[Illustration: Portrait]
A
SAILOR-BOY’S LOG-BOOK
FROM
PORTSMOUTH TO THE PEIHO.
EDITED BY
WALTER WHITE,
AUTHOR OF A “MONTH IN YORKSHIRE,” “ALL ROUND THE WEEKIN,”
AND OTHER BOOKS OF TRAVEL.
“Our captain sails where’er he pleases,
And catches Tartars or Chineses;
Say but the word and he’s your man
To treat or trade with shy Japan.”
LONDON:
CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY.
1862.
C. WHITING, BEAUFORT HOUSE, STRAND.
FOREWORD BY THE EDITOR.
This book is what it purports to be: the work of one who entered
the navy as a boy, went through the rudiments with more or less of
satisfaction; sailed to China, where he smelt powder in the capture of
Canton and the disastrous attempt to take the Taku forts; then visited
Japan, and returned home a smart young topman. He kept a “log,” as he
calls it, during his term of service; and my editing has consisted,
for the most part, in persuading him to copy his log twice over, with
such advice as to suppression, elucidation, coherence, and consistency
as was required for the presentation of the narrative in a readable
form. Apart from this, I thought it best that the young fellow, who
has some capability for telling a story, should tell it in his own
way; especially as a boy’s opinions, in their total disregard of
consequences, charm us by their freshness and sincerity.
It is not often that we get a narrative of sea-life from the lower-deck
of a Queen’s ship. The quarter-deck has told us the tale many a time,
and we know pretty well what its experiences are, and what it thinks
about seamen and the service generally, and about foreign countries:
here we have the tale told from a subordinate point of view--the
lower-deck telling us what it thinks of the quarter-deck--and with
somewhat of the rough outspoken commentary and criticism habitual with
mariners. It is oftentimes profitable to hear both sides of an argument.
For boys who have a longing for the sea this book may prove
instructive. They will find herein information about the course of
training through which a sailor-boy must pass, and the trials that
he may expect to meet with; about his conflict with wind and water,
his robust duties, dangerous adventures, and boisterous recreations;
about his weeks of wearisome idleness that breed discontent, and
the opportunities afforded him for seeing the world. But it must be
confessed that the book does not present us with an attractive picture
of the naval service; partly from the very nature of the circumstances
in which it originated; partly from the author’s habit of regarding
the state of his own feelings as of primary importance. He had not
then discovered that resolute fulfilment of duty is sweeter far than
happiness.
Nevertheless, I heartily recommend this little book, feeling assured
that if only because of its honesty, it well deserves any word that I
can say in its favour.
W. W.
_London, October, 1862._
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Why I went into the Navy; and how--To Portsmouth--The
old Guardho--Well, Youngster! what do you want?--The
Main-deck--Encouraging Reception--Agree to enter for
Ten Years--A hard Supper, and harder Pillow--Turning
in and turning out--Rouse and Bit--A Chance for a
Wash--Pipe to Breakfast--What the Doctor said--I am
passed--Starboard and Port--Knots and Hitches--Handling a
Boat--Feather and Toss--My first Uniform--A Ditty-box--The
Mast-head--Cutlass Drill--Rifle Drill--Big Gun
Exercise--Splices, left-handed Eyes, Matthew Walker, and
Turk’s Head--Old Pipes--Hawser-eye and Dead-eye--Compass
and Lead-line--The _Sealark_--Sore Feet--A Day’s Work--Out
on a Cruise--Distress--The wrong Signal--Return to the
Guardho--The _Highflyer_--Are you Napoleon Bonyparte?--A
Lambasting 1
CHAPTER II.
At Spithead--Admiral’s Inspection--Sail to Plymouth--Departure
from England--My first Look-out--How to see--Phosphorescent
Waves--Making Sail--Our two Gun-boats--The _Plover’s_
Hawser breaks--A Growl--Calms and Breezes--A Day’s
Routine--Work and Watches--Land ho! The Peak of
Teneriffe--Anchor off Santa Cruz--A Run on Shore--Mules,
Fishwomen, and Shopkeepers--To Sea again--A Taste of
Black List--Strike me lucky--Guy Fawkes--Equatorial
Weather--Coming down anyhow--A Bit of Fun--Buckets and
Hoses--A Drencher for Captain and Chaplain--Cross the
Line--Shaving and Bathing--Besiegers and Besieged--An
Officer’s Honour, and a Pig’s Feathers--Make him speak,
Bull-dogs--Shipmates and Messmates--A rough Lick and Black
List 21
CHAPTER III.
