C. BOYS AT SEA

1. A boy dreams of seeking his future on the sea

Herman Melville, Redburn (London and New York, 1849), pp. 1-11.

Herman Melville (1819-1891) was eighteen years old when he went to sea as a cabin boy on a ship bound for Liverpool. Upon his return to the United States he taught school, and then again shipped out on the schooner Acushnet, bound for the South Seas. Redburn tells the story of a young boy's trip to England.

I was then but a boy. Some time previous my mother had removed from New York to a pleasant village on the Hudson River, where we lived in a small house, in a quiet way. Sad disappointments in several plans which I had sketched for my future life, the necessity of doing something for myself, united to a naturally roving disposition, had now conspired within me, to send me to sea as a sailor.

Particularly, I remembered standing with my father on the wharf when a large ship was getting under way, and rounding the head of the pier. I remembered the yo heave ho! of the sailors, as they just showed their woolen caps above the high bulwarks. I remembered how J thought of their crossing the great ocean; and that that very ship, and those very sailors, so near to me then, would after a time be actually in Europe.

Added to these reminiscences my father, now dead, had several times crossed the Atlantic on business affairs, for he had been an importer in Broad Street. And of winter evenings in New York, by the well-remembered sea-coal fire in old Greenwhich Street, he used to tell my brother and me of the monstrous waves at sea, mountain high; of the masts bending like twigs; and all about Havre, and Liverpool, and about going up into the ball of St. Paul's in London...

I frequently fell in long reveries about distant voyages and travels, and thought how fine it would be to be able to talk about remote and barbarous countries; with what reverence and wonder people would regard me, if I had just returned from the coast of Africa or New Zealand; and how dark and romantic my sunburnt cheeks would look; how I would bring home with me foreign clothes of a rich fabric and princely make, and wear them up and down the streets, and how grocers' boys would turn back their heads to look at me as I went by. For I very well remembered staring at a man myself, who was pointed out to me by my aunt one Sunday in church, as the person who had been in Saudi Arabia, and passed through strange adventures there, all of which with my own eyes I had read in the book which he wrote, an arid looking book in a pale yellow cover.

In course of time my thoughts became more and more prone to dwell upon foreign things; and in a thousand ways I sought to gratify my tastes. . .

As years passed on, this continual dwelling upon foreign associations bred in me a vague prophetic thought, that I was fated, one day or other, to be a great voyager; and that just as my father used to entertain strange gentlemen over their wine after dinner, I would hereafter be telling my own adventures to an eager auditory. And I have no doubt that this presentiment had something to do with bringing about my subsequent rovings.

But that which, perhaps more than anything else, converted my vague dreamings and longings into a definite purpose of seeking my fortune on the sea, was an old-fashioned glass ship, about eighteen inches long, and of French manufacture, which my father, some thirty years before, had brought home from Hamburg...

We have her yet in the house, but many of her glass spars and ropes are now sadly shattered and broken, – but I will not have her mended; and her figure-head, a gallant warrior in a cocked hat, lies pitching head-foremost down into the trough of a calamitous sea under the bows, – but I will not have him put on his legs again, till I get on my own; for between him and me there is a secret sympathy; and my sisters tell me, even yet, that he fell from his perch the very day I left home to go to sea on this my first voyage.

It was with a heavy heart and full eyes, that my poor mother parted with me; perhaps she thought me an erring and a willful boy, and perhaps I was; but if I was, it had been a hardhearted world and hard times that had made me so. I had learned to think much and bitterly before my time; all my young mounting dreams of glory had left me; and at that early age I was as unambitious as a man of sixty.

Yes, I will go to sea. . .

"Yes, I will write you, dear mother, as soon as I can," . . .

So I broke loose from their arms, and not daring to look behind, ran away as fast as I could, till I got to the corner where my brother was waiting. He accompanied me part of the way to the place where the steamboat was to leave for New York; instilling into me much sage advice above his age, for he was but eight years my senior, and warning me again and again to take care of myself. . .

We walked on in silence till I saw that his strength was giving out – he was in ill-health then, – and with a mute grasp of the hand, and a loud thump at the heart, we parted.

2. Henry George goes to sea

Henry George, Jr., The Life of Henry George (New York, 1900), pp. 19-22.

George (1839-1897), author of Progress and Poverty and founder of the Single-Tax movement, developed a passion for the sea in early childhood. He used the wharves of Philadelphia as a playground, and was enchanted by stories about his grandfather, Richard George, a shipmaster. In 1855, at the age of fourteen, George shipped as a foremast boy on the bark Hindoo, bound for Melbourne and Calcutta.

