The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-04-14
A Lah-de-dah Sailor.

Letter in Philadelphia Times.
81 got badly left in forming hasty opinion
of the lah-de-dah captain of an English IRON
Clad" said Captain Ormiston. "During the
recent war in Egypt took out supplies to
Alexandria, and after discharging received
orders to 60 to Berwickport for charter. /
knew nothing of the place and had no chart of
the north coast aboard the steamer None of
the merchant captains could supply me, and
finally concluded to apply to the captain of the
iron-clad Invincible, that lay close alongside
of us, as last chance. I pulled up to the
gangway, and was met by one of the officers,
who said | would have to wait a 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 his
mates. Immediately, as if by magic, yards
began to come down and go aloit, the blue
Jackets rushing to and fro on deck, and of a
sudden, bang off went one of the 8o-ton guns
fit to take your head off. After the men were
'piped down. / made my way up to the
bridge, where found little light-haird man
trotting up and down. His hat was cooked
rouguishy on the side of his head; he wore
long side.whiskers, and an eye-glass danged
from gold chain about his neck AS APP
preached he halted suddenly, whirled about
on one foot, screwed his eye-glass into his eye
and, in a sweet little piping voice, said:
"'My deah fellah, what can aw do faw
your He cut such figure that was tempted
TO laugh in his face, but, controlling myself, |
stated my Grand. Immediately the little man
had all the quartermasters running to find his
sub-oficers, and in a jiffy they returned, and
touching their caps, they began to report that
Mr.. A. was ashore on liberty, Mr. b. had
gone to Cairo and that Mr.. c. was away in the
first cutter-and SO on. He turned to me and
rubbing his hands, said: My deah fellah,
Berwichport is very fine place, aw assuah
you; you will find no trouble in getting in; aw
was there once, meself.' Thinks |, what an
ass this man is, and touching my hat was
about to 60, when a big, bluff, sailor looking
officer appeared and informed the captain that
there was no chart of the British north coast
aboard the ship. Thanking the Captain Tor
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 a fool
besides, but you would have been mistaken,
as was. The next night the Invincible went
out to sea, with man in the chains heavinp
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 APP
peared. Pulling the bells he stopped the
vessel, and just as he stood, oil skins and all,
went overheard to rescue mis- man. One OF
his Lieuenants and Quartermaster jumped
overheard to assist their commander. In
stantly all was in an uproar. All hands were
on deck. All lhe boats were lowered, and the
four men in a few minutes were afe IN hoard
the Invincible. The leadsman was entaneled
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 a peer of the realm,
and better officer does not walk the deck OF
an English ship to-day. No, gentlemen, you
can't always tell the man by the cut OF his
iib."