Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-03
ONLY JONES.

sitting around their mess table, in Castle.
town, the capital OF the Isle Of Man, one
evening more than thirty years ago-tha'
is, all Of them except one; but then, that
one was only Jones. Nobody minded
Jones; even his peculiarities had begun
to be an old subject for Chatting; and
indeed, he had paid such small attention
to their ''chafing" that they had come to
find it little pleasure; and after some
weeks of discomfort Lieut.. Jones had
been allowed to choose his own pleasures
without much interference.
These were not extravagant. A favor
tie book, long walk in all kinds of
weather. and sail when the weather
was favorable. He would not drink he
said it hurt his health; he would not
shoot-he said it hurt his feelings; he
would not gamble he said it hurt his
conscience; and he did not care to t1irt or
visit the bellies of the capitol, he said it
hurt his affections. Once Capt. De Reuzy
l'spingly wondered whether it was poss-
lble to 'hu,t his honor, ard Jones calmly
answered that lit was not possible for
Capt. De Reuzy to do So"
Indeed, Jones constantly violated all
these gentlemens ideas of proper behav-
LOT, but, for some reason or Other, no one
brought him to account for it. 1t was
easier to shrug their shoulders and call
him "queer," or say lit was only JONES'
Or even to quietly assert his cowardice.
One evening Col Underwood was dis
cussing hunting party for the next
day Jones walked into the room and
was Immediately accosted:
g Som ETH nr now ,ia,1tanopt EoI
there are pleanty Of hares on this island,
and we mean to give puss run to-mor-
row. have heard you are good rider.
Will you join us?"
"You must excuse me, Colonel; such a
thing is neither in the way of my duty nor
my pleasure"
g You forgot the honor the Colonel
does you, jones' said young Ensign
Powell
II thank the Colonel for his courtesy,
but can see no good reason for accept
ing it. am sure my horse Will not APP
prove OF it; and am sure the hare will
not like it; and I am. not good rider;
therefore, should not enjoy it.'
You need not be afarid," said the
Colonel, rather sneeringly; the country
is quite open and these low Manx walls
are easily taken.'
"Excuse me, Colonel, / am afraid. IF
| should be hurt it would cause my moth
er and sisters very great alarm and
anxiety. | am very much afraid of do
ing this
What was to be done with man so
obtuse regarding conventional1ties, and
who boldly asserted his cowardice. The
Colonel turned away, half contemptuous-
ly, and Ensign Powell took Jones' place
The morning proved to be very bad
one, with the prospect of a rising storm !;
and as the party gathered in the bar
racks-yard Jones said earnestly to his
Colonel:
II am afraid sir, you will meet with
severe storm"
81 think SO, Lieutenant, but we prom
ised to dine at Gwynne Hall, and we shall
get that far, at any rate"
So they rode rather gloomily away in
the rain. Jones attended to the military
duties assigned him, and then, about
noon, worked seward. It was hard
work by this time to keep his footing on
the narrow quay but amid the binding
spray and mist he saw quite crowd Of
men going rapidly toward the great
shelving Scarlet Rocks, mile beyond
the town. He stopped an old sailor and
asked:
"ls anything wrong?"
"a little steamer, sir, off the Calf of
Man; she is driving this way: an infect
fear she will be on ia rocks a{ore ia
night"
Jones sood still q moment, and then
followed the croWed as fast as the storm
would let him. When he joined them
they wear gathered on the summit of a
huge cliff, watching the doomed craft,
She was now within sight, and it was evi
dent that her seaman had almost lost all
control Of her. She must, ere long, be
tlung by the waves upon the jagged and
trightfnl rocks toward which she was
driving. In the lulls of the wind, not on
ly the booming Of the minute gun, but
also the shouts Of the imperiled crew
could be heard
"What can be done?n said jones to an
Old man, whose face betrayed the strong
est emotion.
Nothing, sir, am afrait If she'd
managed to rount rocks, she would
have go to pieces on the sand and there
are plenty OF men who would have risket
iAAo ~ saw 1AlC. DuC HOW are we 10 TGaCl
them from this height?'
GLOW far are we above the water?"
This rock goG down like wall, for
ty fathoms, sir
"What depth of water at the foot?'
''ThirtY feet or more"
Good. Have you plenty of light
strong rope?''
"Much as you want, sir; but let me tell
you, sir, you can't live three minutes
down there; ia first wave will throw you
on ia rocks, and dash you to pieces.
Plenty of us would put you down, sir, but
you can't swim if you get down.
''Do you know, old man, what surf
swimming is? have dived through the
surf at Nukuheva."
"God bless you, sir! I thought no
white man could do that same.'
While this conversation was going on
Jones was divesting himself of all super
fluous clothing, and cutting out the
sleeves of his heavy pea-jacket with his
pocket-knife. When this was done he
passed some light, strong rope through
them.
The men watched him with eager in