Frostburg mining journal., 1882-12-23
THE ADMIRAL'S STORY.
A MYSTERIOUS YARN TOLD AT CHRISTMAS


In the year 1871 found myself at
tached us watch officer to the V,
one of the ships belonging to squadron
stationed on the west coast of Africa,
cruising there for the suppression of the
infamous slave trade. This Was o
staunch, old-fashioned, deep-waisted
sloop OF war of nearly eight hundred tons
burden carrying twenty guns, with a
complement Of more than two hundred
souls in her ships company. She had
been built years previously, during the
regime of the Navy Commissioners, but
at this time, from the many repairs that
had been made upon her hull, there was
scarcely stick of the original timber re-
manning, although her model had been
sacredly preserved.
''Through all the changes of the changing
years."
There was report current in naval
circles relative to the modelling of this
vessel aud her sister ships-for we had
six of these naval beauties in our service
that the said Navy Commissioners,
when they had assembled together for
the purpose of examining plans and de-
Gliding upon the model by which the
vessels should be constructed, had Sc
lected that one from which they We're
afterward built, by first reducing their
length of keel, as on the original plan,
from 100 to 130 feet, and this reduction
in their length was made by cutting those
thirty feet square off from the afterpart
of the model. As the V had very
full quarters, and anything but clean
run, this current report was in all proba-
bility correct.
Notwithstanding this reduction of
length, the V was u comfortable "old
tub" that could run along from six to
eight knots under favorable conditions of
wind and sea, while with quartering
gale she could go ten.
Our captain was tall, thin, nervous
old gentleman, who had not seen much
service afoat, and consequently was not
a practical seaman. He had grave doubts
rs to the stability of any ship of war
when under canvass, and was particularly
fearful that this one which he command
cd would either be capsized during some
squall, or else wrecked by running upon
rocks or shoals. These dangers to navi-
cation, although not laid down upon our
charts, nevertheless existed, in his imag-
ination, ON every mile of the broad
Atlantic 1t was his standing order that
the officers of the deck should reduce
sail whenever, in their opinion, it was
necessary to do So reporting the facts
afterward. But no one, not even the
first lieutenant, could make sail; the
captain, and the captain only could or
der sail to be made, after it had once
been taken off the ship. In consequence
of this order, the officers were very chary
in reducing sail, and did so only when,
in their opinion, it was absolutely nee
essary.
In the wardroom we had six line Off
GERS and four idlers as mcssmates. The
former were sold sea dogs" each one of
whom, from long experience, knew how
to handle q. ship under any and every
occurring circumstance, and the latter
were jolly fellows, who always kept the
first watch when at sea under the star
board side OF the topgallant forecastle,
there smoking their pipes and spinning
their yarns.
After very warm day, hot even for
the African coast, the sun had disap-
lJeiucu Deulio bllc lOIlAOl, lcttNluS II
breeze which seemed to us smokers, who
were forward enjoying our pipes, to be
deliciously cool; then, as star after star
appeared, there was every promise of a
lovely night. Eight bells were struck,
and the watch was called, as L went aft
to relieve the officer of the deck, who
after passing me the orders, the sail set
and the course to be steered, started for
ward for my vacated seat, there to have
n Whit from his pipe, and to enjoy the
lovely night ere turning in. l walked
around the deck, examined the weather.
head braces, the trim of the yards, and
the set OF the sails. After satisfying my
self on each of these points I looked at
the compass and went upon the poop to
scan the horizon as to the present and
future prospects of the weather. Every
thing appearing to be fair, settled my
self into steady walk, which was to
continue, as supposed, during the four
hours was to be guardian OF the ship
and her crew. The weather at this time
was delightful, the stars were shining
with remarkable brilliancy; indeed, they
were so very brilliant that each pnrticu-
Ian star appeared to be the star that
outshone all the others, and to be the
one that singly and clone gave all the
light Illuminating the heavens.
Not q cloud could be seen in any di-
rection; there was nought to mar the
brightness OF the sky above, and the
L. H. IL 4