refused to do duty +on their respective ships. When the vessels were ready for sea, the +sailors would be put on board and all the expenses deducted from their +wages. So we were dressed up again and marched over to the consul's +pen. The same trouble about the food occurred there. If they had made +just one more mistake we certainly should have starved to death. In a +few days we were marched to the consulate and then returned to the +Madagascar. Our experience on shore had been a novelty but not +entirely a pleasant one. A warm reception was given us on the +frigate--twenty-eight days each of solitary confinement on bread and +water, twenty-one days on the black-list and lying in irons from +sunset until sunrise. The value of the lost boat and all expenses, +including the reward, was to be deducted from our wages, and, besides, +we would have to pay for a new outfit of clothing. At nine dollars a +month, it would be some time before our accounts would be squared up. +Jim and I swore point-blank that we knew nothing about the boat, and +they never got it back. Somebody was ahead a new boat, anyhow. I never +paid my share of the loss, either. Matt, the half-breed, was caught in +a coffee-saloon before ten o'clock of the same morning and at once +taken back to the ship. On our arrival he was doing "solitary." The +greenhorn was the only one of the party to get away. Aft, on the lower +or third deck, was the midshipmen's and clerks' mess-room, on one side +of the deck. Abaft that was a bulkhead or partition which left a space +to the stern that was used as a store-room for the admiral's and +captain's supplies. In there was also a room used as the "solitary." +Forward of the partition was where the prisoners were kept in irons. +Iron bars ten feet in length, a knot on one end, a padlock on the +other, and a big lot of shackles completed the outfit. The men would +sit on deck in a row, each one placing a shackle on each ankle. The +first man would run the end of the bar through the eyes of his shackle +and then the next would do the same, the padlock was fastened, and we +would be secure for the night. The bar lay underneath, resting on +deck. Walking or standing was impossible. The midshipmen and clerks +swung their hammocks above us. Once in a while we would rap on the +partition and, through the crack, would inquire about Matt's health +and comfort, "If the hardtack and water agreed with him, and how would +he like a nice beefsteak?" As Matt was in the "solitary," Jim and I +had to wait for our turn. So we were doing the black-list and iron +punishment together. About the time my black-list was half over I got +into more trouble. + +The captain lived on shore, near the Sugar Loaf. His boat had left the +ship and some article which he wanted had been forgotten. Such a +dereliction was simply terrible. The captain of a man-of-war in those +days was a trifle more despotic than the Czar of Russia. A cutter with +fourteen oars was "called away" in a hurry to rectify the mistake, but a +man was short for the crew. The lieutenant gave orders for some one to +get into the boat. Just then I was working by the companion-way--the +ladder on ship's side. Much to my surprise, I was told to be more active +in obeying orders and to get into the cutter. I did so. My being a +prisoner at the time seemed not to have been taken into consideration. +It was quite a distance to shore down the bay. The man next me on the +thwart gave me a nudge and said, "Mike, my mon, show 'em your 'eels on +shore." The others near me also had something to say, much to my +annoyance, as I did not want any one to suspect what my intentions were. +We landed soon after the captain's boat did. There being no midshipman +in the cutter, we all stepped on shore. One of the men spoke to the +coxswain in a low tone, and I was ordered back into the cutter. I +refused and stated that I was going to a saloon for a drink. I walked +away rather quickly. Looking back, I saw that all the men excepting one +were running after me. Then I ran as fast as possible towards a steep +rocky hill. I was gaining on them rapidly. Some perpendicular rocks +prevented my going farther in that direction. Then I turned around, +intending to run down the hill and break through the crowd for another +race. Just as I got near them, I stumbled, falling on my face and +rolling over into a hole full of muddy water. I was badly hurt and my +nose was bleeding freely. They took me to the cutter and pulled off to +the frigate. + +On our arrival all had to go on deck and stand in a line toeing a seam, +to be searched for smuggled liquor by the ship's corporal, the +lieutenant looking on. Then the coxswain reported me for attempting to +run away. The lieutenant saw that I was covered with mud and blood. He +asked me if the report was true. I answered "Yes," and told him that the +whole boat's crew were a dirty lot of curs for bringing me back after +inducing me to run. The lieutenant looked at them all slowly, and then +at me. With a contemptuous sneer, he said, "Thank you, men," and sent +them forward, at the same time ordering me to be put in irons. The +ship's corporal led me away below, at the same time growling about the +trouble he was having on my account. About half an hour afterward my +old friend, the corporal, made his appearance. He released me from irons +and escorted me on deck. The lieutenant asked me if I was badly hurt, +and all particulars in regard to my running away. Much to my surprise, +he told me to resume my work, that he was to blame in a measure himself, +as he had no right to allow a prisoner to leave the ship. + +My first business was to see the coxswain and some of the boat's crew +and give them a good plain cursing. In a few days afterward, Matt's time +in the "solitary" expired and I was locked up in his place. One half +pound of hardtack per day and one quart of water was my allowance. +Nothing very interesting occurred during the time, excepting once when +the captain's steward came into the store-room one day for some wine. He +spoke to me through the small iron-barred window which was in the +partition on the store-room side. He told me to get my tin cup and hold +it up to the bars. With a piece of paper he made a funnel and filled my +cup full of good sherry wine. Crackers and raisins were also given me, +so I had a high old time all to myself that day. The twenty-eight days +expired and all my punishment was over. Jimmy relieved me, and when he +went into the door it was the last time we ever saw each other. After +all the hard times and many scrapes we had got into together, we parted +without a chance to shake hands. I never heard of him afterward. Twice +while in Liverpool, England, I went to his address, 17 Lower Frederick +Street, but no one knew anything about him. + +Matt, the half-breed, and I got to be friendly and both of us were +determined to get away from the frigate. Our only chance was to swim +ashore, we not being trusted in any of the boats. It was necessary to +wait for a night when there would be no moon and a flood-tide running in +from the sea. In the meantime, to avert suspicion, I started making my +new clothing. The blue cloth for my best trousers at Government prices +was one pound sterling. That I had smuggled from the ship and on shore, +to be sold. I was to receive half of what it would sell for. In a few +days I received five milreis and a long skin of cashass. The cashass is +put in skins such as are used for bologna sausage. In that form it can +easily be secreted about a sailor's clothing and smuggled on board. The +cashass I gave to Matt for safe-keeping, as we should need a good drink +before taking our long swim. The five milreis in silver I put in a small +bag hanging round my neck. Every night we would sneak up to the gun +deck. The prospects not being favourable, we would postpone our trip. +One night while I was awake, the ship's corporal came to my hammock with +a lantern in his hands. He took a look at me and then went away. I knew +then that our plan to go was known. After that I remained in my hammock +and let Matt do the prospecting. Finally, one morning, we concluded to +make the attempt that night. During the day I had my bag from the rack +to do some sewing, and Matt came to me with a blue flannel shirt and +asked me to put it in my bag for a while, which, unfortunately, I did. +That night the corporal came to my hammock twice before midnight; then +I dozed off to sleep and was awakened by some one feeling my face. It +was Matt. He was quite drunk and insisted upon my taking a drink from +the skin. He said he was then going to the gun deck to get a rope ready +for getting into the water and would return for me when all was ready. +That was the last I saw of him. I waited for a while. The effects of the +strong liquor put me into a sound sleep. The next thing I knew was that +the crew were holystoning the gun deck. The noise of the stones right +over my head had awakened me. I put on my clothes and tried to sneak in +among them unobserved, but the attempt was a failure. The boatswain saw +me. "Hello, Mike, where did you come from? I thought you had gone ashore +with Matt," was the salute I received. + +It seems that when all hands were called, we were missed at once. Matt's +hammock, being the nearest, was examined. He being gone, it was +concluded that I was with him. I tried to play innocent, but it was of +no use. After breakfast I was ordered before the first lieutenant and +reported for not turning out to scrub decks, and then for aiding and +abetting desertion. My bag was brought from the rack and examined. The +blue cloth was missing. A stolen shirt, with the owner's name under the +collar, was found. Matt stole that shirt. It was the one he had asked me +to keep for him. Conduct detrimental to discipline in Her Majesty's +service was another charge. The lieutenant then laid down the law to me +in splendid style, and ended thus: "Now, Michael Murray, you have made +considerable trouble on this frigate, and I shall see that you get 'four +dozen.' Then you can desert--that is, if you get the chance. Corporal, +put him in irons." When the corporal put the padlock on the bar, he +said: "Mike, my lad, you're in for it now!" + +About five days afterward I was taken on the quarter-deck again. The +lieutenant wanted to know who brought the cashass on board to Matt and +myself. I replied that I knew nothing about it and that I had never seen +Matt with the liquor in his possession. Then I was told that Matt's body +had been found floating in the bay. He had on all his clothes excepting +cap and shoes. Inside of his shirt was found the skin containing a small +quantity of cashass. He must have been quite drunk or he would not have +tried to swim such a distance with his clothes on; or it may be that he +fell overboard and that that was the reason he did not come back for me +as he promised. + +"Four dozen" on an English man-of-war means flogging with the +cat-o'-nine-tails. The "cat" is a hardwood handle eighteen inches long, +to one end of which are attached nine pieces of hard lines, about one +eighth of an inch in diameter and eighteen inches long. At the end of +each tail is a hard knot. When punishment is to be inflicted the "tails" +are soaked in strong brine. That makes them hard and heavy. A wooden +grating from a hatchway is placed on end, resting against the bulwarks. +All hands are called to witness punishment. Everybody must be present, +from the captain to the powder boys. The prisoner is stripped naked to +the waist, his feet are lashed to the bottom of the grating, and his +arms are stretched out full length and fastened. The face and breast +are then close to the grating, with no chance remaining of moving the +body. The ship's surgeon watches to see that the prisoner does not die +while being punished. The boatswain's mate is on the left side. He +swings the "cat" over his head with the right hand, at the same time +drawing the tails through his left hand. At every stroke nine stripes +are cut on the prisoner's back, the knots at the same time making little +holes in the skin, about two seconds elapsing between each stroke. After +two dozen strokes have been given, the boatswain's mate steps to the +other side of the prisoner and gives the remaining two dozen, the skin +being cut by that means into diamond-shaped pieces. By the time the +punishment is over the man will be covered with blood and greatly +exhausted. + +I had been keeping very quiet for the last few days in order to avert +suspicion. I had been examining the old shackles, and found two that +would release me from the bar at any time. One was quite large. By +taking off my shoe I could squeeze my foot from the bar. The other +shackle must have been an odd one, as it had extra large eyes, and would +slip nicely over the knob at the end of the bar. I laid them on the deck +to have them handy, then I sent for the corporal to take me to the +water-closet. When I returned I picked up the shackles that I wanted and +placed them over my ankles. When he had gone I put all the other +shackles away out of reach so there could be no mixing up. My mind +rested easy then. I was having a chance to go before the flogging, +instead of after, as the lieutenant proposed. At last, the day for my +punishment was set. The captain had come on board the frigate and my +conduct was reported. I was brought before him and the charges read to +me. Orders were given to have me flogged with the "Thieves'" +cat-o'-nine-tails at eight o'clock the next morning. "Four dozen lashes +on the bare back." The "Thieves' cat" meant two knots in the tail +instead of one. I was to receive extra punishment for a crime I never +committed, but the finding of the shirt in my bag had been sufficient. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE ESCAPE + + +When the corporal took me below again I asked him to let me get some +clean clothes from my bag. I selected a pair of white duck trousers and +a white shirt. I wanted the lightest suit that I could get. The corporal +probably thought that I intended dressing neatly for the whipping in the +morning. I was very particular in putting the shackles on my ankles, the +one with the large eyes going on the left leg, so as to be at the knob +end of the bar. The big one went on the right leg. I could not prevent +myself from grinning while he was so carefully locking the end of the +bar. He gave the lock an extra pull, to satisfy himself that it was +fast, and walked off. My hammock, instead of being lashed up sideways, +as customary, was merely rolled loosely and left on deck, so that I +could spread it out for sleeping at night-time. I made a sort of lounge +with it and took life easy, for the time being. At nine in the evening, +the midshipmen and clerks got into their hammocks, leaving their clothes +on top of their sea-chests. I spread out my bed and lay down. My +position had to be straight out, on my back, as the iron bar had to be +taken into consideration. Soon all but myself were asleep. Time passed +very slowly. I knew the corporal would have a look at me about midnight +and that then I should be ready for my trip. I could tell the time by +hearing the ship's bell striking every half hour. About one in the +morning, I was getting very uneasy in my mind, as I knew it was about +time for the tide to change and run out to sea--a very serious matter +for me. At last my friend made his appearance. Everything was secure and +satisfactory, so he went away. Then I commenced operations. First, I got +out of the shackles, and taking off all my clothing, tied it in a neat, +flat bundle. My money and knife I left hanging to my neck. Next I +gathered up some clothing belonging to the midshipmen and laid it on my +bed. Two pairs of shoes went next. One pair was stuck in the shackles, +the other pair was stuck, heels downward, into the first pair. Then two +caps were stuck together for a head. The whole, being covered over with +my blanket, made a very good dummy. I was highly pleased with my +midnight work. The toes, sticking straight up, gave a very artistic +effect to the job. Taking my hammock lashing and bundle, I went to the +midshipmen's messroom. + +With a stool to stand on, I took a view of the harbour from the small +port-hole--about twenty inches square. These holes are open in harbour +only for ventilation and light on the lower deck. At sea they must be +kept closed and lashed securely. As I expected, the tide was ebbing out +to sea. The ship had swung around "head on" to the city. I had no choice +but to go, however. Fastening my clothes to the end of the lashing, I +lowered them about eight feet, not intending to get them wet. Securing +the lashing to an eyebolt, inward, I got out of the port-hole and let +myself down into the water. The clothes had been dropped too low and got +wet. That made them too heavy to fasten on the top of my head as I had +intended. I released the bundle from the lashing, keeping it in my left +hand, and then I drifted past the frigate's stern with the tide. In a +few minutes I commenced swimming at an angle from the frigate, and then +headed for the city. After a long swim I began to get tired and was +breathing hard from exertion. The bundle worried me, and the now swift +tide became too much to contend with. I had got only a short distance +past the frigate, and was convinced that I could not reach the city. +Then I turned back, repassed the frigate, and headed for the southern +shore. The tide, at the same time, carried me towards the entrance of +the harbour. I was in hopes of getting to land before I should be +carried past the Sugar Loaf. As a last recourse I could let the clothing +go, and that I would not do until it became a necessity. As I was +swimming at an angle with the tide, not so much exertion was needed. +Much to my relief I saw the dim outline of a vessel to my left. I then +swam with the tide, and in a few minutes I was holding on the +anchor-chain. I had a good rest and, at the same time, thought what was +best for me to do. I could easily get on board at the bow, but if it +were an English vessel my name would be "Dennis," sure enough. I +proposed to take no more chances than necessary that night. Finally I +let go of the chain and drifted to the stern. There I found the vessel's +boat in the water. I got the bundle into the boat and climbed in myself. + +The first thing I did was to read the vessel's name. I was then +satisfied that she was a Brazilian coaster. I wrung the water from my +clothes and was soon dressed up. There were no oars in the boat; if +there had been I would have cut the painter and sculled with a single +oar for the western shore. When I felt strong enough, I climbed up the +painter to the taffrail and got on deck. No one was to be seen, so I +commenced an investigation. She was a brig. On each side of the +quarter-deck was a cubby-hole--a small white house with sliding-doors, +just large enough for a man to sleep in. The starboard one was empty, so +I knew the captain was on shore. In the port side was the mate, asleep. +The cool night wind blowing on my clothes made me quite chilly. Not +having decided exactly what to do, I was standing by the wheel making up +my mind. A crisis was at hand. The mate crawled out of his hole, about +half awake, rubbing his eyes. He caught a glimpse of me, all dressed in +white, standing close to the wheel. Before I could say a word he gave a +terrible yell; then he stuttered out, "Por Dios, que es esta?"--"For +God's sake, what is that?" Staggering back a few steps, he turned around +and ran forward, disappearing down the forecastle scuttle. Then I went +to the taffrail and got the boat's painter ready for being cast off in +an instant; taking my knife from my neck, I opened it and fastened the +lanyard around my right wrist. If there was to be a hostile reception, I +intended to cast the boat loose and jump overboard. With the wind and +strong tide, I would land somewhere, even if I had no oars. So I waited +for developments. In a few minutes five men came out of the forecastle. +They came aft in single file, the cook at the head with a lighted candle +in his hand, the mate bringing up the rear. Then, in spite of myself, I +had to laugh. It was the only time in my life at sea that I ever saw a +candle on ship's deck. There are two articles which an old-time +salt-water sailor has the most supreme contempt for--namely, a lantern +and an umbrella. When they got close to me they were a surprised lot of +men. By way of introduction, I said, "Yo soy un saltador Ingles"--"I am +an English deserter." They all commenced to laugh at the mate. We soon +became quite friendly, all hands considering the whole affair as a good +joke. Opening the cabin skylight, they told me to get in and have a good +sleep. The vessel was loaded with mahogany timber. The cabin bulkheads +had been taken out and the lumber loaded through the stern ports, +completely filling the brig from stem to stern. The extra sails were put +in the skylight on top of the cargo. That was my bed, and a good sleep +I had, even if my clothes were wet. + +About seven o'clock they woke me and gave me a breakfast. I exchanged +all my neat clothes with them, I getting a ragged blue jumper and +overalls and a ship hat with the rim all frayed out. My shoes, +stockings, and knife I retained for my own use. The boat had been hauled +alongside and loaded with firewood to be taken ashore. When ready I got +into it, and, taking an oar, helped row for shore. The mate gave me a +friendly parting and wished me success. I thanked him, and said: +"Cuidado por los brujos!"--"Look out for ghosts!" When close to shore I +asked to be landed on the beach, as it would not do for me to go near +the Government dock. They pulled close to a ledge of rocks and I jumped +out and thanked them for their kindness. Away I went for the railroad +track. + +Having heard that English contractors were building a new branch, it was +my intention to offer them my valuable services. I started down the +track quite lively and independent. The sun became very warm and my feet +sore. Then I got tired of continually looking at the telegraph-poles, +each one being numbered, like houses in a city. What the reason for that +was I never found out. Every station I came to I was ordered off the +track, but the explanation that I was to work on the road was +satisfactory. To my inquiries as to how far the new road was situated, +the answer was always the same, "A few leagues farther." My five milreis +now came into requisition. Some time in the afternoon I went into a +general store and purchased a glass of wine, some crackers and cheese. +After my feast was over, I continued my journey. Soon I had come among +the coffee plantations. They looked like large cherry orchards with the +trees full of ripe fruit. Two coffee grains flat side together, +surrounded by a spongy fibre, then a tough, smooth skin, the whole about +the size of a large cherry--that is the coffee bean while on the tree. + +I do not know how many miles I walked on the Terro Carril de Dom Pedro +III, but I was well tired out, and my head dizzy, from looking at the +numbers on the telegraph-poles. The same information--"A few leagues +farther on"--was becoming monotonous. Four milreis had been expended for +food. With but one milreis left I was getting discouraged. Suddenly I +changed my mind, and turned back for Rio de Janeiro. At the first +station I was ordered off the track. Then I had to walk on the wagon +road. One evening, about dusk, I arrived at the city, tired, hungry, and +footsore. Two "dumps"--large copper coins worth forty reis each--was the +last of my money. I invested one dump for a piece of cocoanut, the other +for bread. That was the last food I ever ate on Brazilian soil. I had +often heard sailors joking about "Mahogany Hotel-on-the-Beach," and +there I went for a night's lodging. A large pile of mahogany timber +hewed square for shipping, some pieces being several feet shorter than +others, would make a space large enough for a man to sleep in. No doubt +but that it was a very valuable edifice, but, at the same time, very +uncomfortable. My apartment was about eight feet in length and only +twenty inches in height and width. Early in the morning I was out of +bed, with no money nor breakfast, hardly knowing what to do. There was +only one thing to be done, that was to get on some vessel and get away +from the city. While walking around the docks, I met the "runner" from +Portuguese Joe's boarding-house. He was an American. I tried to avoid +him, but it was useless. He had seen and recognised me. + +"Halloa, how long have you been ashore?" he asked. + +"Oh, quite a long time," I replied. + +"See here, Murray, I know all about your deserting. Come down to the +house and stay until we can get you away." + +No, I would not take any chances in a boarding-house. + +"You want to ship, don't you? Come with me and I will put you on a +vessel right off." + +"How much in advance?" + +"Eighteen dollars," he answered. + +Then I told him how I was fixed, and also that he could ship me and keep +all the advance money for his trouble. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SPORT OF THE WAVES + + +We at once went to the vessel. The captain, after asking a few +questions, took us into the cabin, and I signed the articles for a +voyage to Richmond, Va., as an able seaman, at fifteen dollars a month. +I was then given an advance note for eighteen dollars, which I handed to +the runner. I felt perfectly safe then, knowing that the note was not +payable until just forty-eight hours after the vessel left port. That +fact would prevent him from giving me up for the reward from the +frigate. My new vessel was a swift-sailing American clipper bark--the +name I have forgotten. The slaves were bringing large bags of coffee on +their backs and dropping them on deck. In a couple of days the cargo was +completed. There being a fair wind, the topsails were hoisted and +sheeted borne alongside the dock. The lines to the dock were cast off, +and our voyage to the United States began. I was aloft, loosing the main +royal, as we passed close by the old Madagascar. I took off my old straw +hat and waved it at the men on deck as they watched the Yankee clipper +go past. I was perfectly safe then. Within an hour we had passed the +Sugar Loaf. That was the last time in my life that I was to see the +beautiful harbour of Rio de Janeiro. + +What a contrast between the bark and the brig Grenfalls! It was child's +play to steer now. A slight movement of the wheel would keep the vessel +on the course. We had dry quarters on deck, fine weather, and plenty of +good food and water. The only thing unusual that occurred was the large +number of flying-fish that dropped on deck during the night-time. As +many as fifty would be found in the morning. They are about the size of +fresh-water herring. While flying they appear like streaks of bright +silver. The flight is only for a short distance, however. As soon as +their wings become dry they drop at once. The dolphins are their +greatest enemy. In the equatorial regions, or "doldrums," as it is +called, we had the usual experience--the sea as smooth as glass, no air +stirring except in "cat's-paws" and coming from different directions. As +soon as the little ripples would be seen on the water, the back yards +would have to be braced in the proper direction to take advantage of +what little wind was coming. Day after day it was the same. At last we +got a steady wind and were soon on the American coast. Being in north +latitude, the days were rapidly becoming shorter and the weather very +cold and stormy. I suffered very much from the want of warm clothing. A +shirt and pair of drawers had been given me by a shipmate. Those and the +suits I had changed for with the Brazilians were all that I then +possessed. The latter part of December we arrived at Richmond. I was +paid off, seven dollars and fifty cents being the amount due me. A cheap +suit of clothes was bought with that money, and I was again in a strange +city "dead broke." I had one consolation, however, in knowing that I +had quit being proxy for Mike Murray. + +The large schooner Onrust was in the canal at Richmond loaded with +cement for Fort Taylor at Key West and the fort on the Dry Tortugas +Island. My late shipmates and myself shipped on her by the month, she +being a coasting vessel. It was a novel experience for us all to be on a +schooner. Everything was so different from a square-rigged ship. The +captain was also the owner. Economy was his motto. Instead of eating in +the forecastle, we had our meals in the cabin, the captain acting as +host. None of the crew felt as comfortable as if feeding in sailor style +and all etiquette dispensed with. In the forecastle was a small box +stove, and that was a nuisance. The watch below would make a wood fire +and go to sleep. It would only be a short time before the fire would be +out and then we would wake up shivering with the cold atmosphere. As yet +I did not enjoy the luxury of a bed or blankets. My finances, since +leaving the frigate, had been at a low point. Besides the trouble below, +we felt the cold more severely when on deck. All hands agreed on one +point--that the stove was a nuisance. That was my only experience with a +fire in the forecastle during my life on the sea. No matter how cold the +weather, clothing wet or dry, a sailor never catches cold on the ocean +if he will keep away from a stove. We sailed, instead of being towed, +down the James River. When near Fortress Monroe, the main boom snapped +short off near the jaws. Then there was trouble. We put into Norfolk for +a new boom. Everything being ready, we hoisted sail for a new start. And +such a job to get the main and foresails up on that brute of a schooner! +But our experience was yet to come. In a few days we were rounding Cape +Hatteras and a heavy gale came up. Then was the time the schooner showed +what she could do. The main-sail had to be lowered for reefing. The hour +was about midnight, and a dark, stormy winter night it was. The captain +was steering, as all the men were needed for reefing, the cook included. + +The first thing the Onrust did was to fall off into the trough of the +sea, and in the Gulf Stream, where we were at the time, the waves were +mighty lively. Then over the rails came the water and swashed around the +decks, knee deep. The cook had a nice lot of firewood neatly piled up +handy for use. That was travelling around in all directions, the +objective point being the sailors' shins. Suddenly the main boom got +loose and swung from one quarter to the other. It was "thump, thump," +and sparks of fire the size of a baseball were flying over our worthy +captain's head. The sheet blocks worked on heavy iron travellers, and +every roll of the schooner swung the heavy boom with terrific force. All +we could do was to look on and wait for the captain to get his craft +head on to the sea. Bang went the boom. It had snapped short off near +the jaws. Now both ends were loose, and affairs were becoming unpleasant +for us "square-rigged" sailors. The heavy cargo of cement was much below +the water-line, and there being no yards or heavy rigging aloft to +counterbalance it, made the schooner roll extra quick and lively. The +boom was very long and about fourteen inches in diameter. How it did +rattle over the top of the cabin! At last, with the use of ropes, we +managed to secure it. The main-sail, in the meantime, had been having +its share of the fun, much to our discomfort. A storm-sail was brought +from below and set. As that needed no boom or gaff, we had but little +trouble to get the schooner under control again. Next in order was to +save the main-sail. About fifty knots that fastened the sail had to be +untied, and they being wet, made the knots hard to loosen. The boom was +lying diagonally, partly on the cabin and over the port quarter. There +was a narrow passageway between the cabin and the bulwarks. I was in the +passageway at work, with my head between the top edge of the cabin and +the boom. In trying to unfasten a foot stop I poked my head a little too +far. When the next roll came the boom moved just enough to give my head +a most unmerciful squeeze. I saw more stars to the square inch than +could be seen with the Lick telescope! The pain actually lifted me off +my feet from the deck. When the boom rolled back, I dropped to the deck +all in a heap. Had the boom moved one half inch farther, my skull would +have been crushed. I have had many narrow escapes from death since, but +that night occurred the closest call of all. When the gale abated, the +boom was taken on deck and spliced and then placed in position again. +The captain was the chief carpenter. + +In a short time we were in warm latitudes, and well pleased to get away +from a northern winter. Passing through the Florida Keys, everything was +delightful and interesting. The water was very clear. In calm weather +the ocean's bottom could be plainly seen at twenty fathoms' depth. White +coral was everywhere--the islands formed of it. It was the coral that +made the water so transparent. On our arrival at Key West, part of the +cement was landed at Fort Taylor. Then we sailed for the Dry Tortugas +and landed the balance. The latter place was only a small island. +Nothing but broken coral and shells were to be seen. The fort was built +of brick, and about one third completed at that time. Little fishing +smacks kept the place supplied with fish and green turtles. That was the +first time that I saw the red snapper. It is a beautiful large fish, and +excellent eating. Several wrecking schooners were in the harbour. The +crews seemed to have a fine time. Their pay was a certain share of what +was taken from the numerous wrecks. Piracy and wrecking meant almost the +same thing in those days. One of the wreckers and myself wished to +exchange places, but my captain would not consent. The schooners were +about fifty or sixty tons burthen, with fourteen to twenty men for a +crew. Our vessel was about five hundred men for a ton and only four men +for a crew. Our main boom was larger than any mast in their whole fleet. +To hoist sail for them was only child's play. With us it was a big job. + +On leaving Tortugas we sailed for Mobile, Ala. On our arrival in port I +severed connections with the Onrust, at the same time