The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-02
LORD BYR0N'S COXSWAIN.
sUNDRY "REMINISCENCES or INN DOWN
ar SAILORS sNU0 HARBOR.
Being Mainly. However. rs 20 Ills Love of
Strong Drink. and hut Slightly rs 80 that
Memorable Me,Iit crranesn Yacht Trip.

Sailors Snug IIurbor, at Staten Island,
lies white and cool under its eafy roof. and
looks out unmovcd upon tho unrest Of life rs
represented In the moving commerce and tho
smoky factories across the Kills on Bergen
Point. The sunlight falls gayly upon the grassy
sides OF the long winding embankment which
stretches away to Brighton and beyond. line
of beauty unbrokcn save NJ ono point which is
the point whcrcupon the tall chimney Of the fac
tories aforementioned shake a saucy ead-col-
ored ribbon OF ill-smcllng smoke. At the land.
ing dozen old sailors. exhibiting divers vaRa-
RIGS Of innrmity one day sat defiant of slivcrs
upon Il pile OF unpancd blanks. and moved their
jaws In measured sweep abovct the rcd kcrchicfs
with which their necks wero decorated. lending
incidentally langud eye TO the gliding craft.
the blue waters and tho hay walls OF the dis
tnnt city Above. Il squadron of battered old fell
lows having found pleasant anchorage on the
stone steps of the main building. were easily
floating Mt their cables ends. piousy Offering
up nm incense Of tobacco smoke and droamily
digesting dinner and the incidents OF life.
As THE sun reporter sailed enioyably along
he got salutcs from some while others. whose
lookout WINS directed. ms II were. through tho
storm windows Of existence. allowed him to pass
unnotced. There were two. however. whose
salute WIS especially magnificent. and rs there
was something in their general rig which
aroused curiosity and moreover n sort Of ex-
ccptional intelligence booking. so TO speak.
through their lights. tho reporter determined
for his own edncaton To signal them moro
closely. and 10 that end. having grappod with
cruise down tho roadway 10 Brighton for the
purpose Of circumyeniing a schooner OF beer.
The old fellows declared their liking for deep
hullcd forc-and-ait"r surInounrd by fonm-
white top-riRging, and the three set OIL together.
Passing along the superb old road. over which
90 r. IA
had for prospect on one side the shining hny
aud the distant city. and on tho other side
drcorous and uncrowdcd row Of those mar
NCluus Crook country houses OF tho spmi-cen-
t'nnial past tho reporter said that il was ~
very fine and that old American sailors ought
to consider themselves blessed.
We'll" said Thomas L"ithwhitc. nm English
bottom who has sailed tho American Nag Tor
my yrars; The 'Arbors not - bad II you keep
the rules. but its not enjoyable as ireo cruis-
ing. inasmuch ~ you can't drink and emit tight
under no cons derations whatsoever. Amt that
your opinion. Bil'
William Hall who sailed out Of Abordocn
many years since and mover returned, rcs pond
cd: Yes that's the drawback. You got plenty
To- eat and plenty OF clothes and half pound of
good tobacco every month. and you have good
Tint snt enough tobacco. don't you Soc"
said LHitnWhtte. Stopping to rohght tho hes
~ his pipo. though I'm not complaining; but
Ia rather have half grub and whole tobacco
than whole grub and half tobacco any day. FOR
YOU can live with mighty litil" eating. whereas
Jon might "a we'll die wthou, plenty OF tobacco
How do YOU manage to get along without
grogf SAID tlo reporter. taxing great care 10
"We don't" said Hall erayelv dove. Tom?"
No" said the other. We don't. for don't YOU
see there more WAYS ~ sticking a pis thah one.
Tho aat remark was addressed TO an old fell
low. who came along fr"hly. using a cane. with
u couple of morning papers under his arm.
