Part 7 (1/2)
GOOD-BYE TO ENGLAND
Mrs. Ma.s.sey was in charge of the s.h.i.+pping office, and, showing her the order and saying that I would s.h.i.+p, I walked out, and straightway back to the dock I went. I found the vessel that I really wanted. It was the packet-s.h.i.+p Rhine, bound for New York with emigrants. From the mate I got an order to be s.h.i.+pped from a certain office. I went to Ma.s.sey's for my bag, and, as I picked it up and started for the door, Mrs. Ma.s.sey asked me if I had backed out, and I curtly told her that I had. Then she showed her good breeding. Such language I never heard a woman use before. ”-- --, -- who enticed you from this office? -- -- --!” Two young men happened to be standing in front of the door. ”-- are these the men?” she asked. ”Yes,” I answered, and what a tongue-las.h.i.+ng those two fellows got! In the meantime I walked off. I found the right office and s.h.i.+pped for New York. I received an advance note of two pounds ten.
A young man in the office offered to take me to a small boarding-house, and arriving there, I was introduced to the landlord. He was an old sailor, a native of Chile, and the fact of my having lived there made us friends at once. I made a bargain for two days' lodging, a straw mattress, sheath knife, tin pot, pan, and spoon. Besides, he was to have five s.h.i.+llings extra for cas.h.i.+ng my advance note. The difference he paid me in cash. Then I went to the post-office and bought an order for every cent I had, made payable to Jennie Bell, and, remaining in the house until the sailing, I wrote a letter to Jennie, merely stating that I would be in New York four weeks from that time. The money-order was inclosed and the letter mailed just before the s.h.i.+p left the dock. We sailed down the Thames River into the Channel, and at sundown the white chalk cliffs of Dover were far astern. That was the last time I ever saw the coast of England.
The Rhine had a large number of steerage pa.s.sengers on board. Men, women, and children were all huddled together between decks. They all got sea-sick, and it is a wonder that none of them died. The filth and stench were terrible. The crew were a tough lot, being mostly old ”packet rats,” as they are termed. They would stay on sh.o.r.e until their advance money was all spent, then they would have to s.h.i.+p. They would steal all of their clothing from their more provident s.h.i.+pmates. My bag had been searched, but it only set them wondering as to who I was, with all the old rags and the two grape-shot. In just one month's time we sighted Sandy Hook, New York. The pa.s.sengers were all on deck, getting their first glimpse of America, and were all glad that the voyage was so nearly ended. The twin lighthouses of the Highlands of Navesink were in plain view; below them was a famous summer resort for New Yorkers. As I stood on that deck watching the beautiful scenery, a dirty, ragged suit of sailor's clothes on my back, not a cent of money in my pockets, had a fortune-teller then said to me--”See that hotel on the beach? One year from now you will be staying there as a guest, and paying twenty-five dollars a week for your accommodation. You will be the best-dressed young man in the house and wearing diamond jewelry, with the waiters eager to wait upon you, as you are very liberal in giving tips. And Matilda, the proprietor's daughter, will be your betrothed wife”--I should have laughed at the idea; but it all happened so in reality.
As we sailed through the Narrows it became my turn to steer the s.h.i.+p; the captain and pilot standing close to me conversing, I heard the pilot say that the docks were crowded with s.h.i.+ps, and that the Rhine would have to remain anch.o.r.ed in the bay a week before docking. The captain replied that it would give them a good opportunity to have all the rigging tarred. Now, hearing that conversation nearly cost me my life.
Tarring a s.h.i.+p's rigging is about the hardest work and the dirtiest job imaginable, and, besides, the hands and finger-nails are dyed a dark-brown colour which remains for weeks. None of that work for me just then! As the anchor dropped, my duty at the wheel was ended. The boarding-house keepers came alongside and were soon on deck looking for victims. A hard-looking case asked me if I had ever been in New York before.
”No, this is my first trip across the ocean.”
”Well, come to my house. I have a nice place.”
”All right,” I answered, ”I will go, on condition that you get my clothes and take me from the s.h.i.+p right off.”
He told his runner to take his row-boat under the port bow. Going to the forecastle, I pointed out my bag. I was to go in the boat; then he was to throw me my valuable wardrobe. The pa.s.sengers were at the rail, looking at Castle Garden. Crowding in between, I found there was a rope hanging over the s.h.i.+p's side, and, in an instant, I was on the rail, grabbing hold of the rope. I intended going down ”hand over hand” with my feet on the vessel's side, but the rope was not fastened as I supposed, consequently I fell about twenty feet, striking the water back first and just barely missing the row-boat. The runner helped me in, then down came the bag, and we were off for dry land. My career on the ocean as a sailor before the mast had terminated most unexpectedly to me, and that proved to be my last voyage.
On landing, we walked to the worst locality in New York city. On the way I was told that a brig bound for the West Indies needed a crew, and would I s.h.i.+p on her? ”Certainly,” I replied. Now the intention was to ”shanghai” me (that is, steal my advance money), my landlord supposing that I was a greenhorn. Finally, we entered a dirty old house on Cherry Street, the worst street in the city at that time. I was invited to take a drink, which I refused. The sleeping apartment was shown to me---a filthy room with bunks around the sides, made out of rough boards. The brig was to sail the next day.
”Well, I must have a new pair of shoes.”
”All right, come with me.”
He took me to a store and I selected a pair, which were charged to the landlord.