Cape Frio--Arrive at Rio de Janeiro--Magnificent
Harbour--An Hour on Shore--Crucifix-bearers--Wooden
Collars--The Captain’s good Advice--Christmas
Day--Plum-duff--Close-reefed Topsails--A Sight of Tristan
de Acunha--The Gun-boats cast off--Algoa Bay--Foul
Weather--Money landed in Surf-boats--Port Elizabeth at
a Distance--Discontent--Natal--A Snuffler--Simon’s Bay,
Cape of Good Hope--Romantic Scene--Bullock-wagons--A
brooming Party--Savage Landscape--A good Word for
Government--Sailors’ Orchards--A fresh Departure--Four
Gun-boats--A Truant--Strait of Sunda--Boatswain
Birds--Anjeer--Java--Sumatra--Singapore--Something to laugh
at--Waterspout--Arrival at Hong-Kong--The Letter-bag--News
from Home 37
CHAPTER IV.
The Pratta Shoal--The Wreck--The Pirates--Another
Wreck--Prospect of Hong-Kong--Wantchee Dinner--Up the
River--Bocca Tigris--Getting it properly--A Chinese
Landscape--Plenty of Swamp-seed--Our Anchorage--Boats to
Fatsan--A Dose for the Longtails--A dark Watch--Capture
of Chuenpee--Trophies: unboiled Goat and boiled
Rice--Chasing a Pirate--Bird-scarers--Alarm of
Fire--Inspection by Admiral Sir Michael Seymour--The
Growlers pacified--Crickets and Bullfrogs--Theatrical
Amusement--Discontent--Drop down the River--A
Funeral--Hong-Kong, and a Run on Shore--A Prospect--The
old Anchorage again--Flogging and Tail-lopping--Rowing
Guard-boat--Cooking and Story-telling--A Sanpan of
Thieves--Prizes without Profit--A Grumble--See-no-more’s
Fund 54
CHAPTER V.
Ho! for Canton--The Bombardment commences--Howling--Our
Landing--The rough March--Our first Brush with Johnny--The
Bivouac--Our strange Position--On Picket--Shells
and Rockets--Hot Tea and no Sleep!--What I thought
about--Come on, my Lads--A nasty Hero--The Rendezvous--Our
Advance--Scaling the Walls--Jamming a Frenchman--Five
Pounds for a Flag!--Inside the Walls--Wanton firing--A
Charge--Wounded Natives--Scorching Explosions--Canton
ours--Marooning and Feasting--Cries of Distress--Chinese
Girl--A Rescue--The Provost-marshal--Stop! or I’ll fire--An
Escape--Horrid Prisons--Yeh’s Slaughter-ground--Competitive
Headsmen--Mandarin Funeral--A white Affair and rather
jolly--Body-guard and Musicians--A good Son--On Board a
Junk--Return to our Ship 71
CHAPTER VI.
More Grumbling--Sailing Orders: Hurrah!--A Trial of
Patience--Sail from Hong-Kong for Shanghai--Beating past
Formosa--Danger ahead--’Bout Ship--An anxious Moment--The
Danger escaped--Woosung--Anchor at Shanghai--The Nobs--Life
in the Streets--Coolie Jams--Sedan-bearers’ Salutes--Shops
and Shopkeepers--Buddhist Temple--The Worshippers--Ogling
and carving--Divination by Sticks--Big Ear and Big
Eye--Yankee Rowdies--Broken Heads--Hot Weather--Patience
rewarded--A Parcel from Home--An Alarm--Attempt
at Murder--Feeders on Christians--You English one
Rogue--Fern Tea--Carrion Food--A Rat Scramble--Sea
Spawn--Chinese and English Landscapes--Chinese Painters
and Pile-drivers--Fourth of July--Dogs and Sailors classed
together--A Warning to Old Ugly--Funeral Rites 87
CHAPTER VII.
The Dead Sister’s Plate and Chopsticks--Tremendous Feat--A
Chinese Theatre--Poor Stuff--The Mail--Excitement--The
Rush for Jondy--Do your Duty, come what may--One
Piecey English Thief--Nigpoo Tom--Brawling
Boatmen--Baby Boatmen--Buoys for Baby-boys--Pastimes--A
Cruise for Health--Lucong--Picturesque
Scenery--Forget-me-not--Hospitable Cottagers--Their
Dinner--Libations of Samshu--Seamen’s Distraction--Lucong
Farmers--Thrashing Machine--The Joss-house--A
Surprise--More Hospitality--A Dinner in Public--Number
One Piecey--A Party for the _Inflexible_--Help for
_Laplace_--Ingenious Steering Contrivance--Towing a Cripple 107
CHAPTER VIII.
Preparing to tow--A Squabble--Drifting astern--Ease her!
Stop her!--Coutez la Rope--Return to Shanghai--Another
Christmas--New Year’s Day--Cold Weather--Freezing
a Brass Monkey--Feast of Lanterns--Millions of
Lights--Unfair Dealing--The unlucky Jeweller--Unlucky
Greengrocer--Unworthy Englishmen--English
Talkee--Chin-chin, Jack--Consequences of Idleness--Rambles
on Shore--A Lower-deck at Dinner-time--Criticism on
Beef--Yankee Navy _versus_ English Navy--A royal Reason
why--The First Lord and the Grub--A Man of Bread--A few
Remarks about Food--Very nice Meat--Night Quarters--A
Broadside--Uproar--Obeying Instructions--Another Alarm--All
adrift--A Yankee Skipper 121
CHAPTER IX.