The Hindoo was to sail from New York Harbour early in April. On Sunday, April 1, after Sunday school, Henry George received a Bible and a copy of "James's Anxious Enquirer"; and the next morning, bidding farewell at the wharf to his father, and uncles Thomas Latimer and Joseph Van Dusen, his cousin George Latimer and his friends Col Walton and Joe Roberts, he and Captain Miller went aboard the steamboat, crossed the Delaware, took train, and four hours afterwards were in New York. Two letters from him, written from the ship before she got away, have been preserved. They are in large, clear, firm hand, with some shading, some flourishes and a number of misspelled words. In the first, under date of April 6, he says:

"I signed the shipping articles at $6 a month and two months' advance, which I got in the morning.

"While we were down town we stopped at the Custom House, and Jim [an ordinary seaman] and I got a protection, for which we paid $1 each to a broker.

"The New York Custom House looks like a cooped up affair along side of the Philadelphia one – there are so many people and so much business and bustle.

"The upper part of New York is a beautiful place – the streets wide, clear and regular; the houses all a brown stone and standing ten or twenty feet from the pavement, with gardens in front."

To the foregoing letter was added this:

April 7,1855

"I was stopped [writing] suddenly last night by the entrance of the men to haul her [the vessel] to the end of the wharf and was prevented from going on by their laughing and talking. At about twelve o'clock we commenced and by some pretty hard heaving we got her to the end of the wharf. It was then about two o'clock. So we turned in and slept until about half past five. We got our breakfast, and being taken in tow by a steamboat about 7: 30 a.m., proceeded down the stream till off the Battery, where we dropped anchor and now lie.

"I ate my first meals sailor style to-day and did not dislike it at all. Working around in the open air gives one such an appetite that he can eat almost anything. We shall go to sea Monday morning early. I should love to see you all again before I go, but that is impossible. I shall write again tomorrow, and if possible get the pilot to take a letter when he leaves, though it is doubtful that I shall be able to write one."

It was in these days preparatory to starting, when there were a lot of odd things to do, that the boatswain, busy with some splicing, sent the boy for some tar; and when the boy stopped to look around for a stick, the sailor in surprise and disgust cried to him to bring the tar in his hand! Another incident of a similar kind appears in his second letter, which is dated April 9 and is addressed to his Aunt Mary, one of his mother's sisters. . .

"We are not at sea, as we expected to be by this time, but still lying off the Battery. The ship could not sail this morning for want of seamen. They are very scarce in New York now and all sorts of men are shipping as sailors. Two Dutch boys shipped as able seamen and came on board yesterday afternoon. The smallest one had been to sea before, but the largest did not know the difference between a yard and a block. The second mate told them to go aloft and slush down the masts. This morning the smallest went up, but the other could not go up at all. So I had to go aloft and do it. The work was a good deal easier than I expected. I don't mind handling grease at all now."

"Captain Miller has been ashore all day trying to get men. There is to be one sent on board in place of the largest Dutchman. I pity the poor fellow, though to be sure he had no business to ship as seaman. He says he has four trades – baker, shoemaker, etc. Another man came aboard this morning as able seaman who could not get into the foretop. They sent him ashore. The captain shipped to-day as ordinary seamen two lads, one a Spaniard and the other English, I believe. They are fine sailor looking fellows. The cook, steward and two of the men are from the West Indies. All sailed in whalers. There are no cleaner looking men in Parkinson's.

"We have better living than I expected – fresh and salt beef, potatoes and rice – and all cooked in the finest style; but I cannot like the coffee as yet.

"They have just brought two men aboard and taken the Dutchmen off. This is the last letter that I shall have a chance to send till we get to Melbourne, where I hope there will be letters awaiting me."

3. A boy on a whaler

William Davis, Nimrod of the Sea; or, the American Whaleman (New York, 1874), pp. 17-24.

Boys as young as thirteen, but more commonly fifteen or sixteen, shipped on whaling voyages that lasted at least two years, and sometimes extended to four years. Each vessel usually carried two or three boys in its crew. An ordinary seaman's share was 1/165, that is, one barrel of whale oil out of every 165 barrels extracted. In addition to escape and adventure, the sea promised young boys an opportunity to climb the ladder of responsibility and success. The crew lists at the Free Public Library of New Bedford, Massachusetts, contain many cases of boys who rose on successive voyages to second mate, first mate, and eventually to master.

