[page 58, continued:] |
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 THE leading
particulars of this
narration were all that Augustus communicated to me while we remained
near
the box. It was not until afterward that he entered fully into all the
details. He was apprehensive of being missed, and I was wild with
impatience
to leave my detested place of confinement. We resolved to make our way
at once to the hole in the bulkhead, near which I was to remain for the
present, while he went through to reconnoitre [[reconnoiter]]. [page
59:] To leave
Tiger in the box was what neither of us could endure to think of; yet,
how to act otherwise was the question. He now seemed to be perfectly
quiet,
and we could not even distinguish the sound of his breathing upon
applying
our ears closely to the box. I was convinced that he was dead, and
determined
to open the door. We found him lying at full length, apparently in a
deep
stupor, yet still alive. No time was to be lost, yet I could not bring
myself to abandon an animal who had now been twice instrumental in
saving
my life, without some attempt at preserving him. We therefore dragged
him
along with us as well as we could, although with the greatest
difficulty
and fatigue; Augustus, during part of the time, being forced to clamber
over the impediments in our way with the huge dog in his arms — a feat
to which the feebleness of my frame rendered me totally inadequate. At
length we succeeded in reaching the hole, when Augustus got through,
and
Tiger was pushed in afterward. All was found to be safe, and we did not
fail to return sincere thanks to God for our deliverance from the
imminent
danger we had escaped. For the present it was agreed that I should
remain
near the opening, through which my companion could readily supply me
with
a part of his daily provision, and where I could have the advantages of
breathing an atmosphere comparatively pure.In explanation of some portions of
this narrative
wherein I have spoken of the stowage of the brig, and which may appear
ambiguous to some of my readers who may have seen a proper or regular
stowage,
I must here state that the manner in which this most important duty had
been performed on board the Grampus was a most shameful piece of
neglect
on the part of Captain Barnard, who was by no means as careful or as
experienced
a seaman as the hazardous nature of the service on which he was
employed
would seem necessarily to demand. A proper stowage cannot be
accomplished
in a careless manner, and many most disastrous accidents, even within
the
limits of my own experience, have arisen from neglect or ignorance in
this
particular. Coasting vessels, in the frequent hurry and bustle
attendant
upon taking in or discharging cargo, are the most liable to mishap from
the want of a proper attention to stowage. The great [page 60:]
point is to allow
no possibility of the cargo or ballast's shifting position even in the
most violent rollings of the vessel. With this end, great attention
must
be paid, not only to the bulk taken in, but to the nature of the bulk,
and whether there be a full or only a partial cargo. In most kinds of
freight
the stowage is accomplished by means of a screw. Thus, in a load of
tobacco
or flour, the whole is screwed so tightly into the hold of the vessel
that
the barrels or hogsheads upon discharging are found to be completely
flattened,
and take some time to regain their original shape. This screwing,
however,
is resorted to principally with a view of obtaining more room in the
hold;
for in a full load of any such commodities as flour or tobacco,
there can be no danger of any shifting whatever, at least none from
which
inconvenience can result. There have been instances, indeed, where this
method of screwing has resulted in the most lamentable consequences,
arising
from a cause altogether distinct from the danger attendant upon a
shifting
of cargo. A load of cotton, for example, tightly screwed while in
certain
conditions, has been known, through the expansion of its bulk, to rend
a vessel asunder at sea. There can be no doubt, either, that the same
result would ensue in the case of
tobacco,
while undergoing its usual course of fermentation, were it not for the
interstices consequent upon the rotundity of the hogsheads. It is when a partial cargo is
received that danger
is chiefly to be apprehended from shifting, and that precautions should
be always taken to guard against such misfortune. Only those who have
encountered
a violent gale of wind, or, rather, who have experienced the rolling of
a vessel in a sudden calm after the gale, can form an idea of the
tremendous
force of the plunges, and of the consequent terrible impetus given to
all
loose articles in the vessel. It is then that the necessity of a
cautious
stowage, when there is a partial cargo, becomes obvious. When lying to
(especially with a small head sail), a vessel which is not properly
modelled
in the bows is frequently thrown upon her beam-ends; this occurring
even
every fifteen or twenty minutes upon an average, yet without any
serious
consequences resulting, provided there be a proper stowage. If
this,
however, has not been strictly attended to, in the first of these heavy
[page 61:]
lurches the whole of the cargo tumbles over to the side of the vessel
which
lies upon the water, and, being thus prevented from regaining her
equilibrium,
as she would otherwise necessarily do, she is certain to fill in a few
seconds and go down. It is not too much to say that at least one half
of
the instances in which vessels have foundered in heavy gales at sea may
be attributed to a shifting of cargo or of ballast. When a partial cargo of any kind is
taken on board,
the whole, after being first stowed as compactly as may be, should be
covered
with a layer of stout shifting-boards, extending completely across the
vessel. Upon these boards strong temporary stanchions should be
erected,
reaching to the timbers above, and thus securing everything in its
place.
