Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-05-12
A Lah.de.dah Sailor.

81 got badly left in forming a hast,
opinion of the lah-de-dah Captain of Al
English iron-clad," said Captain Ormis
ton. During the recent war in Egyp
l took out supplies to Alexandria, an,
after discharging received orders to q
to Berwickport for a charter. l knew
nothing of the place and had no char
of the north coast aboard the steamer
None of the merchant Captains coulc
supply me, and l finally concluded K
apply to the Captain of the iron-claG
Invincible, that lay close alongside OF
us, as a last chance. l pulled up tc
the gangway and was met by one OF
the officers. who said l would have to
wait a few moments, as the crew We're
going to quarters AS he spoke the
boatswain's whistle was heard, clear
and sharp above the hoarse calls Of his
mates. Immediately, as if by magic,
yards began to come down and to go
alott, the blue jackets rushing to and
fro on deck, and of a sudden, bang, off
wentone OF the eighty-ton guns titto take
your head off. After the men were
''piped down" 1 made my way up to
the bridge, where l found 4 little light
haired man trotting up and down. His
hat was cooked rouguishly on the side
of his head; he Wore long side whis-
kers, and an eye-glass dangledI from
a gold-chain about his neck. ASH APP
preached he halted suddenly, whirled
about on n foot. screwed his eye
glass into his eye and, in u sweet little
piping voice, said:
"'Nly deah fellah, what can aw dofaw
you?' He cut such a figure that | was
tempted to laugh in his face. but, con-
trolling myself, l stated my GRAND.
Immediately the little MAJ had all the
quartermasters running to find his sub
officers. and in a iitfy they returned and
touching their caps they began to report
that MIR. A. was ashore on liberty, Nh.
Is. had gone to Cairo and that Mr.. c..
was away in the first cuUter--and so on.
He turned to me and rubbing his hands,
said: 'My deah fellah, Berwickport is a
very fine place, aw assuah you; you will
find no trouble in getting in; aw was
there once, meself.'9 Thinks 1, what
an ass this man is, and touching my hat
L was about to go, when a big, bluff,
sailor-looking officer appeared and in
formed the Captain hat there was no
chart of the British north coast aboard
the ship. Thanking the captain for his
trouble, l went over the side and pulled
aboard my own ship.
ono doubt you would have agreed
with me that the Captain was no sailor
and a fool beside, but you would have
been mistaken, as l was. The next
night the 1nvincibie went out to sea,
with a man in the chains heaving the
lead. OF a sudden the breast-strap
parted, and away went the man over
board. The same little Captain was on
the bridge. Instantly the foppish airs
We're gone and the true sailor appeared.
Pulling the bells he stopped the vessel,
and just as he stood, oil-skins, and Ill
on, went overheard to rescue his man.
One of his Lieutenants and a quarter
master jumped overheard to assist their
commander. Instantly all was in IN
'uproar. All hands We're on deck. All
the boats were lowered, and the four
men in a few minutes were safe on
board the Invincible. The leadsman
was entangled in the line. and would
certainly have drowned but for the
prompt assistance of the Captain. In
addition, this was the fourth man that
same officer had rescued from drown
ing. His crew wore by him. He was
a peer of the realm, and a better officer
does not walk the deck of an English
ship to-day. No, gentlemen, o can't
always tell the man by the cut of his
jib."-Cor. Philadelphia Times.