My journal is used as a cord on which are strung the experiences and adventures of others, such as I have been enabled to pick up in the form of yarns on board the Chelsea. Omitting a date to my voyage, I am thus enabled to give the experiences of a quarter of a century. About the internal economy of our ship I write as the boyish sailor; and I ask you old captains, in imagination, to sit barefooted on an old sea-chest as you read my story as I sat to write it.

Is it necessary that I should recount how complaisant the major was before I signed the ship's articles? It appeared that the major was anxious to fill up his crew, that the vessel might not be detained when her fitting was completed; and doubtless, as he regarded the tall slender, and rather weakly youth before him, he deemed it necessary to throw in an encouraging word to strengthen good resolutions:

"Ah! you're from Pennsylvania. Very good place that: a little too far from salt-water to be wholesome, I guess. Salt air will soon put color in your cheeks. You think you'll like the sea? Of course you will. Nice life-very, if you take to it right. Been aboard the Chelsea yet? Yes; good ship the Chelsea, and such a sailer! A regular Baltimore clipper; easy times aboard that ship. You've trade-winds most of the way to Cape Horn: trade-winds, you know, are steady; as fixed, sir, as the needle to the pole, as the poet has it. And then there's the Pacific! Grand sea that; all about Juan Fernandez, Magellan, and the Southern Cross it's as calm and smiling as a mill-dam – so smooth that the illimitable sea seems a boundless oil-tank; where you see reflected in it the belt of Orion and the Pleiades. The thought almost tempts me to run out on a voyage, just to see that whaleman's heaven.

"Do you know that you get fresh beef at sea? Yes, sir, you do. Porpoises are to be had for the catching. Porpoise has muscle in it; you'd stiffen up on porpoise. And albatross too, big as geese; a little oily, but you'll get used to that. It makes a man water-proof to eat albatross."

The good man never dreamed that this moment was the fulfillment of the dreams of my short life. When I was a little boy, I had rigged and sailed my toy boats; and when a few years older, I had devoured Cook and Delano, and was happy in the library of Mavor, looking forward to the time when I too should visit the strange seas and scenes I had pictured in imagination. I took joy in the major's persuasions, as I knew that he would accept me, and allow me to go in his ship. Let me say it was no freak of a child, no sudden whim, which led me to this point. Twice I had been disappointed in going to sea. Once I had shipped in the Globe, East Indiaman, when a severe accident kept me confined for weeks after she had been under way. On a bed of sickness my young heart followed that gallant ship on her course, and I found consolation only in the promise of my fatherly brother, that when well another berth should be found me.

Then I shipped on board the saucy little free-trader, Star, bound for the coast of British India. She was armed, and carried a very heavy crew. My kit was purchased and taken on board, and one drizzly dark morning I went on board in my gay shirt and spotless ducks. When examined by the surgeon, he pounced on my wrist, left crooked from fracture in the late accident. It was still tender: he gave it an awful wrench; I flinched. "You won't do," was his awful verdict. In vain I told him that it was getting well very fast, and would soon be as sound as the other. He saw my heart was in going, and, being a kindly man, he said, "I can't pass you as sound; but go on shore now, and thank God that a weak wrist stands between you and this voyage." I did not know what he meant, but I went home to the quiet country almost heart-broken; and had no peace of mind until a letter from my friend, Mr. Lorenzo Draper, of New York, brought the glad tidings that he had secured a place for me on the Chelsea. And in a few days, with great joy in my heart (for which God forgive me), I kissed the tearful faces which bade me farewell for the long and, to them, fearful voyage which lay before me. Little did the good major know how little I needed the kindly encouragement he was extending; and lest I might again be disappointed, I made haste to append my name to the articles.

"Ah! you've signed. That's a good Bill; there's a captain's berth ahead if you earn it. Now run down to Mr. Strong in the basement; he'll finish your outfit in a jiffy. Take good advice: he is as sharp as he's Strong; make him take off fifteen per cent. for cash: he will get rich faster than you or I at that. Get a good outfit; spend your money for clothes, and not for tobacco, so that you may keep clear of the slop-chest. You have a week before you sail: look about you, and make the most of New London; for a three years' voyage is no trifle, and you won't see a better place the other side of the land. Good-morning."

I did not again speak to the major for forty-five months.

