The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-02
.AdmiraI" John O,Ks.fe,. Luck.


nons ior the aspirants to honor such as
Farragut and Nelson won in shrouds
ana smoke. There were twenty.six of
them, all boys, some of them plainly
dressed, some attired in fine raiment and
bearing all the marks of gentle rearing.
and one shambling fellow, whose collar
less shirt. sieve.like shoes, coarse. dirtv
clothes and uhkempt hair seemed to in-
dlcate thst he had no right to be there:
that his proper sphere of life would be-
acting the part of wharf rat or market
hummer. he spoke to nobody and no.
body spoke to him, yet there was in
that face the look OF reliance and resig.
nation.
Ihe boys we're waiting for the exami-
nation OF applicants for the cadetship in
the Annapolis Naval Academy, in the
gift OF Colonel w. r. Roberts, of the
Fifth Congressional District. Alto, the
boys filed into the room. Colonel Ro.
berts came smiling and jolly as usual !;
Marshal Tooker came soon after. With
Judge Shandley, Michael J. Kelly, DR..
harrington, W. F. McNamara and James
Hayes, all of whom, with the exception
OF Shandley. are members Of the oom-
mlttee to make the award. Several of
the Christian Brothers were present, to
encourage their boys, one of whom they
hoped would carry of the honors from
the public school. Mr.. Duffie, of Gram.
mar School No. 20, OF the first ward, WAS
also present. to back and bet if necessary
on his favorite. the ragged boy above re-
ierred TO. Iooker took a high seat in
the educational synagogue, and the
lesser committeeman clustered about
h'm. They looked grave. Then there
,k1y,
assistant, MIR. Harrison, who conducted
the mental examination, and Drs. Skiff
and II. ). O'Sullivan, who felt the little
fellows to see that they were sound in
wind and limb. All but eight were
ruled out of the race, either on account
OF being under the age of fourteen or
for some physical disqualification. Their
names being called, they filed within the
railing. aud took their seats. Last to
enter was O'Keefe, the ''ragged buffer. {"
as he WAS dubbed by spectator without
the building, and his appearance attract
ed much notice, bat little or no com
ment.
Ihe examination lasted from about l
A. NJ. until nearly 3 P. NJ; but before
1t was half through everybody was inte-
rested and amazed ut the colIarless
Oheefe, who stood by the desk with
open mouth, distended nostril, sparkling
gray eyes, aud head thrown forward to
catch the Questions put by Mr.. Harrison.
While ut rest III that attitude he remind
Ell the beholder OF asprightly dog catch
ing hies. This is perhaps an uneene-
rous comparison. but it is nevertheless q
homely one. Without hesitation he
answered nearly every question quickly,
MS eye still set upon the propounder;
then his mouth would close IN instant.
only to open for the next question.
There was smiling oil around the room,
anu the whisper passed, "That boy
wins; sec il he don't" And he did.
de evidently saw that the eyes of the
natlon-i. e.. that fraction represented
by Tooker, Hayes. McNamara. DR..
harrington and Kelly-were upon him,
and, to use bis language after, he .,put
IN his best licks." The committee. re-
tirlng, remained out On hour, and re-
turning. Joseph Tooker arose with great
dignity, and, after shaking his beard,
proclaimed that John O'Keefe had won
the goal. and the committee would SO re-
port to Colonel Roberts. It was q sore
disappointment to the other boys, who
were we'll dressed and had beautiful
white skins. to see the honors borne off
by that frizzy- headed fellow, who mo-
destly took the hands of his teacher.
AIR. Duffie, and others who rushed for
ward to congratulate him. The young
admiral in embryo did not want to see
the effect of his triumph upon the de-.
feated, but suddenly disappeared before
the reporter could seize his hat aud cane
to follow.
From neighbors of the young cadet
the reporter learned that young . OKeefe
has been attending school pretty reeu.
!arly since he was eight years old, assist.
ing to support his parents and three
sisters BY selling papers in the morning
and evening, and running errands about
Washington Market and the piers. He
has some reputation as ..whnrf rat. "
and many stories arc told Of JOHNNY
O'keefe diving from the yard arms Of
vessels into the river, swimming nnder
vessels bottom and making nude ex.
cnrsions to upper mir in the rigging of
merchantment. In personal appearance
he is one who can elbow his way in the
world. He has bright, sparkling gray
eye; black hair that does not look as if
had ever made the acquaintance of q
comb; muscular limbs, a moderate. sized