making a vow that +if ever I shipped on a fore-and-after again, it would be a smaller +craft. I went to a sailor boarding-house, and remained on shore for +three weeks. Then I shipped on the C. C. Duncan for Liverpool, England. +Eighteen dollars per month was the pay, and thirty-six dollars in +advance. It was a fine, large American ship, a thousand tons burthen. +The owners were the banking firm of Duncan, Sherman & Co., No. 17 Wall +Street, New York City. The crew was composed of Swedes and Norwegians, +excepting three young Americans and myself. I was the only sailor +shipped in Mobile, the rest having been on board for a number of months. +To show the difference in cargoes, I will describe the loading of this +ship with cotton. In the first place, a hundred tons of stone ballast +had to be placed in the bottom. The bales of cotton at the warehouse +were put under powerful steam presses and reduced to one half the +original size. The old bands were tightened with levers, and two extra +bands added. Then the bale was sent to the ship and stowed as closely as +possible; then jack-screws were used, and a space made for an extra bale +to be jammed in, and, tier by tier, the cotton was screwed in by men +who made that work a specialty. Their pay was from three to five dollars +a day, with board included. The cargo was a solid, compact mass. The +bales averaged about five hundred pounds each, and yet, with that heavy +weight, the ship would not stand full sail in a moderate breeze. About +two weeks after leaving Mobile we had a severe gale. While close reefing +the main top-sail, one of the seamen was pulled over forward of the yard +by the sail, and instantly killed as he struck the deck. + +On that trip we saw a vessel, about two miles to windward of us, struck +by a heavy squall. Its light sails were quickly furled, and the +top-sails lowered. All preparations were made on our ship to do the +same. We waited quite a while, but no squall came. Not a rope had to be +let go. The wind must have shot high up in the clouds and passed over +us. About six weeks after leaving Mobile we arrived off Holyhead. There +a large tug-boat took us in tow, and we were soon going up the Mersey +River, and at anchor, waiting for high tide in order to go into dock. +While coming up the river we were boarded by the custom-house officers. +All hands were ordered to bring out their tobacco. Then the search of +the ship began in earnest. With long, sharp-pointed steel wires they +prodded into everything and every place where tobacco could be hidden. +It was understood that what could be found would be confiscated. Much to +their disgust, none was found. What the officers had in the cabin was +put into a state-room, and the door fastened with the custom-house seal. + +This was my first trip to England. I'd had a good description of +Liverpool from sailors, and yet I was surprised at what was to be seen. +Each dock is an immense large basin, built of solid stone masonry, with +large store-houses surrounding it, the whole being inside of a high +wall, a large gate opening into the city. Policemen and custom-house +officers patrol it day and night. Nothing can pass without examination. +The tide from the sea rises from twenty to twenty-eight feet in +twenty-four hours. At high tide the gates, like a lock in a canal, are +opened. The ships are then allowed to enter or go out. Within a half +hour the tide commences to lower, then the gates are closed until the +next high water. Everything was made ready on the ship for going into +dock. A tugboat had us near the gate waiting for our chance. Once +inside, we had no trouble securing the ship alongside the dock. Our big +anchors had to be taken on deck, that being one of the dock regulations. +By evening everything was in first-class shape and very little work left +to be done by us in port. After supper we all started to see the city +sights by night. I was the only stranger, the others having been there +before. The three Americans and myself had a very pleasant time and +returned on board the vessel about twelve o'clock. Before we had +undressed for bed we heard a heavy splash in the water from the forward +part of the vessel, then some one from another vessel sung out, "Man +overboard!" We ran to the top-gallant forecastle and could plainly see +the bubbles rising in the water, but the man never came to the surface. +Grappling-hooks were sent for and the body was soon recovered. One of +the crew, a Norwegian, had gone to sleep on a coil of rope on the +forecastle and rolled overboard. The next morning, through superstition, +the crew all left the ship. We four Americans, of all the crew, alone +remained. The stevedore and his gang came on board to discharge the +cargo. I was anxious to see the first bale of cotton taken out. I had +seen how tightly it had been jammed in at Mobile. With tackle and hooks +and plenty of hard work, it was slowly pulled out. It took over a week +to discharge the entire cargo. I had bought a straw mattress in Mobile, +and, as it was not very comfortable, I emptied the tick and filled it +with cotton. That same day a young fellow came on board and asked me if +I had a cotton mattress that I would sell him. I told him I had one, but +needed it to sleep on. Finally a bargain was made--he wanted the cotton +only to sell. I was to receive a half-crown--sixty cents--and get the +tick back. I went to the dock gate with him and told the custom-house +officer that I was sending my bed to a boarding-house. The next day the +bed was sold again, and I continued the operation as long as there was +any loose cotton lying about the vessel. A half-crown in England was +considered quite a big pile of money. For two crowns a coat, pantaloons, +and vest could be purchased in those days. Our ship was chartered by the +French Government to take a cargo of coal from Cardiff, Wales, and +deliver it at Algiers, Africa. A few English navvies were hired to +assist working the ship. Then a powerful tug-boat took us out of the +dock and towed us around to Cardiff. After getting in the dock, the +navvies were sent back on the tug. There was only one dock, very wide +and long, without any walls around it. It was the private property of +the Marquis of Bute, a kid about five years old then. He owned nearly +the whole city--it was "Bute" road, "Bute" dock, "Bute" Castle, and +"Bute" everything else. We had to wait a number of days for our turn to +go under the chutes. At last we commenced loading. The lower hold was +about two thirds filled, the balance of the load going on "between +decks," so as to leave part of the weight above the water-line. A full +complement of men was shipped and we were off for the Mediterranean +Sea. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A GLIMPSE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN + + +Sailing south, we arrived at the Straits of Gibraltar. The wind was dead +ahead. A strong current was running in from the Atlantic Ocean and we +managed to beat in past the Rock after tacking ship many times. All +hands were well tired out from bracing around the yards so often. On one +tack we would be headed for Spain, on the other it would be for Morocco. +During the night the wind died away. At daylight we found our ship was +rapidly drifting on to the rocky coast of Morocco. There was not a bit +of air stirring and the sea was as smooth as glass. Captain Otis was +very much discouraged, as the loss of so fine a vessel meant ruined +prospects for the future. He was quite a young man for such a +responsible position. The Moors on the shore had seen our danger and +spread the news to one another. Soon quite a number of small boats were +seen at the place where the ship would probably strike. It made all +hands feel a little nervous to see the reception which was awaiting us. +It was well known by sailors what a set of cutthroats the people were in +that locality. The officers and crew held a consultation as to what +should be done. My suggestion was acted upon, and that was, to take all +our boats and tow the ship, if possible, or at least to check her from +drifting, in hopes that a breeze might spring up. Strangely enough, I +was the only man on the ship who had ever seen the experiment tried. The +occasion took place when I was in the bushes at San Carlos watching my +old ship, the Courier, leaving the harbour. The wind having died away, +they lowered the boats and towed the ship a considerable distance. But +then the Courier was only half our size and had more and better boats +than we had. Our boats were quickly lowered and fastened in a row to a +rope from the ship's bows. By hard pulling we slowly turned the vessel +head to the current. The drifting was checked, and that was about all we +could do. Within half an hour a breeze sprang up and away started the +ship, swinging the boats around and towing them stern first. We had a +lively time in preventing them from capsizing when the towing business +was reversed. + +In a few days we sighted what appeared to be an immense hill of chalk, +perfectly white from the water's edge to the summit. That was Algiers. +Before night we were inside the breakwater and at anchor. That was the +most interesting port I ever saw. A large number of French troops were +stationed in the city. The Italian war was then in progress. Such a +contrast in people and dress was probably never seen before. Only the +Algerian and Moorish women seemed to be without gaiety. They were all +dressed alike, a light gauzy dress and a long veil of the same material +covering the head and face, leaving only the eyes uncovered. The rich +wore shoes; the poor went barefooted. The young had smooth skins on +their wrists; the old were wrinkled. That was the only way we could tell +the difference between them. As to their beauty, we had no means of +judging. Other women were dressed in silk tights and gaily coloured +velvet jackets, the front being completely covered with jewels. In fact, +every conceivable sort of costume was to be seen. The streets were +always crowded; nobody seemed to be at home. The French soldiers were in +their element, all wearing their side-arms. One regiment of Turcos +looked fierce enough to annihilate a whole army. At nine in the evening, +an entire drum corps would double through the town beating tattoo. Then +the soldiers would disappear for the night. Wine was only eight cents a +quart bottle, so their dissipation did not cost them much, especially as +they did not get drunk. But how they could talk and get excited! An +Englishman with such an opportunity would drink more and talk less. Most +of our crew had a fondness for eau de vie--"water of life"--a cheap +brandy that cost us only fifteen cents a quart. Cafe royale was also a +favourite beverage with them--a cup of strong black coffee with brandy, +the latter being bought separate in a bottle. The coffee could be +doctored to any degree of strength. At first, my shipmates would take +one portion of brandy, a swallow of cafe royale, and in would go +another, and so it continued until each bottle was emptied. When ready +to pay the waiter, he would count the marks on the bottle at so much a +mark. There was no chance to dispute the bill, and no opportunity for +the waiter to defraud the boss. I was continually eating grapes--great +large bunches weighing two or three pounds each; they were white and +seedless, and only two cents a bunch. Algiers was once the great +stronghold of the Algerian pirates. They and the Moors laid a heavy +tribute on vessels of all nations that came within their clutches. The +United States sent a fleet of men-o'-war into their ports, destroyed +their vessels, and liberated a number of American seamen they held in +captivity. The city is built on the side of a very high and steep hill; +the streets running parallel with the harbour are level, but cross +streets leading up are one continuous flight of steps. You can go into a +house on one street and descend from one basement to another and find +yourself on the top floor of a house on another street. That cannot be +done in any other city. Some of the old streets are only six feet wide, +the doors in the houses being very heavy and studded thickly with large +iron bolts. The windows are high from the ground and only twenty inches +square, with heavy iron bars, the whole place resembling a strong +prison. The new part of the city is quite modern in construction. The +French introduced new ideas when they captured the country. + +The French Government took the coal from our vessel as they needed it. +They were paying one hundred dollars a day for the time the ship was +detained in the harbour. One day I was sitting on the edge of the +fore-hatch, cleaning a brace-block, when suddenly my work ceased, and I +was laid up for a week. A man was aloft, tightening the truss bolts on +the foretop-sail yard. He had a small iron bar which he was using at +the work. Contrary to all rules, he neglected to fasten it with a +lanyard. He had difficulty in turning the bolt with his hands, so he +reversed the operation by holding to the rigging with both hands and +pushing the iron bar with his feet. It was a success, so far as he was +concerned. The bolt went around, the bar slipped out, and, whirling +through the air, fetched me a whack on the side of the head. The mate +gave him a good cursing for his carelessness. I was picked up, my head +dressed, and was nicely tucked away in my little bed. In about ten +weeks' time the coal was all discharged, the ship cleaned up, and one +hundred tons of stone ballast taken on board. We left Algiers, and +commenced our voyage for New Orleans. We had pleasant weather while in +the Mediterranean Sea. A couple of days after leaving port, a large +Swedish sailor and myself were taken sick--headache and fever--then +pustules commenced to appear on our faces and hands. We all knew what +that meant. It was smallpox. At first the captain intended to put us in +the lower hold, but, as our vaccination marks showed very plainly, he +waited for further developments. The fresh sea air and plain style of +living were in our favour; varioloid was all the disease amounted to. +The rest of the crew were a badly scared lot of men for a few days. + +We sighted the Rock of Gibraltar, and were soon in the Straits, with a +fair wind driving us strong against the current. About three miles more +and we should be on the Atlantic Ocean. Suddenly the wind shifted dead +ahead. All we could do then was to go back and lie behind the Rock. All +sails were furled except the top-sails, and the ship hove to by backing +the main yards. We made several more unsuccessful attempts. The current +and wind were too much for us. We had a fine view of the Rock of +Gibraltar. The western side sloped very steeply to the bay. The eastern +part was perpendicular and inaccessible. A narrow, sandy strip of land +connected it with Spain. England, having possession of that +fortification, was there, like a big bulldog taking charge of the +entrance to a house against the occupant's will. For over a hundred +years the Spanish have been humiliated by their British guests. The Rock +commands the entrance to the Mediterranean, and is considered +impregnable. Improvements are being continually made. The galleries are +tunnelled through solid rock. The magazines, bomb-proofs, and casemates +cannot be penetrated by an enemy's shot. The upper guns can fire a +plunging shot on a ship's deck, but a ship cannot elevate its guns +enough to return the fire. The English can fire rifle bullets into +Spain. With the heavy guns they can drop shot and shell into Morocco and +into the Spanish forts, and, at the same time, throw tons of shot the +whole length of the Straits. As there are at present, in 1897, just that +number of guns in position, an enemy's fleet would receive a very warm +reception. An extra gun is mounted every year. By looking on the front +cover of an almanac, anybody can find out just how many cannon are +mounted on the Rock of Gibraltar. About the tenth day we got a fair wind +that took us through the Straits and into the Atlantic Ocean. The ship +was then headed southwest for the Gulf of Mexico. In six weeks' time we +sighted the lighthouse, and then the low sandy beach at the mouths of +the Mississippi River. A tugboat took us over the bar, and we let go the +anchor. When a tow of six vessels was obtained, a large tug towed us up +the river, each ship being fastened to the other with large hawsers, +stem and stern. It was a powerful boat to tow so many ships against the +strong current of the Mississippi. One man was at the wheel to keep the +ship straight after the tug, and all the rest of the crew were hard at +work unbending the sails and lowering them on deck. The third night, +about ten o'clock, we arrived at New Orleans. The ship was secured to +the levee, and the voyage on the C. C. Duncan was ended. + +A number of boarding-house runners came on board. Each one, of course, +was working for the "best house." It was two o'clock in the morning when +our work was finished. Then all the crew went ashore to enjoy a sleep +on dry land. Captain Otis tried to induce us four Americans to remain on +the ship for another voyage. I gave him my reasons for leaving, as it +was my intention to return to my home from which I had been absent so +long. I received eighty-five dollars pay that was due me, and went by +steamboat to Mobile, Ala. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +IN AMERICAN WATERS + + +On my arrival in Mobile, I went to work on a barge and received +forty-five dollars a month. We would be towed down the bay with a load +of cotton and back to the city with general freight. Ships drawing over +twelve feet of water could not go up the river, consequently they had to +receive and discharge in the lower bay, thirty-five miles from the city. +I was on the barge for two months and then shipped on the schooner +Pennsylvania, at thirty-five dollars a month. For a few weeks we brought +salt to the city from the ships in the bay. Then my wages were reduced +to eighteen dollars a month, as we were to take a cargo of pine lumber +to Havana, Cuba. The schooner was towed up the Alabama River to a new +sawmill. + +During the daytime we would load timber and at night all hands would go +'possum-hunting. A few pine-knots for torches and a couple of dogs were +all that was required for the sport. As soon as a 'possum was caught he +would be as dead as a door-nail, to all appearances. They were put in a +bag as fast as captured. On returning to the schooner, we dumped them +all into an empty barrel. In the morning they would be as lively as +crickets. When the barrel was hit hard with a stick, the whole lot would +pretend to die a most tragic death. + +When the schooner was loaded, we sailed for Havana. On our arrival in +that port, the lumber was discharged. The captain, as a speculation, +bought a car of oranges and bananas. The fruit was perfectly green when +brought on board. We immediately set sail for Mobile. Much to the +captain's disgust, the trip was a long one of calms and head winds and +great trouble. The weather was intensely warm. The oranges ripened very +quickly and then rapidly decayed. The fruit venture proved very +unprofitable. On our arrival in Mobile, only the bananas were fit for +sale. We had a nice job to clean the rotten oranges from the hold. I +never see a mouldy orange but that my memory goes back to that +remarkable trip. + +We were towed up to the sawmill for another load of lumber. +'Possum-hunting occurred at nights as before. One of the sailors and +myself wanted a pet to take to sea with us. So we went on shore on an +expedition by ourselves. We at last found a big "razor-back" sow with a +litter of pigs. Each of us decided that two little pigs were just the +thing needed on the schooner. Then the fun commenced. "Scotty" and +myself learned the fact that the pigs could do some good sprinting when +there was occasion for it, and just then was one of the occasions. For a +half hour we tried all sorts of tactics. It was of no use. What the +little pigs didn't know the old sow did. At last we came to a big +saw-log close to a fence. I was to stand at the end of the log while +"Scotty" was to drive the pig family between. Everything worked nicely. +I did not interfere with the sow. Making a grab, I got one pig and was +laying for another. Just then there was a sudden change in the program. +The old sow was doing the chasing act. "Scotty" and I did not want any +more pigs! One was enough. It was "nip and tuck" as to who would win. +Scotty got a stick and was pounding the sow as a diversion. I made +tracks for the schooner. When I got on board I was nearly played out. +The captain took a look at the pig and myself. Then he wanted to know +why I didn't get a larger one while I was about it. When loaded, we +sailed again for Havana. We had a pleasant trip. The schooner was small +and very easy to handle. Captain Turner was a stout and short +middle-aged man, very good-natured, and inclined to be tricky in regard +to making money. We could draw our wages at any time we wished to do so. +We arrived in Havana in the month of June. The weather was very hot. +Every day at two o'clock we stopped discharging lumber, as the +custom-house officers would then go home. Every board and stick of +timber had to be measured on the dock. The crew would go ashore and +visit the different places in the city. We all invested money in the +Royal Lottery, but drew no prizes. The tickets were sold on the streets +by venders, who received a commission on their sales. A person who could +not understand Spanish would suppose that they were selling newspapers. +The tickets were in large sheets, sixteen dollars for a whole and +proportionately, down to a sixteenth. + +A large American ship arrived in harbour from China with a load of +coolies for the Cuban plantations. The captain was sick, so he made +arrangements with Captain Turner to take his vessel, the Messenger, to +New York. Our mate was to take the schooner to Boston, with a cargo of +sugar and molasses. We took our cargo on board, boxes of sugar in the +hold and hogsheads of molasses for a deck load. I was now going home in +earnest. I purchased a lot of guava jelly and tropical preserves, +besides a number of presents for my relatives. I wrote to my mother, in +New York, telling her of my intentions, giving her the name of the +schooner and its port of destination. The fourth day of July, 1860, +early in the morning, we sailed out past Morro Castle. Our voyage to +Boston had begun. I felt happy with the prospect of soon being back +home. We had a very easy time on the schooner, there being nothing to do +except to take our turns at steering. On a full-rigged ship it would +have been different, as it is invariably the practice to keep the crew +continually at work most of the time, most usually aloft, repairing the +rigging. We had passed the most dangerous part of our trip, through the +Florida Keys; the wind was "wing and wing"--that is, the foresail was +out on one side and the main-sail on the other. A good strong breeze was +driving us north at a rapid rate. That night it was my turn at the wheel +from ten to twelve o'clock. It being cloudy, no stars were visible. For +that reason it was more difficult to steer straight. By selecting a +bright star ahead when the vessel is on the right course, it is easier +to see which way the wheel is to be turned. Steering by compass alone, +the vessel either "goes off" or "comes up" considerably before the +compass shows it. The main boom was out to starboard the full length of +the sheet. A pennant--heavy rope--from the end of the boom was hooked to +a tackle and fastened forward in order to prevent the boom from swinging +back. I had been at the wheel about an hour, and was watching the +compass carefully. Suddenly the light in the binnacle went out. Then I +had neither stars nor compass to steer by. As we were going dead before +the wind, I tried to keep the old schooner straight, but it was useless. +In a few minutes she yawed to starboard, and the main-sail was taken +aback. All the strain of that big sail was then on the boom pennant and +tackle leading forward. Before anything could be done to relieve us from +our dilemma there was a sharp snap forward. The belaying-pin which held +the tackle had broken, the boom flew over to the other side, and the +sheet tautened out like a bow-string. It took hardly a second for the +sail to jibe over. + +I was lying on deck badly stunned, the wheel-post broken short off, and +the wheel broken into small pieces. The old Pennsylvania was sailing in +all directions. The "sheet" may be better understood by calling it a +large double tackle. As the boom swung in, the sheet, of course, +slackened up, and the bights, going over the quarter-deck, had caught +everything in the way. If I had been caught under the arm or chin I +should have been hurled quite a distance from the schooner without any +possible chance of being rescued. Small tackles were fastened to the +tiller, and the schooner brought head to wind. The main-sail was then +lowered and furled. With only the forward sails set and all hands at the +tiller tackles, we managed to run before the wind on our right course +until daylight. The fragments of the wheel were picked up and, by using +a stout barrel-head as a foundation, it was reconstructed. While not +being a first-class affair, it answered all purposes. On the right side +of my body, from ankle to top of my head, I was sore for several days. +That was my second accident with main-booms, and both were narrow +escapes. + +Within a short distance of Boston, our stock of provisions ran short, so +we had to kill our pet pig. He had grown to quite a respectable size. +It was much to our regret to slaughter our companion, but it had to be +done. As it was, we had nothing left to eat on our arrival in Boston. +The first thing after the anchor dropped was to row the cook ashore and +get some grub for supper. Captain Turner was on hand to meet us, having +arrived several days previously. His first inquiries were about the pig. +He intended to take it to his home. His wife had made a nice place for +it in the back yard as a domicile. We went to a dock the next day for +unloading cargo. A custom-house officer came on board to see that +everything was according to the manifest. He was very sociable to all +hands. About dinner-time he called me to one side, quietly informing me +that he was going to dinner and would not return for an hour or so, and +that, if the boys had anything to take ashore, they had better do it +while he was absent. I told the crew what he had said. As we all had a +quantity of cigars, we each chipped in a handful as a present. The +balance and my supply of guava jelly was taken to a boarding-house. +When the officer returned from his dinner, I told him to look on my bed. +He took the hint--and the cigars too. I had to wait some time in Boston +before I could get my pay which was due me, and I had not written home +about my arrival, not knowing how soon I might start for New York. About +the third day, while standing on the schooner deck, I noticed a neatly +dressed lady coming down the dock. As it was an unusual place for a +woman, my curiosity was aroused. She seemed to be looking for some +vessel, so I stepped ashore and walked towards her, thinking I might be +of some service to her. She was looking for her son. I was the son. It +was a great surprise to me to see my mother so unexpectedly. + +"Now, George, you won't get away this time; you are going straight home +with me!" I was greeted. + +The way she knew the Pennsylvania had arrived was by reading the New +York Herald. That paper gave the daily arrival of ships in all the large +ports of the United States. I told her my reasons for not writing and +why I was detained in Boston; then she was satisfied. I inquired about +my relations at home. They were all well and very anxious to see me. I +then asked about my father in San Francisco. She at once began to cry. +Then, for the first time, I noticed that she was dressed in mourning. +Father had been dead just three months. I went to a hotel with mother +and remained with her until evening; then she returned to New York. In a +short time I received my money. The next train was taking me to New York +and back to my friends from whom I had been separated for such a long +time. How glad they were to see me, and what a happy time we all had! +They never got tired of listening to the stories of my sailor life. I +remained at home for about six weeks. As I did not wish to remain idle +any longer, I concluded to return to Mobile, where I was well +acquainted, and there work at discharging cargoes from vessels. I was +satisfied that I could easily earn from two dollars and a half to three +dollars a day at that work during the winter. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +MY THIRD VOYAGE + + +About October 1, 1860, I intended to take passage on the ship Robert +Ely, for Mobile, but changed my mind, for the reason that the ship had a +crew of negroes instead of white men. The P. T. Bartram was almost ready +to sail; the crew were all shipped, so I paid ten dollars for steerage +passage, and was to furnish my own food. So many sailors wanted to go +South that it was difficult for me to ship as a sailor, the +boarding-house keepers having the preference with the shipping offices +for their boarders. The P. T. Bartram was a bark of about six hundred +tons burthen. The cargo was general merchandise--a little of everything. +The North at that time furnished the Southern States with everything +excepting raw cotton. + +We had a fine passage to the Gulf of Mexico, with fair prospects of a +speedy voyage. Slowly the fine breeze died away, the atmosphere became +unusually sultry, the barometer falling rapidly. Then we knew that +trouble was in store for us. It was not long in coming, either. A severe +hurricane from the West Indies struck us. All sail was taken in except +close-reefed main top-sail and fore-storm stay-sail. Then the bark was +hove to, head to wind. The wind roared and whistled through the rigging, +the waves commenced to rise rapidly and roll on deck, rain was pouring +down in torrents, and lightning seemed to be striking all around us. The +bark had a half deck extending to the main-mast. The after part was the +cabin, the rest was for storing freight. In there were several tons of +gunpowder. We did not know how soon the lightning might send us all +skyward. Partly for exercise and self-preservation, I was working with +the crew as one of them. The cook was with us also, since he had been +washed out of the galley by a heavy sea, and would take no more chances +among his pots and kettles. All hands kept aft on the vessel's +quarter-deck, no other place being safe from the heavy seas. The storm +kept increasing in violence, until finally the strain from the top-sails +bent the main-yard up and it snapped in two. All hands started aloft to +save the sails. I happened to be first, and went out to the weather +side, as is customary. When about half-way out the foot of the sail, it +flopped over the top-yard, struck me in the breast, and knocked me off +the yard. What a queer sensation I had while falling! So many thoughts +rushed through my brain in an instant, especially whether I would strike +on deck or go overboard! The vessel was heavily careened over to leeward +from the force of the wind, and luckily I struck in the lower rigging, +my arms going between the ratlins, where I hung on for life, the +pressure of the wind helping me considerably. My mishap was enough for +the other men--not one would venture on the yard. They just clung to the +rigging, and let the top-sail blow away in small pieces. + +With the top-sail gone, the bark fell off into the trough of the sea. +Then the sea washed over the decks. For the first time on the ocean I +saw the experiment tried of dragging a vessel head on to sea. The end of +a large hawser was fastened to the vessel's head, the rest put +overboard, in hopes that in dragging through the water the strain would +swing us head on. It was not a success. The waves washed the hawser all +around the bark's bow and sides. If we could have once got it +straightened out, the plan might have worked. Many a shipwrecked sailor +has been saved by a similar plan, when compelled to abandon a ship and +take to a small boat, by fastening a rope to the middle of an oar and +throwing it into the water. It has thus kept the boat's head to the +seas, and prevented it from swamping. The lee-pump was kept going +continually, and that was hard work. Two men at a time were at the +handle. The bark was badly strained and leaking considerably. At one +time we thought all the water was pumped out, but that was a mistake on +our part. The pump had commenced sucking, and no water was coming up. +The fact of no air hissing as usual seemed rather strange. The upper +box was taken out, and then an iron hook lowered down for the lower box. +When that was hauled up, the mystery was explained. About a pint of +nicely water-soaked beans was holding the clapper down. By using the +sounding rod, we found about fourteen inches of water below. The pump +was rigged again and started, and in a few more minutes it was the same +old trouble--more beans! The process of drawing the boxes was gone over +again. The same result followed--more beans! A barrel of that edible +fruit had broken open in the cargo, and every individual bean had found +its way to the pump-well. The comments were loud and deep, and the man +who invented beans was damned in all styles in several different +languages. + +Well, there was nothing else to do but pump the beans out on the +instalment plan. Just as soon as a certain quantity got on top of the +valve or clapper, it acted effectually as an automatic shut-off for the +water. The hurricane had been blowing for three days and our worst +danger--the terror of all sailors--was close at hand. We were drifting +towards the Florida reefs. A few hours more and the ship, with all +hands, would be a thing of the past. There was no possibility of escape +unless the gale abated or the wind shifted to another direction. Birds +by the hundreds were flying for our vessel. They were land birds of all +kinds and sizes, probably blown to sea from Cuba. Striking the rigging +or any part