The crew was composed of a captain; a mate, who headed the larboard watch; a second mate, who, with the third mate, headed the starboard watch; four harpooners, and the trades mentioned before, with greenhorns and old salts, who were known to be, and shipped as, able seamen. The strong force on board a whaleship and the duties in the boats give an importance to the under officers unknown in the merchant service. With us the second mate was the officer of the deck during his watch, and he never left it to furl or reef: he exacted as respectful an "Ay, ay, sir," in answer to his orders as did the captain himself. The harpooners were divided, two in each watch, save when we were on cruising grounds. Then we reefed down every night, and each boat-steerer headed his own boat's crew's watch during the night, and became officer of the deck.

Our outfit consisted of extra sails and rigging, spare spars, and a store of tar, paint, etc., for repairs to ship; cedar boards and light timbers for the boats; a large quantity of admirably made whale line; a store of harpoons made of the softest and toughest iron, with lances of a quality of steel and capacity of cutting edge that might excite the envy of a diplomaed "sawbones;" also cutting-in spades, boat hatchets and knives; casks for the oil, stowed with water, food, or clothing; and all the very many necessaries to cover the wear and tear of long years of arduous service. An important and peculiar feature in the equipment of a whaleship is the "try-work." This consisted in our ship of three large iron pots, built in brick-work, and so supported by iron stanchions, that a body of water was maintained between the hearths and the deck to intercept the heat of the furnaces. For stores we carried as a staple, ship-biscuit, pork, and beef, with coffee, tea, molasses, rice, beans, Indian meal, flour, and pickles. Our worthy major was a professor of religion, and I am quite sure that on the day of final account he may safely call upon the Chelsea's crew to testify to his liberality in our outfit. We might confuse the accountants if we gave our entire list of luxuries, which included "doughboys," "choke-dog," "lobscouse," "dough jehovahs," and "menavellins." Each day of the week some one of the above delicacies accompanied the inevitable salt-junk; and, believe it who may, we had pork every day, not two or three days a week, as some unfortunates have it. Furthermore, access to the bread cask and the molasses tank was never denied. Perhaps there is no single article, I may say in parenthesis, in which the superiority of the American whaleman's outfit is more manifest, than in the excellent ship-biscuit which all carry, the greatest care being taken to exclude dampness or decaying influences. It will be noticed at once how well we were provided for.

4. The adventures of Jack, the virtuous cabin boy

Samuel Griswald Goodrich, Jack Lawrence; or, the Adventures of a Cabin Boy (Philadelphia, 1836), pp. 14-17, 144.

This is an example of the success story in popular literature for the generation preceding Horatio Alger. Jack loses his father at the age of eleven. He works diligently to help his mother, but is obsessed by the sea. He finally gets to sea, falls into bad company, reforms, marries the daughter of a wealthy passenger, and settles in Boston.

A few days afterwards, Jack, having completed the planting of his mother's garden, went to work as he had proposed for squire Coffin, a very worthy gentleman of the neighbourhood, who had been a particular friend of his mother since her removing to the cottage. He had also taken a particular fancy to Jack, and treated him with great kindness during the time he remained in his employment.

Jack continued in his service till the fall harvest was completed, when he received seventeen dollars all in hard money, which was a greater sum than he had ever seen before. . . "What do you intend to do with all that money, my boy?" "I shall take it home and give it to my mother," replied Jack. . .

". . . Now let me ask you one more question. If you were left to your own choice, what branch of business would you rather follow?"

"I had rather be a seaman, sir," replied Jack, promptly. "A seaman!" said the squire in surprise; "who has put that notion into your head?" "No one, sir." "And why would you wish to be a seaman?" "In the first place, because I should like to see foreign countries; and in the second place, I think that I could be of more service to my mother and sisters in this, than in any other way." "And have you ever mentioned the subject to your mother?"

"No, sir; I know she would be opposed to it, and I therefore never mentioned it for fear of giving her pain." "And do you think of going to sea without the permission of your mother?"

"By no means, sir; I shall stay with her at present, and perhaps when I am older she may be more willing for me to leave her; but I shall never do so without there is a prospect of my doing better for her abroad than by staying at home."

On the following spring, as Jack and his mother were engaged in removing some rubbish from the garden, she could not help remarking that he stopped from time to time and gazed with a longing look at the various sails that appeared upon the vast expanse of water, spread out before them. "What do you see," she at length inquired, "that engages so much of your attention?" "I was thinking," said Jack. . . "You were thinking how much happier you would be on the water than you are on the land."

