The Osceola times., 1883-06-09
A PEER OF THE REALM.
A Lah-de-Dah sort Of Chap He Was
but a Thoroughbred for all That.
Philadelphia Times.

Philadelphia Times.
81 got badly left in forming a hasty
opinion of the lah-de-dah captain of an
English ironclad," said Captain Ormis-
ton of the British steamship Effective,
now lying at this port. During the re-
rent war in Egypt | took out supplies to
Alexandria, and after discharging, recel-
we'd orders to 90 to Berwickport for a
charter. | knew nothing of the place,
and had no chart Of the north coast
aboard the steamer. None of the mer-
chant captains could supply me, and !
finally concluded to apply to the captain
of the ironclad Invincible. that lay close
alongside of us, as last chance. pull
ed up to the gangway, and was met by
one of the officers, who said would have
to wait few moments, as the crew were
going to quarters As he spoke the
boatswain's whistle was heard. clear and
sharp, above the hoarse calls of the mates
Immediately, as if by magic, yards began
to come down and to go aloft, the blue
jackets rushing to and fro on deck, and,
of sudden, bang off went one of the
eighty-ton guns fit to take your head off.
After the men were 'piped down ! made
my way up to the bridge, where / found
a little, light haired man trotting up and
down. His hat was cooked roguishly on
the side of his head, he wore long side
whiskers, and an eyeglass dangled from
a gold chain about his neck. As | ap-
preached he halted suddenly, whirled
about on one foot, screwed his eyeglass
into his eye, and, in sweet little piping
voice, said;
" My deah fellah, what can aw do faw
you?" He cut such a figure that | was
tempted to laugh in his face, but, control
ling myself, | stated my errand. Imme-
diately the little man had all the quar-
termasters running to find his sub-otli-
cers, and in jiffy they returned, and,
touching their caps, they began to report
that Mr. A. was ashore on liberty, Mr.. k.
had gone to Cairo and that Mr.. q. was
away in the first cutter-and so on. He
then turnedto 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 myself Thinks |, what an ass
this man is, and touching my hat l was
about to go, when a big, sailor-looking
officer appeared and informed the cap
tain that there was no chart of the
British north coast aboard the ship.
Thanking the captain for his trouble,
went over the side and pulled aboard
my own ship.
mo doubt you would have agreed
with me that the captain was no sailor
and fool besides, but you would have
been mistaken, as | was. The next
night the lnvincible went TO sea, with a
man in the chains heaving the lead. OF
a sudden the breaststrap parted and
away went the man overheard. The
same little captain was on the bridge.
Instantly the foppish airs were gone and
the true sailor appeared. Pulling the
bells he stopped the vessel, and Just as
he stood, oilskins and all on, went over
board to rescue his man. One of his
lieutenants and quartermaster jumped
overheard To assist their commander.
Instantly all was in an uproar. All
hands were on deck All the boats were
lowered, and the four men in a few min
utes were safe on board the Invincible.
The lead sman 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 drowning.
His crew swore by him. He was peer
of the realm, and better officer does
not walk the deck ofan English ship to-
day No. gentleman YOU can't ALWAYS
tell the man by the cut Of his jib."