In cargoes consisting of grain, or any similar matter, additional
precautions
are requisite. A hold filled entirely with grain upon leaving port will
be found not more than three fourths full upon reaching its destination
— this, too, although the freight, when
measured bushel by bushel by the consignee, will overrun by a vast deal
(on account of the swelling of the grain) the quantity consigned. This
result is occasioned by settling during the voyage, and is the
more
perceptible in proportion to the roughness of the weather experienced.
If grain loosely thrown in a vessel, then, is ever so well secured by
shifting-boards
and stanchions, it will be liable to shift in a long passage so greatly
as to bring about the most distressing calamities. To prevent these,
every
method should be employed before leaving port to settle the
cargo
as much as possible; and for this there are many contrivances, among
which
may be mentioned the driving of wedges into the grain. Even after all
this
is done, and unusual pains taken to secure the shifting-boards, no
seaman
who knows what he is about will feel altogether secure in a gale of any
violence with a cargo of grain on board, and, least of all, with a
partial
cargo. Yet there are hundreds of our coasting vessels, and, it is
likely,
many more from the ports of Europe, which sail daily with partial
cargoes,
even of the most dangerous species, and without any precautions
whatever.
The wonder is that no more accidents occur than do actually happen. A
lamentable
instance of this heedlessness occurred to my knowledge in the case of
Captain [page 62:]
Joel Rice of the schooner Firefly, which sailed from Richmond,
Virginia,
to Madeira, with a cargo of corn, in the year 1825. The captain had
gone
many voyages without serious accident, although he was in the habit of
paying no attention whatever to his stowage, more than to secure it in
the ordinary manner. He had never before sailed with a cargo of grain,
and on this occasion had the corn thrown on board loosely, when it did
not much more than half fill the vessel. For the first portion of the
voyage
he met with nothing more than light breezes; but when within a day's
sail
of Madeira there came on a strong gale from the N. N. E. which forced
him
to lie to. He brought the schooner to the wind under a double-reefed
foresail
alone, when she rode as well as any vessel could be expected to do, and
shipped not a drop of water. Towards
night
the gale somewhat abated, and she rolled with more unsteadiness than
before,
but still did very well, until a heavy lurch threw her upon her
beam-ends
to starboard. The corn was then heard to shift bodily, the force of the
movement bursting open the main hatchway. The vessel went down like a
shot.
This happened within hail of a small sloop from Madeira, which picked
up
one of the crew (the only person saved), and which rode out the gale in
perfect security, as indeed a jollyboat might have done under proper
management. The stowage on board the Grampus was
most clumsily
done, if stowage that could be called which was little better than a
promiscuous
huddling together of oil-casks* and ship
furniture. I have already
spoken
of the condition of articles in the hold. On the orlop deck there was
space
enough for my body (as I have stated) between the oil-casks and the
upper
deck; a space was left open around the main hatchway; and several other
large spaces were left in the stowage. Near the hole cut through the
bulkhead
by Augustus there was room enough for an entire cask, and in this space
I found myself comfortably situated for the present. By the time my friend had got safely
into the berth,
and readjusted [page 63:] his handcuffs and the rope, it was
broad daylight. We
had
made a narrow escape indeed; for scarcely had he arranged all matters,
when the mate came below, with Dirk Peters and the cook. They talked
for
some time about the vessel from the Cape Verds, and seemed to be
excessively
anxious for her appearance. At length the cook came to the berth in
which
Augustus was lying, and seated himself in it near the head. I could see
and hear everything from my hiding-place, for the piece cut out had not
been put back, and I was in momentary expectation that the negro would
fall against the pea-jacket, which was hung up to conceal the aperture,
in which case all would have been discovered, and our lives would, no
doubt,
have been instantly sacrificed. Our good fortune prevailed, however;
and
although he frequently touched it as
the
vessel rolled, he never pressed against it sufficiently to bring about
a discovery. The bottom of the jacket had been carefully fastened to
the
bulkhead, so that the hole might not be seen by its swinging to one
side.