of the vessel, they would be instantly killed. Every nook +and corner on the deck was filled with their dead bodies. The wind blew +them around like so much dust. One was found in the compass-box, under +the compass. Its presence was made known by the smell of a decaying body +after the storm was over. The anchor-chain boxes had a fine assortment +sandwiched in between the big iron links. Those we could not get out +and, consequently, the odour was anything but pleasant in that locality. +The sea had changed in colour from green to a milky white. This showed +that we were getting into shoal water. The agitation of the waves was +bringing up fine white coral, which formed the bottom of the ocean in +the locality of the reef. + +Towards sundown the hurricane had passed us, the wind gradually veering +around to the north, which made a fair wind for us to Mobile. All sail +was set, the damage repaired as much as possible, the cook made a lot of +good strong coffee, and then all hands took turns in taking a +much-needed sleep. + +A remarkable sight on that trip I have forgotten to mention: one +pleasant evening the sun was exactly even on the west horizon and a +bright full moon on the eastern. It lasted only a few minutes, but it +was a beautiful sight. All the time I have passed on the ocean, I never +saw the phenomenon but that once. + +The next afternoon after the storm we sighted a vessel dead ahead. On +getting closer we saw a signal of distress flying. The ship had lost all +her masts close to deck, was almost on her beam ends, and rolling like a +log in the water. What did our gallant captain do but sail past without +giving any assistance! The signal indicated that the crew wanted to +abandon the wreck. All hands talked rather plainly to the captain +regarding his inhumanity. His excuse was that his own vessel was too +badly disabled to assist others. In a few days we were off Mobile +harbour and took the pilot on board. From him we got a description of +the storm at Mobile. The Robert Ely, the ship in which I had intended +taking passage at first, had arrived at the beginning of the storm, and +anchored outside of the harbour. The wind broke her from her anchorage +and wrecked her on the low, sandy island at the entrance of the bay. +Three of the crew were washed over the island into the bay on the +top-gallant forecastle and rescued. The remainder were drowned. + +The island had been under water. When we arrived it was completely +covered with the cargo and fragments of the wreck. Pianos, boxes and +barrels, all kinds of dry goods, were to be seen mixed up with the +spars, rigging, and timbers of the Robert Ely. We sailed in through the +channel and up the bay. As we drew only twelve feet of water we could +go up the city to a wharf. A tug-boat took us in tow, and, striking a +mud-bank, the good bark P. T. Bartram stuck there. Some of the cargo had +to be taken out in lighters to enable us to get up the Spanish River. +Much to our surprise, the dismasted wreck that we saw at sea was towed +in and got up to Mobile city ahead of us. + +I went ashore on board of a steamboat and, in a few hours, was back at +Campbell's boarding-house, giving a description of a storm in the Gulf +of Mexico. After I had finished my story, I was taken to the back yard +and saw two bales of cotton which they had captured floating in the +streets in front of the boarding-house. One third of the city had been +under water, the upper part of a wharf had been washed away, and a +flat-bottomed steamer had replaced it by standing squarely on top of the +spiles. Schooners and fishing-smacks were swept into the swamp and left +there--over a mile from the river. A great amount of damage had been +done all along the Gulf coast. + +The season was rather early for work among the shipping, consequently I +was idle. Sailors were needed for a ship ready for Liverpool, but no one +wanted to leave Mobile. The wages, eighteen dollars a month, remained +the same, and advance pay of fifty dollars was offered and increased to +one hundred, so I concluded to accept it. The trip to England would take +about five weeks, and, by immediately returning, I should still have a +long winter for work. The giving of nearly six months' advance pay was +to evade the marine law in regard to discharging sailors in a foreign +port. If sailors deserted on a vessel's arriving, the owners were not +responsible. My name was signed on the articles for the full voyage. +Campbell, the boarding-house keeper, got the one hundred dollars and +handed my share to me. I sent part of it to New York and retained twenty +dollars for myself. Bidding my acquaintances good-bye and promising to +be back in ten weeks, I went by steamboat down the bay and reported for +duty on the full-rigged ship Annie Size. Campbell's responsibility for +the advance money then ceased. That was exactly thirty-seven years ago, +and I have never seen Campbell nor Mobile since. + +The Annie Size was a ship of one thousand tons burthen, loaded with +cotton for the Liverpool market. The difficulty in getting a crew +detained us several days. Two other men and I had made up our minds to +make a short cut in the voyage. The plan was to steal the ship's boat, +get ashore and foot it back to Mobile. As we had our advance money, +there was no particular desire on our part to see Liverpool. The next +morning, while the mates were eating breakfast, two of us got into the +boat. The third man weakened and squarely "flunked." With only us two to +steer as we had planned, our little scheme had to fail. The second mate +had come from the cabin and had seen us going away. He called the mate, +and that gentleman hailed another ship to send a boat to him. In the +meantime we were doing our best to reach shore. The other boat, with a +full crew, caught up with us within a few yards of the shore. We were +taken back to the ship and handcuffed until the day of sailing. + +Finally, the full crew was on board, and made a class of sailors that +the mate had no use for. Americans, Irish, Irish Americans--men of that +class usually stick together; on the other hand, a mixed crew of all +nationalities does the reverse. + +The anchor was weighed, our trip for Liverpool was begun, and our +destination would not be reached too soon for any of us. The first day +at sea war was declared. Our mate was the notorious bully, Billy +Shackleford. At one o'clock he came to the forecastle door and in a +gruff voice ordered watch on deck. "And he'd be ---- if there would be +any afternoon watch below on his ship!" He was curtly told to "Go to +----" + +"Do you fellows know who Billy Shackleford is?" + +"Yes, we know all about you, and any monkey business on your part, +overboard you go!" + +Billy was perfectly docile for the rest of that trip. That was the +toughest crew I ever sailed with--nearly all old acquaintances in +Mobile. The amount of money in our possession was over a thousand +dollars, in gold coin. Usually, sailors on a ship leaving port are all +dead broke. An Irishman, for security, had bound a rag around his ankle +containing sixty dollars. One morning his rag was missing. He bewailed +his loss at a terrible rate. Somebody had quietly shaved his original +style of money-belt with a razor while he was taking his sleep on deck +during a night-watch. I was the next victim; twenty dollars in gold was +taken from my sea chest. The chest had been opened with a key. I said +very little about my loss, as I had a strong suspicion that a certain +man had taken it. He had shown me how safe his money was. It was rolled +up in a rag in his trousers' pocket with a string tied around the +outside of the pocket, so that the money could not be reached unless the +string was untied, and that could not be done without removing his +trousers, as he explained to me. His custom was to get into bed +all-a-stand--that is, without undressing. The first stormy night we had +plenty of work to do, reefing the top-sails, and all of us were tired +and sleepy when our watch went below. All were soon asleep but myself, +for my hour of revenge had arrived. With a sharp penknife, I cut a slit +in the trousers of my dishonest friend, the end of the pocket containing +the gold slipped out, then I cut off the whole business. The money was +all I wanted, and the string, rag, and remnants of the pocket I left as +a souvenir. + +Ten five-dollar and one two-and-a-half gold pieces was the total amount. +I "planted" the money in a secure place and went to bed, and when my +misguided friend awoke there was more anguish in the camp. He had my +sympathy and consolation over the fact that we should both land in +Liverpool dead broke, and this made our friendship more binding. + +Instead of making a trip in five weeks, as we expected, we were over two +months in getting to port. For a wonder, no one was killed during the +voyage. The ship was towed up the Mersey River, and we arrived at +Liverpool just at high tide and were taken alongside the outer dock, +ready to enter the gates as soon as they were opened. Every one of us +got our baggage and jumped on shore, and "dock-wallopers" had to be +hired in our stead to dock the ship. Bully Billy Shackleford was furious +at our leaving so abruptly, and he was politely invited to come on shore +and have a parting drink, which he very wisely declined to do. + +Each man had some favourite boarding-place, so we all became separated. +I went to Whitechapel and had my meals and lodging at what the English +call a "cook-shop." As I could not find a ship returning to Mobile, I +made up my mind to go to Cardiff, Wales, by railroad, and there probably +I could ship on some vessel loaded with railroad iron down to Mobile or +New Orleans. My stay in Liverpool was only for two days. I crossed the +river to Birkenhead--and now for my first trip on an English railroad. + +On my arrival at the railroad station I purchased a ticket for Cardiff; +then I wanted a check for my sea chest, but checking baggage was not a +custom in England, and an official addressed me thus: "Will you 'ave +your luggage booked?" My name and destination were duly inscribed. +"Sixpence, please." I got on the train thinking it would be smooth +sailing for "me luggage" and myself, but such was not the case. I was +told to change cars at a certain station, which I did, and, at the time, +I noticed that "me luggage" was on the platform at the station. Getting +on my train, another link of my journey was being made, and, about nine +o'clock that night, I found myself at a town called Open Gates, quite a +distance on the wrong road. They informed me that I should have changed +trains some distance back. "Why in ---- didn't you tell me to?" was my +reply. A free ride back and a new start was made in the right direction, +and, finally, I brought up at a town called Newport. There the "line of +rails," as they are called, ended. Twelve miles from Cardiff only, and +"me luggage" and I had to take another road, and "me luggage" could not +be found and no one knew anything about it. Now, what puzzles me to this +day is what the "booking" meant. And I have never been able to find +out, although it is the English custom. I went to a cook-shop and +remained in Newport a couple of days, and in the meantime there were +many inquiries about the "Young Hamerican's luggage." It was finally +located, and when I changed cars the first time I learned that it was my +duty to have it placed in the luggage car. While I was on my way to Open +Gates, the chest was left on the platform, where I had last seen it. In +the course of time a continuation of the journey was made, and at last +Cardiff was reached. Hunting up an old acquaintance, he took me to a +nice, quiet boarding-place. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +PRETTY JENNIE BELL + + +My friend had introduced me to the landlord's wife and the only two +boarders in the house. They had resumed a four-handed game of cards. +Something familiar about the landlady's face attracted my attention. +"Have I not seen you before?" I asked. + +"Quite likely," she replied. + +Then I remembered all about her. She had been a notorious woman of the +street in Liverpool. Many a time she had stopped me and my shipmates on +the Bute Road and asked us to treat her. Sailors are very liberal when +ashore, and very few girls are refused a drink. In England their +favourite tipple is "two pen'orth o' gin and a bit o' sugar, please." +The gin they drink, but the two little cubes of sugar are placed in +their pockets to be eaten when there is no prospect of a free drink. + +The next morning my very sociable hostess had a friendly chat with me. +For old acquaintance' sake I must take her to the public-house next door +and buy the gin. That place was quite respectable, but, like all +public-houses in England, women would patronize it with as much freedom +as men. I was simply paralyzed by an introduction I got to a very pretty +young woman, by the proprietor's wife. "This is an old lover of mine, +and he has come back to board with me." I was too polite to deny it, but +it was an infernal lie, all the same. + +I could not find a ship just then ready for Mobile. Having nothing to +do, I would frequently sit in the back-room of the public-house. +Everything was so cosy there! A bright fire in the grate made the room +quite cheerful. The proprietor and his wife were a fine-looking and +well-educated couple, always pleasant and sociable. Acquaintances were +continually dropping in for a visit, and a pleasant, merry time it was +for all. One of their friends was a young woman, about twenty years old, +with large brown eyes, always good-natured and pleasant. She was known +as Pretty Jennie Bell, and was, beyond all question, the belle of the +neighbourhood. She was married, but had left her husband on account of +his brutality. Nothing could be said against her character. It was then +Christmas-time. I was sitting in a chair watching the fire and thinking +of home. Every one in the room was laughing and looking at me. I raised +up my head, and saw a branch of mistletoe held over my head. Turning +around, I saw that "Pretty Jennie Bell" was the person who held it in +her hand. She started to run, but I very quickly caught her, and got the +kiss to which I was entitled. All the rest in the house must have a mug +of beer for the kiss that I had won. Such a happy time we had that +evening! Jennie and I had fallen in love with each other. + +I had met an old shipmate in Cardiff, who was the first mate of an +American bark. He recommended me to the captain, and I obtained the +position of second mate. I felt quite proud then. It was arranged +between Jennie and me that I should make a voyage, and in the meantime +she would obtain a divorce; we would then get married and go to New +York. Our voyage was for Matanzas, Cuba, with a cargo of coal. A couple +of nights before we were to go, it was my turn to remain on the vessel. +The captain and mate were on shore. As I sat in the cabin reading a book +for pastime, I heard my name called. Jennie had come down to the dock +alone to see me. I went ashore, and asked her if she was not afraid to +come to such a dangerous place on a dark night. In an instant her arms +were around my neck. "George, don't leave me," was all she said. That +settled the business! I helped her on board the vessel, and took her +into the cabin. We sat there talking to each other until after midnight. +The mate then returned. I told him to get another second mate, as I had +changed my mind about going to sea. He laughed, and bade me good-bye. + +Jennie and I were both very happy then. The future was not thought +about. In a couple of weeks it became very apparent that I must earn a +living for my pretty wife. The fact of having no trade and being +without influence to obtain suitable employment naturally made me +discouraged. The English navy was giving four pounds sterling as a +bounty for seamen. I shipped as an able seaman, on condition that I +should be put on a man-of-war belonging to Portsmouth Harbour. My +clothing and sea chest I sold. The proceeds and the bounty I gave to +Jennie. I was assigned to the line-of-battle ship St. Vincent, one +hundred and twenty guns. My term of service was for five years. Several +other men and myself were taken across the Bristol Channel, thence by +rail to Portsmouth. The St. Vincent was a very large ship, having five +decks, three tiers of broadside guns, and a crew of twelve hundred men. +I received some clothing and a hammock and found myself a full-fledged +English man-of-war's-man for the second time in my life. + +My attention was called to the bulletin offering inducements for +volunteers to the Gunnery Schoolship Excellent. Men of good education, +first-class seamen and physically perfect, were eligible. A man named +McMinn and I made applications for the required examination. Both of us +were taken on board the Excellent and most thoroughly examined. +Everything being satisfactory, we were transferred and made "seamen +gunners" and "submarine divers" in Her Majesty's service. The term of +service was altered to twenty-one years. Extra pay was allowed for the +grade of gunners. Two-pence--four cents--extra was allowed a day as +submarine diver and one shilling an hour while diving, and one penny a +day for each good-conduct stripe, three being the limit. A service +pension was to be granted for seventeen years' service, at eight pence a +day, that being additional to our regular pay. The Excellent was an old +frigate anchored close to the navy yard. She had no masts or rigging, +the crew having nothing more to do with the seamanship. We were divided +into four divisions, each division changing exercises daily. From nine +in the morning until three in the afternoon we were constantly drilling. +Breech- and muzzle-loading guns, broadside guns, howitzers and muskets +and rifles and pikes and cutlasses, all came in rotation, and target +practice daily with big guns and small arms. Then, by turns, we would +put on the submarine armour and practise at diving in thirty feet of +water. On Saturdays and Sundays we had a rest. Five days' drilling in a +week was sufficient. When a man-of-war was ready for sea an order would +be sent to the Excellent for the same number of seamen gunners as the +ship had guns. Then we would rank as Captains of the Guns and receive +pay as petty officers. For instance, a frigate of forty guns was ready +for sea; forty men from the Excellent would be sent on board. As soon as +the frigate returned from a cruise the forty men would be sent back to +continue their practice in gunnery. At three of the afternoon, every +day, three divisions were at liberty to go on shore and remain until +half-past seven the next morning. + +I at once rented a nicely furnished room for light housekeeping for one +half crown a week. Then I sent for Jennie. On her arrival, everything +was made pleasant and comfortable. I would be at home three nights out +of every four. Saturdays I would be at liberty at eleven o'clock in the +morning until Monday morning. My wife would draw one half my pay every +month, one quarter pay was given to me in cash monthly, and the other +quarter I could draw in clothing and other necessaries. I needed all my +pay, and it required sharp practice to get it. I could get one pound of +tobacco monthly. That cost one shilling, government price. I sold it +immediately for two shillings. I drew flannel, and sold it at a profit. +I kept my account about square with the paymaster. As I drank no grog, +tea and sugar were given me in lieu of it. McMinn and I were very +friendly. He was a temperance man and gave me his allowance of tea and +sugar. At the end of each month I had quite a quantity due me. My +half-pay was allotted to Mrs. Jennie Thompson, Portsmouth. Then we were +in a quandary. It was necessary for a wife to show a marriage +certificate before she could get the money. Now that was a document +that Jennie did not possess. That little obstacle did not bother us very +long. We went to the Register's office and were married in orthodox +style. Jennie did not worry much over the fact of committing bigamy. She +got the certificate and half-pay, too. We lived together very happily. I +never knew her to be ill-natured or say a cross word. I always had a +cordial welcome, and a pleasant smile awaited me. What money I earned +was spent to advantage. I neither drank liquor nor used tobacco. My +nights were always passed at home with Jennie, and happy hours they +were, too! + +One night, while my division was on duty aboard the ship, we had quite a +diversion from the ordinary routine. A big fire was seen on shore. All +boats were "called away" and our division landed at the navy yard, each +man carrying a ship's fire-bucket. A lieutenant had charge of the "fire +brigade" of about one hundred and fifty sailors. Nothing pleases a +sailor more than having something to do on land. Going to a fire was an +unusual treat. Steam fire-engines were not invented at that time. For a +New York city man that fire was a comical sight. On our arrival at the +scene, we found a regiment of soldiers drawn up in double line around +the burning buildings. Behind them were about all the prostitutes in the +city---and they were numerous in proportion to the population. The +soldiers opened ranks for us to pass inside the lines, the women +encouraging the sailors by singing out, "Go it, Excellents! Be lively, +my lads!" The troops had their muskets and, in their bright scarlet +uniforms, made a grand display. Only one old-fashioned fire-engine, +worked by hand, was to be seen. The old box was so leaky that the water +was spurting in all directions except the proper one. Our gallant +lieutenant, with his drawn sword pointed to the burning building, was +ordering us to put out the fire. The whole block was a row of small +two-story brick buildings. As one house would burn down, the next would +catch fire. The fire-buckets were of leather, with a rope thirty feet in +length attached to each one, for the purpose of hoisting water over the +ship's side and lowering it down the hatches in case of fire. On shore +the circumstances were different. The rope was a great impediment. But +something must be done to show what sailors could do at a fire. + +A dam of mud was made in the street gutter, the leaks in the fire-engine +furnishing abundance of water. All hands were formed in line and each +man, dipping up a bucketful of water, would run to the burning +structure, the lieutenant with his sword would point out the particular +second-story window into which he wanted the contents of the bucket +thrown, and so it would go. That plan was a dismal failure. It would +require men about twenty feet in height for that style of fire-fighting. +The agents of the insurance company asked us to tear down a building +about six houses to the leeward of the fire. By that means the fire +could be checked from spreading. The fun then began in earnest. A stick +of timber was used as a battering-ram for the outside; inside the +building the sailors were like a swarm of bees. One enterprising man +was boosted up into the attic; he did not remain there long, however, +for, making a misstep, he went through the second-story ceiling, his +body and a quantity of plastering landing on his shipmates below. That +building was a complete wreck in a very short time. While the wrecking +was in progress, some of the sailors had got on the roof of a building +next to the fire. Then the hose was pulled up, and during that process +the sailors close by got a good ducking occasionally. Somehow, the +sailors could not control the nozzle properly---at least they said so. +In a short time the fire was put out, and there were four buildings not +damaged between the ruins and the wreck. How that insurance agent did +growl and rave! + +All hands picked up their buckets and were marched to the navy yard, and +on our way a saloon-keeper was called out of bed and the lieutenant +treated each man to a pint of beer. About daylight we were on board the +ship again. The sailor who so gallantly held the nozzle and squelched +the fire was in luck. The insurance company made him a present of ten +shillings, and also wrote a letter to the captain of the Excellent, +praising the conduct of the aforesaid sailor. As he had ruined a fine +pair of trousers which cost him twenty shillings to replace, his reward +was considered quite small. The men in the house-wrecking business were +inclined to be envious; they were not even thanked for their hard work. + +By hard study and strict attention to duty, I soon became a good gunner. +The cutlass exercise I was very fond of. Every evening, when I remained +on board, I would get some good man to use the single sticks with me for +amusement, and, consequently, I became quite a good swordsman. In April +we received news in regard to the Rebellion in the United States. Jennie +and I had a long conversation on the subject, and both concluded that it +would be much better for me to be in the United States navy, where +promotion was possible. The pay was also much better. Besides, I was not +an Englishman, and it was my duty to fight for my country. It was +arranged that Jennie should go home to her parents, and remain there +until I could send for her from New York. I was to desert from the +Excellent. + +Now, deserting from that vessel was a serious affair, as neither labour +nor expense was spared in capturing a deserter. The penalty was not less +than one year in prison. It was very seldom that a gunner ran away, and +nearly every one who did so was caught. I got a canvas bag, such as +sailors use, instead of a chest. Taking it home, I filled it with any +old dresses or rags that Jennie could get. I brought two No. 3 +grape-shot from the ship, and put them in with the other trash. My +object was to have my baggage to take with me. I told McMinn of my +intentions. He had his discharge from the English merchant service, +which he gave to me, as it might be very useful. My sailor clothes I +sold, except the suit I had on. Jennie told our landlady that she was +going home on a visit. Everything being ready, we bade each other an +affectionate good-bye, and she went away. The next day I got a pass from +the captain for permission to travel for twenty-four hours unmolested. +I got my man-of-war's suit changed, and, taking my baggage, and getting +on the cars, I was in London in a few hours. + +Securing my bag, I at once went to the Sailors' Home on the East India +Road, registering my name as John McMinn, also showing the discharge +from the merchant service. I stated that I had been home several months +on a visit. The Home was a very large building built by the Government +for the protection of sailors from the numerous boarding-house sharks. +The charges were just enough to cover all expenses, and each man had a +small room to himself, besides the use of the library and the +bathing-room. There was also a large sitting-room, and a shipping office +was on the lower floor. Men could be shipped there or paid off; in fact, +everything was done to protect sailors from being defrauded. Early the +next morning I went to London dock. In a short time I found an English +brig ready for sea. Showing my discharge to the captain, he told me that +I was just the kind of man he wanted, and gave me an order to be +shipped. I went to the Home and signed the Articles for a voyage to St. +Kitts, West Indies. + +An advance note for two pounds ten was given me, and the next day, at +ten o'clock, the brig was to sail, that being the time of high tide, and +the dock gates open. That also was the time that I would be proclaimed a +deserter from Her Majesty's service, it now being twenty-four hours +after my pass had expired. I had no intention of going to St. Kitts, and +about nine o'clock I settled my bill, and, picking up my bag, was going +out of the door, when I met one of the owners of the brig. + +"Ah, my lad, I came to ship another man in your place. We thought you +had backed out." + +"Oh, no!" I replied. "I am just on my way to the docks." + +"Then hurry, lad, you have no time to lose." + +Well, that brig went to sea with my name on the Articles. That was what +I wanted. But I was not one of the crew. I went to a shipping office, +threw my bag into a corner, and told them that I wanted to ship on a +vessel. I was sent to an American ship to see the mate, and from him I +got an order to be shipped. The voyage was around Cape Horn to Callao, +Peru, from there to Australia, and thence to the United States. That +trip would be around the world and would take a year to complete. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +GOOD-BYE TO ENGLAND + + +Mrs. Massey was in charge of the shipping office, and, showing her the +order and saying that I would ship, I walked out, and straightway back +to the dock I went. I found the vessel that I really wanted. It was the +packet-ship Rhine, bound for New York with emigrants. From the mate I +got an order to be shipped from a certain office. I went to Massey's for +my bag, and, as I picked it up and started for the door, Mrs. Massey +asked me if I had backed out, and I curtly told her that I had. Then she +showed her good breeding. Such language I never heard a woman use +before. "-- --, -- who enticed you from this office? -- -- --!" Two +young men happened to be standing in front of the door. "-- are these +the men?" she asked. "Yes," I answered, and what a tongue-lashing those +two fellows got! In the meantime I walked off. I found the right office +and shipped for New York. I received an advance note of two pounds ten. +A young man in the office offered to take me to a small boarding-house, +and arriving there, I was introduced to the landlord. He was an old +sailor, a native of Chile, and the fact of my having lived there made us +friends at once. I made a bargain for two days' lodging, a straw +mattress, sheath knife, tin pot, pan, and spoon. Besides, he was to have +five shillings extra for cashing my advance note. The difference he paid +me in cash. Then I went to the post-office and bought an order for every +cent I had, made payable to Jennie Bell, and, remaining in the house +until the sailing, I wrote a letter to Jennie, merely stating that I +would be in New York four weeks from that time. The money-order was +inclosed and the letter mailed just before the ship left the dock. We +sailed down the Thames River into the Channel, and at sundown the white +chalk cliffs of Dover were far astern. That was the last time I ever saw +the coast of England. + +The Rhine had a large number of steerage passengers on board. Men, +women, and children were all huddled together between decks. They all +got sea-sick, and it is a wonder that none of them died. The filth and +stench were terrible. The crew were a tough lot, being mostly old +"packet rats," as they are termed. They would stay on shore until their +advance money was all spent, then they would have to ship. They would +steal all of their clothing from their more provident shipmates. My bag +had been searched, but it only set them wondering as to who I was, with +all the old rags and the two grape-shot. In just one month's time we +sighted Sandy Hook, New York. The passengers were all on deck, getting +their first glimpse of America, and were all glad that the voyage was so +nearly ended. The twin lighthouses of the Highlands of Navesink were in +plain view; below them was a famous summer resort for New Yorkers. As I +stood on that deck watching the beautiful scenery, a dirty, ragged suit +of sailor's clothes on my back, not a cent of money in my pockets, had a +fortune-teller then said to me--"See that hotel on the beach? One year +from now you will be staying there as a guest, and paying twenty-five +dollars a week for your accommodation. You will be the best-dressed +young man in the house and wearing diamond jewelry, with the waiters +eager to wait upon you, as you are very liberal in giving tips. And +Matilda, the proprietor's daughter, will be your betrothed wife"--I +should have laughed at the idea; but it all happened so in reality. + +As we sailed through the Narrows it became my turn to steer the ship; +the captain and pilot standing close to me conversing, I heard the pilot +say that the docks were crowded with ships, and that the Rhine would +have to remain anchored in the bay a week before docking. The captain +replied that it would give them a good opportunity to have all the +rigging tarred. Now, hearing that conversation nearly cost me my life. +Tarring a ship's rigging is about the hardest work and the dirtiest job +imaginable, and, besides, the hands and finger-nails are dyed a +dark-brown colour which remains for weeks. None of that work for me +just then! As the anchor dropped, my duty at the wheel was ended. The +boarding-house keepers came alongside and were soon on deck looking for +victims. A hard-looking case asked me if I had ever been in New York +before. + +"No, this is my first trip across the ocean." + +"Well, come to my house. I have a nice place." + +"All right," I answered, "I will go, on condition that you get my +clothes and take me from the ship right off." + +He told his runner to take his row-boat under the port bow. Going to the +forecastle, I pointed out my bag. I was to go in the boat; then he was +to throw me my valuable wardrobe. The passengers were at the rail, +looking at Castle Garden. Crowding in between, I found there was a rope +hanging over the ship's side, and, in an instant, I was on the rail, +grabbing hold of the rope. I intended going down "hand over hand" with +my feet on the vessel's side, but the rope was not fastened as I +supposed, consequently I fell about twenty feet, striking the water back +first and just barely missing the row-boat. The runner helped me in, +then down came the bag, and we were off for dry land. My career on the +ocean as a sailor before the mast had terminated most unexpectedly to +me, and that proved to be my last voyage. + +On landing, we walked to the worst locality in New York city. On the way +I was told that a brig bound for the West Indies needed a crew, and +would I ship on her? "Certainly," I replied. Now the intention was to +"shanghai" me (that is, steal my advance money), my landlord supposing +that I was a greenhorn. Finally, we entered a dirty old house on Cherry +Street, the worst street in the city at that time. I was invited to take +a drink, which I refused. The sleeping apartment was shown to me---a +filthy room with bunks around the sides, made out of rough boards. The +brig was to sail the next day. + +"Well, I must have a new pair of shoes." + +"All right, come with me." + +He took me to a store and I selected a pair, which were charged to the +landlord. + +"Now I want a hair-cut and a shave." + +Into a barber-shop we went, and that was also charged up. Going back to +the house, I had my supper, and it was a holy terror for "shore food." I +loafed around the place until after dark, then I started for home, being +ashamed to have the neighbours see me in daylight in my ragged and still +wet clothing. As for the sailors' boarding-house, it was only a case of +"wolf eat wolf." They had simply caught the wrong man for a sucker. + +I rang the door bell and a strange servant girl asked me whom I wished +to see. Without answering, I walked in and opened the sitting-room door. +My return was a complete surprise. One of my cousins, a young lady, cast +pitiful glances at my clothing, as much as to say, "Poor fellow, he must +have had a hard time!" Fortunately, on leaving home the last time, I had +left my best suit of clothes behind. It was only a short time before I +had a good bath and was dressed like a civilized being. We remained in +the sitting-room talking until after midnight. My travels and the war +were the topics of conversation. Next morning I went to the post-office +and got a letter from Jennie. The detectives had traced her home and all +kinds of questions were asked in regard to me. But she knew nothing. +They said it made no difference, as they would have me back in England +in a few weeks, for I had shipped on an English ship for St. Kitts and +orders had been sent to the admiral of the station to arrest and send me +back in irons at the first opportunity. + +In the afternoon I went to the naval rendezvous, and passed examination +as an able seaman for the United States navy. The pay was eighteen +dollars a month, with chance of promotion. But there was a hitch in the +proceedings. The quota of able seamen was filled, and the best I could +do was to ship as an ordinary seaman at fourteen dollars a month. That I +refused to do, and I explained that I was fully capable of being a petty +officer, and that I would not throw away my chances for being rated as +such by shipping as an ordinary seaman. I was invited to come again in a +few weeks, as more men would be required, and they preferred young +Americans like myself in the navy. In a few days I had made up my mind +to go into the army. The companies and regiments throughout the Northern +States that were being organized had to be disbanded for lack of arms +and clothing, and also for the reason that the Government had no +expectation of needing their services, so my patriotism was squelched +for the time being. A number of my young friends had enlisted for three +months, under the first call for seventy-five thousand men. They nearly +all got back, and stayed home for the remainder of the war, having had +all the glory they wanted. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +WHAT MONEY CAN DO + + +I wrote to Jennie, telling her that arrangements had been made for her +to live with my mother for awhile, telling her also to let me know when +she would be ready to leave England, as the money would then be sent to +pay her expenses. In a month's time I received a very formal letter from +her sister stating that, through mediation of relatives, Jennie and her +first husband had become reconciled, and were again living together. I +showed the letter to my mother and explained everything. She was pleased +at the termination of the affair, but, somehow, she took no stock in my +wife's morality. I had about concluded that my valuable services would +not be needed in the war, so I went to Duncan & Sherman's banking house +in Wall Street, intending to ship in one of their vessels, if possible. +There I met Captain Otis, who was in command of the C. C. Duncan when I +made the voyage to Algiers. He had quit going to sea, and was married to +Mr. Duncan's only daughter. Through his influence, I obtained a good +situation as outdoor clerk for the banking house. My work was +principally about the shipping at the docks. I was delighted at the +prospect of remaining at home and living on dry land. The excitement +over the war had quieted down considerably in New York. Regiments +passing through the city for Washington were loudly cheered and soon +forgotten. In the meantime the rebels were strongly fortifying the +Southern coast, and loudly proclaiming that "Cotton was King." The +battle of Bull Run made it quite plain to both parties that they had a +big contract on their hands. The celebrated New York Fire Zouaves did +not go to Richmond as they intended. A number of them became +demoralized, and never stopped running until they got back to Fulton +Market, in New York. + +The few ships in the navy captured Port Royal, in South Carolina. Some +of the Confederates from there never stopped until they reached Canada. +Then came Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island, N. C. The Government +secured all the steamers available for the use of the navy, even taking +the old Staten Island ferry-boats. Gold became very scarce and at a +premium. Legal-tender notes were then issued, and Government bonds sold +at a discount. For small change, postage-stamps were used. All the +silver coin was being hoarded up and withdrawn from circulation. A +revenue tax was placed on everything. On whisky it was two dollars a +gallon. Even the poor people had to pay for the revenue-stamps on the +pawn-tickets when they pledged articles. Before the war ended, good tea +was two dollars and a half a pound; coffee, from forty cents to a +dollar; sugar, twenty-two cents; a common round of beefsteak, +twenty-five; turkey, thirty-five cents a pound, and eggs sixty cents a +dozen. There was plenty of work, with high wages. + +I still kept my situation and was gradually working my way up. My +associates were very different from those I came in contact with while +a sailor. Knowing as much as I did about the Havana Lottery, I had great +faith in it. By very little persuasion, I got six young men to go in +with me to co-operate in the purchase of tickets, each one paying a +certain sum weekly. Every month tickets would be bought for the full +amount. The bankers, Taylor & Company, in Wall Street, were the agents. +For several months it was the same thing---no prizes. In the month of +April, 1862, there was rejoicing in the club. We had drawn a fifty +thousand-dollar prize! Taylor & Company cashed it for us at a small +discount. The seven sharers received the money---a little over seven +thousand dollars each. Then we all went to the devil. No use working +with all that wealth, so we left our situations. + +At first a silver watch costing thirty-five dollars was good enough for +me, then I changed it for a gold one worth one hundred and forty. A +diamond ring came next, for one hundred and twenty-five dollars. And of +course I must have a diamond breastpin, one hundred and twenty-five +more. I got to be very particular about the style of my clothing. A +bottle of wine with my suppers was just the thing. How I did lie back +and contrast the present with the past while on board a ship! + +Not feeling very well, I concluded to spend a few weeks at a summer +resort. My friends recommended me to Teller's Pavilion, at the +Highlands, Navesink, N. J. My expenses there were quite heavy: +twenty-five dollars a week for a nice room, one bottle of wine for +dinner, two dollars and a half extra. To be well waited on called for +liberal tips to the waiters. As my money had come easy it went easy. I +made a lot of friends, and usually paid all the bills for boating +parties and other amusements. I became acquainted with Miss Tillie +Teller, and with us it was a case of "love at first sight." Finally, we +became engaged. I presented her with a fine diamond engagement ring. The +season ended and I returned to New York. + +Having spent a large share of my money, I concluded to start in some +business with the remainder, make a good living and marry Tillie. A +saloon on Broadway seemed a good investment. Well, as a saloon +proprietor I was a dismal failure. It was nothing but woe and misery. +Every one robbed me right and left. I got into debt, lost all my +respectable friends, broke my engagement with Tillie, and married +another girl; and that wife put the finishing touch on the whole +business. Annie was her name. She was very pretty, with blue eyes, light +hair, and petite figure. How innocent and childish in her ways! She +could make me believe almost anything. I had more rows on her account +than a prize-fighter could conveniently attend to. If we went on the +street-cars, to the theatre, or into a restaurant, there would be +trouble with some one in short order. It made no difference where we +lived, it would be the same old program; the first two days all would be +lovely, until she got acquainted with the neighbours, and then war would +be declared. And I, like a fool, believed her to be in the right. As +regards her education, it was much below the average standard. What she +lacked in that respect, however, was counterbalanced by her ingenuity +in inventing lies. It took a long time for me to discover her talent in +that line. Her fictions were not overdone; they were simply just good +enough to believe. + +Becoming disgusted with the saloon business, I concluded to sell out at +any price. I was in debt, head over heels, and what little money was +taken in was stolen by the barkeeper. I was offered four hundred and +fifty dollars for the place and accepted it. It cost me twelve hundred. +I made a great mistake in not insisting upon having my little angel of a +wife included in the sale, but it required a few more years' time for me +to become fully acquainted with all her virtues. She certainly was a +terror. As a diversion she would have a fit of hysterics. I was not well +posted on that female peculiarity. At first, I was badly scared and did +some lively petting and nursing. Finally, the thing became rather +monotonous, so that when she felt like thumping her head against the +door or bed-post, I would go to sleep and let her amuse herself to her +heart's content. She recovered muck quicker, as I found out by +experience. Taking a dose of laudanum was also a favourite trick, but, +unfortunately, she never took an effectual one. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE NEW YORK DRAFT RIOTS + + +I had sold all of my jewelry. The proceeds of the sale of the saloon +were nearly all paid out for my debts. My financial affairs were in a +low condition, with a loving wife to care for. What made my affairs +worse was the prospect of soon becoming a father. At that time there was +considerable war excitement in New York. The rebels had broken loose and +had invaded Pennsylvania. All the New York State militia were then sent +to the front. My mind was fully made up to enter the navy as soon as our +child was born and my wife well. The grade of ensign had been created in +the navy. Getting good recommendations from Duncan, Sherman & Company +and from Captain Otis, I made application to the Secretary of the +Navy---Gideon Welles---and received permission to be examined for the +position of ensign. + +The draft riots in the city had begun (July, 1863) and all business was +at a standstill. The three hundred dollars' clause was the cause of the +trouble. A man in moderate circumstances could pay that amount and be +exempt from military service, but a poor man would be compelled to go. +The State militia being away, the city was defenceless. Besides, there +were thirty thousand known criminals among the population, and a great +number of rebel sympathizers. The drawing of names for the draft took +place at Forty-second Street and Second Avenue. Early in the morning a +large mob gathered and very quickly drove the officers from the building +and gutted the place most thoroughly. The police from that precinct came +running up Second Avenue, and used their clubs very freely. When they +got close to the mob, affairs were different. The rioters disarmed the +police and gave them a most unmerciful beating, several being killed +outright. One had sought refuge in a house, where he was found hidden +under a mattress and thrown out of a second-story window. Everything in +the building was destroyed and the place set on fire. The same result +happened at every house where a policeman had been assisted or +sheltered. Next the Invalid Corps, composed of disabled soldiers, made a +charge on the crowd. + +They were disarmed and driven back, and in a short time news of the riot +spread over the city and pandemonium reigned for the time being. All +places of business were closed and not a policeman dared to leave the +station-houses. A number of good citizens took possession of the +armories and arsenals and guarded them from capture by the rioters. +Buildings in different parts of the city were set on fire, and the +firemen would be on hand with their engines, but would not be allowed to +throw a single stream of water. The Coloured Orphan Asylum was pillaged +and burnt to the ground. The Old Firemen's was an organization that gave +its services without pay, but its members were exempt from military +duty. Their engines were worked by hand, the companies having from +seventy-five to one hundred and twenty-five members each, and were +always present at the fires, but were powerless to do anything. The mob +had sense enough not to attempt to injure any of the engines, as that +would have precipitated a fight with the fire laddies, and they had the +reputation of being fighters from the word "Go." + +Down town, the rioters made an attack on the New York Tribune building, +but old Horace Greeley was prepared for war. The doors and windows were +barricaded with bales of paper and behind that were all the employees, +all heavily armed. The mob took in the situation and went after +something that was easier, such as chasing negroes into the East and +North rivers and watching them drown. At Twenty-first Street they caught +several and hanged them to lamp-posts; then straw mattresses were placed +under them and set on fire. United States marines were sent from the +Brooklyn Navy Yard to guard the United States Treasury building on Wall +Street, as well as the banks in that neighbourhood. Towards evening the +rioters became drunk and more reckless; nothing could be done to check +them, and all the respectable citizens anticipated a night of terror. +Fortunately, about eight o'clock a heavy rain commenced to fall, and +that caused the drunken brutes to disappear. The rain also extinguished +the fire in the many ruins in different localities. The next day the +weather was quite pleasant, and the rioters, early in the morning, +recommenced their work of destruction; houses would be pillaged and then +set on fire. The lower class of people, especially the women and +children from the tenement-houses, could be seen carrying off everything +that was portable. The thieves were very busy stealing all the valuables +when a house was first raided, and they were usually the first to make a +demonstration at any building, the mob being always ready to follow, on +general principles. The police remained in the station-houses, not one +of them daring to come outside, as it would have been certain death to +do so. + +Gun and hardware stores were broken into and looted of all arms and +ammunitions, and, by that means, a large number of the most desperate +rioters became armed. A mob composed of about five thousand men started +for the Fifth Avenue Hotel, situated on Madison Square, considered at +that time the finest and most aristocratic hotel in the United States. +As they came close to the building, yelling loudly, "Burn the Fifth +Avenue! Loot the Fifth Avenue!" all anticipating an exciting time as +well as plenty of rich plunder, the whole thing was suddenly changed. +The occupants of the hotel had been watching the advance of the mob--not +knowing their intention--and as the rioters entered the Square, howling +and hooting, every window in the building was occupied by the guests, +who loudly cheered and waved handkerchiefs to show that they were in +full sympathy with the mob. That ended the affair, as the rioters were +not disposed to injure any of their openly avowed Copperhead friends. +The cheers were returned, and no other demonstration was made. The Fifth +Avenue was a regular resort for secessionists and rebel sympathizers +during the war. In any other country such a place would have been +closed up and all of the occupants put in prison. + +Towards night a few of the militia arrived in the city, and the rioters +killed a few of them by filing from the windows and house-tops in the +tenement districts. The morning of the third day more troops arrived, +and the mob scattered in all directions upon the approach of the +soldiers, only to mass together again in another locality. In the +morning a regiment of infantry marched down Second Avenue and the +colonel stopped on some private business on Twenty-seventh Street, when +two rioters sneaked up behind and knocked him senseless with a club. +Then the crowd quickly gathered, a rope was procured, and the colonel +was strung up to a lamp-post. In the meantime the regiment was marching +along in complete ignorance of their colonel's fate. The body was soon +cut down and dragged through the streets, receiving all kinds of +ill-treatment. Rioters' wives hurled paving-stones at the prostrate +body, and what was most strange was the fact of his retaining life until +late in the afternoon. He was a very powerful man and must have had +wonderful vitality. Near Tenth Street was a large building used as a +manufactory of muskets and revolvers. The rioters had broken in and were +helping themselves to everything portable, and, in fact, they were so +busy that they did not know that Colonel Lynch's regiment was at hand, +and when they did realize that fact it was too late, for, as they came +rushing out, they were shot down without mercy. A number of them jumped +out of the windows only to be killed or maimed for life as they struck +the sidewalk. Quite a large number was killed by soldiers, and those who +escaped spread to the different parts of the city and circulated the +story that the soldiers would shoot to kill. + +That night the riot was nearly ended, for more troops had arrived and +the police were again on duty. The next morning the bakers, butchers, +and grocers resumed business. Those people who had not a good supply of +provisions on hand had a hard time while the riot lasted, as not a +single article could be purchased. For three days not a street-car or +vehicle of any description could be seen on the streets, nor was a +coloured person, male or female, visible during the period; probably the +only time in the history of New York that such conditions prevailed, for +a New York negro, as a usual thing, is not very bashful about making his +presence apparent to all who come in contact with him. The Southern +sympathizers were actually the ones who brought on that riot, for they +were always up to some mischief, and a few months afterwards assisted +Dr. Blackburn to distribute clothing infected with small-pox to the +poorer classes in the city, but the plot failed. + +Next came the attempt to burn the whole city by starting fires +simultaneously in different localities. Each of the firebugs carried a +black satchel containing self-igniting chemicals, which were to be +dropped on the stairways of the large buildings. Barnum's Museum was set +on fire, and several other places also, with but little damage +resulting, and, about that time, any one caught with a black satchel +would suddenly come to grief. + +My wife having recovered from her confinement, and the riot being ended, +I went to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and underwent a medical examination. +Next, I was thoroughly examined in navigation and then in seamanship. +Having passed in all, I was ordered to return again in a few days and, +in the meantime, to provide myself with the regulation uniform. My money +was all spent by that time, so I borrowed enough with which to buy my +new outfit. In due time, I received my appointment as an acting ensign +in the navy. The pay was thirteen hundred dollars a year. There were +three classes of officers in the navy: first, the regulars; second, the +volunteers, composed of officers who had resigned previously to the war; +and third, the acting officers who volunteered from the merchant +service. The rank and pay was the same in all classes. I was at once +ordered to the St. Lawrence, for instruction in gunnery. Quite a number +of ensigns and masters' mates was on board, getting initiation as to +how a ship's battery should be handled. The first day's exercise was +sufficient for me; I was pronounced proficient and excused from further +drill. The other officers were surprised at my learning my duties so +quickly, but I never mentioned my experience on the gunnery-ship +Excellent. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +ACTING ENSIGN IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY + + +General Canby, who commanded the troops in New York city, had chartered +six tug-boats for patrolling the river fronts, and each one had a +howitzer and guns, in charge of an ensign. I was sent to take charge of +the boat Rapid, and my instructions were to remain at Castle Garden dock +and await orders. As there was no more rioting, my chance for killing a +few rebel sympathizers was lost. One day a young man approached me and +inquired for the tug-boat Rapid, as he wished to see Ensign Thompson. + +"You are speaking to him now," I answered. + +He looked at me rather quizzically for a few seconds, and said his name +was John Murray. + +"The fact is, you are living with my wife." + +"The devil I am!" I replied. + +"Such is the case," he stated. "I was arrested and compelled to marry +her, and, after living together for a year, she ran away from me in +Canada and came to New York. Now I wish to get a divorce so that I can +marry a girl to whom I am at present engaged." + +At first he talked of having her arrested for bigamy. I told him that +even if he did that, he would still have to get a divorce, and that a +man who would ruin a girl and then contemplate sending her to prison was +a contemptible cur. Finally it was arranged that the divorce notice +should be served on her, and a decree asked for. My interview with Annie +was rather stormy. I told her that I would not marry her again, but I +would take care of her and would treat her as a wife as long as she +behaved herself. That was my last matrimonial venture; and I was a man +married to two women and yet legally a bachelor. + +About the 1st of September, General Canby gave me orders to return the +howitzer and sailors to the navy yard, also for me to report to the St. +Lawrence. In a few days I was ordered to Boston, to join the United +States brig Perry. On my arrival, the captain indorsed my orders as +having reported. Next, I went to the navy agent, and received two +hundred dollars as advance pay and my mileage expenses from New +York---twenty-one dollars and ten cents. All naval officers are allowed +ten cents a mile when ordered to the different naval stations. The next +day I reported as ready for duty. Being next in rank to the captain, +made me executive officer. The Perry was the vessel I admired so much +when in Rio de Janeiro. Now the circumstances were altogether different. +It was a most undesirable vessel to be attached to in war times. There +would be no chance of active service or prize money. The Perry's day had +passed with the advent of fast steamers for blockade-running. In the +early part of the war she captured the rebel privateer Dixie after a +short engagement, and that was the end of her victories. And not one +cent of prize money was ever credited to her account. + +The Perry was a man-of-war of the fourth rate, carrying ten broadside +guns and one howitzer. She was a very fast sailer, but very cranky or +top-heavy, on account of the heavy battery on deck and her lofty spars. +An acting master was in command. Under him were five acting ensigns and +three active master's mates. Captain (by courtesy) William D. Urann was +a thorough seaman, but a mighty mean person. He was a close-fisted +down-East Yankee. I was the only ensign on the brig for about a month, +the master's mates acting as watch officers. At last we got four other +ensigns, and every one of them was my senior, so that fact dropped me to +navigating officer. The commandant of the navy yard reported to the +naval department that the United States brig Perry was ready for sea. +Then the trouble began. Both officers and sailors were trying all kinds +of plans to get transferred to some of the steam gunboats. Some of the +crew complained about the foremast being rotten. The boss carpenter was +sent on board to examine it. After boring a few augur holes in it he +pronounced it sound. Then the crew had other complaints about the +vessel. Now, when a sailor gets to growling he can do it to perfection, +and the result was that the commandant sent a number of the growlers to +the receiving ship, very much to their joy. They were all good seamen. +In their place we received some very useless negroes to fill our +complement of men. The officers complained of being sick, and everything +else they could think of, so an extra ensign was sent on board to assist +us. As that gentleman was my junior by a few days, he had to be the +navigator and I became a watch officer. We were to pass many a day of +misery together in Southern prisons. + +Very much to the commandant's relief and our own disgust, the anchor was +weighed, and we set sail for Charleston, S. C. All went nicely until we +got near Cape Hatteras, when, during a storm, some of the fore-rigging +carried away. We all examined the parted stays, and pronounced them +rotten, and the officers had quite a consultation as to what should be +done under the circumstances. Finally, the captain said that if the six +ensigns would go aloft and examine the rigging, and then make an +individual report that the vessel was unseaworthy, he would put back for +New York. We gave our report in very quickly, and the brig was headed +for Sandy Hook, N. Y. On our arrival at the navy yard, when the reasons +for our coming into port were made known, there was a big rumpus, sure +enough. The presumption on our captain's part was simply enormous! Had +not the commandant of the Boston navy yard reported the Perry as ready +for sea? All the officers on the vessel got on their dignity, and we +pointed to the rotten rigging to corroborate our opinions. The Navy +Department ordered a court of inquiry, and all the ensigns were called +before the court and individually questioned in regard to seamanship, +their experience on the ocean, and their reasons for stating the rigging +to be unfit for sea. It happened, for a wonder, that we six ensigns were +all experienced seamen, and much above the average. The questions were +promptly answered, and rather plainly, too. The court was composed of +regular officers, and something must be done to exonerate the +commandant at Boston. Volunteer officers were considered as interlopers, +and tolerated only as a necessity. The result was that Acting-Master +William D. Urann was deemed unfit to command a vessel, and was detached +from the brig Perry and ordered to report for duty to the commandant of +the Mississippi flotilla. He was there but a few weeks when his merits +as an experienced officer were recognised, and he was promoted to acting +lieutenant, ranking with a captain in the army. + +I may as well explain the grades of rank now: A captain in the navy has +rank with a colonel in the army; commander, with a lieutenant-colonel; +lieutenant-commander, with a major; lieutenant, with captain; master, +with first lieutenant; ensign, with second lieutenant. + +The fact of our captain being relieved did not prevent orders being +issued to have the brig repaired, and the riggers from the yard came on +board and made things lively for a while. + +In about a month's time we were ready, and started for Charleston. All +went nicely until after we passed Cape Hatteras. I had an attack of some +light fever, and was on the sick list. On board was a master's mate by +the name of Bridges. He had been recommended for promotion to ensign, +and ordered to Boston for examination, but, failing to pass, he was +attached to the Perry, and every one on our vessel was desirous to +assist him in gaining experience. For that reason he was allowed to +stand my watch while I was sick, and usually some of the ensigns would +be on deck to see that everything was all right. But early one evening +we had just finished supper, and all of us sat in the ward-room having a +social chat. Feeling as if some fresh-air exercise would benefit me, I +went on deck, and, looking to the windward, I saw that a heavy squall +would soon strike us. Mr. Bridges was serenely promenading the deck, +totally oblivious of any impending danger, while the brig was sailing +close to the wind with every stitch of canvas set. I told Bridges to +have the light sails taken in as quickly as possible, at the same time +calling his attention to the squall. No time was lost by me in getting +to the ward-room, and informing the executive that he was needed on deck +to have all hands shorten sail. While I was speaking, the squall struck +us and nearly capsized the brig, and it was hard work for us to get on +deck, on account of the vessel careening over so much. Then there was an +exciting time; the crew had become panic-stricken for a few minutes. +Orders were given to let go everything. The pressure of the wind, the +mast lying at such a great angle, prevented the yards from coming down. +The wheel was in front of the cabin door, the excitement brought the +captain out, and he yelled to put the wheel hard down. Now that was the +first time that he ever gave an order on deck, and it nearly ended the +Perry's career, then and there. + +The navigating officer has to stand regular deck watch with the others +while at anchor, and the executive is expected to be on board during the +day and have charge of everything in general. One of the master's +mates---not Mr. Bridges---was also put on watch duty, and, with six +ensigns, our turn on watch was only four hours out of every twenty-four; +in fact, we had so much leisure time that we did not know how to pass it +away. All the work required of the crew was to scrub decks before +breakfast and a half-hour's drilling at the broadside guns. Arrants and +myself would take a boat and crew and go fishing every pleasant day. +Taking the sounding lead with us, we were soon able to find good fishing +grounds. The bottom of the lead has a large hole that is filled with +hard tallow---"arming the lead." When the lead strikes the bottom it +will bring up anything that it comes in contact with, be it sand, mud, +or gravel, and, if rocks, the tallow will bear the impression. By that +means, it can be known to a certainty what the bottom is composed of in +that locality. For fishing, we would sound until we found a bank +composed of shells and gravel, and there we were sure of catching all +the fish we wanted. + +Now, for our captain's mistake No. 2. He had gotten the idea into his +head that we were not close enough to the land. The weather had been +quite pleasant and the sea smooth. An experienced seaman has no use for +land unless it is in a secure harbour, and, much to our surprise, the +captain ordered the sails loosened and the anchor weighed, and we stood +in for the shore. The leadsman was continually taking soundings and, +when in three fathoms, the brig was brought head to wind and the anchor +let go. There we were in eighteen feet of water, the brig's draft being +twelve feet. This left just six feet of water between our keel and a +nice hard sandy bottom. The captain was well satisfied with the vessel's +position, as he remarked that no blockade-runner could now pass without +being seen. A few nights afterward his mind underwent a mighty sudden +change, when a heavy gale came on from the eastward about midnight, and +the waves got high and every few minutes the sea would lift us up, then +let us down with a heavy thud on that "nice sandy bottom." The fact was +we were anchored in the breakers. The top-sails were reefed and set, +then the anchor was weighed, the foresail was braced sharp up and back, +so as to bring the vessel's head to the southward, but it was of no use; +the brig would not swing around in the breakers but only drift astern +towards the beach. The anchor was again let go, then a rope was put into +the hawse-hole, the other end outside the port and fastened on the +quarter-deck. The cable was unshackled at the fifteen fathoms shackle, +the rope fastened to it, and the chain let run out of the hawse-hole. As +the brig drifted astern the rope fastened on the quarter gradually +tautened until the strain on the anchor checked us, allowing the vessel +to swing around until her top-sails filled. A buoy was then attached to +the rope and the latter let go. Away we went, leaving the anchor behind, +and then came the hard work in earnest---beating off a lee shore in a +heavy gale of wind. When the gale was over we found our brig to the +south-east of Charleston and a considerable distance from our station, +so back we went as fast as the vessel would sail. While passing the +entrance to Charleston Bay we espied a small schooner stranded on the +shoals. Here was a chance to display our valour and zeal for the +service. + +Arrants and I were in charge of the second cutter, with the boat's crew +heavily armed. When we got on the shoals we found the "suspicious" craft +to be a small schooner of about fifteen tons. The sails were neatly +furled and the cabin entrance carefully boarded up. There were neither +cargo nor provisions on board, and on the stern, in freshly painted +letters, was the name Old Abe, which we thought was strange for a rebel +craft. There was not a house nor living being in sight in any direction, +so we set fire to the mysterious craft and returned to the brig. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +AFTER BLOCKADE-RUNNERS + + +On arrival at Murrell Inlet, we sought the wooden buoy, and got it on +board; the line was put through the hawse-pipe, and we all tugged at it +until we got hold of the chain, when that was put around the windlass +and the anchor hove up. Having had enough of that locality, we anchored +farther out to sea in deeper water. In a couple of weeks, our nearest +neighbour, the gun-boat at Georgetown Bay, brought us our mail and some +fresh beef. They had a tale of woe to unfold. It seems they had captured +a small schooner and made use of it as a pleasure yacht. One night it +had broken adrift and stranded on some sand shoals. They had intended, +some pleasant day, to fasten a rope to it and have the gun-boat pull it +off, but they sorrowfully stated that the "--- rebs had burned it up." +We hadn't a word to say. It was the Old Abe. + +The enemy was in the habit of making night attacks on our vessels +whenever they had the opportunity. It would have been an easy matter for +them to send small boats and men from Charleston overland and make +things quite lively for us. To prevent any surprise party coming on +board, we put up the "boarding nettings" and kept men on guard in +different parts of the brig. George Brinsmaid, one of the coloured men +on board, was useless for going aloft, or anything else, for that +matter, so he had extra guard duty to perform. He was given a loaded +rifle and stationed at the port gangway. It made no difference how often +the officer of the deck would go to him, that fellow was sure to be +found asleep. I had bucketful after bucketful of water thrown on him +during my watch, but it had no perceptible effect in keeping him awake, +for he was constitutionally sleepy. The fact that he was so useless +formed circumstances which resulted in his death. + +I had become quite tired of doing nothing but fishing, so I asked the +captain if I could take the "dingey," the smallest boat on a man-of-war, +and with two men go into the Inlet on an exploring expedition. He was +desirous to have me go and find out if any vessels were in there, and, +selecting two volunteers from the crew, we were ready to leave the brig +about daylight. The boat was landed close to the southern point at the +entrance to the Inlet. I walked cautiously around the nearest house +without finding any footprints in the soft, white sand. That convinced +me that no one was in the house. Getting into the boat, I had the men +row slowly into the Inlet, the high, dry, soft marsh grass concealing us +from view of any one who might be in that locality. At the southern end +of the Inlet we saw a schooner, which probably had run the blockade, +and, as it was not prudent just then, we proceeded no farther in that +direction; the northern branch was also explored, but nothing was to be +found there. We had been absent from the brig nearly four hours; the +captain had become uneasy on our account and had taken the first cutter +with an armed crew to look for us. We met him at the entrance to the +Inlet. When told of what we had seen, he concluded to go ashore himself +on the northern point. There we managed to shoot a couple of razor-back +hogs that had been feeding on the beach. We raised such a rumpus that +the rebel cavalry were making preparations to give us a warm reception. +Their camp was in the woods about a mile from the beach. We could see +them saddling their horses and acting in an excited manner. We found out +afterward that the rebels had only sixteen men in camp at that time. +Having had all the fun and exercise we wanted on shore, and out of +respect to the rebels, we got into the boats and returned to the brig. + +A few nights afterward, we discovered a boat nearing the vessel. Hailing +it, we were informed that some refugees wished to come on board. Consent +being given, they came alongside, and, after asking a few questions, we +allowed them to come on board. There were eight men in the party, all +desirous of joining the Federal army. Their boat being old and leaky, we +destroyed it. They gave us what information they could about the rebels. +Two regiments of Georgia cavalry were guarding the coast, being divided +into squads of sixteen to twenty men each, each squad a couple of miles +distant from the other. The schooner had run the blockade some time +previous, having brought in a general cargo of merchandise. As we were +anxious to know all about the schooner, it was decided that Ensign +Arrants and myself should take the first cutter, with the crew well +armed, and land at daybreak on the beach. By walking across the land +which separated the end of the Inlet from the beach, we would be safer +than rowing the boat into the narrow Inlet. We landed without being seen +by the rebels, and, getting on the schooner, we soon ascertained that +preparations were being made to run the blockade with a cargo of +turpentine. If we had only burned the old schooner there and then, it +would have been a wise act on our part. As my instructions were not to +destroy it, if there was any probability of its preparing for leaving +the Inlet, I reluctantly ordered the men back to the boat and returned +to the brig. A house was near the schooner in which was stored a large +quantity of the turpentine, and some of the cavalry slept there, as we +were informed by some of the refugees. By setting fire to everything we +could have done considerable damage, besides capturing some prisoners. +Captain Gregory was in favour of letting the schooner run out and then +taking her as a prize, for turpentine was very valuable at that time and +prize-money would make quite an addition to our pay. + +About every week Arrants and myself would take a boat with six men and +land on the southern point at the deserted house. By climbing I would +get on the roof, and by the aid of powerful marine glasses I could see +what progress was being made with loading on the schooner. Our last +reconnoitring expedition nearly resulted in serious disaster. This time +we had landed on the north point first. Arrants and I each had a rifle, +but the six men forming the boat's crew were unarmed. While walking +between the sand dunes, we espied a razor-back sow with two young pigs. +I shot at the sow as she was running away. The bullet ploughed a deep +gash in her back, which only increased her speed. We did not get her, +but did capture the two little pigs alive. We were laughing and the +porkers squealing, when I happened to look around and discovered a +couple of mounted Confederates behind one of the sand dunes. They +probably thought the boat's crew was armed, and for that reason did not +attack it. However, we lost no time in getting into the boat with our +pigs. The sand dunes are pyramids of sand from fifteen to twenty feet in +height, and are caused by the strong winds drifting the dry, white sand +on the beach. If those two men had had spunk enough, by keeping behind +the dunes they could have made it very unpleasant for us in the boat, as +the Inlet was not over fifty yards in width. We then landed on the +southern point a distance from the house and, telling the crew to row +slowly up the beach, pursued our investigations. We had reason to +believe some one had been watching us, as there were fresh footprints in +the sand leading from the deserted building to the one near the +schooner, about half a mile distant. + +When we got to the house I told Arrants that I would get on the house +and take a look at the blockade-runner. The building stood on piles +about six feet in height and, as the steps leading to the house were +gone, it was necessary for me to do some climbing. I turned around to +give my rifle to Arrants, and just then caught sight of about twenty +cavalrymen coming from the other house towards us, and they seemed to be +in a big hurry about it, too. We Yankees did not have any particular +business to detain us there, so we made a hasty retreat for the boat. +The latter was about fifty feet from the shore. I told the men to pull +in quick. Arrants and myself ran into the water about knee deep. We +caught the boat and stopped it from coming any farther. My companion and +I then got into the craft in a very undignified style for officers. If +the enemy had come right up to us they could have captured us without +firing a shot, as we should have been perfectly helpless. Instead of +doing so, they dismounted at the edge of the sand dunes and fired quite +an assortment of lead at us from rifles, double-barrelled shotguns, and +old-fashioned muskets carrying large bullets with three buckshot +additional. They made us fellows feel nervous with their careless +shooting. While the Southerners were shooting, we had to turn the boat +completely around and head out to sea. The man with the bow oar tried to +push the bow around by putting the blade of the oar on the hard sandy +bottom and shoving it, and was so energetic that the oar snapped in two. +At last we got around, and for a few minutes some good sprinting was +done. + +The coxswain in the stern then had the best chance of being struck by +the bullets, and doubled himself in a way that would have aroused the +envy of a contortionist. The men at the oars laid as low as possible for +them to row. I was shoved out at full length, shoving at the stroke oar +while the men pulled. Arrants was doing the same thing with the second +oar. My left cheek was badly stung in different places--I supposed at +first by buckshot--but a rifle ball had struck the handle of the oar on +which I was shoving, and, my head being close to it, the splinters from +the dry ash wood had struck in my face. That bullet had just barely +missed my head. As soon as we got out of the range of the buckshot, +Arrants and myself returned the fire with our rifles. The Confederates +then quickly took their horses and got behind the sand dunes. The battle +was over. One of our men had his right eyelid grazed by a buckshot just +enough for a single drop of blood to ooze out. A rifle bullet went +through the stern of the boat, passing between the coxswain's legs, +thence between the whole boat's crew, until it reached the man in the +bow, where it passed his left side and elbow, removing some cuticle from +each. That fellow was scared, sure enough, at first, but after we pulled +his shirt off to stop the blood and found the skin was only peeled off, +he concluded to live a little while longer. It was a miracle that every +one of us was not killed or seriously wounded. We were in a compact +space and the enemy had nothing in the way of a counter-fire to prevent +taking deliberate aim. + +We got back to the brig, and handed up our prize pigs for Christmas +gifts, then told of our adventure with the rebels. The boat was hoisted +up and inspected. It had twenty-two buckshot marks, and was pierced +through and through by six bullets. My face was badly spotted by the +splinters from the oar. We were all congratulated upon our narrow +escape. Captain Gregory vowed vengeance on the Southerners for their +conduct, and, that night, plans were arranged for the next day to "carry +the war into Africa." Then we went to bed, excepting those on duty. + +Next morning at eight o'clock we tried again and sailed as close to the +beach as possible and anchored. An officer was stationed aloft with a +pair of marine glasses, that he might see over the sand dunes and have a +good view of the rebel schooner. For three hours we tried to put a +shell into the blockade-runner with our guns, but could not do so on +account of the sand dunes interfering with our range. At twelve o'clock +Captain Gregory decided to land a boat's crew; and that was his mistake +No. 3. We all well knew there would be resistance offered to our +landing, under the circumstances, but I received orders to set fire to +the schooner, and therefore had nothing to say. Sixteen of the best men +were selected and armed with rifles, and to each was also given a navy +revolver, or else a boarding-pistol, carrying an ounce bullet. Arrants +was ordered to assist me. The paymaster, a new officer from Boston, +volunteered his services, for he thought he would have a picnic, and, +besides, his admiring friends had presented him with an expensive sword +and revolver, and these weapons he intended taking back home with him +all covered with rebel gore. We three officers carried a whole +arsenal--sword, rifle, and revolver. As we expected to meet not more +than twenty Confederates, we felt confident of victory, especially as +we were better armed and could load our guns more rapidly, having +improved cartridges. The enemy had to tear the paper on theirs with +their teeth, while ours could be used without that process, as they were +encased in combustible paper. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A PRISONER OF WAR + + +We took the first cutter for a landing party, and the second cutter was +manned with an armed crew of six men to take care of our boat while we +were on shore. A small keg, filled with tarred rope yarns and a bottle +of turpentine, was given to me with which to set the schooner on fire. I +told Captain Gregory to send George Brinsmaid along with us to carry the +keg, as he was of no use on the brig, and might be of some use on dry +land. Everybody thought it would be a good joke, so Mr. Brinsmaid was +ordered into the boat, and promoted to the office of bearer of +combustibles. My instructions were plain enough: "To land and set fire +to the schooner and house, and do all the damage possible."[D] In case +we were attacked, we were to get behind the sand dunes and defend +ourselves, while the guns on the brig would shell the rebels. + + [D] It was denied afterward that any such order had been given. + +All being ready, we started for the shore. Before landing, I had a long +rope attached to the bow of our boat and fastened to the stern of the +second cutter. When we got on shore, the second cutter towed our boat +just clear of the surf, ready for us to get into in a hurry, with the +bow headed towards the sea. George Brinsmaid had the keg to carry, and +was placed in the centre of the party. Then we started for the sand +dunes, intending to carry desolation and dismay into the Southern +Confederacy. + +When we got to the sand dunes, indications pointed strongly to the fact +that we had got into a bad scrape. The sand was covered with a large +number of horse tracks, as if a whole regiment of horses had been +tramping around. I had not much time to take in the situation, as the +enemy made a charge between us and the boats. They came in double file; +the left file came for us, the right going for the boats. I looked at +the brig, expecting to see the guns shelling the rebs on the open, but, +much to my surprise, the captain had allowed the brig to swing around +stern to shore, and not a gun could be brought to bear on the enemy. + +I told the men to get behind the dunes and fire only at the enemy +nearest to them. We were scattered a few feet apart so as not to be in a +compact body. The first man came into view just in front of me. He was +riding to the top of the dune. Knowing that the rifle would carry high +at such a short distance, I aimed low at his breast. The bullet struck +him square in the forehead and the horse gave a jump and threw him off, +the body rolling down the steep dune to our feet. That checked the enemy +for a few seconds, as they saw that it would be safer to attack us +dismounted. For about five minutes that was a warm place. Buckshot, +bullets, and sand were flying in all directions. The party attacking the +boat were unsuccessful, so they circled around and got in our rear. Then +we were completely surrounded and had to surrender. Two of the +Confederates were killed and several wounded, and besides, they lost +three horses. On our side two were killed, and nearly every one of us +wounded. After we had surrendered, James Pinkham was lying face down on +the ground, a bullet having passed through both of his hips, and, +because he could not get up when ordered to do so, a rebel lieutenant +shot him in the back with his revolver. A young Irishman by the name of +Tobin, belonging to our party, had reloaded his rifle and was standing +close to Pinkham. The rebel lieutenant said, "You ---- Yankee, come here +and give up your arms!" Tobin advanced with both hands stretched out, +the rifle in his left and a boarding-pistol in his right. When he got +within about fifteen feet of the lieutenant, he blazed away at him with +the pistol, dropped it and ran across the salt marsh to the woods, about +half a mile distant. He missed the lieutenant, but killed his horse. A +cavalryman started after Tobin and, when near to him, called him to +halt. Tobin turned around and pointed his rifle at the man. The latter's +gun being empty, he halted, and off went the Irishman again for the +woods. Another man started in pursuit with a loaded rifle, and, when +close enough, he shot Tobin in the leg, and the poor fellow afterwards +died in Andersonville Prison. + +The Southerners who did not come until the fight was all over, did all +the blustering and had the most to say. They did certainly call us +anything but gentlemen, and also were very indignant because Brinsmaid +had been taken prisoner. "You Yankee ---- ----, get in line there with +your nigger brother!" was the first order we got. We were taken to the +edge of the woods and everything was confiscated, whether of value or +not. The enemy wrangled considerably among themselves, with the result +that George Brinsmaid was taken to a tree about fifty yards from us, a +horse's halter put around his neck, and he was hanged on one of the +limbs; then two charges of buckshot were fired into his breast. The poor +fellow never spoke a word after leaving the brig. In the fight his left +hand had been shot off by buckshot, but not a groan was heard from him. +Some of the Confederates proposed hanging all of us, on account of +having a "nigger" with us, and, judging from what I had seen of their +actions, I almost came to the conclusion that the proposition would be +carried out. However, in a little while the excitement passed away and +they began to be sociable. The wounded were all examined and wads of raw +cotton put into the wounds. One man came to me with his left hand +bandaged up. He inquired if I was badly hurt. + +"Well," says he, "you're in luck to be alive now. I took deliberate aim +at you as you stood with your back towards me while loading your rifle. +My ---- shotgun burst and blowed off three of my fingers, and that is +what saved you." + +In his eagerness to kill a Yankee, he had put too heavy a charge in his +gun, and it had burst just where he gripped the barrels with his left +hand. My sack coat was cut in several places. One shot struck me in the +arm near the shoulder and went about six inches between the muscles +towards the elbow. That little piece of lead has been my constant +companion for just thirty-four years the 5th of December. I can always +tell when wet weather is coming, by feeling a dull pain in my right arm. +During the general conversation, I found out the cause of so many men +being ready to receive us on shore. It seems that the first shell we had +fired from the brig went very high over the schooner and landed in the +camp in the woods. They were enjoying an after-breakfast smoke when it +fell in their midst. It was laughable to hear them twitting each other +about vacating their quarters. We could not make them believe that it +was a chance shot. They insisted that one of the refugees on our vessel +had pointed out their camp to us. They also believed that they had +killed all the men but one in the boat the day before. Arrants and +myself told them that we were the two officers on shore, but they would +have it that we were both killed. The continual report of our broadside +guns had been heard for quite a distance north and south of Murrell +Inlet. All the rebel pickets thought that a blockade-runner had been +run ashore by the Yankees, so all hastened to the scene of action, +especially as there might be a prospect of looting the vessel if ashore. +When they arrived and found out the true state of affairs they concluded +to remain, in the hope that we would send men ashore to burn the +schooner. There were present two companies of cavalry--one each from the +Fifth and Twenty-first Georgia Regiments and under command of Captains +Bowers and Harrison. There was where Captain Gregory made a blunder in +sending us ashore after cannonading the schooner. Instead of a few men +to contend with, we had a force of one hundred and twenty to give us a +warm reception, which they did in most orthodox style. + +If still living, one of those misguided men is telling his grandchildren +how he captured my sword, for which I had paid twenty-five good dollars. +The rifle and the revolver belonged to the Government. + +At four o'clock that afternoon we started for Charleston, S. C. Those +who were too badly wounded to walk were put in an old wagon. Our boat's +coxswain had been hit in the head with a number of buckshot. He must +have had a tough skull, as the shot cut furrows in his scalp and removed +some of his hair. The blood flowed very freely. He was compelled to walk +the whole distance. We had a guard of ten men, under command of the +lieutenant that Tobin had tried to kill. Well, that fellow made things +as unpleasant as possible for us, in order to have revenge for the +killing of his horse. The road was composed of white, dry sand, and at +every step we took we would sink to our ankles. The cavalry horses were +fast walkers, and we had to keep up with them. We came to a stream of +cold water, and we were forced to wade through it. There was a +footbridge for pedestrians on one side of the road, but we were not +allowed to go over it. The cavalrymen got on their knees on the saddles, +and their horses, plunging through the water, splashed it over our +heads; consequently, we got a good drenching. Walking was more difficult +for us weighted with water; besides, it was night-time, and in the month +of December--rather late in the season for a cold-water bath. + +At nine o'clock in the evening we arrived at our destination, Georgetown +Bay, having walked, or rather been driven, twenty-five miles in five +hours' time. It was all we could do to keep up with the horses. A squad +was in our rear with orders to run us down if we lagged behind. We were +placed in an old log house, the floor being covered to the depth of two +inches with sheep-manure. The wounded were laid in the filth, without +anything being done towards making them comfortable. Two pailfuls of +small, raw sweet potatoes were given us for our supper. That night, +December 5, 1863, will never be erased from my memory; tired and sore in +every limb, my feet badly swollen, the wounded arm hurting, wet and +hungry, I lay down in the manure and tried to sleep, but could not; the +cold and the wet clothes kept me chilled through and through. The poor +fellows who were wounded were continually moaning, but we were powerless +to alleviate their misery. + +We had plenty of reason for growling about the quality of our potato +supper, but the following morning's breakfast was omitted altogether. +About nine o'clock we were divided into squads and taken across the bay +in sailboats. Those who were badly wounded were taken to the hospital; +the rest of us were placed in the Georgetown jail, and a dirty room +about twelve feet square was kindly placed at our disposal. At three in +the afternoon we had breakfast, dinner, and supper combined. The menu +consisted only of one dish--a pan of cold boiled rice. With a piece of +stick it was cut into equal shares, and each man took his portion in his +hand and devoured it at his leisure. We remained there five days. The +only event of interest which occurred there was my being taken out to +General Tropier's headquarters. He asked a few questions about the +gunboat which was blockading the entrance to Georgetown Bay. My answers +were rather evasive. Then I did some talking about the treatment we had +received after being taken prisoners. He said that in future we would +not be abused while under his control. + +About four o'clock of the fifth day we were taken from the jail, and, +with a cavalry guard, we were started for Charleston, S. C. It was a +triangular journey. Straight down the coast Charleston was distant sixty +miles, but the Yankees had the water routes, and consequently we had to +walk forty-three miles west to King's Tree, the nearest railroad +station. Thence, by railroad, we were taken sixty-five miles southeast +to Charleston. Lieutenant Burroughs was in charge of the party. He +allowed us to walk at an ordinary gait, and was very kind and civil to +us. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +IN THE PRISON + + +At nine o'clock we arrived at the Black River Ferry, where a halt was +made for the night. We were then taken into the ferryman's house. +Lieutenant Burroughs ordered supper for four. Arrants, the paymaster, +and myself were invited by him to supper. It was the only time I had a +civilized meal while in the Confederacy. We all slept on the hard floor, +a fire in the room keeping us warm. At daylight we crossed the river on +a primitive ferry. A rope was fastened to each bank of the river, and an +old-flat boat was held in place by it, and pulled back and forth by hand +power. At noon we halted for a rest and to cook the dinner--some more +boiled rice. Late at night we arrived at King's Tree. The next day, in +the afternoon, we got to Charleston, and were at once given in charge +of the provost-marshal. After the taking of our names and rank the party +was separated. The sailors were escorted to the jail by a guard, and a +young lieutenant very politely informed us that we would go with him by +a different route, so as not to attract the attention of the citizens. +He took us through the burnt district. + +What a wonderful change there was since I had last been in that city! +All business was suspended. A large area was in ruins from the fire, +grass was growing in the streets, and there was desolation everywhere. +We could plainly hear the guns firing from our batteries on Norris +Island. On arriving at the jail, the lieutenant shook hands with us and +bade us good-bye. We were taken to the top floor and had an entire +corridor to ourselves. There being about sixteen large cells, twelve +feet square, we had plenty of room--in fact, each of us could have had +an entire suite to himself had he desired it. + +Everything looked very familiar to me, as it was the same place in +which I was confined before my trial in 1856. The newspapers, giving an +account of our capture, stated that I was supposed to be the same George +Thompson who had been tried in the United States District Court for +murder a few years previously. On account of the notice in the +newspapers in regard to my being a prisoner of war and confined in the +jail, a number of citizens visited me, but, having no permit from the +commandant, they had their trouble for nothing. Major John Ryan, chief +of subsistence on General Beauregard's staff, and an old friend of my +father, was the only person allowed to see me. Our interview was quite +sociable at first, then we gradually became belligerent, while +conversing about the war and its issues. He had questioned me about my +rank and the amount of pay I received in the Federal navy. Then the +proposition was made that I join the rebel navy with the rank of +lieutenant. When I refused, he became exceedingly wrathy. Finally he +cooled down a little, and said that General Beauregard would send for me +very soon, as he wished to have an interview with me. I replied that it +would only be waste of time for him to do so. Now, from the questions +that had been asked me, I knew exactly what the rebs wanted to know. +They had sent out a torpedo boat to sink the Ironsides, but it was a +failure. An ensign was killed by a rifle-bullet from the torpedo boat, +but no damage was done to the ship when the torpedo exploded. Admiral +Dahlgren had ordered a raft of timber to be placed all around the +Ironsides in order to prevent any more torpedo boats getting near enough +to do any damage. The rebs could see with telescopes from Sumter that +the Yankee sailors were hard at work around the ship, but could not find +out what was being done. The Charleston papers stated that the Ironsides +was in a sinking condition, and could only be kept above water by the +use of heavy timbers. That same torpedo boat afterward destroyed the +Housatonic, but the boat and crew were never seen afterward. In all +probability they blew themselves up at the same time. + +General Beauregard retained all officers captured by his troops in case +he should need them as hostages. Consequently, Columbia, S. C, was to be +our place of abode, instead of Libby Prison at Richmond, where the +officers were generally confined. While in the Charleston jail we heard +from our friends quite frequently. Gilmore's guns would send shells into +the city. They sounded like a heavy wagon-wheel going over a rough +pavement. Next would be a heavy thud, and, in a few seconds more, a +terrible explosion. At first, percussion shells were used, but quite a +large percentage of them would turn in their flight through the air, and +as they would not strike fuse first, no explosion would take place. A +lot of men were always watching for such shells to strike. With shovels +and pickaxes they would dig them out of the ground. The rebel ordnance +department paid one hundred dollars in Confederate currency for every +unexploded shell delivered. The next move was for the Yankees to change +from percussion to time fuses. The first shell did not explode on +striking, so a crowd, as usual, started to unearth it. Quite a number of +spectators were watching the fun. Suddenly the operations were +suspended. The time fuse exploded the shell, killing several persons and +wounding a number more. Of course the Yankees were loudly cursed for +playing such a mean trick, but the ordnance department got no more of +our shells. The second day after our arrival a shell passed over the +jail and landed in a frame building only a block distant. When it +exploded, timbers and boards flew in all directions. We could see the +dust and splinters in the air quite plainly from our window. Somehow, I +felt pleased whenever one of those missiles came along, although we were +liable to be killed at any time by one of them. + +Much to my surprise, a single mattress and blanket were sent up to me by +some of my former acquaintances. I considered it only proper that such +good fortune should be shared with Arrants and the paymaster, so we used +the mattress for a pillow, and, by sleeping "spoon fashion," we made the +blanket cover us all. I may state now that it was the only time that we +had a blanket during our entire imprisonment. In all of that part of the +building there was no furniture of any description. We had to utilize +the floor for all purposes. Our food consisted of cold boiled rice, and +was brought to us twice a day in a tin pan. Table etiquette was +dispensed with for the time being, and our fingers had to be used for +disposing of the food. The evening of the seventh day some of the +provost guard took us to the railroad depot en route for Columbia. While +waiting for the train to start, a couple of women got into conversation +with us. They bade us "Good luck" and handed us each a quart bottle of +corn whisky. The provost guard drank the most of it. At any rate, it +helped to pass away the night in a cheerful manner. In the morning we +arrived at the Richland County jail, Columbia, S. C. That was to be our +resting-place for several months. + +The following is the substance of the official report of our capture, +etc., made to the Secretary of the Navy by Admiral Dahlgren: + +"Two boys who had been sent on shore in the dingey at Murrell Inlet for +a barrel of sand for holystoning decks had been killed by the rebels. A +few weeks later Acting Ensign Myron W. Tillson, with thirteen men, were +captured at the same place while trying to burn a blockade-runner. +Believing Acting Master Gregory to be a discreet and experienced +officer, I sent his vessel to blockade the Inlet, also instructing him +not to send any men on shore. Three officers and sixteen men were also +captured from his vessel. I inclose his report. On a personal interview +he claimed that his orders were not obeyed by Acting Ensign Arrants, and +that the latter was responsible for the capture of the men. Having had +so much trouble at Murrell Inlet, I decided to send a strong force of +marines and sailors to that place to destroy the schooner and other +property, as well as to remove any disposition to exult on the part of +the rebels for capturing so many of our men." + +Then followed the report of the expedition as made by Acting Master +Gregory, detailing the amount of damage done. The Secretary of the Navy +then issued the following general order, which was read at general +muster on each vessel in the squadron: + + "GENERAL ORDERS, NO. ----. + + "For flagrant disobedience of orders from his commanding officer + and being responsible for a number of men having been captured + by the rebels, Acting Ensign William B. Arrants is dismissed + from the United States Navy. While the Department does not wish + to discourage acts of gallantry or enterprise, strict obedience + of orders must be insisted on. + + "GIDEON WELLES, + "_Secretary of the Navy_." + +The whole blame had been put upon Arrants. Upon my arrival in +Washington, I reported to the Secretary of the Navy in person, giving +him a full report of the whole affair in writing. He asked me a number +of questions in regard to Captain Gregory. As the naval records showed +that my commission antedated that of Arrants by about three months, it +proved conclusively that Captain Gregory had misrepresented when he +stated that the expedition had been commanded by Arrants. A great +injustice had been done. An order was at once issued restoring Acting +Ensign William B. Arrants to the naval service from the date of +dismissal. + +Captain Gregory, in order to screen himself, had put all the blame on +Arrants, supposing him to be dead. When he found out we were about to be +exchanged he concluded that it was about time for him to resign from the +service. By that means he escaped from serious consequences which would +have resulted from his conduct. The punishment meted out by +court-martial was generally severe during the time of the Rebellion. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +PRISON LIFE AND PRISON FARE + + +Eleven naval officers gave us a most cordial reception when the captain +in charge of the prison introduced us as fresh fish. All were eager to +learn the latest news of the war, and especially about the prospects of +exchanging prisoners of war in the near future. Now it happened that we +were well posted on the "exchange" question--namely, that the +authorities at Washington had notified the rebels that the cartel was +ended, and no more exchanges would be made. Our men, when received, were +disabled from duty on account of sickness caused by lack of proper food +and clothing, as well as inhuman treatment. On the other hand, the +rebels were returned in better health and more comfortably clothed than +at the time of capture. The advantage to the rebel army, under the +circumstances, would be too great to permit of any further exchanges. It +was policy to let the Union men remain as prisoners, as they would be +useless for a long time for active duty. Keeping the rebels in prison +would deprive the rebel army of a large number of able men, who, +released, would be immediately available for active duty. + +Our fellow-prisoners were down-hearted at first, when told the dictum; +but soon their cheerful remarks showed that they believed our Government +was pursuing a wise course under the circumstances. The jail was a +three-story building, the two lower floors being used exclusively for +the confinement of debtors. The third story was fitted up with cells for +the criminals. At that time there was no State prison in South Carolina. +The longest sentence a prisoner could receive was two and one half years +in jail. Murder, robbery, burglary, arson, and rape were punishable by +death. A man whose punishment was commuted from death could only be +confined for the maximum jail sentence. We fourteen naval officers were +confined in one room on the first floor. The size of the apartment was +sixteen by twenty feet. When we lay on the floor at night there was but +little vacant space. Sixteen army officers were confined in a room on +the other side of the main hall. One half-hour in the morning and in the +afternoon was allowed us to go into the yard, in order to wash and +attend to our toilet, and only four were permitted to go at one time. +For that reason we had to be in a hurry, so as to give all an +opportunity. When the half-hour had expired, we were counted and the +door locked. The army officers were then let out for the same length of +time. We received our rations every ten days, in an uncooked condition. +Unbolted corn-meal was the staple food. Two ounces of old, mouldy bacon +was allowed each person for the ten days, that being the only animal +food we received. Sometimes a small quantity of rice was also allowed. +In the yard was a small brick building used as a kitchen, where the +cooking was done. Opposite, and extending the whole length of the yard, +was an old wooden barracks in which were confined about sixty privates. +One private was detailed for the navy and one for the army officers. Not +much skill was required for the cooking, but considerable ingenuity was +needed to devise ways and means. In our mess the officers had managed to +get a table, two long benches, ten pie-plates, and some knives and +forks. Two meals a day was all that our rations would stand. This was +our regular menu for about nine months for every meal: Corn-meal, +slapjacks, corn-bread, corn-meal gravy, and corn-meal coffee. Our bacon +was used for making the gravy and greasing the old tin pan which we +utilized as a griddle. Corn-meal was burned nearly black for making the +coffee. At one time our rations missed connections for nearly two days, +and there was woe and agony. We divided the time about equally in +damning the Confederacy and praying for something to eat. There were two +iron-barred windows in our room which overlooked the yard of our +next-door neighbour. A man, wife, and little boy lived there. A passage +way about twelve feet wide separated the jail and a one-story cottage. +One of our windows was exactly opposite their bedroom window, but both +too high from the ground for the rebel sentry on guard in the passage +way to see into either of them. Our neighbour's name was Crane. The +family were strong Unionists, and we carried on a daily conversation by +slate-writing. All the latest news was given to us, as well as any +information which we desired. + +Mr. Crane was a young man about thirty years of age, and he had a +special permit from the rebel government exempting him from military +service, on account of being a wagon-maker and needed by the citizens in +Columbia to do their work. A girl about eighteen years old finally came +to reside with the family. We immediately christened her "Union Mary," +and kept that girl busy receiving and throwing kisses at us. She seemed +to have nothing else to do but to watch our window. As we had plenty of +leisure time, some one of the party was continually making distant love +to her. At last she let us know that she wanted to go North and live +with the Yankees. Nearly all of us wrote a letter telling her how to get +a pass through the lines and recommending her to our relatives. She +succeeded all right. The father of one of the officers got her a good +situation and gave her a fine start in life, out of gratitude for the +news which she brought him from his son. + +A few weeks afterward Mr. Crane was ordered to report for military duty +at Richmond. He and several companions got off the cars at the nearest +point to our lines and were successful in getting through. The next we +heard of him was through his wife, who said that he had reached New York +city and was earning very high wages at his trade. + +A company of home guards, composed of fifty men under command of a +captain, first, second, and third lieutenants, were our guardian angels. +The guard-room adjoined ours on the first floor. Their camp was outside +the city limits. Every morning, at eight o'clock, the relief would come +in and remain on duty for twenty-four hours. We became well acquainted +with all, and were quite sociable. Three of the privates let us know +that they were Union sympathizers. Many a favour they did for us, by +assisting us to communicate with Union people in the city. In the month +of March, 1864, all hopes of being exchanged before the ending of the +war were given up. Every one of us was in favour of making an attempt to +escape from prison, if possible. Lieutenant Preston and myself were to +do the engineering part; the others agreed to work under our +instructions. Preston was a regular officer, and myself being a +volunteer removed any cause for believing that any favouritism would be +shown during the progress of building a tunnel. After eight in the +evening the guards never opened our door. Then we commenced operations. + +A large brick fire-place was situated between the two windows. The +bricks on one end were taken up and a hole was made that allowed us to +get under the floor. Preston and myself worked nearly all night. First, +we stopped up several ventilating holes with pieces of clay and brick. +All the brickbats were piled in a corner to be out of our way. We found +there would be plenty of space to pile up the dirt that would be taken +from the tunnel, the height of the floor from the ground being about +three feet. Directly under the window facing Crane's house we started a +shaft three feet square. The dirt, as we removed it, was piled over the +ventilating hole; there being no danger of any noise being heard by the +sentry in the alley or a light seen, we ceased operations for the night. +The bricks in the fire-place were replaced, and we retired for the night +to our luxurious couches--the bare floor--for much-needed rest. The +entrance to our lower regions must be attended to first, as the bricks +had a very insecure foundation. One of the guards very kindly consented +to carry our compliments and a request to Mrs. Crane for the loan of a +saw, hammer, nails, and a piece of board, as we wished to make a shelf. +During the afternoon we had everything in readiness. The bricks were +removed and put in a soap box, cleats were hastily nailed to the floor +timbers, pieces of board laid across, and the bricks replaced. Ashes +were then filled into the cracks. It was a first-class job when +finished, and we could defy detection. One of us went into the kitchen +in the yard and stole our own poker from the cook. It was a piece of +flat iron, and the only instrument procurable for excavating purposes. +The officers were divided into working parties, two in each squad, each +to work two hours at a time. Preston would direct and assist in the +work, from eight until twelve midnight, and I from twelve to four in the +morning. + +It was necessary to be careful about the construction of the tunnel, as +it was to be run under a sentry's feet. If there should happen to be a +cave-in and a reb drop down among the toilers, it would be rather +embarrassing. Crane's house was built in the Southern style for all +wooden buildings, resting on supports about two feet in height. Our +objective point was about the centre of his habitation. We could crawl +to the other side, and by getting over a board fence would practically +become "prisoners-at-large." + +The ground was favourable for our work, being composed of stiff red +clay. All felt happy and cheerful as the work progressed, and the +monotony of being so closely confined was somewhat relieved. On the +corner of the square in which the jail was located was the city hall. We +could hear the hours and half hours as they were struck, quite plainly, +so we had no trouble about the time of quitting work. It was necessary +for us to have a point to start our measurements from, and after much +discussion, we selected a window-sill in our room directly over the +tunnel-shaft. It was a strange place to locate it, but from that point +every part of the work was measured to an inch. By fastening a wad of +wet paper to a thread we ascertained the exact distance between Crane's +house and the inside of the jail wall. One of us held the thread on the +window-sill while the other kept throwing the wad until it struck the +clapboard. When the sentry walked past our window he gave us the +opportunity, and, by lowering the wad to the ground, we got the height +of the passage-way which the sentry patroled. The shaft was sunk nine +feet, and was considerably lower than the foundation of the building. +Then the tunnel was started, being two feet wide and three feet in +height, the top being arched. For a distance of fourteen feet it was +perfectly level, then it was started on an angle towards the surface of +the ground. + +About that time we had to stop operations for a few days. Orders had +been sent by General Beauregard to put Lieutenant-Commander E. P. +Williams and Ensign Benjamin Porter in irons, and hold them as hostages +for a rebel naval lieutenant, who was sentenced to be hanged by the +Federal Government for piracy on Lake Erie. Williams was selected as the +highest in rank, Porter for the reason that he had the most influential +friends. The two officers were shackled together, hands and legs, and +were doomed to be inseparable companions for the time being, with a +chance of being hanged. Not knowing but that the officers or guards +might enter our room during the night to look at the hostages, it was +deemed advisable to leave the tunnel alone. The handcuffs and shackles +were of the old style, shutting together by a spring bolt. To open them +the key was inserted, and turning it a number of times would screw the +bolt back. The key and spindle had threads cut like a common bolt and +nut. Sailors understood the mechanism perfectly. By taking a piece of +soft wood the size of the keyhole and boring a hole in the centre +slightly smaller than the spindle, and twisting it around in the +keyhole, threads would be cut in it, and the handcuffs opened. Another +plan was to make a slip-noose of fine twine, and by slipping it over the +spindle, the bolt could also be drawn back. During business hours our +two unfortunate companions were fettered together, but the remainder of +the time they could meander around separately. We had plenty of +amusement in drilling them to get into proper position for being +shackled as soon as there was any indication of the door being opened. + +Supplementary orders soon arrived that Porter and Williams should be +confined by themselves in a separate room. A small room next to that of +the army officers was selected. Being on the first floor, it was an easy +matter for us to release them when we were ready to escape. Work was at +once resumed. Our greatest difficulty was in getting candles enough to +supply us with light. Finally, the last night's work was finished. The +tunnel was twenty-two feet in length. According to our diagram we were +six inches from the surface of the ground under Crane's house. We were +afraid to make a small hole to the surface to make sure that our +measurements were correct, for if there should be any depression in the +ground, the first rainstorm would let the water into our excavation. We +divided ourselves into parties of two or three, each to select our own +route to the Federal lines. A small school atlas was borrowed, and maps +made of the different routes we intended to take. Lieutenant Brower, +Arrants, and myself decided to go south twenty-five miles, and follow +the Santee River east to the sea-coast, then taking our chances of +reaching a Federal gunboat. Corn-meal was baked brown, and with a +little salt added, by mixing it with water it would be ready for eating. +Matches were put into bottles to prevent them from getting wet. In fact, +all preparations were made for our journey that we could think of. + +It occasionally happens that people make fools of themselves in +assisting others. Well, that is just what we did; some of us thought it +would not be right to leave the army officers behind. A vote was taken +and all were in favour of giving the army officers a chance to go with +us. They were notified and one week's time given them in which to get +ready. They were instructed to be cautious, and that we would make an +opening in their fire-place also as soon as Porter and Williams were +released. The latter were to have the first chance for their liberty. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +DISAPPOINTMENT AND MORE WAITING + + +About the second day afterward circumstances indicated that our +intention to escape was known to the officers of the guard. They would +come into our room, ostensibly for a friendly visit, but we noticed that +they were examining the windows and floor while chatting with us. Within +a foot of the building was a six-foot board fence, and that was taken +away, giving the sentry on duty a full view of our side of the walls. +Then we knew, for certain, that something was wrong. On Saturday morning +permission was obtained to have the room floor scrubbed. Everything was +piled on the table and a general housecleaning took place. All of us +then went into the yard until the floor got dry. As we anticipated, the +officer on duty went into the room during our absence and gave it a +thorough inspection, but nothing was discovered. We congratulated +ourselves upon the successful issue of our game of bluff. + +Sunday night, about eight o'clock, we heard an unusual noise in the +guard-room, which sounded very much like sawing a hole in the floor. +After a while the racket ceased, and we resumed our slumbers. Suddenly +our room door was opened, Captain Sennes with several of the guards +walked in, some armed with muskets and others with lighted candles. We +were counted and reported as "all present." + +"Gentlemen, I have found your hole!" was the startling announcement. + +The whole affair was so ludicrous and unexpected that we began laughing. +Captain Sennes was excited, and well pleased with the idea of having +discovered our plan of escape. + +"Now, gentlemen, I shall have to keep a guard in your room for the +remainder of the night." + +Of course we had no objections. About three o'clock in the morning he +changed his mind and ordered us to be escorted into the room occupied by +Williams and Porter. All the little portable articles we possessed, +which might tempt the cupidity of the rebs, were hastily gathered up and +our change of quarters soon effected. There was no more sleep for us. So +much excitement in one night was too much for our delicate systems. + +In the morning Captain Sennes concluded to confine the navy and army +officers on the second floor. That part of the building was the "bull +pen" for the conscripts. Every part of South Carolina was thoroughly +searched for shirkers from military duty. The "poor whites," as they +were called, would be taken from their families, manacled two together, +and brought to the jail. When a squad of fifty was obtained, they would +be sent to the front and distributed among different regiments. As a +class they were very ignorant, but few of them knowing what the war was +about. + +"What do you 'uns want to come down here and whip we 'uns for?" was +their only argument. But at the same time they would fight--there was +no mistaking that fact. + +Our new quarters were very uncomfortable in many respects: there were +dirt and filth everywhere. An old box-stove in a small room was our +fire-place. The conscripts had no firewood, so they had used the doors +and frames for fuel, then the window-sashes and casings were utilized, +and next was the lath from the partitions. That floor had plenty of +ventilation. No difference which way the wind would come from, we got +the full benefit of it. The rooms were divided between us, the army +taking one side of the building, the naval officers the other, the +hall-way being used as a promenade by all the tenants. No attempt was +made to keep us separate as in the past, for the reason that the doors +and partitions were lacking. The view of the city in our locality was +very good. When we got tired of looking from one side of the building we +could cross over and take a view in the opposite direction. The +newspapers had blood-curdling articles in regard to our attempt at +escaping. We were alluded to as "Yankee hirelings," and other pet names +were bestowed upon us. Even poor Mrs. Crane got a roasting because her +house happened to be over the exit of the tunnel. Quite a number of +visitors came to the jail to view our work, but finally the whole affair +became stale and forgotten. Then it occurred to Captain Sennes that it +would be quite proper to plug the hole up. He was very anxious to know +who engineered the work, but, very naturally, every one was bashful +about claiming that honour. At last he unbosomed himself: "Gentlemen, as +you constructed the tunnel, probably you can inform me how to fill it +up." Now that question was a poser to all of us. A great many +suggestions were made, but all proved unsatisfactory. Finally, the +captain had the shaft filled up with brickbats and broken bottles. In +the passage-way between the two buildings they dug down to the tunnel +and put in a load of clay. With every rainstorm the clay would settle +and leave a big hole. From observation and much debating on the subject, +it was conceded that the proper plan would have been to dig it up from +end to end. Our new quarters were quite uncomfortable. I devised all +sorts of schemes to keep myself warm at night. Sleeping on a bare floor, +the lack of blankets, and the cold wind, made a combination which it was +useless to contend against. All I could do was to wait patiently for +daylight, and then, by walking and exercising, get myself warmed up. + +The sixty privates in the yard also caught the tunnel mania. The +barracks had a wooden floor. Two boards were removed, and an excavation +made to the rear of the building. The exit was in an adjoining garden. +Not much skill in engineering was displayed on their part. They simply +dug until they felt like stopping. The distance from the surface was +ascertained by pushing a stick up through the ground. It was left there +projecting above the surface. We were informed of their plans and +intention to escape that night. It seems that Captain Sennes was also +fully posted as to what was going on. A number of the rebs were +stationed in the garden. The stick projecting from the ground indicated +the place from which the prisoners would emerge. Orders were given to +let a number of the Yankees come out, then to fire into the crowd and +kill as many as possible. Fortunately, the first man to come out--Peter +Keefe--happened to see one of the rebs. He gave the alarm to his +companions. Being still on his hands and knees, he thought his best +chance would be in making a bold run for liberty. As he jumped up a reb +fired, the bullet shattering Keefe's left knee. The leg had to be +amputated. The next day all the privates were removed from the yard and +confined with us. That made affairs still worse, there being hardly +space enough for us to lie down at night. Two escaped prisoners from +Andersonville were added to our numbers. They arrived late at night, +and, as it was dark, we could not see what they looked like. The +lieutenant of the guard asked us to find a place for them to lie down. +Brayton slept on the table. Calling the men, he said they could find +room enough underneath. + +After daylight we gathered around our new companions. They were still +handcuffed together. It was a pitiful sight to look at them, dirty and +ragged, with their ankles swollen up by scurvy. The face of one of them +was badly swollen, and covered with pustules. The surgeon was at once +sent for. He pronounced it to be small-pox. The sick man was sent to the +pest-house; his companion was isolated in the barracks. The first one +finally recovered, but his companion caught the infection and died. In a +few days Brayton showed symptoms of small-pox, was removed to the +pest-house, and also died. William Brayton was a sail-maker in the +United States navy; his rank was that of warrant officer, a distinct +grade from the line or staff officers. He was wounded and taken prisoner +during the midnight surprise attack on Fort Sumter by the navy. A bullet +had shattered his right forearm, and also went through the fleshy part +of his right leg. Fortunately Captain Sennes realized the danger of +having the officers and privates confined together. Besides, it was not +a customary thing on either side, and, consequently, the privates were +returned to the barracks in the yard, much to our satisfaction. They had +the freedom of the yard nearly all day, which made them satisfied with +the change. + +I commenced to feel sick and discouraged, and had an inclination to lie +on the floor continually. The surgeon examined me and gave me some +quinine pills, saying that I probably had malarial fever. For several +mornings he visited me, and was very particular about looking at my +tongue. Finally a peculiar white mark showed on the tip end. There was +no mistaking that mark. I had typhoid fever. Orders were given to send +for the ambulance, and have me taken to the hospital. A large church on +the outskirts of the town was to be my future abode. It was called the +Second North Carolina Hospital. Why it received that name I could never +find out. Opposite to it was the beautiful mansion and grounds belonging +to General Wade Hampton, the pride of South Carolina. That misguided +hero went through the war all right, only to lose a leg afterward, most +unromantically, by a kick from a mule. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A CRACKER BEAUTY + + +A parole was made out for me to sign, but it was very difficult for me +to sign my name. I managed to keep on my feet for a few hours, and the +change and novelty seemed to give me strength. Early in the evening I +undressed and got into bed, and there I remained for six weeks. Surgeon +Thompson told me I had the "slow" typhoid fever, that I would have to be +very patient, and not to worry. Most of the time I was in a stupor, but +had a dim consciousness of what was passing around me. One of the +privates from the yard had the fever. He arrived a few days after +myself. Milk punch was given to him; within a week he died. My treatment +was different. The medicine tasted like turpentine and camphor. But no +milk punch was given me at any time. At last the fever broke and I +slowly recovered. Large bed-sores made their appearance on both hips. In +fact I was sore all over from lying in bed such a long time. At a +distance of twenty-five feet every object would quadruple to my vision. +If there was one man, I would see four. Any object hanging on the wall +especially strengthened the optical delusion. + +When able to sit up on my bed I would talk to Peter Keefe. His cot was +just across the passage-way from my own. The amputation was skilfully +done, but it took a long time for the stump to heal up. He did not care +so much for the loss of the leg as he did for the failure of the plan to +escape. + +Two "Cracker" girls swept the basement floor and brought us our food. +They may have been styled nurses on the pay-rolls for all I know. +However, I made a great mistake in not making love to both, comparing +them to angels, and trying to make them believe that they had saved me +from an early grave. Instead I would make critical remarks about their +lack of charms to Keefe, in their presence. The younger one was about +twenty years of age. She wore low calfskin shoes and white stockings +which needed a good washing. Many of my remarks referred to their soiled +condition. While manipulating the broom she displayed wonderful talent +for going to sleep. About every tenth movement she would stand still, +resting on the broom-handle, and take a short nap. Then would follow +another few strokes and more nap, the same routine continuing until the +job was finished. + +The hospital steward was also of the "Cracker" type, and a most devout +Methodist. Somehow we were not bosom friends. He was very much afraid I +would say something to shock the "sweeping beauty." Finally I got tired +of his infernal canting and tersely told him to go to the devil, +advising him at the same time to marry the girl with the dirty +stockings, as I was very certain he was the right man for the husband. +Events were quiet for a couple of days. Hostilities soon broke out. The +doctor had ordered a soft-boiled egg to be given me. Beauty brought it +to me in a glass tumbler and skipped away in a hurry. There was more +salt than egg. Fortunately, she had not stirred it up, so I skimmed off +the egg carefully and ate it. Then I gazed at the tumbler. There was at +least one inch of solid salt in the bottom. Keefe had been watching me +and was highly amused. But Beauty discreetly kept out of my way for the +remainder of the day. I informed the surgeon that I was very dainty +about eating eggs and preferred them served in the shell; so that salt +racket was stopped. I will always believe that Beauty and her acting +husband put up a job on me. + +A very angular woman with sanctimonious visage and a huge Bible in her +hand squatted herself by my bed. The way she read the Scriptures to me +would make a dead man turn over in his coffin. In about five minutes +there was war in earnest. The surgeon happened to come in just then and +ordered her out of the hospital. The next episode was through a friendly +German. He was a sailor, and, being in one of the Southern ports during +the early of the Rebellion, he, like many other sailors, was forced +into the rebel army. In one of the battles he had been wounded by a +piece of shell. As he was now convalescent, he was at leisure to go +where he pleased. He spoke about the large quantities of blackberries +that were to be found in the woods. I asked him to bring me some the +next time he gathered any. While taking a morning nap a plate of nice, +large blackberries had been left on the table at my bedside. When I +awoke I was perfectly delighted at the sight. I had been craving for +fruit for some days past. They seemed too nice to eat. Temptation was +strong, however, and I picked up a single berry and put it in my mouth. +My intention was to eat the whole plateful--one at a time. The surgeon +just then passed near me. + +"Well, surgeon, this is a great treat," I said to him. He seemed quite +nervous when he saw the berries. + +"How many have you eaten?" + +"This is the first one," I replied. + +"Well, that is lucky for you. Had you eaten twelve of them, you would +have been a dead man inside of twenty-four hours." He asked who gave +them to me. Well, that I knew nothing about, as I was asleep and +supposed that Beauty had left them for me. He took away the plate and +went after Beauty. My German sailor friend was not found out, but the +chasm between Dirty Stockings and myself was greatly widened. + +I soon became convalescent. A reb with a loaded musket escorted me back +to my old quarters in the jail. My fellow-prisoners gave me a cordial +reception. It was at one time thought by them that I would remain +permanently in the South. All monotony in our prison life was now over. +Exciting news was heard every day. Sherman's army was marching through +Georgia. The rebs were drawing our troops away from their base of +supplies. All the "invading hirelings" were to be killed, gobbled up, +and other dire calamities were to befall them. Wheeler's cavalry went +howling through Columbia on their way to annihilate Sherman's "bummers." +The citizens cheered, and the ladies waved their handkerchiefs and +threw kisses at them. Those fellows were going to raise ---- sure +enough. We had a good view of the whole proceeding from our window. A +few cat-calls were given by us to help along the excitement. Not many +weeks afterward that same cavalry went through Columbia again, but their +noses were pointed in the opposite direction, with Sherman's cavalry not +many miles in the rear. Those gallant defenders of the South looted all +the stores on Main Street, and carried all they could conveniently get +away with. No ladies threw kisses at them that time. + +The Yankee officers confined in Libby Prison were removed to Charleston +and placed under the fire of the Federal guns in hopes that the shelling +of the city would be stopped. Through some means, the locality in which +the prisoners were confined was made known to the Union troops, +consequently none were killed. Several changes of localities were made, +always with the same result. Finally the rebel provost-marshal and +several of his guards were killed by Yankee shells, and then the +prisoners were all sent to Columbia and confined in a stockade on the +other side of the river--"Camp Sorghum," as it was christened by the +Yankees. The prisoners at Andersonville were hastily sent to different +parts of the Confederacy to keep them out of reach of Sherman's troops. + +"Gentlemen, there will arrive this evening one hundred and seventeen +Yankee officers, and arrangements will have to be made for them to share +your quarters," was Captain Sennes's announcement. + +We made hasty preparations to receive the "fresh fish." They ranked from +second lieutenant up to colonel. Such a motley and reckless lot I never +met before. All had been captured inside the rebel forts when the mine +was exploded at Petersburg. We were uncomfortably crowded for room with +so many men, and Captain Sennes proposed to the old prisoners that we +should sign a parole and return to our quarters on the first floor. We +readily agreed to it. On our part, we were not to escape by tunnelling, +or from the yard; on their part, our door was to be left open, with +liberty to go into the yard when necessary, and also one hour in the +morning and afternoon for recreation. + +Williams and Porter had been released from irons. The six officers +highest in rank among the new arrivals were assigned to the rooms which +they had vacated, and granted the same privileges as we. On Main Street +was the printing establishment of Ball & Keating. The building extended +across the rear of our yard. We were greatly surprised to see a number +of young ladies taking a good view of the prisoners from a second-story +window. The rebs had gotten scared, and had moved the Bureau of Printing +and Engraving from Richmond to Columbia. Ball & Keating's establishment +was selected for the printing of the Confederate currency. The money was +not worth stealing. An ordinary burglar could have taken away a +cart-load of the notes. At night the money was left loose in the +different rooms, the same as a lot of hand-bills in a common +printing-office. The lady employes, as a means of recreation, would gaze +at the Yankee hirelings in the prison-yard. A number of the privates had +no coats or shirts, and were barefoot. The sight must have been very +interesting. + +When the officers were in the yard the privates had to remain in the +barracks. That was the time that those young ladies from Virginia showed +their good breeding. If one of us happened to get within spitting +distance of a window, up would go their noses and down would come the +saliva. At first we were inclined to be angry, but that was just what +those females liked, so we changed our tactics, and threw kisses back +when they spat. By that means the spitting was stopped. Every day we +would hear exciting news from different sources. + +What interested us most came direct from the Secretary of the +Confederate navy. He authorized some gentlemen to make arrangements for +a special exchange of prisoners. They called upon us and made the +proposition that two naval officers should be paroled and sent to +Washington to see if an exchange of naval prisoners, regardless of rank +or numbers, could be effected. Lieutenant-Commanders Williams and +Prendergast were given the mission. Both were given paroles for thirty +days. If our Government consented to the proposition, they were to +remain North; if not, they were to return to Richmond within a specified +time. All the necessary documents were given to them, and they were +started for Richmond the next day and taken to our lines on a +flag-of-truce boat. Inside the thirty days we were notified that the +exchange would be made. Great was the joy among our party at the +prospect of soon returning home. It was soon known in Columbia that we +were to be exchanged. Then I became mixed up in a mysterious affair +which I have never been able to solve. Captain Sennes came to our room +with a woman. + +"Mr. Thompson, this lady has an order from the commandant to see you." + +He then went out. The lady introduced herself as Mrs. Hall, of +Washington, D. C. She had been South during the war; her husband was in +Washington, and she had not been able to hear from him, and "would I be +kind enough to deliver a letter to him?" + +"Certainly." I was willing to help her in any way possible. We conversed +a short time on ordinary topics. + +"Do you know Colonel Dent?" + +"No, I have never heard of such a person." + +"Why, he is General Grant's brother-in-law, and is confined in this +jail." + +"Well, that is news to me. No one ever knew of his being here." + +"It is a fact. He is confined on the top floor with the criminals, and I +see him very often. He gave me a number of letters which he wishes taken +to General Grant. Will you take them?" + +"Yes, provided you answer a few questions. How did you know my name?" + +"Through a lady who knew you while you were in the hospital." + +"Why do you select me to carry letters for a man about whom I know +nothing?" + +"Because you were recommended to me." + +"Very well, I will take them, provided I am allowed to know their +contents. It seems strange to me that Colonel Dent should be confined in +this jail as a criminal and not one of us Yankee prisoners know anything +about it." + +She assured me that he was Grant's brother-in-law, and had been arrested +for some transaction about a plantation near New Orleans. There were +several letters in the package, a petition to the Governor of Wisconsin, +and a long letter written in short-hand. "He was a good Democrat, a +loyal citizen.