Jack blushed deeply, but being bred to scorn any thing like falsehood, he replied, "Some such thoughts were passing in my mind. But tell me, mother, has squire Coffin told you any thing about the conversation that we had on the subject of my going to sea?" "It is not necessary, my son, that another should inform an anxious mother of the leading propensities of her children. I have long foreseen your predilections for a seaman's life; but why, my son, have you never before mentioned the subject to me?"

"Because I was fearful of giving you unpleasant feelings, and as there is no prospect of my leaving you at present, I thought it unnecessary to say any thing about it before the time." "That was a kind thought, my good boy; but I hope you do not consider me so selfish as to oppose any measure that may be for your interest, merely to gratify my own wishes."

Such were the adventures of Jack during the time he served in the capacity of a cabin boy. But notwithstanding the satisfaction he enjoyed by his mother's fire-side, after remaining at home about three years, and prosecuting such studies as were calculated to prepare him for mercantile business, which his mother strongly recommended to him, he felt an unconquerable desire to try his lot again upon the water.

In his nineteenth year, therefore, he shipped as second mate, on board of a ship bound to India, by means of which he was enabled to circumnavigate the earth, which to him had been a primary object. He made two more voyages in the capacity of master, which he executed with success.

The fourth, however, was even more disastrous than the one already mentioned. . . This seemed to cure his predilection for a seafaring life, and having married Emeline Brainard, he settled down in the city of Boston, where he lived many years beloved and respected by all.

1. Captain indicted for abuse of a boy aboard ship, 1822

Niles' Weekly Register, Feb. 9,1822, p. 381.

The master of a vessel has been sentenced at Boston to the payment of 4000 dollars as damages for abuse of a boy, on board his ship, when on a voyage to the East Indies. The boy is now in the lunatic hospital, as is supposed, in consequence of his ill treatment

2. Punishments inflicted on boys by tyrannical captain

Daniel Weston Hall, Arctic Ravings (Boston, 1861),pp. 37-38,43-48,64-65, 157-158.

Daniel Hall of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was fourteen in 1856 when he went aboard the whale ship Condor, Samuel H. Whiteside, master. In October 1858, after having been subjected to a series of abuses, Hall and a companion deserted when the ship was off the coast of Siberia. They were eventually rescued by another whaler and Hall returned to New Bedford to testify in the lawsuit his father had brought against Captain Whiteside.

We arrived at Ayan on the 25th of June: and the work of repairing the ship was immediately commenced. With a single exception, no incident of particular importance occurred during our stay in this port. The exception to which I allude, was a most severe and unmerited punishment inflicted upon me by the captain.

Up to this time, I had endeavored to conduct myself in such a manner as to preclude the possibility of punishment. I had cheerfully, and to the best of my ability, obeyed what I regarded as the most unreasonable commands; I had submitted without a murmur, to what I considered to be most reproachful and abusive language; in short, I had endured, what seemed to me, a life of the most abject slavery that I might not afford the faintest shadow of a pretext for further abuse.

It appears, however, that all my efforts to please my superiors, and save myself from disgraceful punishment, were destined to prove unavailing. On one occasion during our stay at Ayan, as I was standing on deck, engaged in the performance of some trivial duty, the captain approached me, and without any provocation that I am aware of, began to beat and kick me in the most cruel manner; after which he led me aft, and gave me fourteen blows with the end of the main-top-gallant brace! To this day, I am entirely at loss to account for this act: for I am not conscious of having disobeyed a single command, or offended in any manner whatever.

A few days after the squall, which has been previously described, a young man by the name of Pope, and myself, chanced to be engaged in what is termed by sailors, "skylarking" in the forecastle, during our forenoon watch below.

On this particular occasion Pope and myself were having a "set to" at sparring, merely for the fun of the thing, and without the slightest ill will or anger upon either side.

While amusing ourselves in this manner, the mate came forward, and ordering us on deck, bade us walk aft and report ourselves to the captain.

We were at length commanded to come down, and stationed side by side near the mizzen rigging; when the captain informed us that as we had been "making believe fight for our own amusement we should now fight in earnest for his," adding, that whoever got whipped should receive a flogging from him also.

Having no alternative but to obey, we commenced fighting; taking care, however, to strike as lightly as we dared under the circumstances. After a few minutes of this compulsory fighting, Pope gave up, saying that I was too much for him; but this was not sufficient to satisfy the captain, who exclaimed, "That is no fighting at all!" adding, with an oath, "I will show you how to fight and help you myself in the bargain."