Anticipations of Work--The _Powhattan’s_ Salute--Sail for the
Peiho--Excitement on Board--Arrival of Mr. Bruce--Interview
with the Chinese Commandant--We embark--Advance to the Taku
Forts--Attempt to blow up the Barrier--What old Archie
said--Gun-boats under Way--A Jam--Well done, _Opossum_--The
saucy _Plover_--We join the _Starling_--Aground hard and
fast--The Fight begins--Dodging the Cannon-balls--Well
done, _Cormorant_!--Smart Work--We pull to the
Admiral--Death at my Elbow--At it again--Lie down,
Men!--Unlucky Teapot--The Landing-party--We pull to the
Shore--Death in the Mud--Hit by a Shot--The wounded
Officer--Death in the Rushes--The Don’t-care Feeling--The
Retreat--Light-balls--A terrible Trudge--Don’t care
again--A narrow Escape--A Sip of Life--The Boats at
last--Sleepers in the Gun-boat 135
CHAPTER X.
The _Banterer’s_ Deck--An ugly Sight--Sad Thoughts--Saying
their Say--Jack’s Opinion of the Admiral--The Killed
and Wounded--What they killed each other for--The
Forts again--Battering the _Banterer_--Long Tom--Woe
to the _Nimrod_--The last Shot--Spare the Dead--In we
go again--Chinaman’s Triumph--Night Work--The British
Flag and Sam Collinson--Snarling Forts--Burning the
_Plover_--The Admiral’s Thanks and Jack’s Growl--We return
to Shanghai--Sham Sympathisers 156
CHAPTER XI.
Disturbance in the City--Armed Patrol--The Club-house--A
luxurious Breakfast--A Word for Growlers--Another
Disturbance--Drifting and Howling--Down in the Dust--A
Buster of Coffee--An Attack of Ophthalmia--Good News--Hey!
for Japan--Vladimir Bay--Grand Scenery--A Fishing
Party--Merry Hauling--An unstiffened Lieutenant--Fine
Salmon--Toad-fish--Slime-dabs--Native Fishermen--A fine
Place for Robinson Crusoe--Off Nagasaki--A beautiful
Coast--A charming Harbour--At Anchor 166
CHAPTER XII.
My first Walk in Japan--A Paradise after China--Clean
Streets--Clean Houses--Hard Beds--Policemen--A
Temple--Queer Worship--Chanting and Drumming--The
exhorting Gong--English much goodee--Kanagawa--Hospitable
Population--The Baths and Dress--On Shore at
Yeddo--The Tycoon’s Palace--Water-Nymphs--Sandalled
Horses--Bakers--Cheap Fare and Fruit--Hakodadi--Stoned
Roofs--Fish caught by Noise--Huckster-boats--Custom-house
Officers--The Governor’s Visit--The State Barge--A Party
for the Burial-ground--The Sacred Fire--The ancient
Fireman--Pack-horses--A grateful Kiss--Flagstaff and Salute 175
CHAPTER XIII.
Departure from Hakodadi--The _Highflyer_ aground--Kanagawa
again--Japanese Diet and Junks--Rowing anyhow--Domestic
Life--Hatred of Chinamen--What the Highflyers
thought--Departure--Touch at Shanghai--Hong-Kong: a
Disappointment--Growling with a Cause--Our Captain goes
Home--Up to Whampoa--Our new Captain--A Dab-down--The
Mud Dock Builders--Study under Difficulties--Messmates
and Crossmates--The Admiral’s Visit--My Messmates--A
Run on French Island--Cotton-cleaning--Warlike
Preparations--Scenes on Shore 191
CHAPTER XIV.
A few Words to Boys who want to go to
Sea--Characteristics--Talk about Books--Swallowing
a Johnson--Sneaking from Church--Seamen’s
Prayer--Disreputable Officers--The Servants not the
Service--Man the Ropes--The Lieutenant’s Dog--Craft on
the Creeks--The Tax-boat--Canoes and Capers--Rambles in
Canton--Deities for Sale--False Tails--Street Gamblers--A
Sing-song--The Temple of Five Hundred Gods--The City Wall
and Scenes beheld therefrom--French Headquarters--Yeh’s
Park--A threatened Flogging--Our Chaplain 209
CHAPTER XV.
