Cuffers Spun In The Dog Watch

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 220, 17 September 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

Cuffers Spun In The Dog Watch

<i/LiTV 1 CH " tom **« T Mil for both <rntchea to gather either on thr fnrp or main hatch tH thr srrnnd dog watvh ((i ° ' I' ni.) tn r.ri liait r/r e.rperie iters or trli tlories. Thrse. stories Irrr c. all. railed "Cm ffcrn," whether trim or nthrrlri*r. f,,r there was alwai,„ fiomn /)(>}/htinrj Thomas to rhnlItnffc vr rarity. It is n pit,, that *0 fr.w of ' ''' "torirn hare hern preserve,!, f n r at the least, they urrr interesting and in litis nf rases (/ate the hn,,* „„4 younger teamen n Standard „f pluelc and endurance to lite tip to. It was the pleasure of the writer nf "Cuffcrn Spun »n thr !h,g irntrh" tn attend at hiitidredn nf these gathering*. These stories range from life, in neows and schooner* to the loft)/ 'quare rigged sky sail y orders — in tart, life a* it was in the gnldrn day* of nail in nearly every type of ship afloat.

No ir.—

TWELVE DAYS /]V A BLOOD SHIP

I WAS only a boy, but I had an 0.3. discharge and had aerved as O.S. in a square rigger, so I had a good knowledge of my work. I was stopping in a boardinghouse at Newcastle, N.S.W., and I was looking for a ship. I could have got plenty of jobs in the intercolonial trade, but I yearned for the tall ships and 1 thought if 1 could get a job on one of these I would gain know* ledo;e and experience.

So when I trot the offer of a berth on a bijf Yankee three skysail yarder. I eagerly acceptcd the job. I produced my discharge, but this did not satisfy the Yank, and he took me on to the ship at the Dykes anil asked me the name* of the yard*, masts, etc. He was pleased with my ar.swers and told me so, but he would have been more astonished if he had known how much of navigation I was conversant with, for even then I could do a master'* work in navigation. Well, I signed on and was to be aboard at 0 a.m. ..he next morning, but I was so eager that I got there just after 5 a.m. The cook, who was a negro and not a bad fellow, gave me a cup of coffee and then went and called all hands, as we were to haul out from the Dykea at six sharp. Food the Skip's Only Good Point "This is a hard ship, son," he said. "The only good point in her is the food, and there is plenty and it ia good, so keep your nose clean or you ia apt to h«t it broken. The captain is the father of the two mates and the steward also. Shu ia what you night call a family ship, boy, but don't you make the mistake of thinking that ahe ia a home. She mint." And, wagging hia finger at me and rolling his eyes, he whiapered, "ahe is a proper bloodship, sab, and doan yo forgit it." I went forward to the fo'c'sle and put my bag into an empty bunk, taking care to aee that my money, which I had from my laat ship, waa safe. I was not welcomed in any way by the crowd who were turning out, hut one chap who had his face and hnse bandaged said:

"Another candidate for a broken nose."

I asked him why he said that, and he said: "See my face, that swine of a second mate did that, the dirty son of a And he cursed the whole crowd aft, and whilst he was doing this a young fellow put his head in the door and said:

"Not satisfied yet, McCarthy? Shut up or you will get some more. Get your coffee and get out on deck quick. Who is that fellow?" he asked, catching sight of me, and 1 said I was the new ordinary seaman. Looking up and down with an ill-natured grin on his face, ha aakl:

"Another little lot to break in, eh? Now get into your rsgs and be ready at six o'clock. I will be here to meet you, and last man out gets it."

I changed and watched the others get their coffee and then I went out on deck. By the main hatch this young fellow stood and he called me.

"Look here, fells," he said, "I'm the second mate and you will have to be "tippy on this hooker. We have no time for hoboes."

"I'm no hobo," 1 answered. Ta a sailor."

"You a sailor. A kid like you!" he retorted. "Well, I'll make one out of you soon, and when you answer me eay sir. Understand ?"

"Yes, sir, I understand," I returned, iind I turned and walked away. He consulted a watch he had in his pocket and then he came up to the fo'c'sle door.

"Turn to I" he roared, and he watched for ths last man. It waa the man with the injured face, and when .the second mate mw who it waa he grinned.

