shenly

Updated: June 2, 2025

The two witnesses were somewhat puzzled by the attorney-like questions of the Purser, till a third party came along, one of the ship's barbers, and declared, of his own knowledge, that Shenly executed the instrument on a Shaving Day; for the deceased seaman had informed him of the circumstance, when he came to have his beard reaped on the morning of the event.

Herman Melville - White Jacket: or, the World on a Man-of-War

At last the heavy breathing grew more and more irregular, and gradually dying away, left forever the unstirring form of Shenly. Calling the Surgeon's steward, he at once told me to rouse the master-at-arms, and four or five of my mess-mates. The master-at-arms approached, and immediately demanded the dead man's bag, which was accordingly dragged into the bay.

Herman Melville - White Jacket: or, the World on a Man-of-War

I don't see how you can sleep in your hammock, knowing as you do that by making an odd number in the mess you have been the death of one poor fellow, and ruined Baldy for life, and here's poor Shenly keeled up. Blast you, and your jacket, say I." "My dear mess-mate," I cried, "don't blast me any more, for Heaven's sale.

Herman Melville - White Jacket: or, the World on a Man-of-War

And whether it is all hands bury the dead! or all hands splice the main-brace, the order is given in the same hoarse tones. Both officers and men assembled in the lee waist, and through that bareheaded crowd the mess-mates of Shenly brought his body to the same gangway where it had thrice winced under the scourge.

Herman Melville - White Jacket: or, the World on a Man-of-War

It was the mere foundering hull of a man that was before me; and though it presented the well-known features of my mess-mate, yet I knew that the living soul of Shenly never more would look out of those eyes.

Herman Melville - White Jacket: or, the World on a Man-of-War

Jacket! jacket! thou hast much to answer for, jacket! Shenly, my sick mess-mate, was a middle-aged, handsome, intelligent seaman, whom some hard calamity, or perhaps some unfortunate excess, must have driven into the Navy. He told me he had a wife and two children in Portsmouth, in the state of New Hampshire.

Herman Melville - White Jacket: or, the World on a Man-of-War

The last remark reminded me of a superstitious custom generally practised by most sea-undertakers upon these occasions. I resolved that, if I could help it, it should not take place upon the remains of Shenly. "Thrummings," said I, advancing to the last speaker, "you are right. That last thing you do to the canvas is the very reason, be sure of it, that brings the ghosts after you, as you say.

Herman Melville - White Jacket: or, the World on a Man-of-War