The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-10-06
Lieutenant and Commodore.

Obedience to superior orders ceases to
be duty the moment those orders en-
danger life and general safety. Pressing
cases like the following may occur
where subsltsrn is aware of something
unknown to his officer, and must act be-
fore he ha. time to explain. The "Army
and Navy Journal" tells the story
In 1888, the typhoon of the Northern
Pacific was not - we'll understood as il
10 now, and that sea WAS little known to
our naval vessels. In that year the
Potomac, commanded BY Com. John
Downes, was crossing its waters on her
cruise around she world
Reuben r. Pinkham was her third
lieutenant, a thorough sailor; born in .
northern whaling port, he had made
several voyages to the North Pacific as
3 whaler, and vas comparatively fami-
liar with that region where the other
officers were strangers. He and Com.
Downes have both been long dead.
The day was drawing to a close'
Pink ham had the watch, and the COM
modore was walking the deck. The
wind, which before WAS fresh, had in
creased to gale; topgallant sails were
handed. top.ails reefed and spanker
brailed up; when all at once Pinkham
gave the ORDER
Man the weather head braces-
weather main n-brace-weather maintop-
sail -brace-lee cro.s-jack braces."
"What is that for, Mr.. Pinkham?"-
asked the commodore.
1--WE shall have the wind out here il
a moment, sir" said Pinkham, stretch
ing his arm out and pointing to the lee
ward
With that the commodore ran over t,
the lee rail, and looked an1iously out il
the direction indicated. Presently h.
returned and said
~ see no signs of it, Mr.. Pinkham
let the men lsave the braces"
With that number ofthe crew drop
ped the ropes, and Pink ham called ou
Keep bold OF those braces, every ma
of you," when they resumed thei
grasp.
The commodore's face flushed wit
I anger to find his directions thus disr.
; garded, and he called out, in a peremr
! tory tons,-
J "Let the men leave the braces, sir"
Again the crew dropped the rop
: from their hands, when Pink kham, shall
| ing his trumpet at them, exclaimed, :
;; Don't any of you dare to let 60
t those ropes"
e AT that moment the wind did not d
j away, but stopped. and the saids fapp,
against the masts. Raising his trump
to his lips, Pinkham shouted, "Ha
taut! Haul off all p and the pondero
. yards SWING to a reversed direction.
= They had hardly done 50 when Il
wind came out from the opposite qua
n ter, and struck the ship like sled
hammer. She bent over before it, b
:. shaking the spray from her bows dash
!. forward unharmed
Com. Downes said not word, b
e rushed into his cabin; and presently t
J. orderly came up to Mr.. Pinkham a
:. said the commodore wished him to SCI
% to the first lieutenant to relieve him
~ a few minutes, as he wished to see hi
in the cabin.
"a Entering The cabin, Pinkham fou
k the commodore seated BY table.
IA "Mr. Pinkham," he exclaimed,
ID consider myself indebted to you for I
1e own life and for the lives for all
or board this ship. Had you not haul
OF the yards jnst when you did, the 81
ne would have gone down stern foremost
N But | tell you frankly that, had {
It's wind not come out as you predicted
g, would have put you under arrest in
minutes"
~ "Com. Downes," replied Lieut.. PHI
he ham, al did not intend any disrespe
nd and I should be sorry if you though
IA did, but l have been in these seas
90 fore, and am familiar with these sud(
of changes Of wind. ! saw undoubtful
dy dications of such change then, q
m knew that had no time for expla
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