"You, McCarthy?" he chuckled and he struck. McCarthy on hla already damaged face. McCarthy went down and the second mate put the boot in and kicked him two or three times savagely.

"Now get up and turn tot" he roared, and the first mate, who was aft and had heard the row, came forward to see what waa the .matter.

"Steady there, Vic," he aald, and the second mate looked at him savagely.

"Mind your own business," he yelped. "If I like to kill him you have nothing to do with it."

"Oh ye*. I have," said the mate. "I don't want to see yon hung, and they hung people for murder In thi* benighted burg. Lay off, T *ay." Then they both examined McCarthy, but he waa right out.

"Come nlong here and put him in hi* hunk!" roared Ihe mate, and some men came running along. Ho wa* put in hi* bunk and then we all went to our atationa and we towed out to sea.

"Loose the main t' gan sail* (top gallant tail*) and royals and royal staysail*, and two others of you get on to the topsail yards."

A* \vc> parsed (lie breakwater a wliiiej*li object m.-hed from t li.■ fo'c'sle and. jumping on to the mil, yelled out: ' Noii run ,||| (<, blazes!" Hill| with this < kit tin 1 side ho wont. I ill-lied into t tie fo'c sle and .Met arthy was gone. It was he, and he ["referred death to the cuntiiiikml ill treatment and baiting he was receiving from the big bully of a second mate. \\'c eould not stop,'and we could not turn around there, so on we went. We started to put the canvas on the ship, and casting off the tow lope, away we went. We were hound to Noumea. N'cw Caledonia, with coal for the warship*. When the captain came forward and learned what had happened as he did from me, lie turned to the second mate and said: "(Jet aft there until I come." Then turning to me he asked me all about it, and I told Hm about the second mate punching the man on his already injured face, and then putting the boot in a* lie did. "He's a dirty cur. captain," 1 said, and the old man looked at me cjueerly and said «|u iet ly : "He's my son and he's second mate of this ship, and you're in his watch, so go slow, boy. He's a bad fellow to get across." "He's a cur," I retorted, and I walked away.

He went aft and called the niate and second mate down into the cabin, and they had a confab, and he evidently told both the mates what I had said, for the mate came to me and said:

"A loose mouth gets you nowhere, and a still tongue is golden." "Speak plain, mister," I said, and he said:

"The next time I speak it'll be with the boot. Get to biases out of this and do some work."

I moved along aft to coll up the ropes and the mate went down below, and as I was coiling up the main braces, I heard the second mate say to someone in the cabin: "I'll kick the darned giblets out of him when I go on deck." "Better go easy, Vic," said the mate's voice. "You're in bad enough as it is." I moved on, but I now knew where I stood, and I recognised I was in for a bad time. It wouldn't matter what I could do or did do, that second mate waa after my blood, and I determined

The landsman will never understand the sailor, for sea life makes 1 3ailo J- ° raCC af>arL "° ld WWe Whiskers' served his time as boy, ordinary seaman, able seaman, bo'sun, second mate, first mate and master in schooners, brigs, barques, barquentines, full-rigged ships and steam and motor vessels. Retiring from the sea, for eighteen years he trained and coached many hundreds of men for all "gradeof certificates in the mercantile marine. He was until recently stil! on decl? as a compass adjuster, but has been compelled to retire through ill-health. He is now resident in Auckland. Most of these stories are in the first person and are just as they We e told either on a ships fore hatch or in a sailors' boardinghouse asiiore.

not to take it lying down. I was just about Bst ftlb weight, and the second mate was about 12st. so in a fight I was overweighted, and lie had also the authority of the master and the mate behind him.

Kight bells rmne and I went to go below, lint I was stopped. All bands on deck till ;> p.m. and then one watch tret ~ tea and the other one at l» p.m. This wa< proper hard case Yankee style but ! had lieen used In it, so T did not prowl. At 5 p.m., two bells. »|iy watch went to tea. and as I went fi> the galley the cook said to me quietly:

"Yo tie on refill, Bob. Tliat second iiiht(> lie got it in for von. He going in make tlii* trip a hell for you for wli;it yo said to tlie Old Man." I nodded and my lieart sank, for I know now that F was :iiijr to be booted from pillar to post, and that life was going to be a hell for nic.

