ACCIDENT ON BOARD THE GALATEA.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 484, 30 March 1869, Page 3

ACCIDENT ON BOARD THE GALATEA.

The took descriptive of the first voyage of the Galatea is here and there enlivened with a pleasing touch of the grotesque, of which we select, as an example, the falling overboard, of "Poor Jack the IVlonkey." We were running hefore the wind that morning, when suddenly the officer of the watch was heard to call out " Hard-a-starboard," and everybody rushed on deck, knowing that something unusual must have occurred. The ship was rounded to, in order to lower a boat and try to save poor Jack, who had just fallen overboard. The men jumped into the port cutter, and were all ready for lowering away. On the bridge everybody was looking out to see if they could catch a glimpse "of poor ' Cookems,' struggling in the water, but the ' wake ' of the ship was right under the sun, and in the glare of the broken water it was impossible to detect where he was. Nobody had thought of letting go a life-buoy to mark the spot where he had fallen. After a short pause of suspense the boat was kept fast, the ship once more brought before the wind, and Jacko left to his untimely fate, sincerely lamented by everyone on board. ' Poor little fellow !' said the Duke, 'lf I had been on deck I think I should have gone overboard after him ; we shall never get another like him."

He lost his life from a habit which he had recently contracted, of biting a hind leg when in apassion, holding it in his hands, and hopping on the other leg to keep his balance. He happened at the time to be skylarking on the hammock-nettings, and when interfered with flew into a passion, bit his leg, hopped the wrong way, and disappeared over the side. Jack was bought at Gibraltar, in December, 1865, and was taken to England in H. M. S. Bacoon, with another monkey called " Jimmy." He was dismissed from that ship " with disgrace," for throwing overboard some valuable papers belonging to the captain. He then joined the Queen's yacht, whence he was sent to the Galatea, with the following regular Blue Jacket's transfer sheet: — Transfer List for 1 Monkey, discharged from 11.M.5. " Victoria and Albert" to H.M.S. " Galatea" per order q/"H.S.H. Prince of Luningen. Class, Sfc. —Continuous service man ; first-class seaman, gunner, and diver. Will made out in favor of wife, but cancelled on decease of wife. For what purpose born. —To await commission of Galatea, and as a general nuisance. Name. —" Jacko." Number, 00. Hcligion. —Eitualist. Hank. —Cook's chum. Charges and abatements; Religious looks, §c —.Razors 5s 6d. Vivian's bible, 10s. (Thrown overboard.) Pomatum, 8s 6d. Toothbrushes, 2s. Commander's comb, 2s Gs, (Swallow'd.) Indiarubber, several pieces, 7s 6d. Shaving brush, 2s 6d. Last offence. — Absent without leave, and brought on hoard in a highly mutinous state.