Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/48

22 deem any necessary, and had become restored and was again subject to authority in a certain way.

The cook occupied at that time in merchant vessels a somewhat anomalous position. He was monarch of the Galley & autocrat of everything relative to its cleanliness & good order. The independence his position gave him is felt by all and his duties are not to be interfered with. Various practices were used to control him. He was responsible to the Crew for their cooking, both meats & drink, and should he be under suspicion of those common'g, the remedy was his punishment & various cruel punishments were resorted to; tieing up by the thumbs, making a spread eagle of him in the rigging, and most barbarous floggings with the ropes end as the officer, Capt, Mate, or 2nd Mate, in his anger, chose to inflict. Humanity did not exist on the great deep, and petty tyranny was Rampant. It has always been a wonder to me that so few mutinies are on record, poor Jack has suffered greatly for those who ought to have been his protectors. The tales of the great hardships suffered by Sailors have not been exaggerated and they are subjects of great moment to the country to ameliorate their condition and this I hope will claim the attention of all who have the care of them. There is no class who require it more than sailors; a hard and exposed life, treated like dogs and of no regard to their feelings & improvement. The blame seems to be on the part of the owners of the vessels and their employees, the Capt & Mates who are, for the most part, a set of brutal fellows. This voyage has made a wonderful impression on me & has dispelled the idea I had entertained of their generous and noble & disinterested Masters. But, notwithstanding, I yet saw the childlike confidence and total dependence they had imbibed in their dispositions under all the ill treatment and, I may [say], cruel despotism they suffered tended to give me an abiding interest in these abject slaves of the Sea and the wish that I might, in time to come, ameliorate their condition should it ever be in my power to do so.

As we were approaching the English Channel we had beautiful weather and fair breezes. On one occasion the Hibernia was darting through the seas at a rapid rate with all sails set. It was the Mate's (Dyson's) watch on deck to which I belonged; and the sight of the ship greatly charmed and interested me, the breeze gradually freshened and a coming squall seemed in our wake. Dyson had comfortably [settled] himself and had gone fast asleep, and the watch were content to lie about. I saw the approaching tempest but I heeded it not and let Dyson alone. I well recollect the kind of malicious feeling I had that trouble would come upon him. We had all studding sails set below and aloft; soon the yards & booms began creaking. Suddenly, one of them snapped. Dyson awoke in bewilderment and consternation. The Captain was soon aroused & came on deck to see his ship with sails flapping & tearing from the yards. All hands were called and great the trouble and confusion, cursing & swearing and damning the Dutchman which caused him to stand almost petrified. All idea of what was to be done seemed utterly wanting in the mind of this brute. He was no Seaman and utterly