Lost Lenore: The Adventures of a Rolling StoneReid, Mayne
General
Lost Lenore: The Adventures of a Rolling Stone
Reid, Mayne
Adventure stories; Dime novels; Fiction
When embarking on one of these vessels to recommence my duties as a
seaman, I was not encumbered with much luggage; and I was not very long
in her forecastle, before discovering that this was rather an advantage
than a misfortune!
I had spent so much of my money, that I should have been absolutely
unable to buy an outfit for any other "trip" than that between Liverpool
and New York.
The less a sailor takes aboard with him on such a voyage, the less will
he lose before it is terminated.
One of the crew of the ship in which I sailed, was a young seaman, who
had never made the voyage from Liverpool to New York; and therefore
lacked experience of the evil doings incidental to such a trip. He had
been foolish enough to bring on board a large "kit" of good clothing.
The first night out of port, when this young man was keeping his watch
on deck, one of his comrades below took notice of his chest.
"It's locked," said the man, stretching out his hand to try the lid.
"Blast him!" cried another, "I suppose he thinks we are all thieves
here!"
"Sarve him right if he were to lose every-things that's in it,"
significantly remarked a third.
"So say I," chimed in a fourth speaker, drawing nearer to the kit, in
order to be at hand in case of a scramble--which the moment after was
commenced.
The chest was turned over, all hands taking share in the act; and
without further ado, its bottom was knocked in. Most of the sailor's
effects were pulled out, and scattered about--each of the ruffians
appropriating to himself some article which he fancied.
Amongst other things, was a new pair of heavy horseskin boots, which
were obtained by a fellow, who chanced to stand in need of them; and who
pulled them on upon the spot.
The next day, the young sailor having missed his property, of course
created a disturbance about it. For this, he was only laughed at by the
rest of the crew.
He complained to the officers.
"Had your clothes stole, have you?" carelessly inquired the first mate.
"Well, that's what you might have expected. Some of the boys are queer
fellows, I dare say. You should have taken better care of your togs--if
you cared anything about them."
The next day, the young sailor saw one of the men with the stolen boots
upon his feet, and at once accused the wearer of the theft. But the
only satisfaction he obtained, was that of getting kicked with his own
boots!
We had on board between three and four hundred passengers--most of them
Irish and German emigrants.
Several deaths occurred amongst these poor people. Whenever one of them
died, the fact would be reported to the officers; and then the first
mate would order the sailmaker to enclose the body in a sack--for the
purpose of its being thrown overboard. This command to the sailmaker
was generally given as follows:
"Sails! there's a dead 'un below. Go down, and sack 'im."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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