PASSENGER AGENTS. MUTINY. \\ 



tion of the agents those who had asked for a steerage pas 

 sage were asked a little less, and had berths given them in 

 the second-cabin state-rooms, the proper steerage being filled 

 up with freight. The captain, however, directed the cook to 

 serve us, allowed us a light at night in our room, and some 

 other extra conveniences and privileges, and generally treated 

 us after we got to sea as if he considered us rather more of 

 the &quot; gentleman&quot; class than the rest ; about two dollars 

 apiece more, I suppose 



After the ship had hauled out into the stream, and while 

 she lay in charge of the first mate, the captain having gone 

 ashore, there was a bit of mutiny among the seamen. Nearly 

 the whole crew refused to do duty, and pledged each other never 

 to take the ship to sea. Seeing that the officers, though pre 

 pared with loaded pistols, were not disposed to act rashly, we 

 offered to assist them, for the men had brought up their chests 

 and \vere collecting handspikes and weapons, and threatened 

 to take a boat from the davits if they were not sent on shore. 

 It was curious to see how the steerage passengers, before they 

 had any idea of the grounds of the quarrel, but as if by in 

 stinct, almost to a man, took sides against the lawful authority. 



Having had some experience with the ways of seamen, I 

 also went forward to try to pacify them. (Like most Con- 

 necticut boys, I knocked about the world a few years before 

 I settled down, and one of these I spent in a ship s forecastle.) 

 The only thing the soberest of them could say was, that a man 

 had been killed on the ship, and they knew she was going to 

 be unlucky ; and that they had been shipped in her when too 

 drunk to know what they were about. Perceiving that all 

 that the most of them wanted was to get ashore, that they 

 might have their spree out, and as there was no reason 

 ing with them, I advised the mate to send them a fiddle and 

 let them get to dancing. He liked the kfafr, but had no fid- 