All this time Tiger was lying in the foot of the berth, and appeared to
have recovered in some measure his faculties, for I could see him
occasionally
open his eyes and draw a long breath. After a few minutes the mate and cook
went above,
leaving Dirk Peters behind, who, as soon as they were gone, came and
sat
himself down in the place just occupied by the mate. He began to talk
very
sociably with Augustus, and we could now see that the greater part of
his
apparent intoxication, while the two others were with him, was a feint.
He answered all my companion's questions with perfect freedom; told him
that he had no doubt of his father's having been picked up, as there
were
no less than five sail in sight just before sundown on the day he was
cut
adrift; and used other language of a consolatory nature, which
occasioned
me no less surprise than pleasure. Indeed, I began to entertain hopes,
that through the instrumentality of Peters we might be finally enabled
to regain possession of the brig, and this idea I mentioned to Augustus
as soon as I found an opportunity. He thought the matter possible, but
urged the necessity of the greatest caution in making the attempt, as
the
conduct of the hybrid appeared to be instigated by the most arbitrary
caprice
alone; and, indeed, it was difficult to say if he [page 64:]
was at any moment of
sound mind. Peters went upon deck in about an hour, and did not return
again until noon, when he brought Augustus a plentiful supply of junk
beef
and pudding. Of this, when we were left alone, I partook heartily,
without
returning through the hole. No one else came down into the forecastle
during
the day, and at night I got into Augustus' berth, where I slept soundly
and sweetly until nearly daybreak, when he awakened me upon hearing a
stir
upon deck, and I regained my hiding-place as quickly as possible. When
the day was fully broke, we found that Tiger had recovered his strength
almost entirely, and gave no
indications
of hydrophobia, drinking a little water that was offered him with great
apparent eagerness. During the day he regained all his former vigor
and
appetite. His strange conduct had been brought on, no doubt, by the
deleterious
quality of the air of the hold, and had no connexion with canine
madness.
I could not sufficiently rejoice that I had persisted in bringing him
with
me from the box. This day was the thirtieth of June, and the thirteenth
since the Grampus made sail from Nantucket. On the second of July the mate came
below, drunk
as usual, and in an excessively good-humor. He came to Augustus's
berth,
and, giving him a slap on the back, asked him if he thought he could
behave
himself if he let him loose, and whether he would promise not to be
going
into the cabin again. To this, of course, my friend answered in the
affirmative,
when the ruffian set him at liberty, after making him drink from a
flask
of rum which he drew from his coat-pocket. Both now went on deck, and I
did not see Augustus for about three hours. He then came below with the
good news that he had obtained permission to go about the brig as he
pleased
anywhere forward of the mainmast, and that he had been ordered to
sleep,
as usual, in the forecastle. He brought me, too, a good dinner, and a
plentiful
supply of water. The brig was still cruising for the vessel from the
Cape
Verds, and a sail was now in sight which was thought to be the one in
question.
As the events of the ensuing eight days were of little importance, and
had no direct bearing upon the main incidents of my narrative, I will
here
throw them into the form of a journal, as I do not wish to omit them
altogether. [page 65:]July 3. Augustus furnished me
with three blankets,
with which I contrived a comfortable bed in my hiding-place. No one
came
below, except my companion, during the day. Tiger took his station in
the
berth just by the aperture, and slept heavily, as if not yet entirely
recovered
from the effects of his sickness. Towards night a flaw of wind struck
the
brig before sail could be taken in, and very nearly capsized her. The
puff
died away immediately, however, and no damage was done beyond
the splitting of the foretopsail. Dirk Peters treated Augustus all this
day with great kindness, and entered into a long conversation with him
respecting the Pacific Ocean, and the islands he had visited in that
region.