T took the food kits into the fo'e'slc and sat down. The food was pood an<l there whs plenty of it. and F determined to eat all I could to keep my strength up, and I would resist to the utmost any brutal attacks that were made on me. Cod and Myself My Only Helpers Talk in the fo'o'sle was quiet and sum. dued. The absence of McCarthy made a painful impression, and a sullen jjloom seemed to have settled down on the whole of my watch. It was felt that this mail had been driven to his death, .nul every one was afraid. One man remarked to me:

"Vim lie careful. Bob'. That second mate is out to give ymi a had time. You seem to have stilted had. How come?" 1 told liiin what I had told the Old Man and he whistled.

"My Cod! You are in it, all right. God help you."

"Oh, Clod will help me all rig> t," I answered. "And I will try to help myself a little."

"Don't talk too much, sonny," one older man advised. "Just watch your tongue." And though it was curt advice, I knew it was good, and I nodded gratefully.

At fi p.m. we went out on deck and I went to the wheel. Nobody found fault with me there. The second mate came aft and had a look at the compass. Then he stared hard at me and I returned his look. At eight bells I went below and nothing happened that night.

Our watch took the deck at 8 a.m., and at 0 a.m., or two bells, the second mate took the deck over from the mate, who had relieved him for breakfast. The mate, while he was on deck, had come over and had a look at me but said nothing. I wan putting a strap on a small block and he watched me for a few moments, and then walked away. I finished tbe block and then went over to him and said:

*'W hat will I do now, sir?" and he turned and looked nie.

"Have you finished the strap?"' he said, and I said "Yes, sir." He inspected H mikl 1 lion said:

"WJuit ships have you l>een in?" I -aid that amongst others I had 1 j„ hi American ship.

"Oh. have your" said he. "Well, let me tell you. young fellow. Keep vonr nose clean, or the second mate will get. you for what you told the Old Man." I said nothing and the mate went away: the second mate came on deck. As soon i- he came on deck he roared: "Square I lie yards!" and away we went. We iinislicd this job and 1 began to coil the braces down. Ho came up to me and said: '(ant you find something better than that to do?" T said that I had been always told to coil the braces down when we were finished with them, and as I was O.S. that was my job. He turned awav for a moment then he came back and roared at me: "So you would tell me what your job was, would vou. .von under-sized, miserable guttersnipe! lake that!" and lie swiped me across the head with his huge open hand. I jumped in and gave hiin one on his solar plexus, and he gasped, and I think everybody else gasped. Before he could recover 1 gave him two more in the same spot, and he went down on his knees. The mate came over and the Old Man mid steward ran from aft, and I was the centre of the gang.

"My Hod!" said the Old Man. "It's the O.S. "Well, if \"ic can't lick him lie ought to lie killed. (Jet up, \'ic. and wipe the deck up with him, or I'll put you in the foVsle."

The second mate pot up. an<l disregarding :ill cover, he rushed me with his guard down. I hit him s((iiare on the bridge of the nose and tlie Mood -|>nrtcd fi'oin liotli nostrils. I stopped liis rush lmt his bulk had sent mc flat,

and before I eonld pet up, he was at me. While on my knees he swiped at me and I ducked and over he went and I sprang to mv feet. He rushed me again. hut my right hand was di.-ahled. and I eould only It it with my left. T hit him in the jaw. lint he was too heavy for me and down 1 went. He was on top of me like a cat, and he punched me savagely when 1 was down, and then getting on to his feet he put the hoot in. He kicked me well and truly over most parts of my body, and T feigned insensibility. As he stooped to turn me over 1 struck and. grabbing his wrist with my teeth, t hung on. Punching ine on the face with his other hand, he found he could not loosen my hold. I still hung oil. and now crying like a big kid with the pain of it. he fell down. T went down with him. and now the chief mate, failing to loose my hold with his hands, kick'.'J me savagely oil the lower jaw, fracturing it badly. Brutal Beating By the Mates Sow T was indeed right out. and they improved the shining hour by beating me no badlv though 1 was insensible. I knew nothing of this, but the cook told ime afterwards that the second mate went mad and would have killed me if tin' others had let him. Anyway. I did ! not recover tiil the afternoon and they thought that I was going to pass out. About •'? p.m. I came back sufficiently to speak to the cook. He gave me some pea soup which 1 had much difficulty in swallowing. T was sore all over and my fractured jaw gave me intense pain, and I could hardly see out of my eyes. He told me that T had nearly bitten the arm off the second mate, and that both his eyes were black and his nose broken. I made no reply, and he said to me: "He will kill yo. Bob. Ah feel sure." This was comforting, but I determined now that if I had to go he would at least go some of the way. At 4 p.m., the mate came forward and looked at me and remarked: "You're a bit of a hell cat. aren't you? I told you to be careful." Whilst lie was saying this [there was a rush at the door of the fo'c'sle and the second mate came in.

