The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-10-02
CAPTAIN BRANDy'S Bet.

Few cargo steamers were in the hubi
of making the passage between New
York and Liverpool quicker than the
'Picayune." Captain Hosea E. Bart
lett; and fewmen were prouder of theil
craft than was Hosea E. Bartlett of the
"Picayune BARTLETT was a New Eng
lander, typical long-legged. hatchet-
faced, wiryhaired, keen-eyed, New
Englander.
America" said he, 'bosses creation,
sir, and New England boys boss Ameri-
ca. an that's fact"
Upon July 10. 1883, the "Picayune
was announced to sail from the foot of
West Tenth street for Liverpool. Upon
the preceding evening Captain Hosea
E. Bartlett was seated in the Oriental
saloon, famous house of call for skip
pers and gentry interested in shipping,
smoking very big cheroot, and occa-
sionally slipping John Collins" at his
elbow. He had contented expression
in his face. for he had full cargo ate
full season when freight was going beg
ging, he'd shipped his crew and did not
expect to have to whistle for more than
three absentees at the hour of starting,
and he was going to see his English
wife who had settled for while in Liv-
erpool.
TO him enter Captain Brandy, of the
British steamer "Cockney,"
just as the ''Picayune" was famous
for her smart passages, SO was the
"Cockney" celebrated as being one of the
''slowest of tubs on the pond" Hence
it was that American Bartlett and Brit
ish Brandy never met without exchang-
ing some lively chaff and repartee, al.
though they were the best of friends. g,
Hello, Brandy! When's the old
m1asses tub OFF," was Bartlett's greet
ing.
1.-THE British steamer Cockney, Bran
dy, master, sails tomorrow morning,
July 10, as ever was" replied Brandy.
"And dye reckon she'll make Liver
pool this side O. Christmas ?" asked Bart
lett, with u twinkle in his eye.
"To-day fortnit she brings up along
side O. the quay" said Brandy.
The Yankee skipper burst into
scornful chuckle.
Captain Brandy called for "Bour-
bon," leisurely lit a clay pipe, took a
few whiffs and sip, rested his chin on
his hands as he leaned forward, and
said:
'tBart1ett, you reckon yourself tolbla
spry, don't yer:"
Wall" replied the American, II
guess I know the difference between a
to mistake the CROWN of a shanty town
cock for Hail, Columbia, and that's
fact"
"fhere amt nothin' as goes out of the
port of, New York as can whip the
'Picayune,'" continued Brandy.
''No, reckon there amt" said Bart
lett.
"You wouldn't like to put hundred
pound on a little notion of mine, would
you? ?" said Brandy.
"Barrin' the 'Cockney,' I don't mind
if do" replied Bartlett.
"That's right" said Brandy. s'Look
here: you're always a-pokin' fun at the
'Cockney.' Well, I'll bet yer hundred
pound that see Mrs. Bartlett before
you do"
"You bet me hundred pound.
British, that you see the missis in Liver
pool before 1 do?" repeated Bartlett.
"An' the sCockney' sails by first tide to-
morrer mornin'?'
s'That's So" said Brandy.
Bartlett.
"Barrin' all mail steamers" said
Brandy.
Done with you, boss" said Bart
lett.
So the wager was cemented over a
fresh supply of drinks, after which
Captain Brandy walked out, wishing
the American skipper "Good night"
"Derned fool, that Brandy" said the
American to himself.
In the mists of early morning the
"Picayune" cleared out. So did the
"Cockney."
Somehow or other, news of the wager
had leaked out, and general opinion
indorsed that of Captain Bartlett, al
though others guessed that Brandy
wasn't the sort to go singing away
s1OO for mere notion, and that lie
knew what he was doing.
At seven bells-half past z in the
morning-Captain Bartlett, on the
bridge of the "Picayune," cheroot in
his mouth, and his hands plunged deep
into his pockets, sang out to his first
mate:
"Mr. Slope, send hand up to the
fore-top and report if the 'Cockney' 3 in
sight"
SAY, ay, sir F' replied Mr.. Slope. The
man ascended to the fore-top, scanned
the ocean for some moments, and bel
lowed out:
"'Cockney' astern, sir; hull down.
1<Brandy's derned fool" muttered
Captain Bartlett, and rolled himself off
the bridge to breakfast.
During the second dog-watch in the
evening. Captain Bartlett, reclining in
his cane chair on the bridge, observed a