. Recollections of a sea wanderer's life; an autobiography of an old-time seaman who has sailed in almost every capacity before and abaft the mast, in nearly every quarter of the globe, and under the flags of four of the principal maritime nations. , demanded if he had given ordersfor his shoes to be pitched overboard, and on the firstlieutenant answering in ,the affirmative, Jackson, withoutanother word, knocked him down. Within an hour Jacksonwas tried by court-martial, pronounced guilty, sentenced,and hanged at the foreyard-arm. I have heard that a society exists in the United States,with b
. Recollections of a sea wanderer's life; an autobiography of an old-time seaman who has sailed in almost every capacity before and abaft the mast, in nearly every quarter of the globe, and under the flags of four of the principal maritime nations. , demanded if he had given ordersfor his shoes to be pitched overboard, and on the firstlieutenant answering in ,the affirmative, Jackson, withoutanother word, knocked him down. Within an hour Jacksonwas tried by court-martial, pronounced guilty, sentenced,and hanged at the foreyard-arm. I have heard that a society exists in the United States,with branches in New York and the principal cities, whosebye-laws provide for the arrest, trial and execution ofcriminals who have evaded the laws of the State withinthe hour. It is said that with a membership of manythousands scattered throughout the States, and belongingto many professions and trades, and during ten or twelveyears the Mystic Shrine, as it is called, has not had asingle case to try. Prevention is better than cure. Before closing my reminiscences of the Ewing in theGulf of Mexico, I will relate how, after leaving the Balizeat the noreast pass, bound up to the head of the passes,and then down to and through the norwest pass to the. ALLIGATORS. 275 Gulf, we lost two seamen overboard from the jibboom,while at work bending a new jib; had just finished, and thesail being too suddenly hoisted, flapped them both over-board. Nothing more was seen of them except their capsand some blood, their bodies having undoubtedly beenimmediately seized by alligators. We were also so unfortunate as to lose two more youngseamen overboard while cruising in the Gulf at night. Wewere under easy canvas, with a very moderate breeze, whena school of porpoises came darting and plunging towardsus, intending to cross our bows. Then two seamen eachseized a harpoon, and stood on the back-ropes near thedolphin striker. One of them having launched his har-poon successfully, it stuck into a porpoise, a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectseafari, bookyear1887
