We soon had the greater part of the machinery on board, and both masts in, and expected to have her ready for service by the following May. But I came near meeting with an accident which would in all probability have stopped my career. I had a temporary stao-e rioged at the mast head for the purpose of putting in two heavy composition sheeves. I was hoisted up to the stage in a girt line, and then the sheeves were sent up to me. The morning was very cold, and the north wind very piercing; the handling of the sheeves had so benumbed my hands, that they were nearly useless, in consequence of which I took a cant backward, but fortunately held on.
A little more and I should have come down a distance of eighty feet, but my time had not yet come, so I lived on. While lying at Jersey City, a new sailing master joined the frigate who had never been in the United States naval service before. And it appeared that he thought flogging was as much a sailor's due as his rations, for he kept the cat agoing on the most trifling occasion, although, according to the strict rules of punishment, as they then existed in the navy, a sailing master had no more right to seize a man up and flog him, than a midshipman had. But as he had sole charge of the frio-ate for the present, he was determined that every one should know the full measure of his authority.
I went over to New York one evening, to see a particular friend, and as the time slipped away rather imperceptibly, I concluded to remain over night and go on board the frigate early in the morning. iii consequence of there being much ice in the river, the ferry-boat did not go over as soon as.usual; by this delay I could not get on board before the hands were turned to. Our brave sailino* master called me to know where I had been. I replied, " To New York, sir," When, drawing himself up, and putting on an important look says, ".Remember, sir, this is the first time; now beware of the second.'7 1 fully appreciated his meaning which was, that if 1 went to New York again without asking his liberty, that he would Hog me.
I was well aware that I had no right to absent mvself from the ship without liberty. And 1 was also well aware that he had no authority to strike me, I being a petty officer, and none but a commandant or a post captain can flog a petty officer.. However, this all passed off, and during the time we were together all was well. The small vessels which I have previously alluded to as comprising the Flying Squadron, were purchased and lying at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. And as they were to be fatted out with dispatch, we were shifted from the steam-frigate to the Navy Yard to man these vessels, as they were all to undergo more or less alterations, the crews could not live on board of them until after the repairs had been completed.
Accordingly we were put on board the old prize ship Alert. She was the first prize taken by the frigate Essex, and as she was rather old, was converted into a receiving ship. When I first went on board this filthy tub my heart sunk within me. I thought the gunboat was the filthiest thiu<r that floated, but as the saying goes, she was not a circumstance to the old Alert. As a general thing, order and discipline are seldom found to prevail to any extent on board of a receiving ship. In some cases they are commanded by some old worn-out or superannuated naval officer, whose energy, if he ever had any, has entirely gone out. Or, perhaps the command is given to some dissipated fellow who does not know how to treat men.
And then, the seamen wrho are put on board these dismal abodes, are constantly shifting; some probably do not remain twenty-four hours. So there is but H title opportunity for establishing any permanent rules and regulations on board a receiving ship, whatever may be the disposition of the commander. These remarks are intended to apply only to the time of the late war with England. Since then I believe there has been much improvement in this class of ships. At the time I was on board the, Alert she was commanded bv a drunken tyrannical master's mate, and when I had reached the berth deck, with my bag and hammock, I walked aft to the place set apart for petty officers, and was just about laying them down when a fellow sung out to me: " I say! look out for the lice there; there are some as big as cockroaches." I thought if they were as large as that, I could easily catch them, so I left my dunnage and went on deck.