Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-04-22
The RitcEs Bit.
BY TIE OLD TN.


Some time ago story went the rounds touching q
man, who, having presented himself IN his shirseeves
at the American Museum, New York, received loan
of coat, and after viewing the curoses sloped with
the garment, obtaining a sight Of the elephant and
splendid sWaoWail for twenty-five cents This reminds
of affair that occurred in 1910, on board the Old
Columbus, when she lay at Charestown Navy Yard
One day long green NermOner struggled board the
trigate and examined everything on deck with curious
eyes The officer of the watch from his bearing and the
neatness Of uniform, attracted the Yankees notice.
Got pretty good place here hey ~ he inquired.
The officer assented.
What wages do you get p
One hundred and twenty-five dollars month
"One hundred and twenty y-ive dollars ?
All to yourself. Shoh?'
Fact, sir
Wall, wonder if couldn't get something to do
here, myself?"
"Oh, yes you'd make a pretty good midshpman'
"Wall what are midshpman's wages for green
hand ?"
Forty dollars month only
Only forty dollars Jerusalem! Why, l was told
to hire out for ten. But where can be made mid
shpman on say quick :"
ll0Wn below, sir, in the steerage AS soon as I'm
relieved, I'll see to it,.
Down went the quiZZer and the QuiZzed. A bevy Of
young mdshpmen required no prompting to perpetrate
piece of mischief. A spurious warrant made
out, and the greenhorn qaipped in splendid uniform
including elegant chapeau and costly sword, by
directed to present himself to Commodore S., in the
cabin and report ready for duty He told tnat the
commodore mil ght be pretty gruf'it way he had
but not to mind it. The steerage being full the new
midshpman was to demand quarters in the commodore's
cabn-n fact hewas ordered to take possession of
tain staterOOm. The cOmmodores black looks and angry
words to be regard nothing-he had right to
use either. Thus "posted up the victim presented him.
self to the commodore with;
"Old hoss, how yOu?
S. started; he had come across rara avis. Take
a seat, sir
i kin hep myself, old eler-I ginerally do" was
the reply OF the Vermonter, he flung himself into
one seat and crossed his legs upon another.
you of the mdshipmen / suppose ?"
remarked the commodore who, from the first suspected
something
q ant nothin else
| Shall trouble you for your warrant"
! Catch hold. old boy"
The commodore looked at the document and then at
his visitor.
| "Who gave you this ?"
"The fellers down stairs-and I'm now ready for
! duty"
"That's enough. Now you can go
Not as you know on, squire The cellars chock
kfull-and amt gOin out of this ere in a hurry
tell you Q, you needn't rare up old feler. see what's
the matter-youre leete cracked up here :" And the
brilliant youth touched bis forehead with his forefnger
going into this ere chamber to take right good
snooze-boots and all, by gravy
AS he proceeding to execute this menace the
commodore took him by the arm and led him to the
gangway Pointing to the sentinel, he remarked mild
| ly: d" YOu see that man with a musket now if you
don't clear out directly, and leave the ship yard and
to show your face here again. I'll order him to
shoot you.''
The Yankee broke-and in two seconds his blue coat
tail was seen floating in his rear he dashed out Of
the yard with the speed of flying iackass.
LII minute afterwards, half a dozen terrified mid
shpmen rushed on deck and asked for liberty to 90
ashore.
Young gentlemen said the commodore, grant
20 liberty to-day.
Six faces fell feet, and six young jokers returned
to their melancholy as mutes at an alder
mans funeral. They never saw or heard anything of
| the Yankee aiterward-nor the uniform either
| Arrival o thc Star O the West.
NEw YORK, April 13.-The steamer Star of the West
arrived this afternoon from Aspnwall bringing 81 4OO-
900 in gold from California, consigned as follows
| Messrs. Wells, Fargo & Co., $269.000; American Ex-
change Bank $l69000 Messrs. Scholle Brothers.
S97 900; W. L. Coleman, ISL 900; Metropolitan
Bank $4,000 Messrs. Duncan, Sherman & Co, $52-
| 900 Messrs. Freeman & Co., $61 0OO
The California and South American advices by this
arrival have been anticipated.
| The q. S. frigate Merrimac was at Panama. the
sloop-of-war Decatur had gone to San Francisco
1t reported at Realejo that the Cass Irrissari
treaty had been ratified 'ith slight notifications, to
which MIR. Lamar assented He is said to be about
! coming home.