He then procured a short whip, having several lashes of small tarred cords, similar to what is known on shipboard as the "Cat," and, to my surprise, ordered me "to strip!" The reader can well imagine, that I obeyed this command most unwillingly: I was completely in his power, however, and neither dared to disobey or even to express my indignation at this picture of injustice. I accordingly removed all my clothing above the waist; after which, the captain bade me "take fast hold of the mizzen belaying pins," and not to let go when he struck unless "I wished to receive a double portion." He then proceeded to give me eighteen blows upon my bare back, with the whip, laying them on with his whole strength, and causing the blood to flow freely at nearly every blow; after which he handed the instrument to Pope, and bade him give me "half a dozen." This was promptly done; the blows which I received from my fellow sufferer, however, being far less painful than those given me by the captain.

As soon as Pope had given me six lashes, he himself, was ordered to strip; and having been placed in the same position as myself, was then flogged in a similar manner; receiving, however, but eighteen blows from the captain, and none from myself.

We were then allowed to resume our clothing, and, with many curses, were ordered to return to the forecastle. We suffered intensely for many days afterwards, from the effects of this flogging, and it was with no little difficulty that we performed our duties: Still, we dared not complain, for we knew too well the temper of our commander; and were well aware that a still more painful punishment would attend a refusal to perform our appropriate labors.

The reader will please to bear in mind the fact that this severe punishment was inflicted upon us, simply, because we ventured to indulge in a little harmless sport, during our watch below, and not in consequence of neglect of duty or a single act of insubordination.

The injustice, as we considered it, of the punishment, however, only rendered it the more unendurable, and many times, while suffering from the painful wounds, inflicted by the cat, I thought of Burns' oft quoted words, –

"Man's inhumanity to man,

Makes countless thousands mourn, – "

But I forbear. The reader's own sense of justice will enable him to render a just decision in regard to such a case as this, without further comment from me.

One morning during the season, the cry of "Whales!" was heard from the mast head; and as usual, the boats were hastily manned for the chase. At that time I belonged to the captain's boat and, upon this occasion, while rowing, I accidentally did what many an older and better seaman than myself has occasionally done before me, that is to say, I had the misfortune to "cramp" my oar; whereupon the captain immediately knocked me off my seat. He then proceeded to kick me as I lay in the bottom of the boat, and to strike me several blows with an oak stick, which he found in the stern sheets of the boat. One of these blows inflicted a wound upon my side, from which I never expect to recover; having produced an internal injury of a severe and painful nature.

As the reader may well imagine, this treatment rendered me unfit for the proper performance of my duty; nevertheless, I was compelled to resume my seat, and pull at my oar until the whale of which we were in pursuit of had been overtaken, killed, and towed alongside of the ship.

On the following morning I found myself scarcely able to leave my berth, from the effects of my injuries; still, I dared not complain, or refuse to perform duty. Accordingly, I hobbled on deck, as well as I was able; and, soon afterwards, the cry of "whales" having been raised, was placed in the boat, by the assistance of my shipmates, and, although in great pain, compelled to pull an oar for many hours.

The trial was then held; the attorney of Captain Whiteside, who was then absent at sea, appearing for his client; and after a full investigation of the facts in the case, the jury, admitting my letter as legal testimony, rendered a verdict against Capt. Whiteside, of three hundred dollars damages, as compensation for the time which I had been compelled to lose by leaving the ship.

Thus, not only had Divine Providence permitted me to return in safety to my home and friends; but I had, in a measure, obtained legal redress for my wrongs. In bringing this suit against Captain Whiteside, however, my father had been actuated by a higher motive than the desire to obtain pecuniary redress. He wished to make the case of Captain Whiteside an example to convince other commanders, who might be disposed in future, to tyrannize over their crews, that the laws of America will protect the seamen from abuse, or, at least, afford them compensation for their sufferings, and punish the tyrant of the quarter deck.

He hoped in this manner, to perform a service to his fellow men; particularly to those "who go down to the sea in ships"; and the publication of this work has been undertaken, by the author, partly with a view to further this desirable end.

Boys in cod and whale fisheries

Massachusetts, Senate, "Report on Statistics of Labor, 1871," Doc. 150, Documents, 1871 (Boston, 1871), p. 179.

Cod and whale fishermen do not generally carry any boys under fifteen years old. Mackerel fishermen take two or three, and they are usually paid, on the first voyage, a third line, less a share of expense for the bait. In most cases after the first voyage, they will get a half line. A boy of fifteen will often catch as many fish as a man. Mackerel fishing requires such a degree of activity, expertness and slight of hand, that it can hardly be acquired at all unless one begins when young. Boys generally begin before they are fifteen. Often a smart young man becomes a captain by the time he is twenty-one years old.