An agreeable Surprise--Ordered to Swatow--Pirates--The weary
Anchorage again--Pay-day and Auction Sales--Relief at
last--Happy Highflyers--Departure from Whampoa--Hurrah
for Home!--Working with a Will--Departure from
Hong-Kong--Caught in a Cyclone--The Trades--Glorious
Sailing--The _Roman Emperor_--Do you want the
Longitude?--Snarley-yow’s Growl--Simon’s Bay--Departure
from the Cape--The Long Pig or the Short Pig?--The Bill of
Portland--Anchor at Spithead--Wives and Sweethearts--Joys
and Sorrows--The Chaplain’s Advice--Pay-day and
Liberty--Home--Getting a Discharge--Conclusion 228
APPENDIX 246
A SAILOR-BOY’S LOG-BOOK.
CHAPTER I.
Why I went into the Navy; and how--To Portsmouth--The
old Guardho--Well, Youngster! what do you want?--The
Main-deck--Encouraging Reception--Agree to enter for Ten Years--A
hard Supper, and harder Pillow--Turning in and turning out--Rouse
and Bit--A Chance for a Wash--Pipe to Breakfast--What the Doctor
said--I am passed--Starboard and Port--Knots and Hitches--Handling
a Boat--Feather and Toss--My first Uniform--A Ditty-box--The
Mast-head--Cutlass Drill--Rifle Drill--Big Gun Exercise--Splices,
left-handed Eyes, Matthew Walker, and Turk’s Head--Old
Pipes--Hawser-eye and Dead-eye--Compass and Lead-line--The
_Sealark_--Sore Feet--A Day’s Work-Out on a Cruise--Distress--The
wrong Signal--Return to the Guardho--The _Highflyer_--Are you
Napoleon Bonyparte?--A Lambasting.
Like many an English boy who quits school and the playground for the
counter or workshop, I did not find it at all easy to settle down, for
I had devoured _Robinson Crusoe_ and not a few books of travel and wild
adventure, and thought ploughing the main and seeing foreign countries
would suit me much better than learning how to sell locks and hinges,
kettles and scythes. Persuasion was tried on me as it has been and
will be on others; but I was not to be persuaded, having made up my
mind to become a sailor. So on a very cold winter day, which seemed to
chill my naval ardour, as the third-class train rolled leisurely to its
destination, I presented myself at the admiral’s office in Portsmouth
dockyard, holding in my hand a small trunk, which contained my little
stock of clothing and sundries, and was forthwith sent away in a boat
to the _Illustrious_, training-ship, which lay moored about half a
mile from the shore. I was surprised, not to say startled, to see how
big the old Guardho looked as we drew near, and might have indulged
a little sentiment, but the men rowing to the foot of the gangway on
the port side (there was a proper stair on the starboard side), cried,
“Now, my lad, up ye go.” It wouldn’t do, I thought, to hesitate; so
taking my trunk in one hand, and seizing the man-rope with the other,
I scrambled up what then seemed to me a dangerous wooden wall. It was
an awkward way of beginning a new career, and not very encouraging; for
no friendly welcome awaits the novice who wishes to serve his Queen and
fight for his country. It was getting dark; the deck appeared deserted:
I could see lights gleaming from below, and hear a confused hum of
voices; and I stood shivering, uncertain what to do, when the old
quartermaster of the watch came up and accosted me: “Well, youngster,
what do you want?”
“I want to be a sailor,” I answered, very innocently. The old fellow
chuckled at my answer, as though he had said, “Another simpleton
caught by a biscuit!” and bade me come below; an order which I obeyed
with alacrity, or rather ‘smartly,’ and dodged the footsteps of my
rough guide. We got on the main-deck, where I for the first time saw
a cannon. There was a long row of guns, and as they loomed, black and
indistinct, in the uncertain light of the ship’s lanterns, I thought
how grim and uncomfortable they looked, and whether I should come some
day to know all about them. Farther for’ard groups of novices and older
hands were smoking, singing, talking, and laughing loudly: some of
them observing me, sung out, “Another entry!” and I heard, among their
exclamations, “Here’s another new cock for the county-gaol!”
During the few moments I had observed all this, I had been left by my
conductor, who had gone to acquaint the commanding officer with my
arrival. In my ignorance I expected to see the captain; but he slept on
shore every night. Soon, however, I saw the lieutenant come out of his
cabin, looking, as it seemed to me, very proud and very happy at the
prospect of pocketing another half-crown by the new entry.
“Well,” said he, “can you read?” Most certainly I could. “Well, then,
look at that,” and he handed me a bill, pasted on a board, stating the
advantages of serving one’s country in the royal navy, scale of wages,
provisions, and a list of necessary clothing. I read the bill, and gave
it back, telling him I fully understood it: “Then you’ll enter for ten
years’ continuous service, will you?”
“Yes, sir,” I unhesitatingly answered.