"(Jet out of that lunik and pet 011 deck and take what's coming to you. you " and lie (filled me down all right. His command of adjectives was wide, wild and intensive, and I have often thought since that witli his command of language he ought to have made

a creditable politician. I did not reply, so he grabbed me' and dragged me out oil to the fo'c'sle deck. He was preparing to boot me again, when he was grabbed by the mute and dragged out of the fo'c'sle. protest ing all the time that he meant to finish me.

I could not move and I naked to see the captain. He came forward and he looked at me but he said nothing. I demanded protection from his deiiiented son. and he just looked at me and said: "Look a here. son. you've said a mouthful. The second., 'mate won't see you till you are better. Then you must take votir own chance."

I said nothing Imt turned over ami wont to tdeep. At the end of three (lays I was ordered oil deck. At the wheel that night tlie second mate smashed me in the face and kicked me savagely while I was down. The captain heard the row and came n;> and ticked the reason. "Off liis course and gave ine cheek." the .second mate answered, and I was not allowed to f<ay a word. When I was relieved I went into the carpenters shop ami got a chisel, hut it was no use. 1 went forward into the fo'c'sle and told them what had liapi>cned. When I

got into my bunk a Norwegian chap came over to me and said:

"I was sorry, 15ol>, but you take dis. Don't say nodings," and be gave me a single heavy brac-.s knuckle duster and went away. I took it and put it in my pocket. and when T went on deck again it my companion.

I was not nearly recovered, but I was now nearly mad with the outrageous tilings that had been done to me. I looked the second mate square in the face and I said to him:

"Vmi dirty swipe, put 'em up!" anil lie backed away from me and ran aft. He went* down Ix'low and be brought his father ami brother up and they cm me for*ward and bad a look at me. T!iev said nothing and went away aft again. The second mate came back to me. Knuckle Dusters And a Beating "Come into the carj>entcr's shop. I want to *»peak to you." I did so. and he picked up a pmall wooden mallet and struck at me. I dived for my knuckle duster and got it on. and the first blow I got him in the face. He yelled and I struck him again and again in the face, tearing the skin and fletOi every time. Down lie went and I jumped through the door. T threw the knuckle duster over the side and ran into the fo'c'sle.

T was drapped out of the fo'c'sle and wa.s beaten up till I was unconscious, anil thrown 011 to the deck of the fo'cVle. T was laid up till the day before we made Noumea, and I got out of my

bunk and went aft and challenged the second mate. He came out and he was a sight, and I laughed and jeered at him, but he didn't want any fight, and the captain advised me to go forward. I did so and everything was peaceful till we arrived in Noumea. Here I deserted the ship and went down to Lifou Island prior to my one and only trip in a blackbirder. Now I will tell you how I buttered mv own bread. . It was years after, and T was chief officer in a Ccorrlie tramp, and we were Iviiiif at the Boca. Buenos Ayres. Next to ,7s ;i Yankee ship was moored. I went, over to have a look at her. and on the wharf attending to her moorings was a face I remembered. It was the

ex-second mate who had beaten me up on that trip from Newcastle to Noumea. I went over to him and said:

"Are you the mate of this ship, and is your name so and so?" "Yes," he answered. "That is mv name, and I am mate of this ship. But who are you?" "WCTe you second mate of the American ship so and so on a trip to Noumea from Newcastle?"'

"Yes," he said. "I was, but who the deuce are you ?"

"Put 'em up!" I answered. "I'm B*>b, tlie O.S. that you and your lowdown crowd beat up. I'ut 'em up, you brute! Put 'em up!" He did so, and bv the time I had finished with him I had indeed "buttered my own bread."