Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-11-29
AN OLD SAILORS YARNS.
A Case Of Mistaken Identity---The Mat
rimOniaI Career OF Jack Rodgers.
New York World


New York World
THAT were a funny thing which hap
pened e Jack Rodgers, sir" said the
old sailor, 4" and if | didn't know that it
actilly happened, I'd be inclined to
doubt it; but me and Jack was ship
mates for SO long q time that l couldn't
be mistaken into him, and | know that
this thing what I'm a-goin to tell you
about did actilly take place.
q You see, sir, me and Jack was ship
mates fust in the North American, Black
Ball packet, the time she went ashore
on the jersey coast and was lost, and
arter that we was together in the Oxford,
the Cambridge, the Montezuma, when
she were new, the Westminster, London
packet, and mayhap some others, and
we got to be chums like, usin' each
others dunnage with perfect freedom.
1t wern't likely, then that I'd be mis-
taken in Jack, whatever woman might
say.
After | took the fever and went off
gOin' off for a long board into the Pacific,
and Jack keepin' on III the Liverpool
trade, and we lost track Of one another.
About a year arter that though, falls
III with chap by the name of Ned
Morgan up to the mines, and says he to
me, says Ned, You recollects Jack
Rodgers, says he, and says [, OF course
| does and says he, He's nicely fixed
and says |, AS how" and says he, He's
spliced to woman as keeps a public
house in the Scotland road in Liver
pool, and has knocked off goin' to sea
altogether
Well, sir, [ were right glad for to
hear this, cause Jack were nice chap,
and | didn't Civ him much thought ar
ter that for years
Finally | come over this side of the
land and ships into the Isaac Webb,
Black Baller, for Liverpool, havin' good
passage of eighteen days, and arrivin'
of Il Saturday and dockin' the same
tide. Next day bein' Sunday / gets my
best dunnage and | starts for to take Il
walk and have look at the old places
where | had been used to cruise in
former years. Passin' across the square
of the Exchange, nigh hand to the Mel
son Monument, who should | come
athwart but Jack Rodgers.
Why, jack says |.
says he; and then he turns to me quite
serious, and says he, Tom Peters, says
he, amt you mistaken? Am | me, or
amt | me, and ann | somebody else?
"Well, l. thought Jack had been a
hystin', and | says, Steady, my lad,
steady; don't let her yaw about too
much; it's all right, old chap, and I'm
glad to see you, and if SO be as you
hadn't enough aboard I'd say come down
to the widder's and have dram, and
talk over old times
Says he, Tom, you thinks I'm lush
- Well says |, 'goin' for looks I
should say no; but goin' for talk, am l
me or amt / |, or what you take me
for? I'd say yes
"Says Jack, Let's git at this, begin
MIN with the fust. Am Jack Rodgers?
Says |, Who else, lad?
Says he, There's folks in this town
rs says as how I'm 4 alibi; not Jack
Rodgers at all, but Bill Williams, the
b. band of wilder and the father of
II Children
Seem as Jack. to the best of my
knowledge and belief, were sober, says
to him, This here's all Greek to me, but
if you likes to go down to the widder
we'll have pot of beer, and if t will
ease your mind for to spin the yarn I'm
convenient.
So we goes down to the widows ard
bein' seated in the snug, orders pipes
and terbacker, and of course, mugs of
ale and Jack reeled it off to me, as nigh
as | recollect, in this here style:
"'Arter we parted in New York, says
he, ships into the Washington, along
of Capt. Page, and comes out here,
maxim a fine run out of sixteen days,
and fine weather all the time with the
exception of snifter from the s'uth' ard
passin' the tail of the Banks. We'd
been in, | s'pose, about week, when
one night takes a stroll up Scotland
roadway, and / comes to little public
house, and feelin' a bit dry, [ goes in for
TO have a drop of ale. There were a
tidy-lookin' lass behind the bar dressed
in deep mournin', and Us | steps up to
Civ my order, she jist claps her eyes
onto me and gives yell, and down she
goes into a fit like. Jist then, out comes
Il little gal from the inner room, and rs
soon as she makes me out she sings out,
It's daddy, its daddy" and out of the
door she rushes, and [ heerd her calm
to the folks next door, and next knowd
she comes back with Il woman, who
fas'ens onto me with her fists, sayin',
Goodness, gracious, Mr.. Williams, you
oughtent to have come onto her so sud
den; why ever didn't you come in to
our house fust and let me break it to
her gradual" Then she goes behind
the bar and tends to the lass there,
making the little gal get her some water
for to bring her to with. Then she tells
me to go outside for bit till she gets
her all right. Well, Tom, of course,
L seen there were a mistake somewhere.
and | goes in to wait for the proper time
of explainin' matters and gettin' things
to rights.
"'Tt were a tidy little room inside,
icely furnished, and everythin' snug
nd ship-shape about it. After about
fifteen niinnitS in comes the two VIM
min, and this heresone in black she jist
makes for me. andgiyes me SIGH hug