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Rudolph Clausen, Osborne Deignan, and —— Murphy, coxswains, to be chief boatswain’s mates, an increase of twenty dollars a month. George F. Phillips, machinist, from forty dollars a month to seventy dollars a month. Francis Kelly, water tender, to be chief machinist, from thirty-seven dollars a month to seventy dollars a month. Lieutenant Hobson’s reward would come through Congress.
The first of them contained one of our boatswain’s mates and the coxswain of the launch with their delicate ladies. On the roof was another of our men playing the fiddle. I expected to see him fall off every moment, but, like a true sailor, he had learnt to hold fast. The second coach contained the men’s hats and their ladies’ bonnets.
On the evening of the next day the boatswain’s wife invited me to take tea. I could not refuse so kind an offer, and at the vulgar hour of six, behold us sipping our Bohea out of porringers, with good Jamaica stuff in it in lieu of milk. “Do you like it?” said the boatswain to me. “Have you enough rum in it?
Tea with the boatswain’s wife—News of the mutiny at the Nore causes trouble among the sailors—Sent to cruise in consequence—A white squall and waterspout—Capture of a Spanish cruiser—Return to Port Royal—H.M.S. Hermione seized by mutineers and carried to Porto Bello—Recaptured by Captain Hamilton—An alarm caused by fireflies.
The men hugged their posts ready to open fire at the word. A huge shell from Cavite hissed through the air and came directly for the Olympia. High over the smoke-stack it burst with a mighty snap. Commodore Dewey did not raise his eyes. He simply turned, made a motion to a boatswain’s mate who stood near the after 5-inch gun. With a voice of thunder the man bellowed an order along the decks.
“There is something very singular in the intervention of this man, if indeed he be not mad.” At my words the boatswain shook his head, for he did not believe Hunt to be in his right mind. The latter understood this shake of the boatswain’s head, and cried out in a harsh tone, “No, not mad. And madmen are respected on the prairies, even if they are not believed. And I I must be believed.
The boatswain’s opinion was mine also, and some inexplicable presentiment made me observe Hunt constantly, for he occupied a large share of my thoughts. Early in December the wind showed a north-west tendency, and that was not good for us, but we would have no serious right to complain so long as it did not blow due south-west.
I have known a boatswain’s mate who a few months after he had joined the ship received about twenty pounds. One of his messmates asked him to lend him a few shillings. “That I will, my hearty,” was his generous reply; “here’s a fist full for you. Pay me a fist full when you are able.” The master at arms who observed the action desired the borrower to count it; it amounted to twenty-nine shillings.
He is boatswain’s mate Nevis of the gunboat Bancroft, and the tale of his valour is not unmixed with humour. The Bancroft, accompanied by the converted yacht Eagle, which had been covering the blockading station around the Isle of Pines, sighted a small Spanish schooner in Sigunea Bay.
“Very well, then, by all means give him the temporary rank of boatswain on board the Camille, and you can appoint the other as boatswain’s mate.” “Thank you, sir! I am very much obliged. It would be difficult to find two better men.” In ten minutes Will was attired in a midshipman’s uniform, and his two companions, to their great relief, in the clothes of British seamen.
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