He asked him whether he would not like to go with the mutineers on a
kind
of exploring and pleasure voyage in those quarters, and said that the
men
were gradually coming over to the mate's views. To this Augustus
thought
it best to reply that he would be glad to go on such an adventure,
since
nothing better could be done, and that anything was preferable to a
piratical
life. July 4th. The vessel
in sight proved
to be a small brig from Liverpool, and was allowed to pass unmolested.
Augustus spent most of his time on deck, with a view of obtaining all
the
information in his power respecting the intentions of the mutineers.
They
had frequent and violent quarrels among themselves, in one of which a
harpooner,
Jim Bonner, was thrown overboard. The party of the mate was gaining
ground.
Jim Bonner belonged to the cook's gang, of which Peters was a partisan.
July 5th. About
daybreak there came
on a stiff breeze from the west, which at noon freshened into a gale,
so
that the brig could carry nothing more than her trysail and foresail.
In
taking in the foretopsail, Simms, one of the common hands, and
belonging
also to the cook's gang, fell overboard, being very much in liquor, and
was drowned — no attempt being made to save him. The whole number of
persons
on board was now thirteen, to wit: Dirk Peters; Seymour, the black
cook;
—— Jones; —— Greely; Hartman Rogers; and William Allen, of the cook's
party;
the mate, whose name I never learned; Absalom Hicks; —— Wilson; John
Hunt;
and Richard Parker, of the mate's party — besides Augustus and myself. July 6th. The gale
lasted all this
day, blowing in heavy [page 66:] squalls, accompanied with
rain. The brig took in
a good deal of water through her seams, and one of the pumps was kept
continually
going, Augustus being forced to take
his
turn. just at twilight a large ship passed close by us, without having
been discovered until within hail. The ship was supposed to be the one
for which the mutineers were on the look-out. The mate hailed her, but
the reply was drowned in the roaring of the gale. At eleven, a sea was
shipped amid-ships, which tore away a great portion of the larboard
bulwarks,
and did some other slight damage. Towards morning the weather
moderated,
and at sunrise there was very little wind. July 7th. There was a
heavy swell running
all this day, during which the brig, being light, rolled excessively,
and
many articles broke loose in the hold, as I could hear distinctly from
my hiding-place. I suffered a great deal from sea-sickness. Peters had
a long conversation this day with Augustus, and told him that two of
his
gang, Greely and Allen, had gone over to the mate, and were resolved to
turn pirates. He put several questions to Augustus which he did not
then
exactly understand. During a part of this evening the leak gained upon
the vessel; and little could be done to remedy it, as it was occasioned
by the brigs straining, and taking in the water through her seams. A
sail
was thrummed, and got under the bows, which aided us in some measure,
so
that we began to gain upon the leak. July 8th. A light
breeze sprung up
at sunrise from the eastward, when the mate headed the brig to the
southwest,
with the intention of making some of the West India islands, in
pursuance
of his piratical designs. No opposition was made by Peters or the cook;
at least none in the hearing of Augustus. All idea of taking the vessel
from the Cape Verds was abandoned. The leak was now easily kept under
by
one pump going every three quarters of an hour. The sail was drawn from
beneath the bows. Spoke two small schooners during the day. July 9th. Fine weather. All hands
employed
in repairing bulwarks. Peters had again a long conversation with
Augustus,
and spoke more plainly than he had done heretofore. He said nothing
should
induce him to come into the mate's
views,
and even hinted his intention of taking the brig out of his hands. [page
67:] He
asked
my friend if he could depend upon his aid in such case, to which
Augustus
said, "Yes," without hesitation. Peters then said he would sound the
others
of his party upon the subject, and went away. During the remainder of
the
day Augustus had no opportunity of speaking with him privately. |
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