This ended the conference, and left me at liberty for the night. I
was shown the way to the bread-room on the lower deck, where the
purser’s steward and I soon made an acquaintance, by his giving me my
handkerchief full of good sound Clarence-yard biscuit, with which I
was soon deeply engaged, and fancied it much better than the bread I
had eaten at home and at school. My teeth had not finished their first
lesson when the master-at-arms sent for me, and having asked my name,
gave me a bed and blanket, and told me very graciously that I could
‘turn in’ as soon as I liked. Feeling tired and lonely I went below at
once, laid my mattress on the orlop-deck (ollop, as sailors call it),
and taking two of the shot from the rack, spread my coat and trousers
over them for a pillow, and wrapping myself in the blanket, I turned
in, and soon slept soundly. I awoke once during the night, and for a
moment forgot that I had left home, till the melancholy rippling of the
water against the bends, and the striking of the bell, recalled me to a
sense of my new situation and my future prospects.
I was roused the next morning in true naval style, by the unmelodious
pipe, and the gruff voices of the boatswain’s mates: “Rouse out, here!
rouse out! Show a leg and a purser’s stocking! Rouse and bit: lash
away! lash away!” and other admonitory cries, to me seemed uncouth and
strange, and at last I wondered how they could make such a noise. I
rolled up my bed and put it away, and then went to the washhouse on the
main-deck, where about forty zinc wash-bowls were ranged, each with an
unlimited supply of water and plenty of soap. First come first served;
all hands watched for a chance, got a sluice as they could, and wiped
themselves afterwards on their own towels--if they had one. Some had no
towels, and wiped anywhere, not being over-particular; and with them it
was a good joke to single out a new entry, who is pretty sure to have a
clean and dry towel; and while he is busy at his bowl, these fellows,
with easy consciences, wipe themselves upon his towel, and fling it
into some corner, leaving the helpless owner to wipe himself upon his
own shirt if he likes. I waited for a short time, and presently got a
wash and the loan of a towel from a very disinterested shipmate. After
this we were piped to breakfast, and the whistling gave me as much
surprise as my rude awakening had done. My first half-pint of cocoa in
the service was very good, which is more than I can say of my last, for
that was too full of horribles. Soon after breakfast I was sent for by
the doctor. I went down to the dispensary, a small cabin on the lower
deck. “Strip!” was the order. I complied. The man of medicine now began
his examination. He looked first at my mouth and teeth, then felt the
muscles of my arms and legs, telling me to make one step backwards or
forwards; then, “Cough, will you? but don’t do it in my face. Cough
again--again. Were you ever ill? Did you ever break an arm or a leg?”
and “Have you been vaccinated?” All these questions comprised my
catechism, and I was not a little glad when told that I was passed, and
might put on my clothes again and “go.” I didn’t do any actual duty
that day; I was merely initiated into the routine of a ship; taught
to distinguish the stem from the stern, the mizen from the mainmast,
and that again from the fore, and the same with the hatchways, and
finally, the important fact that the right side of a ship was called
‘starboard,’ and the left side, ‘port.’ I was quite elated at my day’s
training, and began to think I was now really a sailor. The next day I
was put into ‘First Instruction,’ which means standing up to make the
knots and hitches most in use, and being shown the proper way to lash
up a hammock. The knots were mostly very simple and easy, but I now and
then got treated as a ‘muff’ by blundering into a difficulty where none
existed.
Three days was I knot-making, then advanced into ‘Second Instruction,’
learning how to pull an oar and handle a boat. The first thing
necessary was to pull together, and very trying it was for those who
could do so to suffer for those who couldn’t or wouldn’t, for till
every oar dipped in the water as one, the coxswain wouldn’t cry “Oars!”
which gave us a moment’s rest. Those who could pull well were soon
picked out and put into a better boat, taught the way to feather and
toss an oar, and the modes of saluting officers upon the water. For
a lieutenant the coxswain only gets up and takes his cap off; for a
captain, the boat’s crew lay on their oars, and the coxswain takes his
cap off; and for an admiral, the oars are tossed, and all caps go off.
All this I went through very creditably; the novelty of the thing made
it a pleasure in my inexperienced eyes. While in this Instruction,
I received my clothes, viz.: one pair of blue cloth trousers, two
blue serge frocks, two pair of white duck trousers, two pair of white
jumpers, two pair of stockings, two white frocks, three flannels, two
caps, one knife, and a marking-type; all of which Government supplied
for the moderate sum of 3_l._ 10s., including bed and blanket; but
although Government pays this much, or did pay at that time, it was
said in the ship that the things did not cost so much, and that the
contract tailor, the master-at-arms, and the ship’s corporal, made a
profit out of the job, and shared it among themselves. My shore-going
togs I made up into a neat bundle, and when the man who generally
bought the cast-offs came on board I offered them for sale, but as he
only bid sixpence for the entire suit, I gave them away.