We call him old Sinbnd tho sailor because,
You know. there was an old sailor called Sinbad.
mind that my own keel was laid in 1910. He
soils papers for TO get u few pennies. just ~ we
all do something when we get a chance for To
get little extra tobacco and such Ike neccssi-
tics: H. was mate on n whnler that sailed out
OF Now London"
Then you have officers here rs well us COM
Lord bless you. we have captains and mates
10y the score We've got lots Of old captains rs
is worth money. which suppose their families
won't have EN- at home. being they are such
unconsr i9na0le growlers and 80 they ship EN-
. by this time the little. rotlla had reached
Brghton.whe in II shady. COSBY room. which
was small enough 10 keep the tobacco smoke
thick and socablc. three glasses stood in neigh
PORTER dropped his line into the deep 4rnter Of
inc two old sailors without any more surface
WHO Is the most interesting man in the Har-
Dor, and what can You tell me- about HIM ~
~" most interesting man in tho Arhor,
glass he was about 10 SIT to his lips and taking
pulls between his words in u manner 10 lend to
lh'lh me sl2whess ana soiemhHy oil minute
guns. amt in the 'Arbor no more He's
Hall also looked solemn, and the reporter
He were William Girdham. D." Leithwhite con-
unued, anu can tel you lust ne Entry the
books. which l learned by heart. II runs this
" William Girdham. came June 7. 1s4s Born
in England. Age "a years Has sailed under
the American flag thirty.9ne yenrs. Variety ol
diseascs. ENpelled. Arri 90. 1884. f9r heastly
drunkenness. Lot -, which was handed 10 the
| GoNernor. Taken back December D. 1871.
ppird Q ,ioher 23i 1861 OF Old age Buried in
William Girdham, =" the old sailor continued,
after pause in which he emptind his glass and
appeared 10 consider what We're the best words
were by ali odds the most entertaining man in
Sailors snug 'Arbor. and he We're my courade
wcrn't he "A joyial fellow and an honest man
from his crosstrees straight down Ia his keel
Why. sir you heard me- say that he were dis
charged for being beastly drunk. He were NJ.
WAYS the same. and no ml-iortunes IN life could
alter him nor cast shadows over his pleasant
ana sunShlny ways. He wer" u stanch. true
man. which YOU knew whore TO find him every
time. and you might rs well expect To see
sheet anchor soften and change lis nature IA 10
expect to see Bin Girlham shut OF tho grin
which played constant between his ours and
knu'kle down 10 the Nlclssltudcs OF lie. lie
were man, SIR ABOUT my hoiEht, I'VE ioot
seven, iorid Completed. with yellow hair and
blue eyes-eastwlse. his beard was yellow be-
Tore II turned white. AMI h. tod me ne HAIR
was vel low. which he was as bald asa bahama
bank when knew him
Hall assented to all this. The two shook their
| hruds with an air ~ sincere sadness. and the
reporter asked IN default Of further conyersa-
ton from the others: Did he do anything in
| particular z"
Anything in particular" exclaimed Leth-
| white; everything he did was that sort. He
| was the most entertaining man in the Arbor,ns
| m telling you. and his manners and his dis
! course were Ms particular rs heart could wish
! Rest his soul how much he could drink ana
! when he had drunk all he could. God bless mo
! how drunk lle WAS, Such stories as no could
/ tell That man, sir when he was soaked with
| LIQUOR down 10 the keel, and lay like "A log. and
/ couldn't speak a word-couldn't hiccup. by c..
| was Ms eloquent IA "a bad-headed eagle
| a-shrirking for its young. He was, sir in
/ deed
Lenhwhite looked at Hall for confirmation
! and Hal. blowing the foam oil q fresh glass
/ looked assent Qt Leithwhite. The reporter
h n,tT the whistle OF boat. and thought he
| IN some Lords boat" Hall said.
So he was said leithwhite. Tho most
entertaining man in tho snug llarbor. What
was the name ~ that Lord. now? Let me see
| ord-Lord-lyrin-tbat's IT, sir. Lord Byrin /;
the same as swan across the liellespont-and
good swim II were Tor any man. Lord or COM
] mon.
" Lord Byron" said the reporter.
, Thats him. said Leithwhte; :" him rs had
| the game ley. and wrote poetry, and went out
! and became a Turk Girdham were the cox
| vain to him. which ho had "A private yacht an