--See that my land in Wisconsin is not sold for +non-payment of taxes," are some of the extracts. The others related to +family affairs. The short-hand notes I could not read. What the petition +was for I have forgotten. Mrs. Hall then presented me with a finely +embroidered silk tobacco-pouch. Thanking me for my kindness, she bade me +good-bye. When, afterward, I thought the affair over, I came to the +conclusion that the letters were only a subterfuge to draw my suspicions +from the short-hand notes. Not a word had been said in the letters +about the cause of his arrest or about his being confined as a criminal. +As I had promised to deliver the packet, I concluded to take the risk of +getting myself in trouble with the Confederate authorities. They had a +habit of searching the prisoners before crossing the line.[E] + + [E] A number of years afterward, I was confined in the prison in + Jefferson City, Mo. At that place guards were kept on the walls + night and day. Convicts were selected as night watchmen for the + different shops. It was my good fortune to be watchman in the + saddle-tree shop. At that time Colonel John A. Joyce and + General Williams--members of the Whisky Ring during Grant's + administration--were serving a sentence of two years each. + Joyce was cell-housekeeper in the negroes' building during the + daytime, and Williams was storekeeper. Every evening they would + come to my shop, and a pot of good coffee would be cooked on + the stove. A couple of hours would be pleasantly passed in + talking over past events. Generals Grant and Babcock were + frequently mentioned in connection with the Whisky Ring. I told + them all about Colonel Dent's being confined in the Columbia + jail, and asked if they knew anything about the circumstances. + Both of them commenced laughing; then the subject was dropped. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +LIBBY PRISON + + +Squads of naval prisoners frequently passed through Columbia on their +way to Richmond. At last orders were given for us to be ready at four +o'clock the next morning. There was no sleeping that night in our room. +Four of the guards were detailed to escort us to Libby Prison. As we +left the jail, the army officers came to the windows and gave us three +cheers and a "tiger." They little imagined then how soon they would have +their own freedom. It was not long afterward until Sherman's "bummers" +captured the city. The prisoners escaped from the jail before the rebs +could remove them. As our troops entered the city the ex-prisoners found +plenty of willing hands to help them set fire to the jail, city hall, +and treasury buildings. + +The first part of our journey was made in passenger coaches. In North +Carolina we were changed to box-cars. When we got to Virginia travelling +became worse; the train had to move very slowly. The Yankee cavalry had +destroyed all the roads as much as possible. At one place, for a +distance of thirty miles, not a house or a fence-rail could be seen. +Twisted railroad iron was quite abundant. The only wood visible was the +stumps of telegraph-poles in the ground. We were eight days in getting +to Richmond, and well tired out with the trip. We were taken to the +provost-marshal's office and thence to Libby Prison. Our squad was the +last to arrive. About seventy-five officers and five hundred sailors and +marines comprised all the Yankee naval prisoners. The sailors were +confined at the extreme end of the building, a brick wall separating us. +We had plenty of room for exercise in that big warehouse. The army +officers had not taken all their companions with them when they went to +Charleston, as we soon found out to our dismay. Every crack in the +floor of that prison was filled with vermin, and the largest and finest +specimens of the pest that could be found in the whole United States. In +Columbia we had not been troubled with vermin, but in Libby it was +impossible to get rid of them. The most of our spare time was devoted to +hunting for game in our clothing, and no one ever complained about +having bad luck. We were expecting almost hourly to be put on a +flag-of-truce boat. Day after day passed, with no signs of our leaving. +An old negro who brought in our rations of corn-bread informed us that +the exchange might not take place, as Ben Butler was doing all he could +to prevent it. General Ben Butler, or "Beast Butler," as he was called +by the rebs, had command of the troops at City Point. Through neglect on +his part to carry out the plan of the campaign he got "bottled up" by +the rebels and probably prolonged the war. We had positive information +that the naval rebel prisoners were on the boat at City Point, but why +Butler should interfere was an enigma to us. It was a peculiarity of +his to be always on the wrong side of the fence. + +Master's Mate William Kitching, being desirous of having conversation +with one of the boat's crew, had removed a couple of bricks from the +partitions which separated the officers from the sailors. He told some +of the men to pass the word for all of his men to come to the aperture. +Much to his surprise he was informed that all the men belonging to his +boat had died at Andersonville. Not one of the thirteen sailors were +living. The other officers went to the hole and called for their men +also. Only a very few answered to their names. Out of the sixteen +sailors captured with me only three answered. About seventy-five per +cent of the sailors had died in the different prisons. What puzzled us +all was the fact of there being so many prisoners that none of us could +identify. The men must have had consultation among themselves, as during +the afternoon the situation of affairs was fully explained to us. +Information had been received at the different prisons that the sailors +were to be exchanged. They originated a plan to help all the soldiers +possible. Sailors gave their most intimate friends the names of their +deceased shipmates, the names of the ships, where and when captured, the +names of the officers, and, in fact, all information that would be +useful. The scheme had been successful, so far. They were told to +continue the deception, and the officers would assist them in doing so. +We had been in Libby three weeks and nothing definite was known, and we +might go back South for all we knew. + +About nine in the evening the stairs leading to the second floor were +lowered.[F] One officer was called by name and taken into the office, +and when he returned another was called, and so on, until all of us had +been interviewed by the notorious Major Turner. The name of our ship, +where and when captured, how many men we had, and a lot of other +questions were asked. That racket continued until about three o'clock in +the morning. Each of us had asked him about our prospects of being +exchanged. "That is an affair about which I know nothing," was his +answer. Of course, none of us thought about sleeping that night. Walking +the floor and discussing the situation suited us better under the +circumstances. About four o'clock there was more excitement. A day's +ration of food was issued to each one. It consisted of two small pieces +of corn-bread, and of mighty poor quality. At five o'clock that evening, +Major Turner, and his equally notorious clerk, Ross, came to the head of +the stairs. Our names were called, and each one sent down to the hall. +An engineer's name was called, but that gentleman was ordered to stand +by the door. When the list was exhausted the door was locked and the +engineer left in the room. It was afterward learned that he stated to +Turner that he belonged to an army transport. We were formed in line, in +squads of four, facing the door. At six o'clock in the evening the doors +were opened, and the order, "Forward, march," given. + + [F] The stairs were hung on heavy hinges, and every night they + would be hoisted up by a pulley, similar to a trap-door. + +Outside was a strong escort of rebels. Our hearts were fairly in our +mouths for a short time. If we turned for the left it would be for the +flag-of-truce boat; if to the right, it meant an indefinite stay in +prison. It was the "left," and all doubts were removed--we were going +home! The sailors were brought out and followed in our rear. It was an +interesting trip down the James River. We had a fine view of the rebel +batteries. Three iron-clads were passed, and several pontoon bridges +across the river had to be opened on our approach. The most interesting +thing was the sunken obstructions, with the secret channels. +Considerable skill was required to get the boat through them. The guns +from Grant's and Lee's batteries could be plainly heard. Next in view +were the rebel shells exploding high in air over Dutch Gap, Ben Butler's +celebrated canal. Finally we espied some Yankee pickets, then came +Aiken's Landing. The boat was fastened to the dock, and all went on +shore and waited for the Commissioners of Exchanges to receive us. In a +short time Major Mumford arrived. He was on horseback, and a flag of +truce was stuck in his boot-leg. His salutation was: + +"Boys, the ambulance will be here in a few minutes with the +Confederates. You can either ride or walk, but get over to our boat as +soon as you can, as the exchange may yet fall through." + +As soon as the rebel prisoners came in sight we started off. Walking was +good enough for us. What a contrast between the two parties! The rebel +officers were all dressed in new Confederate uniforms--probably +furnished by rebel sympathizers in the North--and the sailors all had +good clothing, and were healthy in appearance. They also seemed happy +about going home, even if they were bidding good-bye to coffee and tea. +The least said about our party the better. We were only sorry that we +had not time to catch a few pecks of vermin for the others to take back +to the Confederate States of America. + +On the rebel boat there was a brass band, and, as a parting compliment, +they regaled us with the old familiar tune, "Then you'll remember me." +There was a large bend in the river below Aiken's Landing, and our boat +was quite a distance around the bend. We walked about a mile and a half +across the strip of land, many of the disabled sailors following us in +ambulances. On the dock were a large number of trunks, with a sentry +guarding them. We were told that it was the baggage belonging to the +rebel officers. Quite a number of our party made a rush for the trunks, +with the intention of dumping them into the river. The guard said, "Go +ahead, boys, I won't stop you," but Major Mumford advised them not to do +it, as it might cause serious trouble. Then all went on board our boat, +the Martha Washington. Several barrels of steaming hot coffee were +ready. + +"Boys, help yourselves. Crackers and cheese in the boxes!" + +In a short time the Sanitary Commission boat came alongside. Clothing +was furnished to all, and anything that could be done for the men was +done cheerfully. Nothing was too good for the ex-prisoners. Surgeons +were busy attending to the sick. + +Scurvy and bowel complaints were the most common trouble. The officers +were assigned to the after cabin, and the men were all given comfortable +beds. From Libby to the Martha Washington made a wonderful change in our +spirits. No one, to see us then, would recognise us as the miserable set +of beings of a few hours past. In the cabin we had a fine dinner set +before us, and bottles of whisky galore. + +"Gentlemen, drink plenty of whisky while eating," were the orders from +the surgeon. + +The captain apologized for the lack of some extras that had been +intended for us. The rebels had been on the boat for nearly three weeks, +luxuriating on our provisions while we were enjoying ourselves in Libby. +Secretary of War Stanton and "Beast Butler" brought about the event, +they being opposed to the exchange. In the afternoon we steamed down the +river. I had an interview with Major Mumford, and told him briefly about +Colonel Dent. + +"Yes, the colonel is a prisoner in the South. He is also Grant's +brother-in-law." + +"Well, I have a packet of letters from him to General Grant. How can I +deliver them to him?" + +"Give them to me. Grant is now at City Point. The boat will stop there, +and I will see that he gets them," he replied. + +I then handed him the package. He never asked me a single question in +regard to Colonel Dent, and he did not give me a chance to ask him any +questions. That ended the affair as far as I was concerned. + +We stopped at City Point for half an hour on our way to Fortress Monroe. +During the trip I had conversations with many of the sailors. They had +suffered terribly during their imprisonment. Insufficient food and +exposure had caused much sickness. Some of them had slept on the bare +ground for months without any shelter. Nearly all had the scurvy. That +any of them had lives to be exchanged was a miracle. The soldiers were +very exultant at the success of their ruse in getting through the lines, +and well they might be, for to-day there are seventeen thousand graves +of their fellow-prisoners at Andersonville. Quite a number of sick men +were also on the boat, having been sent from different hospitals in the +South. The rebs thought that was the easiest way to get rid of them. We +stopped at Fortress Monroe for a short time, and then proceeded to +Annapolis, Md., and early next morning we were landed at the Naval +Academy wharf. Sixteen men had died on that short trip from Aiken's +Landing. + +The sailors were cared for by the proper officials, and the officers +were given transportation to Washington. Then I was a free man, after +having been a prisoner of war for three hundred and eleven days. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A FREE MAN AGAIN + + +I took the first train for Washington, arriving there late at night. +Going to the Metropolitan Hotel, I registered myself as from Columbia, +S. C. The clerk looked at me for a moment, and asked if I had any +baggage. + +"Neither baggage nor money," I replied. + +He commenced laughing, and told a bellboy to show me up to a room. I +remained in Washington two days. My written report was made out; then I +reported in person to Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy. He was a +fine old gentleman, and expressed his joy at the exchange being made. I +have already narrated the particulars regarding Captain Gregory and his +reports. I was instructed to go home, report my arrival, give my +address, and await orders. My next visit was to the Fourth Auditor, for +some of the back pay due me. In a short time I had some much-needed +respectable clothing. As yet I had not fully recovered from the typhoid +fever. My hair was dead, and rapidly falling out. A barber was +consulted, and he discovered that a new crop had commenced to grow. So +the old hair was cut off even with the new. Mrs. Hall's husband was then +next in order. Upon inquiry, I found that he was a cheap gambler, and +not in town just then, so I left his letter with some of his friends. + +I arrived in New York on Sunday morning, and went to my wife's last +address. She had changed quarters to another locality. On going there, I +was informed that she was in a certain boarding-house in Brooklyn. At +that place I was directed to another boarding-house. Finally I found the +young lady. Our child had died three months previously. During our +conversation I said: + +"Why, Annie, I only received two of your letters while I was in prison." + +"That is all I wrote to you," she very innocently replied. + +Before leaving Boston on the brig Perry, I had made an allotment of +fifty dollars per month to her, which she received from a naval agent on +the first of each month. Well, that frugal little wife, to use a slang +expression, was "dead broke," and in arrears for her board bill. I was +happy to be back with her, so I had no fault to find. Theatres and +pleasure trips were in order and my past miseries forgotten. In due time +I received all my back pay. My clothing had been sent home from the +Perry, and a sword and a few other articles were all I had to purchase +for my new outfit. + +Orders were received for me to report to Commander John C. Hall, for +duty on board the United States steamer Nereus, at the Brooklyn Navy +Yard. The Nereus was a large screw steamer, with splendid accommodations +for sailors and officers. The captain and executive were regulars, the +other officers were volunteers. The acting master was a navigating +officer. Four ensigns were watch officers. Our quarters consisted of a +large ward-room, with state-rooms on each side. The latter were +furnished with single berths, and sets of drawers underneath, a +combination dressing-case and desk, and a stationary wash-stand. +Coloured ordinary seamen were detailed as ward-room boys, one for each +officer. Their duties were to take care of the state-rooms and wait on +the table, for which service they received nine dollars per month extra, +paid by the officers. The steward and cook were paid as petty officers +by the Government. One hundred dollars were paid by each of the officers +as initiation fee and mess fund on joining the vessel, and afterward a +_pro rata_ of the expense was charged to each. There was quite a +contrast between the Nereus and the Perry. The ward-room officers +consisted of one lieutenant, one master, four ensigns, paymaster, +surgeon, and chief engineer. The master's mate and second and third +engineers each had separate mess-rooms in the steerage. + +Seven of the officers were ex-prisoners of war. A few months afterward +Captain Howell stated that we were the wildest lot he ever commanded; it +only took a short time for him to form his opinion, however. The vessel +was ordered to the squadron at Cape Haitien, Hayti, West Indies. The +Panama steamers had to be convoyed through the Mariguana Passage, thence +between Cape Maisi, Cuba, and San Nicolas la Mole, Hayti, to Navassa +Island. The rebel steamer Alabama had captured one of the Panama boats, +securing eight hundred thousand dollars in gold bullion, and had bonded +the steamer for the same amount, to be paid when the Confederacy gained +its independence. Fort Fisher was to be attacked, and Captain Howell got +permission to join the expedition with his vessel. All of us were +pleased with the chance to pay up old scores with the rebels. The +corn-meal was still rankling in our systems. Steam was gotten up, and, +under charge of a pilot, we started for Sandy Hook. Before we got a +hundred yards from the dock the trip very abruptly ended. The pilot ran +too close to a large floating buoy, and the result was that one of the +propeller blades caught the heavy chain by which the buoy was anchored. +The engines were slowly reversed. It was of no use. That chain was there +to stay, and we were securely fastened by the stern. I shall never +forget that December night. It was my watch on deck from twelve to four +in the morning. The thermometer was twenty-one degrees below zero, and I +thought I would freeze to death. The men on deck I sent below out of the +cold wind, but I had no place for shelter, as the deck was clear fore +and aft. + +The next day a submarine diver examined the propeller blade. The chain +was jammed in between the stern-post and the centre of the screw. A +floating derrick was fastened to our stern, the buoy and anchor were +hoisted on it, and our vessel was thus taken into the dry dock. It was +quite a job to free the chain. That little mishap detained us one week. +We made another start and got to Fortress Monroe. Taking a monitor in +tow, we went to Fort Fisher. Nearly all the expedition had arrived, and +the bombardment was begun. That expedition was probably the worst +"fizzle" of the whole war. There were over sixty ships in the fleet, +each carrying from four to forty-four guns, besides several monitors +carrying fifteen-inch guns. The total number of guns was about six +hundred. The rebels considered Fort Fisher as being impregnable, and it +was, beyond all doubt, a strong fort. It was built on a narrow strip of +land between Cape Fear River and the ocean. There was an embankment over +a mile in length, twenty-five feet thick and twenty feet high. About two +thirds of it faced the sea; the other third ran across the strip of land +as protection from land attack. Still stronger than these were the +traverses, which prevented an enfilading fire. These were hills about +forty feet in height, and broad and long in proportion, about twenty of +them along the sea face of the fort. Inside of them were the +bomb-proofs, large enough to shelter the whole garrison. In front of the +works was a strong palisade. Between each of the traverses was mounted +one or two large guns, none less than one-hundred-and-fifty pounders, +all of the guns of English manufacture. One, in particular, was an +enormous Armstrong gun, mounted on a rosewood carriage--a present from +Sir William Armstrong, of England. Fort Castle and Fort Anderson also +protected the Cape Fear River. The channel was filled with sunken +torpedoes. Torpedoes were also buried in the sand in front of Fort +Fisher. An immense mound, one hundred feet in height, was erected on the +beach and a large gun mounted on the summit. + +Now for a description of the whole affair in a plain and truthful +manner. I have read many descriptions of the capture of Fort Fisher, and +have seen pictures portraying it, but all were exaggerations. An old +steamer, the Louisiana, was fitted up in imitation of a blockade-runner, +and two hundred and fifteen tons of gunpowder were loaded in the hold. +Fuses were connected with an exploding clockwork and the powder. It was +supposed that such a quantity of powder exploding so near the fort would +do great damage, besides killing all of the garrison. The idea was +suggested by Ben Butler. General Grant had given Butler orders to send +General Weitzel with five thousand troops for the capture of the fort, +and afterward to capture Wilmington, so that Sherman could receive +supplies for his army. Butler ignored the orders, and took personal +command of the troops, leaving Weitzel at City Point. The squadron was +at Fort Fisher on time. Butler with his troops had not arrived. Then +began the trouble. Admiral Porter gave orders to explode the +powder-boat, and all arrangements were quickly made. The squadron was to +steam ten miles out at sea. All safety valves were to be opened, lest +the concussion might cause the boilers to explode. Under cover of +darkness the powder-boat was towed by the steamer Wilderness close to +the fort. The clockwork was set, also a fire was laid in case the +clockwork failed. The crew were taken off by the Wilderness. The clock +arrangement proved a failure, but the fire, in time, caused an +explosion. Not a particle of damage was done to the fort. We afterward +learned that most of the Confederates were asleep, and some of them +never heard the explosion. The next day Butler arrived with his +transports. He was terribly angry about the powder-boat affair. In the +meantime the fleet, by divisions, had formed a line of battle. The +ironclads were close to the shore. Their fire was to be direct. The +other ships were to fire at angles with the fort so as to make an +enfilading fire as much as possible. The bombardment from so many guns +was terrific. The Confederates were soon driven into the bomb-proofs. +During the day nearly all their guns were dismounted. The next day was +Christmas, 1864. Early in the morning the landing of the troops began. +Every boat in the fleet was brought into requisition. A clear strip of +land extended from the fort to the woods, about a mile in length. A spot +near the centre of the clear space was selected as the best place for +the troops to land. A heavy surf was running on the beach. Every time a +boat-load was landed it was necessary for the crew to wade out into the +surf with the boat, and, at the proper time, jump in and pull through +the first breaker. If not quick enough, the boat would be keeled over +and over, high up on the beach. Everything was progressing finely; no +one doubted but that the fort would be captured before night. All the +white troops were on shore. We were busily engaged in landing Butler's +pet coloured troops. What was our astonishment on receiving orders to +re-embark the troops and bring off the negroes first, and then Ben +Butler's transports started immediately for Washington, with that +gallant hero on board! A heavy gale of wind set in from the northeast +and continued to increase in fury as the night approached; consequently +the surf was getting worse and it was very difficult for the boats to +get clear of the beach. Those "niggers" would rush for every boat and +overload it, with the result that it would be swamped. If ever "niggers" +got a cursing, they certainly got it that night. About midnight my boat +was swamped three times in succession. I was thoroughly disgusted. The +crew and I were well tired out. We had had nothing to eat since morning, +our clothing was soaking wet from constantly being in the surf, and the +cold wind was chilling our bodies. The boat was lifted up sideways and +the water dumped out. Everything was made ready for a new start, but +this time I held my revolver in hand: + +"Now, the first nigger who attempts to get in my boat will be shot!" and +I meant what I said. It was hard work for us to get through the surf, +and I felt certain that no more troops could be taken off that night. It +was very dark and cloudy. I steered for the lights which were on the +Nereus. We had gone about half the distance when the boat suddenly +capsized and dumped all hands into the water. What caused that mishap I +could never find out; it has always been a puzzle to me. It was lucky +that none of us was hurt. Our clothing was very heavy, and made it +difficult for us to keep from sinking, especially in such a rough sea. +My sword and revolver made additional weight for me. We managed to hold +on to the boat occasionally. In a few minutes we heard the splashing of +oars in the water, and, by yelling, we attracted the attention of the +boat's crew. They carefully approached and pulled us out of the sea. The +boat was one of the launches belonging to the frigate Wabash. They took +our boat in tow and rowed us to the Nereus. I was the only officer on +our vessel who got back with his boat not damaged. The others were all +badly disabled, and were left on the beach. About seven hundred of the +soldiers were left on shore, and there they had to remain for three +days. All night long the division to which the Nereus belonged fired +shells into the woods to prevent Confederate troops from Wilmington +making any attempt to capture our men. When the gale abated they were +embarked. The first attack on Fort Fisher had ended in a grand fizzle, +simply because Butler and Porter were at loggerheads. The army +transports went back to City Point. The men-of-war weighed anchor and +started for Beaufort, S. C. The few guns that still remained mounted at +Fort Fisher fired a parting salute, in derision at our departure. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +FORT FISHER + + +On our arrival at Beaufort all was bustle and activity. Ammunition and +coal were taken on board, the small boats repaired, and everything was +made ready for another expedition. Porter was continually sending +despatches to Washington. Butler was there in person. Between them there +was a lively war of words. The new expedition sailed for Fort Fisher. +During our absence the enemy had repaired the fort, and the garrison had +been increased from six hundred to a thousand men. General Terry arrived +with his transports, having on board five thousand white troops. The +fort was bombarded, and the garrison driven into the bomb-proofs. +Several of our hundred-pounder rifled guns exploded, doing considerable +damage, and that class of guns was not used any more during the action. +On the 14th of January the troops were all landed. On the 15th two +thousand sailors and marines were also landed, each vessel sending a +detachment. The quota from the Nereus was fifty men, Ensign Dayton and +myself being in command. We received printed orders from Admiral Porter: + + "When you get in the fort, if the rebels refuse to surrender, + four seamen must take each rebel and throw him over the + ramparts." + +That is one extract. There was more in the same strain. The men had been +notified in advance as to who had been detailed for the assaulting +party, but not so the officers. When the men were ready to get into the +boats, Dayton and I were called from our gun divisions and received +orders to take charge of them. + +Our preparations were hastily made; each of us took a ship's cutlass, +revolver, and breech-loading carbine, and then filled our pockets with +ammunition. The surgeon was on hand with a supply of tourniquets and +bandages, which he jammed into our pockets while giving us brief +lectures on the compression of arteries. In a short time the sailors +were landed; the marines were detailed as sharp-shooters, each one +having his knapsack as a portable breastwork. About one o'clock the army +was ready for the assault in the rear end of the fort. The marines +deployed to their position; the sailors moved up the beach in double +column, the ships firing over us. + +Some of the enemy came out of their bomb-proofs and kept continually +firing into our columns. The beach was perfectly level, with no friendly +trees or rocks to afford us any protection. Our destination was the sea +face of the fort. To get there it was necessary to march two thirds of a +mile parallel with the fort, and within easy range--a few hundred yards. +We would willingly have gone a little more to the left if the Atlantic +Ocean had permitted. Before getting to our proper position, a signal +from the flagship ordered us to lie down on the beach. The shot and +shell were whistling over our heads at a terrible rate, and sometimes +an over-zealous gunner would make a slight error and drop them among +our men instead of into the fort. Some of the enemy also made it +interesting from their side of the fence. Quite a number was killed or +wounded among our party. The water was splashed up in a lively way by +the bullets. Strangely enough, every wounded sailor, if able, would +crawl to the water and lie down, so that the surf, as it rolled up the +beach, kept his body wet. It was low tide at the time, and, as we lay +down on the wet sand, we soon became chilled through. Nearly two hours +we remained in that position. A large gun just opposite me, inside the +fort, still remained mounted. I noticed that the muzzle was elevated to +aim at the fleet, but was gradually being depressed, so that it was in +range with our men. The gunners could be seen putting in the powder and +two stands of grape-shot. It was left in that position, and the gunners +disappeared. One of our iron-clads was close inshore, just opposite the +loaded gun. About every ten minutes they would fire a fifteen-inch, with +a reduced charge of powder, consequently we could see every shell as it +passed over us. They all went about five feet above the gun and exploded +in the rear. Why they did not attempt to dismount it I cannot imagine. +They certainly must have seen the enemy loading it. + +A projectile from a rifled gun in the fleet got to tumbling "end over +end" in the air. It landed within six feet of me. The sand flew in every +direction, nearly blinding some of the men. For a few seconds we all +felt nervous. If it was a percussion fuse shell the danger was past; if +a time fuse, it would explode, and the only means of safety was to lie +flat on the ground. To attempt to run away would be very dangerous. For +a few seconds we all remained quiet. No hissing sound could be heard, +and then the missile was examined, and proved to be a solid shot; but we +were, for awhile, badly scared. + +The soldiers could be seen beginning the attack at the rear of the fort. +Then came Admiral Porter's terrible blunder. The signal was given for +the fleet to "cease firing," then for the sailors to advance. We had +quite a distance to go up the beach before making a "right face" and +rushing into the fort. The Confederates had anticipated that very +movement on our part, and were prepared for it. They rushed out of the +bomb-proofs, and gave our troops a