After this I had to ‘do away’ with my little trunk, as, according to
the regulations of the service, we were not allowed the use of a box
bigger than a tea-caddy; sailors call it ‘ditty box,’ and in it they
keep all their hoarded stock of valuables, and often they indulge in
what is called ‘sailors’ pleasure,’ turning everything out of their
little treasury, overhauling the heap, and carefully putting it back
again.
The white jumpers and trousers were as stiff as pasteboard when first
put on, nevertheless I felt great pleasure at my appearance, and
wouldn’t have exchanged my position for a better one on any account.
In fact, as sailors say, I was as proud as a “dog with two tails.”
As soon as I was made a sailor I was ordered to the mast-head, and
cautioned not to go up through ‘lubber’s hole.’ I executed the order
very well, and upon coming down was complimented upon my evident
willingness and alacrity. I felt no giddiness or hesitation while
performing this task; it seemed almost natural to me, and I was
vain-glorious enough to be proud of having scrambled up the rigging,
and gone over the ‘futtock shrouds.’
On the tenth day I was passed from the boats into Cutlass Drill, or
‘Third Instruction,’ being taught first the various attitudes, the
order of which was, “first position in three motions. One, lock the
arms smartly behind the back; two, place the right foot in the hollow
of the left; three, quarter-face to the right.” Then, “the same
positions in one motion;” then, “the way to pick up and ground your
cutlass; come to the guard; assault, first point, second point, third
point, parry.” Then the different cuts and guards.
About twenty of us learned this drill at once, which was with most
a favourite drill. Our instructor, Jim Clements, was an old marine,
and many a wet of grog had he from numskulls and fools, for his
liberal connivance at faults and petty weaknesses; but, be it known,
these instructors in training-ships are little gods on board, and
one word from them is well-nigh sufficient to crush a poor novice,
let him be right or wrong; and woe to those who have the temerity to
offend a trainer. Clements was very exact with us, and not choice in
his expressions when any one blundered, and was fond of consigning
the defaulter to some less agreeable place than the deck of the
_Illustrious_. Three days in this, then in Rifle Drill, which is part
of the third instruction. We were taught how to use the weapon; the
platoon, and various exercises, and, finally, to fire, which operation
most of us liked; albeit, some made but poor marksmen, others fired
with great accuracy, and a third lot were so timid, that, failing to
pull the trigger vigorously, the piece hung fire, and they looked
sheepish, and if it went off and kicked they looked about as if they’d
lost something, and didn’t seem exactly to know whether they were in
this or the middle of next week. We used to fire at some old stakes
in the mud when the tide was down, over the ‘quarter’ of the ship,
and in the direction of Porchester Castle, at a range of about two
hundred or two hundred and fifty yards. Our various shots--ten in
number--were all put down on a printed form, and the result was read to
us afterwards. I may place myself in the class of poor marksmen. I was
too careless, I fancy, to be a good shot. However, good or bad, I was
passed out at the week’s end. Then came the ‘Fourth Instruction’--big
gun exercise--and under the rough, but able teaching of John Carter,
gunner’s mate, we soon made visible progress; being taught first the
different parts of a gun, the difference between the muzzle and the
breech, its weight, the charges used for different ranges, the uses of
the train, and two side-tackles; and, lastly, how to dismount a gun.
I took great delight in this drill, and when in full operation, such
as “four rounds quick firing, second and third round sponge, load and
shift breechings,” it was much better than handling a musket all day.
Having passed creditably out of this, I joined the ‘Fifth Instruction,’
under the boatswain, an officer of the old school, zealous in duty and
for the service, and utterly disdainful of all new-fangled work. From
him I learned to make all sorts of splices, short-long, long-short--a
combination of both; eye, left-handed, and all useful knots, such as
‘shroud,’ ‘man rope,’ ‘Matthew Walker,’ and ‘Turk’s head.’ Making and
remaking these gave us a thorough insight into their construction, and
Old Pipes took care that nothing should be slurred over, or done in a
hurry. His precept invariably was, “Do it well, my lads, and take your
time; never mind bearing a hand.” Three weeks was I under Pipes’s
tuition, and then I was transferred to the ‘Sixth Instruction,’ a
continuation of the fifth into things more complicated, such as putting
an eye into a hawser, making sword, thrum, and paunch mats, turning in
a dead eye. Our instructor, in this case, was a middle-aged seaman,
very good-tempered, and always willing to explain and tell something
new. We all liked him. In this Instruction also we used to have lessons
with the model-rigged ship in the schoolroom, learning the uses and
names of all the ropes. Then into the ‘Seventh and last Instruction:’
the compass and lead line. These were soon acquired, and we were set
down as ‘passed boys,’ and fit for any emergency, and ready to go away
into a ‘sea-going craft.’