Seafaring as penance

Diary of Robert Weir, 1855-1858, G. W. Blunt White Library, The Marine Historical Association, Incorporated, Mystic, Conn.

In August 1855, seventeen-year-old Robert Weir, having assumed the name Wallace, sailed from New Bedford, Massachusetts on the whaler Clarabelle. Robert, son of Robert Walter Weir (1803-1889), a well-known painter and professor of art at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, chose exile at sea because he had fallen into debt and wanted to spare his father disgrace. The diarist later served as an officer in the Union navy and acted as war reporter and illustrator for Harper's Weekly.

August 18th, 1855.

Hauled off from the most detestable of places – New Bedford, and here we are anchored about two miles down the stream. Glad to get away from New Bedford. Never spent two such wretched weeks in all my life. True I had a pleasant place to board at Mrs. Doan's, but I could never feel settled no matter how long I might stay there. Read every book and every piece of book that I could find. Tried to smoke plug tobacco in pipes – couldn't enjoy that.

19th Sunday. Oh! if the folk at home knew what a field I am about – to launch upon what would they say – What does dear father think – but I cannot turn back – I may just as well as not begin to cut my way in the world, now, rather than leave it till I am older. Spent this day sacriligeously in climbing about the rigging, didn't venture much – but guess I'll soon get used to it. Hurrah for hard times at least I'd like to make myself feel so, but I scarcely dare look ahead – it seems rather dark. Have great anticipations of future independence. I shall never never call on father again – but I dare not speak his name. I have wronged him too much to be his son.

20th Monday. A day to be remembered. The Captain came aboard a little after 9 o'clock, and we weighed anchor and set sail. Then came the first .touch of work, in hauling up the anchor – such a pondrous thing is only fit to be buried at the bottom of the sea. I sincerely hope we shall not have the pleasure of dropping it till we again reach home – the chains were soon stowed between decks or rather in the chain pens – and the anchor's catted and lashed – and now we are on our way rejoicing? The first mate sent me aloft to slush the fore top gallant mast in the afternoon. The crew were divided into two watches, the Larboard and Starboard. I belong to the Mates or Larboard watch.

August 21st [1855] Tuesday, Beginning to get seasick and disgusted. Land out of sight – feel

awful. We have to work like horses and live like pigs – eyes beginning to open – rather dearly bought independence – however, get on the sunny side shortly I hope.

22nd Wednesday. We are far very far out of sight of land – of sweet Ameriky. I was sent aloft on the lookout for whales and whatnots – And oh! how dreadfully sick I was. Saw two sharks, one about 12 ft. long and the other 5 or 6 ft. I felt very much tempted to throw myself to them for food. I can truly say I never was disgusted before in my life. The sea presents a cobalt blue appearance – it is beautiful – in the afternoon took my first trick at the helm – two weary, dreary, desolate hours

can a human being get toughened to all this –

23rd Thursday. Sick as ever if not more so – but for all that have to work like a dog. We have an excellent breeze but our barque pokes her nose under outrageously. . . Captain Robbins gave us a short harangue of which I noticed these few words – he'd give us plenty to eat and plenty to do – if we acted like men he'd treat us like men – no swearing etc. etc. etc. – This afternoon the captain caught an albacore, a fish about 3 ft long – very thick and solid. I turn in emphatically speaking, disgusted and thinking of home.

24th Friday. Day commenced with a very stiff breeze, increased so much that we had to take in most of the sails; rained pretty hard in the evening – and I got wet and tired out tending the rigging and sails. Tumbled into my bunk with exhausted body and blistered hands – Romantic.

25th Saturday. The wind still blows pretty hard and the decks are constantly washed by the waves – not quite recovered from sickness yet, but think I am getting better. I am absolutely sick and disgusted with the living and everything.

26th Sunday. Commenced the day at the masthead feeling quite well; while looking about for whales or rather nothing (for I did not search the seas much as it was the Sabbath) I had pleasant thoughts of those I left so unkindly and abruptly but I console myself that it will be some relief to dear father, for me to be off his hands. I also amused myself by singing all the psalms and hymns, chants etc. that dear Emma and myself used to sing in our little Church – by that time my patience was pretty well exhausted and seasickness beginning to come on. My relief came very leisurely up the rigging – and now once more I find myself on deck, but am so sick from the rocking of the mast that I cannot read much in my bible as I intended, and can scarcely write. About noon it was a dead calm with heavy swell – the sails make a very loud noise flapping against the masts. – tumble into my bunk in disgust.