murderous fire of musketry without +our being able to return the fire. Then the big gun was discharged, and +it made a terrible gap in our column. The detachment just ahead of ours +was almost annihilated as they received the full charge of grape-shot. +Some of the men were thrown several feet into the air. Each of the +grape-shot weighed three pounds. There must have been nearly a hundred +in the charge, as it was a double load from a hundred-and-fifty pounder. +About two hundred men near the head of the column had reached some low +sand-dunes which protected them, but the men following them became +panic-stricken, and fell back upon those in their rear. The whole column +was thrown into disorder, and compelled to retreat, the enemy keeping up +a heavy fire as we passed down the beach. As badly whipped as the +sailors were, they deserved great credit for one thing: not a wounded +shipmate was deserted; all were carried off. The dead were all dragged +up above high-water mark, so that the tide would not carry their bodies +out to sea. Had we marched up to our proper position, under cover of +fire from the fleet, and the attack then been made, results would have +been different, but being killed outright, through lack of good +judgment, would discourage almost anybody! The plan of the attack was +good. With the sailors assaulting the front and the soldiers the rear, +the enemy would have been between two fires. Colonel Pennypacker, with +his regiment, was inside the fort, the other regiments on the outside of +the traverses; they were gradually driving the enemy back. Signals were +made to the fleet where to throw their shells so as to avoid hitting our +own troops. The sailors were reorganized, and manned the trenches across +the open ground, to prevent re-enforcements to the Confederates coming +from Wilmington. By that arrangement, a regiment armed with seven-shot +repeating rifles was relieved and added to the assaulting party at the +fort. + +Night came on and the fight still continued. Signals by light were made +to the fleet how to direct their fire. At one o'clock in the morning the +battle was ended by the enemy surrendering. The last prop was knocked +from under the Confederacy; their great source of supplies was cut off. +Blockade-running was ended. General Sherman would have a new base of +supplies. Richmond would soon have to be evacuated. The day the fort was +captured, Ben Butler was in Washington, demonstrating to the +authorities, theoretically, why Fort Fisher was impregnable. Captain +Breeze and Lieutenants Cushing, Preston, and Porter, from the flagship +Malvern, had command of the sailors. Preston and Porter were +fellow-prisoners of mine at Columbia. Both were killed early in the +attack, Preston by a shell from the fleet, and Porter by a bullet. +Cushing, with all his bravery, was not the last officer of the retreat +down the beach--not by long odds. It is now a matter of history that +Captain Breese with two hundred sailors actually got inside the fort and +remained there until nightfall. That is all bosh. The fact is, they were +behind the sand-dunes when the panic occurred--it being much safer to +remain there than to be running the gauntlet down to the sea. After dark +they retreated in good order. If they had really got into the fort, I +will guarantee that they would not have remained there very long. The +sailor who got closest to the traverses was an ensign from the gunboat +Sassacus, and he was killed. Ensign Dayton, my fellow-officer, had not +been seen by me since we landed. When I next saw him it was on board the +Nereus. He said he had been with Captain Breese. He received some very +plain talk from me for not helping to look after our own men. There was +enough to be attended to--the wounded to be sent to the vessel, the dead +to be identified and buried, and, the most difficult job, to corral the +live ones and get them off to the Nereus. They were scattered all over +our newly acquired territory. It was not every day they could get +ashore, and they were certainly making good use of their opportunities. + +Early in the morning the dead sailors were laid side by side, forming a +long row. Their caps, having the ship's name on in gilt letters, were +placed on their breasts, and a slip of paper, giving his full name, was +fastened to each man's shirt. It was a weird sight. All of them were +fine-looking young men. I had placed the names on the men belonging to +the Nereus, and went towards the fort, and as I got near the traverses I +was nearly thrown off my feet by a sudden shaking of the ground; then I +saw an immense conical-shaped mass of earth and timbers thrown high into +the air; then a large circle of dust descended and covered everything in +our vicinity. We all looked as if we had been pulled through a chimney. +One of the magazines in the fort had blown up. The remnant of a +Wisconsin regiment was stationed in the fort after its surrender, and +the explosion killed nearly all. + +Quite a number of us assisted in getting the dead and wounded from the +ruins. At first it was supposed that a torpedo connected by wires with +Fort Anderson had caused the disaster, but it was afterward decided that +it had been an accident. The Confederate prisoners were then furnished +with shovels, and forced to dig up a number of torpedoes that had been +buried on the outside of the fortification. + +No wonder our troops had hard work to capture that place, for, by the +peculiar construction of the interior defences, it was easy to repel the +attacking forces. Towards evening I succeeded in getting the survivors +of our detachment on board the Nereus, and was very particular about +having our quota of small-arms sent with them--carbines, revolvers, and +cutlasses, fifty-two of each. No questions were asked about their being +the same ones we took ashore with us. The gunner's report was "All arms +returned," and nothing more was necessary. The fact that Dayton brought +his extra equipments unknown to me was not commented on. + +My report, accounting for all the men, was given to the executive +officer, and then I had something to eat. I went to bed, having had no +sleep for thirty-six hours, but I had enough glory to last me for a long +time. The next night the rebels blew up Forts Caswell and Anderson, and +beat a hasty retreat for Wilmington. General Terry soon after captured +the latter place. The hospital transport came alongside the Nereus and +took off our wounded men, and I have never seen or heard of one of them +since. Our anchor was weighed and we returned to Beaufort for a supply +of ammunition and coal, and as soon as possible started for the West +Indies to join our squadron. + +About eight days after our departure from Beaufort we sighted Turks +Island, and, going through the Mariguana Passage, we soon had a view of +the high mountains of the Island of Haiti. The weather was fine and +quite a contrast to that of New York. The awnings were spread to protect +us from the hot sun, and heavy clothing was discarded. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE ISLAND OF HAITI + + +Cape Haitien is a queer little town built on the shore of a bay at the +foot of a very high mountain. When the French possessed the place it was +called "La petite Paris," but an earthquake tumbled all the buildings, +and generally wrecked the whole place. A great many of the ruins still +remain. Some of the stone was utilized for new habitations, but most of +it was left where it had fallen. + +The negroes had no ambition to restore the place to its former grandeur, +and only a few white men were to be found among its inhabitants. +Mahogany, logwood, and coffee were the only exports, and those only in +small quantities. We had arrived on a Sunday afternoon, and several of +us went on shore to visit the American consul, as an act of courtesy, +and then strolled through the town. Whisky was not allowed on board a +man-of-war, and it was quite natural for us to want a drink on our +arrival in a foreign country. Stopping at the only hotel, we ordered a +"brandy smash," and it nearly paralyzed the whole crowd. The atmosphere +was quite warm, and so was the brandy and water. There was no ice in the +whole town, and of all the mixed drinks I ever had that was the worst. +We had received some gold money from the paymaster, and a five-dollar +piece was given in payment for the aforesaid drinks. Well, the change +that was returned almost finished what the "smash" had not quite done, +for about sixty-four one-dollar bills were counted out, each printed on +bright yellow paper, about five by seven inches in size. "Une +Gourde"--meaning "one dollar"--was printed in large and small letters +all over the face of the note, and then, in French, something about its +redemption at a certain period. + +The landlord was a Frenchman and had learned to speak English while on +board an American whaling vessel. He gave us considerable information +about the town, and also advised us to have our gold exchanged for his +Haitien currency, so we each got five dollars' worth from him. The +"gourdes" were at a discount of ninety-three per cent, making each one +worth seven cents in gold. Such a roll of bills as we received! The +bundles had to be put in our coat-tail pockets, no other place being +large enough to hold them. The only amusement in town that would take +place that night was a masquerade ball. Each of our drinks came to one +"gourde," rather cheap for brandy. We bade our host adieu until evening +and returned to the Nereus. Lieutenant Mullen, the surgeon, paymaster, +three ensigns, and three engineers made up a party to "take in" the +masquerade. + +Special permit was required to be absent after sundown, as we were under +war regulations. No time was lost in getting to the hotel. The landlord +piloted us to the ballroom. Two "gourdes" were charged each for +admission. A large store with a brick floor was the extemporized +ballroom. In one corner, on a platform, was the orchestra, and four +"niggers" with clarionets composed it. In another end of the room was +the office, with a window opening into the store-room, that place being +transformed into a temporary barroom, the window-sill being the bar over +which the drinks were served. Lieutenant Mullen belonged in Baltimore, +Md., and he had no use for "niggers" under any circumstances, but he did +like liquor, and it seemed to have very little effect on him. When the +music struck up we all chose partners, with the exception of Mullen, +that gentleman selecting one side of the window-sill and keeping it all +night. My partner was neatly dressed and genteel in appearance, and, as +she was closely masked, I could not tell whether she was pretty or not. +She wore white kid gloves, and, as part of her wrists was exposed, I +could see by the smooth skin that she was young, and probably a +quadroon. That girl had the advantage of me, as I had no mask, and she +knew with whom she was dancing while I did not. However, both of us +seemed satisfied, for we were partners in every waltz. + +About two in the morning we had to leave our coloured partners, for the +boat was to be at the landing for us at that hour. In the streets there +were no lamps. A light, drizzling rain made the darkness more intense. +Our most direct route was by a street facing the beach. A number of +warehouses had large quantities of logwood piled in front, and the +pieces were very crooked and lying in all positions. The doctor and I +were walking together. His vision was concentrated on the logwood, and +finally he expressed himself: + +"Say, Thompson, did you ever see so many anchors piled up in a street +before?" + +Of course Cape Haitien had a military dock for the men-of-war boats to +land at. On the shore end was a small guard-house, and as we passed it I +noticed a light through the open doorway. Looking inside, I saw several +Haitien soldiers sleeping soundly. In one corner of the shanty was a +most primitive lamp--a glass tumbler partly filled with water, and a +small quantity of oil on the top of it with a lighted wax taper floating +in it. Here was an opportunity to make myself a benefactor to my +fellow-officers. Without any hesitation I stole the lamp. + +"Hello, gentlemen, allow me to carry a light down the wharf for you!" + +Just then an engineer named Patterson gave my hand a knock, and away +went the whole illuminating apparatus. My eyes were blinded by the +sudden change from light to darkness. I walked about three steps, and +off the dock I went head first into the water. The unexpected immersion +improved my eyesight wonderfully, and when I got back on the dock I +could walk without a light. Patterson thought the whole affair a huge +joke. When we reached the Nereus it came my turn to laugh. Naval +etiquette requires officers to go up the companion-ladder according to +rank--the seniors first. Mr. Patterson, being lowest in grade, was to go +up last, and by some means he lost balance and fell out of the boat; +when he came to the surface of the water, some of the sailors pulled +him into the boat. He was not at all funny when he reached the deck. + +Grasping his hand, I said, "Shipmate, I feel sorry for you." + +That was our only night on shore. Captain Howell was of the opinion that +we could have pleasure enough during the daylight in the future. Hardly +a day passed that some of us was not raising "Old Ned." After supper we +would sit in the ward-room and relate our adventures, and some of them +were comical. By no means could we get into high society in that town. +We were politely referred to as persons of unfortunate colour. That was +the only country I ever visited where a white man, if he behaved +himself, was not as good as a "nigger." The east half of the island is +the Republic of Haiti, formerly belonging to France, and the language +spoken is French. + +The western part is the Republic of San Domingo, formerly belonging to +Spain, and the language spoken is Spanish. The whole island had, at one +time, been very prosperous, but the slaves had formed a conspiracy, and +in one night had massacred all the whites and gained their +independence, France and Spain never being able to reconquer them. The +negroes became quite indolent. Very little clothing is needed in that +warm climate, and fruit, growing with little cultivation, provides them +with food. Revolutions are of frequent occurrence. On the 1st, 11th, and +21st of each month two of our ships would sail from Cape Haitien to meet +the California mail steamers, one going north to Turks Island, the other +south to Navassa Island. Our first trip was to the latter place. The +island was about three miles in circumference and almost inaccessible. +It was the breeding-place of sea-birds. A company belonging to +Baltimore, Md., had possession, and were shipping the guano to different +parts of Europe. We arrived some hours before the mail steamer was due. + +A kedge anchor was fastened to a heavy rope and dropped overboard, +fish-lines were brought into service, and the sport began. The only +question with us was, What kind of fish will the next be? Such a variety +I never saw in my life in any part of the world--all different sorts, +sizes, and shapes were landed on deck. The steamer came in sight and our +anchor was pulled up. When the steamer came close by, a boat was sent to +her with mail from our fleet, two cakes of ice were presented to us, and +the vessel started for the passage. Before the mail steamer, being much +the faster boat, was out of sight, it being of no use to convoy a vessel +we could not see, we did the next best thing--returned to Cape Haitien. +The steamer at Turks Island adopted the same tactics, with the exception +of receiving the mail instead of sending it. + +The Neptune, Galatea, Proteus, and Nereus certainly had an easy time on +convoy duty. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +I LEAVE THE SEA AND GO WEST + + +About the 1st of April I sent in my resignation. I had become tired of +sailor life, the war was nearly ended, and the fact that I was married +made me desirous to make a living on dry land. It was a foolish whim of +mine to throw away such a good opportunity, especially after having +advanced so far in my chosen profession. A fresh supply of naval stores +was needed on the Nereus, and for that reason we were ordered to Key +West, then to return to Cape Haitien. We went first to Navassa and met +the mail steamer, and the letter containing my resignation went in that +mail pouch. We then steered for Cape Mayzi, at the eastern end of Cuba, +and, going around the cape, we sailed west along the coast. Morro Castle +was sighted, and we entered the harbour of Havana. I was well +acquainted with the city, but everything appeared different to me then. +The United States naval uniform allowed me to visit places where +formerly, in common seaman's garb, I should have been denied. + +The lottery-ticket venders were as busy as of yore, but, somehow, I did +not feel like patronizing them. I drew the shares of only one prize in +my life, but plenty of blanks. A drawing took place while I was in the +city, and a number of us went to see it. The drawing was in a building +like a theatre. Prizes ranging from two hundred and fifty thousand +dollars down to one hundred dollars were in the wheel. The numbers of +the tickets were in another. A remarkable audience was in the seats; +rich and poor, black and white, and of all nationalities. Great +excitement prevailed until the numbers of all the great prizes were +called out. Then the crowd began to leave. Such low prizes as twenty +thousand and ten thousand dollars interested no one. + +We remained one week in Havana and then sailed for Key West, eighty +miles distant; we were only a few hours at sea, and then our anchor was +dropped in Key West harbour. That place had changed wonderfully since my +last visit. From an indolent little fishing village and the home of the +"wreckers" it had become a lively little town. The army and navy were +well represented, and there was hustle and hurry everywhere. Wine and +beer were the only liquors allowed on the island, and the beer cost +fifty cents a bottle, so there must have been quite a profit for +somebody. Our stores had been placed on board, then the coal was +received, and when the bunkers were nearly filled it was discovered that +some of the lower deck beams were getting out of place. An order was +given to have the Nereus examined, and a report was given of her +condition. The news of the surrender of Lee was received, and quite a +celebration of the event took place. Next came the news of the +assassination of President Lincoln. + +The Nereus was condemned as "unfit for service," and orders were given +for us to return to New York. About the 10th of May the Nereus arrived +at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and her career as a man-of-war was ended. The +paymaster received notice from the Fourth Auditor at Washington that my +resignation had been accepted on the 17th day of April, and he said that +he would have my account made out at once. I informed the gentleman that +he would do no such thing, and that when I should receive notice through +Captain Howell that my resignation had been accepted I should be +released from service, and not before then. Captain Howell decided that +I was right. The acceptance had been sent to Cape Haitien, and I was in +New York. The Nereus was put out of commission and the crew discharged. +All the officers, except myself, were "detached" and granted two months' +leave of absence. I was placed on waiting orders. The Neptune, Proteus, +and Galatea had also arrived from Cape Haitien. My discharge should have +been on one of those vessels, but no one knew anything about the missing +document. + +Our vessel had left Cape Haitien just in time to miss exciting scenes. A +revolution had taken place, and it was the city against the whole +republic. The English gunboat got mixed up in the melee and bombarded +the city. The women took refuge on the men-of-war during the +bombardment. The man-of-war Bulldog ran on a reef in the harbour and +became a wreck. The English Government dismissed the captain for acting +without authority, and the sailing-master met the same fate for losing +the vessel. After waiting a reasonable time, I wrote to the Secretary of +the Navy as to how I was situated, but received no reply. Captain Howell +was in Washington, so I sent him a letter about my circumstances. He +attended to the case personally, and in a few days I received a copy of +the acceptance of my resignation on April 17, 1865. The copy was dated +June 14th, and I received my pay to that date. I then got a position as +watchman in the Brooklyn Navy Yard at sixty dollars a month. Renting a +suite of rooms, I furnished them nicely and settled down to life on +shore with my wife. A child was soon born to comfort our household. + +I was finally, at my own request, transferred to the harbour patrol +boat. There were nine of us, divided into three crews, twelve hours on +duty and twenty-four hours off. River pirates and deserters were our +special game. + +The war was ended, and that stopped desertion. The purchased gunboats +were sold at auction, and then there was nothing left for the river +pirates to plunder. Alas! our services were no longer needed, and we +were all discharged. Next I got a situation in the navy yard +machine-shops, for I was ambitious to become a first-class machinist. +Busy times were over, and men returning from the war overstocked the +labour market. A great reduction was ordered in all the navy yard +machine-shops, and, of course I, being a late arrival, had to be +discharged with the first lot. Gradually what money I had saved up was +used for necessary living expenses. Rent and provisions were still at +war prices, consequently I soon found myself dead broke, and with no +prospects of obtaining employment. + +I came to the conclusion that there was no hope of obtaining employment +in New York. Selling part of my furniture, I raised a few dollars; then +taking Horace Greeley's advice--"Go West, young man, go West!"--I left +New York, and have been away just thirty-two years--1898. + + * * * * * + +The manuscript breaks off abruptly at the time when Thompson moved West. +Almost from that change began his criminal career. It is known that he +served two terms in the penitentiary at Joliet, Ill., the last one being +for a period of twelve years. Both sentences were for burglary. In his +manuscript he refers to an experience in the prison at Jefferson City, +Mo., and it is also known that he died in prison in another State. + +In the last writing of Thompson, he solemnly affirmed his belief in a +"just and merciful God." To that divine justice and mercy let us, having +learned our own lesson from his life, leave him, judging not, lest we be +judged. + + +THE END + + + + +BOOKS BY FRANK T. BULLEN. + + +Deep-Sea Plunderings. + +Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. + +Mr. Bullen, who has proved himself a past master of deep-water +literature, affords in these pages a series of brilliant and often +dramatic pictures of the sailor's life and adventures. While the +picturesque enters into his book, he deals also with the stern verities +of fo'c'sle life, and he brings before the reader strange and +bewildering phases of deep-water adventuring which will lay firm hold +upon the imagination. + + +The Apostles of the Southeast. + +12mo. 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It's a new world you've +opened the door to."--_Rudyard Kipling._ + + +Idylls of the Sea. + +12mo. Cloth, $1.25. + +"Amplifies and intensifies the picture of the sea which Mr. Bullen had +already produced.... Calm, shipwreck, the surface and depths of the sea, +the monsters of the deep, superstitions and tales of the sailors--all +find a place in this strange and exciting book."--_Chicago +Times-Herald._ + + + + +BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY. + + +The Quiberon Touch. + +A Romance of the Sea. With frontispiece. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. + +"A story to make your pulse leap and your eyes glisten. It fairly glows +with color and throbs with movement."--_Philadelphia Item._ + +"This story has a real beauty; it breathes of the sea. Fenimore Cooper +would not be ashamed to own a disciple in the school of which he was +master in these descriptions of the tug of war as it was in the +eighteenth century between battle-ships under sail."--_New York Mail and +Express._ + + +Commodore Paul Jones. + +A new volume in the GREAT COMMANDER SERIES, edited by General James +Grant Wilson. With Photogravure Portrait and Maps. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50 +net; postage, 11 cents additional. + +"A thousand times more interesting than any of the so-called historical +romances that are now in vogue."--_Spirit of the Times._ + +"Mr. Brady's vigorous style, vivid imagination, and dramatic force are +most happily exhibited in this book."--_Philadelphia Press._ + +"Incomparably fine. Being the work of a scholarly writer, it must stand +as the best popular life yet available. The book is one to buy and own. +It is more interesting than any novel, and better written than most +histories."--_Nautical Gazette._ + + +Reuben James. + +A Hero of the Forecastle. A new volume in the Young HEROES OF OUR NAVY +SERIES. Illustrated by George Gibbs and Others. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00. + +"A lively and spirited narrative."--_Boston Herald._ + +"Mr. Brady has made a stirring tale out of the material before him, one +of those brilliant and forceful descriptions of the glories of the old +wooden-walled navy, which stir the blood like a trumpet +call."--_Brooklyn Eagle._ + + + + +By EDGAR STANTON MACLAY, A. M. + + +A History of the United States Navy. (1775 to 1902.)--New and revised +edition. + +In three volumes, the new volume containing an Account of the Navy since +the Civil War, with a history of the Spanish-American War revised to the +date of this edition, and an Account of naval operations in the +Philippines, etc. Technical Revision of the first two volumes by +Lieutenant ROY C. SMITH, U. S. N. Illustrated. 8vo. Cloth, $3.00 net per +volume; postage, 26 cents per volume additional. + +In the new edition of Vol. III, which is now ready for publication, the +author brings his History of the Navy down to the present time. In the +prefaces of the volumes of this history the author has expressed and +emphasized his desire for suggestions, new information, and corrections +which might be utilized in perfecting his work. He has, therefore, +carefully studied the evidence brought out at the recent Schley Court of +Inquiry, and while the findings of that Court were for the most part in +accordance with the results of his own historical investigations, he has +modified certain portions of his narrative. Whatever opinions may be +held regarding any phases of our recent naval history, the fact remains +that the industry, care, and thoroughness, which were unanimously +praised by newspaper reviewers and experts in the case of the first two +volumes, have been sedulously applied to the preparation of this new +edition of the third volume. + + +A History of American Privateers. + +Uniform with "A History of the United States Navy." One volume. +Illustrated. 8vo. Cloth, $3.00 net; postage, 24 cents additional. + +After several years of research the distinguished historian of American +sea power presents the first comprehensive account of one of the most +picturesque and absorbing phases of our maritime warfare. The importance +of the theme is indicated by the fact that the value of prizes and +cargoes taken by privateers in the Revolution was three times that of +the prizes and cargoes taken by naval vessels, while in the War of 1812 +we had 517 privateers and only 23 vessels in our navy. Mr. Maclay's +romantic tale is accompanied by reproductions of contemporary pictures, +portraits, and documents, and also by illustrations by Mr. George Gibbs. + + +The Private Journal of William Maclay, + +United States Senator from Pennsylvania, 1789-1791. With Portrait from +Original Miniature. Edited by EDGAR STANTON MACLAY, A. M. Large 8vo. +Cloth, $2.25. + +During his two years in the Senate William Maclay kept a journal of his +own in which he minutely recorded the transactions of each day. This +record throws a flood of light on the doings of our first legislators. + + + + +MR. STOCKTON'S LAST NOVEL. + +Kate Bonnet. + +The Romance of a Pirate's Daughter. By FRANK R. STOCKTON. Illustrated by +A. I. Keller and H. S. Potter. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. + +"A capital story."--_London Times._ + +"A rattling good story."--_New York Sun._ + +"A sweet and charming story."--_Brooklyn Eagle._ + +"A delightfully cheerful book."--_New York Tribune._ + +"Most ludicrous story of the year."--_New York Journal._ + +"Just the book to make a dull day bright."--_Baltimore Sun._ + +"One of Stockton's most delicious creations."--_Boston Budget._ + +"A live, wide-awake, bold, hesitate-at-nothing story."--_Boston Herald._ + +"A bright and entertaining tale full of exciting incident."--_London +Athenaeum._ + +"A characteristic blending of interesting realism and absurdity."--_New +York Life._ + +"Full of love, incident, adventure, and true Stocktonian +humor."--_Nashville, Tenn., American._ + +"Even with the charming heroine in tears, the reader remains +cheerful."--_New York Outlook._ + +"Nothing so fresh, picturesque, and amusing has been presented for a +long time."--_New York Press._ + +"A story of adventure written in Mr. Stockton's characteristic +vein."--_New York Commercial Advertiser._ + +"The funniest part of the story is the serene gravity with which the +author chronicles events."--_San Francisco Argonaut._ + +"The appearance of a new book by Frank Stockton stirs one to an +agreeable flicker of anticipation."--_New York Literary Digest._ + +"It is charming, and no one but Mr. Stockton could have written +it."--JULIAN HAWTHORNE, in the _Minneapolis Tribune_. + + + + +A PICTURESQUE BOOK OF THE SEA. + + +A Sailor's Log. + +_Recollections of Forty Years of Naval Life._ By Rear-Admiral ROBLEY D. +EVANS, U. S. N. Illustrated. Large 12mo. Cloth, $2.00. + +"It is essentially a book for men, young and old; and the man who does +not enjoy it is lacking in healthy red blood."--_Chicago Bookseller._ + +"A profoundly interesting book. There is not a line of bravado in its +chapters, nor a carping criticism. It is a book which will increase the +esteem and high honor which the American feels and willingly awards our +naval heroes."--_Chicago Inter-Ocean._ + +"It would be difficult to find an autobiography possessing more interest +than this narrative of forty years of active naval service. It equals +the most fascinating novel for interest; it contains a great deal of +material that has a distinct historical value.... Altogether it is a +most delightful book."--_Brooklyn Eagle._ + +"His is a picturesque personality, and he stands the supreme test by +being as popular with his officers and men as he is with the public +generally. His life has been one of action and adventure since he was a +boy, and the record of it which he has prepared in his book 'A Sailor's +Log' has not a dull line in it from cover to cover. It is all action, +action, and again action from the first page to the last, and makes one +want to go and 'do things' himself. Any boy between fifteen and nineteen +who reads this book and does not want to go to sea must be a sluggish +youth.... The book is really an interesting record of an interesting +man."--_New York Press._ + + + + +THE STORY OF THE WEST SERIES. + + +The Story of the Soldier. + +By General G. A. FORSYTH, U. S. A. (retired). Illustrated by R. F. +Zogbaum. A new volume in the Story of the West Series, edited by Ripley +Hitchcock. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. + +In the great task of opening the empire west of the Missouri the +American regular soldier has played a part large and heroic, but +unknown. The purpose of this book is to picture the American soldier in +the life of exploration, reconnoissances, establishing posts, guarding +wagon trains, repressing outbreaks, or battling with hostile Indians, +which has been so large a part of the army's active work for a hundred +years. + +No romance can be more suggestive of heroic deeds than this volume, +which appears most opportunely at a time when the Regular Army is facing +so many and so serious duties in both hemispheres. No one is better +entitled to write it than the brave officer who with his little handful +of men held the sandspit in the Arickaree for days against Roman Nose +and his thousands of warriors, and finally won their lives by sheer +dogged pluck and heroism. Mr. Zogbaum's illustrations are a most +valuable gallery of pictures of Western army life. + +"To General Forsyth belongs the credit of having gathered together for +the first time the story of the heroic work, invaluable to the progress +of our civilization, which regular soldiers performed in silence and +obscurity."--_Boston Herald._ + +"General Forsyth's identity with the army extends over a notable period +in its history, and he is among the few officers who remain who are able +to write of their personal knowledge of the thrilling experiences of our +soldiers on the plains."--_Washington Army and Navy Register._ + +"The soldierly qualities of the author appear on every page of the volume +in a precision of statement, a generosity of praise, and an urbanity of +temper. The narrative is commended to the interest and attention of every +student of our national life and development."--_Philadelphia Ledger._ + +"There is not a dull page in the book."--_Buffalo Commercial._ + +"The story presents a fresh and thrilling chapter of American +history."--_Cleveland World._ + + +D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +Spelling and hyphenation have been retained as they appear in the +original publication. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Story of a Strange Career, by Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF A STRANGE CAREER *** + +***** This file should be named 33631.txt or 33631.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/6/3/33631/ + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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