We were six months in mastering all the instructions, and then, to
test our knowledge and ability, a certain number of us were selected
and sent on board the _Sealark_, a brig kept for the purpose of short
cruises in the Channel, during which the novices learn something
more of seamanship, actually at sea. We were ‘told off’ for the brig
the evening before our start, and I remember I was in a state of
considerable excitement, and couldn’t sleep well for the thought of
it. Early the next morning we heard the pipe, “Away there, Sealarks!”
and, putting our bags and hammocks into the launch, we pulled off to
the brig, which lay some distance down the harbour. It was Saturday
forenoon, and the little vessel had been cleaned ‘fore and aft,’ and
looked the very picture of neatness and ‘man-of-war’ sternness. Upon
going on board we were told off to our different stations, messes,
and berths. I was made ‘maintop-gallant-yardman,’ No. 60, and for a
long time my elevation was a source of discomfort. Having to run aloft
without shoes was a heavy trial to me, and my feet often were so sore
and blistered that I have sat down in the ‘top’ and cried with the
pain; yet up I had to go and furl and loose my sails; and up I did
go, blisters and all. Sometimes the pain was so bad I could not move
smartly, and then the unmerited rebuke from a thoughtless officer was
as gall and wormwood to me; but it used to call out my latent energies,
and although my exertions were put forth to the utmost, I had by the
stinging influences of these rebukes to put forth a still greater
amount of desperate but not unwilling energy. Our duties here were of
a more decided and active character than they had been in the Guardho,
the usual daily course being, five A.M., “Turn hands up; holystone or
scrub upper deck; coil down ropes; half-past six, breakfast, half an
hour; call the watch, watch below, clean the lower deck; watch on deck,
clean wood and brasswork; put the upper deck to rights. Eight A.M.,
hands to quarters; clean guns and arms; divisions for inspection;
prayers; make sail, reef topsails, furl topsails, top-gallant-sails,
royals; reef courses, down top-gallant and royal yards.” This continued
till eight bells, twelve o’clock. Dinner, one hour. “All hands again;
cutlass, rifle, and big-gun drill till four o’clock; clear up decks,
coil up ropes;” and then our day’s work was done. On other days it
would be, “Up anchor, make sail,” and away we would go, gliding merrily
through the blue water, out of the harbour, past St. Helen’s, through
the _Needles_, inaptly named, and so into the open sea. And then
such doings when a little sea happened to be ‘on;’ such wry and pale
faces, such furious efforts to keep the food within bounds, such utter
prostration and dogged indifference to the future, when, by-and-by, a
nice fresh breeze springing up, “Reef topsails!” would be the order.
The rigging quickly swarmed with eager youngsters; up they would go
and ‘lay out’ upon the yard, and while busily engaged in hauling out
the earrings and tying the reef-points, their formidable enemy would
again triumph. The belly of the sail to leeward, our own faces and
patches of the deck below showed the signs of a strong upheaval. On
these occasions our instructors would come out with, “Ah! it’s a sin
for you to eat; you’re only wasting good grub.” Our master, a stout
devil-may-care kind of man, rough and ready in his manners, but having
plenty of good sound sense, and a strong touch of kindness, on one
of these occasions, when standing on the ‘fokesle,’ superintending
operations aloft, and irritated at being the object of such a shower,
sung out in his peculiar drawling tones, “Fore-topsail-yard there!
I wish you’d keep your four-pound pieces to yourself.” This was
jocularly comparing the pieces which fell to the pieces of beef, four
pounds each, which are put into the coppers to boil for dinner. This
sea-sickness with some was a lamentable affair; they would lay down
on the deck and there remain, spite of kicks and cuffs liberally
bestowed by the boatswain’s mate, and notwithstanding their being
washed down every now and then as the lively little craft dipped her
figure-head. I, however, was happy and glorious all this time; I never
had the slightest touch of sea-sickness. I used to take delight, when
the blisters healed and the soles of my feet became hardened, in my
duties, which were active and novel. I endeavoured also to keep a blank
page against my name in the defaulter’s book. But I was near getting
its fair surface stained one day by what to me seemed a trifling
incident. I was stationed on the poop, or the apology for one--as is
usual in a brig--to look out for signals. It was nearly twelve (eight
bells). Just then the master appeared on deck, but was deeply engaged
with a yarn, which he was twisting to a friend. As he came aft, he
said, “Look out for your dinner pendant, youngster.” “Ay, ay, sir,” I
answered; “I have it bent on.” And, in truth, I thought I had. Well,
the bell struck noon. “Up with your pendant!” cried the master; and up
I hoisted the little roll of bunting to the mast-head and broke it,
when, by ill luck, instead of the dinner pendant blowing out, it was
the ‘affirmative.’ “Well, you _are_ a pretty fellow,” said the master:
“_you_ a signalman! Here! fetch me that glass.” I obeyed, and as I
handed the telescope to him he made a hit at me, but fortunately missed
his aim; so he consoled himself with saying “I was a fool, and he’d a
mind to punish me.” So ended my signal duties.