”Now I want a hair-cut and a shave.”
Into a barber-shop we went, and that was also charged up. Going back to the house, I had my supper, and it was a holy terror for ”sh.o.r.e food.” I loafed around the place until after dark, then I started for home, being ashamed to have the neighbours see me in daylight in my ragged and still wet clothing. As for the sailors' boarding-house, it was only a case of ”wolf eat wolf.” They had simply caught the wrong man for a sucker.
I rang the door bell and a strange servant girl asked me whom I wished to see. Without answering, I walked in and opened the sitting-room door.
My return was a complete surprise. One of my cousins, a young lady, cast pitiful glances at my clothing, as much as to say, ”Poor fellow, he must have had a hard time!” Fortunately, on leaving home the last time, I had left my best suit of clothes behind. It was only a short time before I had a good bath and was dressed like a civilized being. We remained in the sitting-room talking until after midnight. My travels and the war were the topics of conversation. Next morning I went to the post-office and got a letter from Jennie. The detectives had traced her home and all kinds of questions were asked in regard to me. But she knew nothing.
They said it made no difference, as they would have me back in England in a few weeks, for I had s.h.i.+pped on an English s.h.i.+p for St. Kitts and orders had been sent to the admiral of the station to arrest and send me back in irons at the first opportunity.
In the afternoon I went to the naval rendezvous, and pa.s.sed examination as an able seaman for the United States navy. The pay was eighteen dollars a month, with chance of promotion. But there was a hitch in the proceedings. The quota of able seamen was filled, and the best I could do was to s.h.i.+p as an ordinary seaman at fourteen dollars a month. That I refused to do, and I explained that I was fully capable of being a petty officer, and that I would not throw away my chances for being rated as such by s.h.i.+pping as an ordinary seaman. I was invited to come again in a few weeks, as more men would be required, and they preferred young Americans like myself in the navy. In a few days I had made up my mind to go into the army. The companies and regiments throughout the Northern States that were being organized had to be disbanded for lack of arms and clothing, and also for the reason that the Government had no expectation of needing their services, so my patriotism was squelched for the time being. A number of my young friends had enlisted for three months, under the first call for seventy-five thousand men. They nearly all got back, and stayed home for the remainder of the war, having had all the glory they wanted.
CHAPTER XVI
WHAT MONEY CAN DO
I wrote to Jennie, telling her that arrangements had been made for her to live with my mother for awhile, telling her also to let me know when she would be ready to leave England, as the money would then be sent to pay her expenses. In a month's time I received a very formal letter from her sister stating that, through mediation of relatives, Jennie and her first husband had become reconciled, and were again living together. I showed the letter to my mother and explained everything. She was pleased at the termination of the affair, but, somehow, she took no stock in my wife's morality. I had about concluded that my valuable services would not be needed in the war, so I went to Duncan & Sherman's banking house in Wall Street, intending to s.h.i.+p in one of their vessels, if possible.
There I met Captain Otis, who was in command of the C. C. Duncan when I made the voyage to Algiers. He had quit going to sea, and was married to Mr. Duncan's only daughter. Through his influence, I obtained a good situation as outdoor clerk for the banking house. My work was princ.i.p.ally about the s.h.i.+pping at the docks. I was delighted at the prospect of remaining at home and living on dry land. The excitement over the war had quieted down considerably in New York. Regiments pa.s.sing through the city for Was.h.i.+ngton were loudly cheered and soon forgotten. In the meantime the rebels were strongly fortifying the Southern coast, and loudly proclaiming that ”Cotton was King.” The battle of Bull Run made it quite plain to both parties that they had a big contract on their hands. The celebrated New York Fire Zouaves did not go to Richmond as they intended. A number of them became demoralized, and never stopped running until they got back to Fulton Market, in New York.
The few s.h.i.+ps in the navy captured Port Royal, in South Carolina. Some of the Confederates from there never stopped until they reached Canada.
Then came Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island, N. C. The Government secured all the steamers available for the use of the navy, even taking the old Staten Island ferry-boats. Gold became very scarce and at a premium. Legal-tender notes were then issued, and Government bonds sold at a discount. For small change, postage-stamps were used. All the silver coin was being h.o.a.rded up and withdrawn from circulation. A revenue tax was placed on everything. On whisky it was two dollars a gallon. Even the poor people had to pay for the revenue-stamps on the p.a.w.n-tickets when they pledged articles. Before the war ended, good tea was two dollars and a half a pound; coffee, from forty cents to a dollar; sugar, twenty-two cents; a common round of beefsteak, twenty-five; turkey, thirty-five cents a pound, and eggs sixty cents a dozen. There was plenty of work, with high wages.
I still kept my situation and was gradually working my way up. My a.s.sociates were very different from those I came in contact with while a sailor. Knowing as much as I did about the Havana Lottery, I had great faith in it. By very little persuasion, I got six young men to go in with me to co-operate in the purchase of tickets, each one paying a certain sum weekly. Every month tickets would be bought for the full amount. The bankers, Taylor & Company, in Wall Street, were the agents.
For several months it was the same thing---no prizes. In the month of April, 1862, there was rejoicing in the club. We had drawn a fifty thousand-dollar prize! Taylor & Company cashed it for us at a small discount. The seven sharers received the money---a little over seven thousand dollars each. Then we all went to the devil. No use working with all that wealth, so we left our situations.