As soon as the reading is over, the lieutenant gives a nod to the master-at-arms, who removes the shirt from the back of the prisoner; the boatswain's mate is then ordered to commence; and at the first blow, the master-at-arms, counts audibly, one, and so on, until the designated number is completed. And if the smallest portion of pity is manifested by the boatswain's mate in slacking his hand in the least perceptible manner, he is sternly told, " Boatswain's mate, do your duty, Sir." At the first three or four blows the cries and entreaties of the poor wretch are heart-rending, crying out, 0 God Almighty, save me! 0 Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me! Many a time have I heard these piercing cries while the flesh upon the back was cut into strips.
The doctor lias hold of his pulse and determines the condition for endurance. If the poor fellow faints, which is often the case, some brandy or cold water is given him, by means of which he is soon revived. This is the mode of punishment in the navy; or rather it was until a few years since, when by the humane remonstrances of the people, punishment with the cat was abolished. These two men on whom this dreadful sentence was inflicted were carried to the Hospital in a state of insensibility. Although I was not near enough to see their backs mvself, I was told by a man who had a good opportunity of seeing them, that they were a mass of coagulated blood from the shoulders to the loins, as above the former and below the latter a blow must not be struck.
They were carried from the boat to the Hospital on a sort of litter. Before we left Halifax I was told that one of them was able to sit up a few hours each day and pick oakum. I refrain from saying anything more on this painful subject at present, as in the course of my narrative I shall have occasion to mention acts of cruelty in our own navy that would put a savage to the blush. Jenkin Ratford, one of the three deserters, who was sentenced to be hanged, was strung up to the foreyard-arm of the Jason, frigate, on the Monday morning subsequent to the whipping through the fleet. He was run up amid the smoke of the bow gun, over which the platform was erected.
His crime, though it was adjudged the most flagrant, yet his punishment was comparatively nothing as viewed with that of the others; for the explosion of the gun instantly kills the victim and his death is easy. As the reader may never have seen an execution on board a man-of-war, I will describe this melancholy scene by narrating the execution of Sam Jackson, a seaman, on board the U. S. Ship St. Mary's in the harbor of Vera Cruz, Sept. 17, 18-10. The account is given by the Rev. Fitch W. Taylor, Chaplain in the U. S. Navy, and which I here transcribe. Jackson while in a state of intoxication had struck an officer, the penalty for which is death, or some other punishment which a court-martial shall adjudge.
He was found guilty, and the following sentence passed upon him, viz: that Samuel Jackson, seaman, of the U. S. Navy, he executed at such time and place as the commander-in-chief should direct; and that these proceedings, findings, and sentence having been approved by the commander-in chief, therefore, the commander-in-chief, directs that the said Samuel Jackson, seaman, be hanged by the neck, at the foreyard-arm of the U. S. ship, St. Mary's, on Thursday, 17th day of September, 1846, between the hours of ten A. M., and meridian. The general order then continues. "In order that a suitable impression may be made on the minds of all persons in the squadron, and that there may be nothing to divert their thoughts from so melancholy a spectacle, and that they may be duly impressed with the awful consequences which must ever follow such violation of law, as were committed by this unhappy man, it is directed that no work be done on that day; that when the preparatory signal is made for execution by the Cumberland, a yellow nag shall be displayed from the foreroyal-mast head of the St.
Mary's. The officers and crew of every vessel of the squadron present, shall be mustered on deck until the yellow flag on board the St. Mary's is hauled down. Commanders will direct that no boats nor persons be absent from the vessels of the squadron on that day, on any pretence whatever, without permission from the commander-in-chief." The fate of this unhappy man, it is hoped, will have a salutary influence, and impress the minds of all present, with the necessity of keeping a strict watch over their passions and tempers at all times and in all situations. The Rev. Chaplain goes on to state: "Yesterday, Sept. 13, being Sunday, I preached on board the St. Mary's. The preceding general order was read immediately after my leaving the ship for the Cumberland, having been received during the services, and to-day, Monday, I have visited the prisoner on board the St.