Our commander was a clever seaman and gentlemanly man, and he it
was who always used to read prayers, and his mode of reading was
characteristic. After going through all, he would finish thus: “The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, amen. Away aloft,
topmen, loose top-gallant-sails and royals. Carpenter! rig capstan.”
All this without a pause, and as if it had been actually part of the
benediction.
I was in the brig three months, during which we made cruises to Cowes,
Weymouth, Lyme Regis, Plymouth, and short distances in the Channel; and
at the end of that time I was judged to be fit for active service, and
with a clear defaulter’s book, and more experience, returned again
to the more sober duties of the Guardho. This was seven months after
my first entry into the service. Being now of some real use, we were
entrusted with a few hands to keep certain parts of the ship clean; and
our special duty was to wash down the ship’s side and clean the white
streak every Saturday morning. We were exempt from all drills, and were
allowed to improve ourselves in our profession in any way we pleased;
but we were not allowed to be idle, and, indeed, I believe we didn’t
want to be.
At length deliverance drew nigh, and my wish to get into a sea-going
craft was realised beyond my expectations. The captain sent for
me, and gave me my choice, to go either to a large or small ship,
and recommended me to the _Cressy_, ninety-four, fitting out as he
understood for the South American station, of which he spoke in glowing
terms. I chose the small ship, the _Highflyer_, and together with
another youngster was sent on board the following evening; or at least
on board the hulk where the men berthed; the ship herself lying in the
steam-basin. As soon as I was aboard the captain saw me, asked me one
or two simple questions, told me he hoped I would get on, and dismissed
me. I was soon afterwards stationed, and slept that night among my new
shipmates.
On going to work next day with the men in the rigging, I was perfectly
delighted with my new ship. How tremendously long she did seem! what
a pretty build! how fine a figure-head! and, in truth, the dashing,
fast-sailing, and pretty-modelled corvette was a great contrast to the
lumbering, heavy-looking, and old-fashioned seventy-four. I joined my
new ship as a boy, but this didn’t daunt me. I tried to make myself
useful everywhere; and when the men saw I was really willing, they were
always ready to show me how to set about a job in my new profession.
And I was always trying to keep a civil tongue in my head, although it
was very hard trying, and I oftentimes suffered for being ‘cheeky;’ for
many are the small mortifications a fellow must submit to, or else he
is always in hot water. If a boy thinks he is somebody before joining,
he soon finds his mistake, for all consideration is for officers;
even petty officers can make him feel how insignificant he is. As an
instance: I was standing rather moodily on the main-deck in the Guardho
one day, with my arms crossed, my thoughts travelling far away, when
a disagreeable voice sung out, “Hi, you there!” Looking up, I saw it
was the gunner. “Well, d’ye hear! Who d’ye think ye are--Napoleon
Bonyparte, or who?” I said nothing, but took the hint and walked off.
My conduct, if it didn’t gain me any new friends, I’m sure made no
enemies. I was put into the fore-top, and my duties were to run up and
down for the men, to knot spun-yarn, pass the ball in rope-serving,
blacken nettle stuff for seizing, and other odds and ends.
I soon learned the power of a first-lieutenant--however vague my
notions of one might have been before. All the boys were piped to
muster. I was at the time making ‘duff,’ that is, pudding, as were
also one or two others; the rest were scattered, so that by-and-by
down comes the corporal to collect us, and aft we were marched to the
quarter-deck, where No. 1, in a towering passion, after looking nasty
at us for a minute, made us ‘toe a line’ for two hours; in other words,
we had to stand in a row on the quarter-deck. But we didn’t much care,
it was summer-time, and a beautiful evening; our spirits might not have
been so brisk had it been raw, cold, and wet, during the period of our
penance.
As boys, we worked hard at sundry jobs during the day, and when the
night came we waited hard upon the men, standing our chance for an
occasional kick, or stinging box on the ear from the surly ones.
But we were happy among ourselves; like birds of a feather we all
kept together, and always endeavoured to steer clear of the men, and
not make too familiar, for a thrashing or a good blow was the sure
consequences of our attempts at equality.
As the fitting out progressed I had more to do, and one of my first
important jobs was to ‘black down’ the fore-topmast, fore-top-gallant,
and fore-royal backstays. I put myself in a bowline, and taking my pot
and making it fast to the outside backstay, commenced my work, and did
it as I thought pretty expeditiously, taking especial care not to leave
‘holidays,’ that is, unblackened patches. Alas, for a boy’s judgment!
When I had finished, and got out of the bowline upon deck, a conceited
and bullying boatswain’s mate, lurking near, all ready, pounced
upon me, and, without any explanation, gave me, in naval phrase, a
‘lambasting,’ and when he had finished told me it was for not “bearing
a hand.” Didn’t I have amiable feelings towards that man for a long
time afterwards!