The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-20
A LESSON FOR YOUNG MEN.
Why Girard Discharged Captain Who
Had Saved Many Dollars.

why Girard Discharged Captain Who
Had Saved Many Dollars.
From the Philadelphia News.
1t was Just before the breaking out OF
the wer Of 1912 that Girard was preparing
for sea one OF his stanehest and largest
ships. Incommand OF her was a captain
who had been in his service for decade,
and in whose integrity and obedience the
great merchant coniidcd implicitly. The
time of the vessels absence was TO be OF
long duration. and he had selected this
particular ship because he was certain that
any instructions that he might give would
be carried out TO the letter il it lay within
mans brain and ships timber. All the
preliminaries had been attended to and
the vessel WAS in readiness to leave her
wharf when Grard sent for her captain TO
visit him in her private Office. Upon his
arrival his employer placed in his hand
four sealed packages they were numbered
one, two, three and four, and were his in
structions for the voyage. The first paper
was to be opened outside OF Delaware bay,
and the orders contained therein, as well
as those embodied in the other three pack
ages, were to be followed under all ciIcum-
stances. Referring TO certain small,
but heavy eases which had been
placed on board the ship Girard
told the captain that they contained
specie anoun,ingi in all TO Sl00, 600 Thesum
was TO defray all expenses incidental TO the
voyage, and was, in fact, all the money
which WIS 10 pass through the captains
hands during the whole trip. The captain
took his instructions, said goodbye, and, Il
few hours later, was on his way down the
Delaware, with brave vessel under him, u
cargo OF grain in her hold and not the
iainiest idea of lis destination.
When hc had left the waters OF the bay
behlnd the captain broke the seal OF paper
No. |. The orders were short and in-
plcie
$50 to Bordeaux, France, and there dis
charge your cargo OF grain, through my
agen ut, aud take, through him, wines and
brardies. Then open order No. ~
The captain sailed for bordeaux and put
in a; that port in due time. According TO
instructions lie discharged his grain
through the agent and took on liquors,
which the agent paid for For the neccs-
sary expenses, however, the captain drew
upon Ia" agent aud left his Sl00, 900 in
specie untouchcd. When lac opened the
second package he found lac was 10 pro-
coed to port IN l,ussia, whore, having
delivered liis wines and brandies To
Girarfs agent, Inc was 10 receive u cargo
al Russian iron, Order No. was 20 hc
read ON sailing. The captain followed the
written Instructions, word for word, but
drew On the Russian agent, rs he had on
him oi bordeaux, for expenses. The third
package sent him 10 Holland, where he
EXCHANGED iron for rice. Then he read the
last order. lilo Was 10 proceed TO China,
aud, putting in ut the only port open 10
the Wnril, deliver his rice "a Girard's
agent ilicrp and take on board cargo OF
silks and has, Through the agent" That
phrase ran through all Of the instructions,
and in no instance had the captain hilhcr-
60 iransgr,sscd Gimrl's wishes.
Upon liis arrival in China, for the first
time during the voyage, he allowed him
self 10 reason. lie hsVi delivered his rice
to the agent, but had not yet told him Of
his employers commands in regard 10 the
cargo with which he was 20 sail for Philn-
dcllhia. lie was told that by leaving port
and gnng short distance along the coast
hc could purchase silks and teas nj n much
lower rnic than the agent could buy them,
aud Il 10 had but the money could save
an enormous sum 10 his vessels owner.
The captain was al first In sore doubt as 10
the course he should pursue. but he had
the moncy-SlOO,00 600 and IL would bc
folly TO neglect the chance. lie did run
out Of porl and secured an excellent bar
gain, preat deal more advantageous than
any the agent could have made. When
Ie returned lac told him b. put on board
al, the silks aud teas the vessel was able Ia
cnrry and set sail im home. The return
Voyage wa unevcniful until le was al
most within sight OF Delaware bay, and
then an incident occurred which nearly
lot the captain hi ship aud his cargo and
his liberty 10 we'll Tho war Of 1877 had
broken ont during his absence, and he
knew II would be iicklsh work 10 escape
i'm siicly. When almost home his vessel
was firhtrd by two british cruisers, which
sliled ~ fast aud hommcd her in 80 closely
that il Was only by display Of the
n.ccsi .cnSanship and the utmost daring
that her captain was able 10 slip by aud
sail lrr No the Delaware uninjured. Ia
this city her caipain WIS grcetcd every.
where with hRiicring commonis ON hi'
ska anl bravery. II was tllroc days after
isis return that Girird sent fur the captain
10 whit him NJ his ofhre. The chief clerk,
Jarrett. was there anil heard every vrrI
that passed.. With the ships paper d
his hand. Girari demanded the cause iuI
which the captain had violated his insiric
tons IN China. lie gave them, and 10
minded lbs employer OF the many ihou
sands hs had saved, aud OF the brilliant
nlanncr in which be had brought the YES
~ inio port.
.'No mauer" cried Girard, springini
ancrily 10 his feet "lou have no excuse
You have disoljcyod me. From this hon
Discharge yon iroin my employ, nor vii
I giyc ypt recommendation" An'
tl,cn he pronounced the saying that ha
become famous "Obey orders, II yo'
1T ...a,.rsa -