The Mineral argus., 1885-05-28
CAPTAIN BRAxDY'S Bet.


of making the passage between New
York and Liverpool quicker than the
"Picayune," Captain Hosea E. Bart.
lett; and few men were prOuder Of their
craft than was Hosea E. Bartlett OF the
"Picayune. Bartlett was New Eng
lander. "a typical long-legged. Ratchet
facet. wiry- haired, keen.eyet, New
Eng aaler.
America" said he, "bosses creation.
sir, aud 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
f. 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 a contented expression
in his face. for nc had full cargo ats
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 o while in Liv.
espod.
10 him enter Captain Brandy, Of the
British steamer "Cockney."
just as the "Picayune" was famous
for her smart passages, 80 was the
"Cockney" celebrated as being one of the
"slowest of tubs on the pond" Hence
IL 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.
Hello, Brandy! Whens the old
m'lasses tub off," was Bartlett's greet
ing.
''The British steamer Cockney. Bran
dy, master, sails tomorrow morning.
July 10, as ever was" replied Brandy.
"And dye reckon she'll maze Liver
pool this side O Christmas ?" asked Bart
lett, with twinkle in his eye.
"To-day fortnit she brings up along
side o. the quay" said Brsndy.
The Yankee skipper burst into o
scornful chuckle.
Captain Brandy called for o "Bour-
bon, !" leisurely lit q clay pipe, took q
few whiffs and sip, rested his chin on
his hands As he leaned forward, and
said:
Bartlett, you reckon yourself tol'ble
spry. don't yer?'
WALL" replied the American, II
guess / know the difference between .
jaw bird and caboose. an amt likely
10 mistake the CROWN of Q shanty- town
cock for Hail, Columbia, and that's a
fact"
"There amt nothin' as goes out Of the
port OF, New York rs can whip the
'Picayune, continued Brandy.
mo, reckon there amt" said Bart
lett.
You wouldn't like to put q hundred
pound on little notion Of mine, would
you?" said Brandy.
''Barrin' the 'Cockney,' don't mind
If TO-" replied Bartlett.
"That's right" said Brandy. "LOok
here you're always a-pokin' fun ut the
'Cockney.' Well, I'll bet yer hundred
pound that see Mrs. Bartlett before
you do
"You bet me Q hundred pound
British, that you see the ,nissis in Liver.
pool before I do?" repeated Bartlett.
"An' the 'Cockney' sails by first tide TO-
morrer mornin'?'
That's so,' said Brandy.
''Barrin' all mail steamers said
Bartlett.
"Barrin' all mail steamers" sale
Brandy.
"Done with you, boss" said Bart
lett.
So the wager was cemented over ,
fresh supply of drinks, after which
Captain Brandy walked out, wishing
the American skipper Good night"
"Derned fool. that Brandy" said til,
American to himself.
In the mists of early morning tn,
"Picayune" cleared out. So did tn
"Cockney."
Somehow or other, news of the wage
had leaked ont, and general Opinion
indOrsed that OF Captain Bartlett, al
though others guessed that Brand
wasn't the SORT to go singing AVA.
ElOO for mere notion, and that Ia
knew what he WAS doing.
At seven bells-half past Z in tn
morning-Captain Bartlett, on tn
bridge Of the "Picayune," chsroot i