The Kanzas news., 1857-07-18
The Inckless Twe1ye-Pounder.

gan the master, Gin a slOOp-Of-war, some
ten years ago. It was in the month of Feb
ruary that we dropped anchor in that capa
cious harbor, just outside the numerous
feet that is always to be found in that great
Eastern mart.
In the distance we had aview of the city
Its port enlivened by merchant vessels of
almost every nation There were the Amer
lean ship Ontario, several Dutch and French
vessels of war, and innumerable small
crafts. 1t appears that the 22nd of the
month was Washington's birthday, Sc the
Ontario was dressed out with flags of all
sorts flying from every masthead.
was on board with Lieutenant Jackson,
third lieutenant of our sloop, who had gone
to see brother on board the American, and
I myself had very dear friend there. The
captain was gone ashore to the American
Consul, SO the first lieutenant ordered prep
aralions to be made for birthday salute,
by drawing the shot from the guns. You
are aware it is always customary to lay the
ball beside the gun, so that the officer going
round may see all is right. The cabin guns,
it seems, were all drawn first, and to avoid
numbering the cabin they were carried away.
Somehow or other, whether from careless
was laid alongside of one of the guns in the
waist before the gun had been drawn. How
ever, bang! went the guns for the salute"
Hallo,' sung out the first lieutenant,
gunner, that gun had shot in it.
No, Sir, he returned, there's the shot
alongside the gum
Il was walking about with my friend
after this, when he perceived boat pulling
J L. Al e. Il.
brig, our nearest neighbor. The Dutch
lieutenant got aboard, and at once advanc-
ing to the second lieutenant, who was an
Irishman, he said with look of great con-
sternation
.Mien Got, Sir you fired shot into us
just now, which carried away our main
peam, upset the cooks eoppers, and dere
Terefell, kilt de cook himself
sOh! be J--,' said Lieutenant Dobbs,
you re dreaming my fine fellow, the devil
ball was there in the gun at all, it was the
wadding.'
DE wattingl mine Got, do you make your
waiting of iron? l must see the capetane
you kilt de COCK
Be Cor, we have spoilt the broth then,'
said Lieutenant Dobbs, going below, sing
ing out, Il say, Harvey. my fine fellow, I'm
blessed if we havn't kilt a Dutch cook this
morning
sConfound it J exclaimed the first lieu
tenant, coming up, but the Dutch officer
was gone off in rage.
6 l say Dobbs,' said Lieutenant Harvey,
seriously, take boat and go on board, ex-
plain how the accident occurred and make
an ample apology
In ten minutes Lieutenant Dobbs re-
turned, laughing, L told you so; be the
powers the Dutch captain is decent fellow,
had good glass of schiedam; we GER
tainly knocked his main boom which he
called his peam, to smash and tumbled
over the cook and his coppers, but the ras-
cal is quit for the fright
The shot, it appears, had ricochetted,
struck the surface of the water, glanced off,
and passed over the Dutchman's poop
The Dutch captain politely refused the first
lieutenant's offer to repair the boom. Lieu
tenant Harvey was just congratulating him
self that all the harm done by the internal
shot was so well over, when a boat came
alongside from a French corvette, which
happened to be lying beyond the Dutchman.
Now, unfortunately, there happened to be a
eooiness between the French and American
officers, arising out of fracas that had ia
ken place at Port Mahon between some
Americas and French sailors, in which
French officer and an American sailor had
been killed. The French officer, therefore,
advanced along the deck with very stern
look, and approaching Lieutenant Dobbs,
who was looking half bewildered and half
inclined to laugh, whispering to young
Mid. beside him, Here's a blessed mess,
I'm d if this here Frenchman don't
look as if be had swallowed that cursed
ball, and that it was sticking in his gizzard
Monsieur said the French officer, rails
iog his hat. Lieut.. Dobbs doing the same,
"a shot from your ship has passed over our
corvette cutting away our rigging and de-
stroying some of our seamen's clothing
which was hung out to dry
Shot Frenchman,' roared out Lieuten-
ant Harvey, is it possible ; curse the shot,
and he hurried on deck. The Frenchman
had bowed himself off, Lieutenant Dobbs
returning each bow with flourish of his
own hat. Go aboard, Dobbs, for Gods
sake J said Lieutenant Harvey, explain
Explain = interrupted Dobbs, be J-i
I don't understand word of their internal
pariez rouz. D-i 1t, tell them to fire a
shot at us; we won't grumble, and there's
an end of il, but I'll take devilish good
care to keep our cook out of the way
well then, must go myself, said
Lieutenant Harvey. BY JoEe I this in
ferrlal shot has kicked up pretty mess
OF went the lieutenant, and we remsined
realls anxious 10 hear the result OF his |
visit. In 90 minutes Lieutenant Harvey