Our mizzentop mast was decayed in spots, and had to be renewed. This would take some time. In the meantime the harbor-authorities ordered us to move further up East Rive. To do that we had to pass under the Brooklyn Bridge, which is 145 feet high, and we had to take down our topgallant masts to pass under.
Having moved up to our new anchorage, we proceeded to get up our mizzentop mast. We were only three men, namely, the carpenter, second mate and I to do this work. It was a strenuous job and took more time than we thought it would take. I did not like the idea of our captain that he would hire no men, but let us do all this work. As officers, we were, under the law and by our contracts, not to do such work as this, except when no men were available and in case of absolute necessity. This was not such case. But he hired no men because he wanted to save money. We let it pass, however; we were young and healthy and used to labor, so it did not hurt us very much.
But then the captain went ashore and did not return for a whole week, and I thought that was going a little too far. When he finally came back, I told him what I thought: 'It is not enough that you leave all the work to me, and also all responsibility. But here I am left to deal with the authorities, which is really your duty, such as the sanitary, revenue and harbor authorities, and all kinds of people who require papers and information which I have not and cannot give. You know I am not used to such things. Here comes the harbor offices and order us to move up river, from Herod to Pilate, and we have to move ship, while you are ashore, apparently giving no attention to anything. You should, at any rate, come on board once in a while and give us some instructions about things that are to be done.'
When I had finished my complain, his answer was: 'O, you will mange all right.' Then he went ashore again, and I did not see him for another week. Rather disgusted, I could not imagine what ailed him. Yet, I knew he had a brother in New York, who was a stevedore, and now they were probably having a good time on the money he saved for himself by not having a crew to pay during the eight weeks we lay at new york. He did not hire a crew before the day we were to sail. I found it was everything but pleasant to be mate of a ship with such a captain. So much responsibility and worry was put on me, besides hard work, that I almost wished I was a common seaman again. It was not only while we were in New York he acted disagreeable; later on it came to real controversies between us.
Finally he came on board and said we were to go over to Hoboken and load petroleum. We got a tug to pull us over. Now, it was to count the barrels as they came over the railing, from morning till night, day in and day out, while a man from the oil company also counted. One might think that was no work, but I found it was no fun, especially because I was to be responsible for every barrel we might be short at the port of destination. We took in about 4,000 barrels, and it took time, as horse-power was used in those days to hoist them onboard