27th Monday. Good breeze blowing – another week of toil before one – cheer up – we'll soon get used to hard work and look at it as play; but the feed – awful. The waters have not been quiet enough to allow writing with ease since we started. Often a big lurch of the ship will knock half the ideas out of ones head. I must give up now anyhow –

30th Thursday. For 9 days we have been out of sight of land – and for the last four days nothing has broken the line of the horizon – haven't heard the cry "there she blows" yet – but we are not left idle. Every day since we left home the hold has been overhauled or something otherwise done about the ship – seizing on the chafing gear to prevent the rigging wearing way – and innumerable jobs. It gives me great relaxation, when I am on the lookout at the masthead; to sing over those dear old songs that Emma and I used to amuse ourselves with at home – for father's amusement, visitors, and a great many too that could never appreciate them.

2nd. Sunday. . . . passed a most miserable Sabbath – could neither read nor write – had to take my station aloft on the lookout between 2 and 4 p.m. though I did not go higher than the fore-top gallant yard – the weather being bad, I was quite exhausted and faint from holding on – for the vessel tossed about most unmercifully – very little did I see like a whale.

Thursday, November 29, 1855.

Hard at work stowing down the oil – This is slavery – a perfect dogs life – at 4 p.m. raised more whales – lowered & were unsuccessful – at sunset shortened sail – two sails in sight, turned in weary and worn – and sick at heart, if I could get anywhere upon the American coast I'll be happy – however Cheer up – old boy – "behind the clouds is the sun still shining."

Saturday, December 13th, 1855.

Stowed the oil (105 lbs.) last Thursday – an awful job – had to break out clean to the keelson – chocked empty casks and ran the oil through a hose into them – this makes way with a great deal of labor. At 4 1/2 p.m. lowered for a whale and chased till sunset – with usual luck. There are quite a number of whales on this ground – and we are most always in sight of one another – four sails in sight, at sunset.

Sunday, December 30, 1855.

Christmas-day was not noticed on board – it happened to be my midnight trick at the wheel Christmas eve – and if I did not feel bad then I never did and never shall – hard life this, but may get used to it . . .

Monday, September 17, 1858.

Two short weeks have elapsed since I last got a chance to jot any items – it has been all work & no play – and I have not till now felt able to do anything in the writing line – with the exception of a . . . letter to Seymour – and 10 to 1 he never gets it. A great deal has happened during the first night above mentioned. We have laid off two ports – in the Azores – Flores & Fayal.

At Flores we recruited ship – took on board any quantity of potatoes, pumpkins, onions, fowl &c. Plenty of grapes – but to obtain them it is necessary to have plenty of money but with tobacco we made pretty good trades – for apples, peaches, figs, and cheeses – donkey cheese at that – and right good & wholesome they were. I don't know that I ever enjoyed fruit & cheese so much – it seemed as though we had been deprived of them for years instead of a few weeks, it was long enough to make me long for something fresh – as I was so totally disgusted with shipfare – I am now getting more used to salt junk, coffee & tea? I can't say what the coffee is made of, but it resembles that delicious beverage as much as ink resembles water – there is but little coffee taste about it – still it is a little preferable to the stale water – As for the tea – if I only had some of the currant leaves off the bushes in our front yard, I'd feel grateful – but there is no use crying over spilt milk – get case hardened & go ahead – but I would like some one at home to have a sip of this same tea or coffee.

Sunday, September 23, 1858.

I am getting quite used to work now – and my hands can testify that quite plainly – for they are as hard as horn inside – pulling & hauling on hard ropes – and the outside have a most beautiful. . . brown color – all in the voyage – the handling of ropes & tar has very visible effect on the hands.

I like the sea – and I always thought I would – but it is hard to be separated from the dear ones at home – by such a distance of waters –

The manner in which the Sabbath is spent on board by nearly all – is truly deplorable, there is very little regard paid for the day – if we are not making & taking in sail all the while – and the weather is pleasant – most of the men will be seen squatting about the fore hatch smoking – dozing or growling – some read or wash – sew &c &c – but no thought is given to the welfare of the soul – And our noble 1st mate sets a most beautiful example by lounging on the quarter deck, the picture of idleness & misery – if he could he would like nothing better than to keep the crew hard and work Sundays as well as week days –

I shall indeed be thankful to get settled somewhere on land, where we can have a chance of improving the mind & choice of good companions. N'il desperandum.