Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-10
Capt0in Against MidshiDmen.

Commodore Philips, In the United
Serctce, tells the following story of a
war waged between captain and the
midshipmen under him: On the Colum.
bus were twenty midshipmen against
whom Captain William A. Spencer
appeared to wage an incessant war, or
it may have been the midshipmen
waged war against the captain. Any
way, a chronic war existed, and the
latter, owing principally to his anxiety
for their suppression, appeared to make
but little Roadway against this turbu-
lent element, acting like so many
thorns in his side, and therefore con-
stantly placed himself in positions from
which he was forced to retreat when
ever his enemies appealed to the COM
mandcr-in-chief, which Nhey were by
no means tardy in doing on discovering
an opportunity where success seemed
possible. AS time passed, matters grew
from bad to worse, until q climax was
reached on the occasion of large party
Of the nobility visiting the squadron,
and when on the flagship, among
other amusements for their entertain
ment, the captain conceived the idea
of exhibiting his midshipmen in
the guise of boatmen, and immedi-
ately sent fifteen of their number, to-
gether with two seamen to act as
stroke oarsmen, into the Charge" with
instructions to "pull around the har-
Dor and let the ladies see what they
could do" A few minutes after the
guests had been escorted to the poop
deck, where they would have better
view, the barge" appeared in sight
pulled by the two seamen perched on
the forward thwart, and elevated
above the water to degree that the
oar-blades could with difficulty be
made to touch the surface, owing to
those fifteen blessed midshipmen being
slowed comfortably away in the stern
sheets and apparently enjoying their
pull" "An angry man we may opine
was Captain Spencer, and something
more than wroth" when that aquatic
party met his eyes, and, forgetful Of
the august party honoring him with
their presence, he stamped the deck,
pulled his hair, and made use of hearty
expressions not found in prayer-books,
and finally ordered the barge's recall
to be made; but the conscientious
young gentlemen continued their pleas
ure voyage, unmindful of the bunting
flying at the mizzen-truck. pulling
first around one ship and then around
another, giving an equal view
to all, until exhaustion in
the motive power warned them to re-
turn to the ship, and to confinement
under the hatches," where, in an eX-
planatory letter to accompany another
reporting them for "disrespect to their
commander and disobedience Of orders"
they modestly offered in excuse that
under the commodore's order -" forbid
ding the barge to be used for any pur-
pose whatever other than for his own
personal service" pulling in that par
ticular boat would have contravened
the positive order of Their commander
in-chief and exhibited contempt for his
office therefore they preferred to ex-
cite their respected captains ire rather
than his. Captain Spencer, for pru-
dence's sake, withheld both reports,
and ere he could accomplish satisfac.
tory vengeance the death of nephew,
Midshipman Philip Spencer, executed
on the United States brig Somers, De-
cember |, 1913, for mltiny, caused his
retirement from the command, and on
December 9, 1913, he resigned his COM
mission and left the service.