Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-20
THE RACE:
AN INCIDENT OF THE LATE WAR,
By MAJOR BYING HALL.


A tender in the Downs, and a we'll
manned boat approached the shore
What curious and engaging motley of
character do their crews present to US
remember a story of some men of wars
men, which Will fairly describe them,
though | think even [, landsman, can
see the difference a long peace and more
domestic habits have produced in their
natures.
It was near the end of the last long
and exciting war, when two frigates,
which had long been rivals and emulous
Of one another, though alike distinguished
and successful, We're in harbor at Ports
mouth together to relit. They watched
one another S progress and tried to surpass
one another, and were well understood to
be running a race once more. to prepare
their ships for active service, when little
band OF sailor friends, five or six from
each ship, had obtained leave of absence
to 60 to London at the same time: and
as they were "fiush," as it is called, with
money, they resolved each to take coach
for themselves, Or coach for each ship,
and thus to keep up their old emulation
by running a race together to London.
Lucliilyfor them, there were two coaches
in the town-rivals like their ships-the
one leaving the George, the other the
Fountain, at about the same time. Ac-
cordingly, the whole coach, inside and
outside, was taken at the George by the
men Of the lnlpetucuse, that Of the Foun-
tain i'll the same way by the celebrated
Amazon. As the morning Of the depar-
ture approached, much hustle occurred at
the coach office, with some noise and
alteration, and soon the four horses were
being put to, but 10 luggage was seen on
the cOach-roof: when d party consisting
Of two Wcll-dressed men, and three still
smarter females, probably ladies, arrived
IN a hurry, as though fearing they were
too late, and the following scene cnsued
on the Amazon: the voice Of one of the
gentlemen, who had gone for places was
heard aloud to say, "There are no seats
they are all taken"
& All taken? are you surc?"
YES, party Of sailors have taken the
whole COACH"
At this moment, five fine looking fel-
lows with low hats, long queues, large
Whlskers, open neck, pipes in their
mouths, and huge sack trowscrs, swung
alongside the office, halIooing out, "Ah,
that's right, Blue Peter up, short stay
a-peak, eh ? Man the capstan, coachee,
and make sail before the other chap
come, bear a hand"
Up jumped one on the box, having
thrown his bundle On board, while two
others cl2mbered up behind. Bill" said
man on the box, ''put jim down in the
cabin; he's fresh this morning, and had
better not come aloft, because if the craft
rolls he II be overheard"
But this was not listened to, and up
got the others in front. Nh this took
place within few minutes, when those
who desired to be passengers were also
heard to say:
But there's plenty Of room for US
are there no more! Porter, put up our
| luggage"
Now, Sarah, jump ill.," added one of
the gentlemen as he opened the coach
door.
Avast, there" said one of the sailors
with a good -natured voice, 1.-the berths
are all taken"
What insolcncer' exclaimed the
angry man, "what right have YOU to
keep people out where the places are not
filled! Get in Sarah
:" Avast there" was againshouted from
the top, and down came all the Jacks
with a leap, and stood by the coach door
An appeal with gestures and fury was
made by both the male and female disap-
pointed passengers. to the office keeper,
coachman and guard
But the places are all taken and paid
for, gentlemen we can do nothing: you
must apply to the sailors themselves"
Not we: we insist on their giving up
the vacant seats--ill behaved drunken
. fcllews -