The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1888-05-31
OBEY INSTRUCTIONS.
Why Girard Discharged n Captain who
Had Saved Thousands of Dollars.

A1hu NhNtu OF
1t was just before the breaking out ot
the war of 1912 that Girard was pre-
pairing for sea one of his stanchest and
largest ships. In command of her
was a captain who had been in his
service for decade, and in whose in
tegrity and obedience tho great mer-
chant confided implicitly. The time
Of the vessel absence was to be of
long duration. and he had selected
this particular captain and this par
ticular ship because he was certain
that any instructions that he might
give would BIO carried out to the letter,
if it lay within mans brain and ships
timber All the prehminaries had
been attended to, and the vessel was
in readiness to leave her wharf, when
Girard sent for her captain TO visit him
in his private office. Upon his ar
rival his employer placed in his hand
four sealed packages. They were
numbered one, two, three and
four, and were his instructions for the
voyage. The first paper was to be
opened when the ship was outside of
Delaware bay, and the orders con-
tanned therein, as well as those en-
bodied in the other three packages,
were to be followed under all circum-
stances. Referring TO certain small
but heavy cases which had been placed
on board the ship, Girard told the
captain that they contained specie
amounting in all to 500, 600. The
sum was to defray all expenses Incl
dental to the voyage, and was. in
fact all the money which was to pass
through the captains hands during
the whole trip. The captain took his
Instructions said goodbye, and in
fow hours later was on his way down
the Delaware, with bravo vessel I'M
der him.
Whom he had left the waters of the
bay behind, the captain broke the
seal of paper No l. The orders were
short and explicit:
Go to Bordeaux. France, and there
discharge your cargo of grain through
my agent. and take. through him,
wines and brandies. Then open order
No. 2 "
The captain sailed for Bordeaux.
and put in at that port il&due time.
According TO Instructions he dis
charged his grain through the agent,
and took on liquors, which the agent
paid for. For the necessary expenses,
however, the captain drew upon the
agent, and left his 500, 900 in specie
untouched. When he opened the Sec
ond package, he found he was TO pro-
ceed to port in Russia. where, hav-
ing delivered his wines and brandies
to Girard's agent, he was to receive n
cargo of Russian iron. Order No. 3
was to be read on sailing. The captain
followed the written instructions.
word for word, but drew on the Rus
sian agent, as he had on him of Bor
deaux, for expenses. The third pack
age sent him to Holland. where he ex-
changed his iron for rice. Then he
read the last order. He was to pro-
coed to China. and. putting in at the
only port open to the world, deliver
his rice to Girard's agent there and
take on board cargo of silks and
teas. through the agent. That
phrase ran through all of the instruc-
tions, and in no instance had the cap
tain hitherto transgressed Girard'
wishes.
Upon his arrival in China, for the
first time during the voyage, he al
lowed himself to reason. He had de-
1;rra,.nI ,.t1 20 bn I,,t haA
not yet told him of his employer
commands in regard to the cargo
with which he was to sail for Phila-
delphia. He was told that by leaving
port and going short distance along
the coast he could purchase silks and
teas at n much lower rate than the
agent could buy them, and if he had
but the money could save an enormous
sum to his vessels owner The cap
tain was at first in sore doubt as to the
course he should pursue. but he had
the money-S100. 600 and it would be
folly TO neglect the chance. He did
run out OF port and secured an ex
celent bargain. a great deal more
advantageous than any the agent
could have made When he returned
he told him to put on board all the
silks and teas the vessel was able TO
carry and set sail for home. The re-
turn voyage was uneventful unfit he
was almost within sight of Delaware
bay, and then an incident occurred
which nearly lost the captain his ship
and his cargo, and his liberty as well.
The war of 1912 had broken out dur
ing his absence, and he knew it would
BIO ticklish work to escape in safety
When almost home his vessel was
sighted by two British cruisers, which
sailed so fast and hemmed her in
so closely that 1t was only by display
of the incest seamanship and the ut
most daring that her captain was able
TO slip by and sail her up the Delaware
uninjured. In this city her arrival
was hailed with great rejoicing and
her captain was greeted every where
with flattering comments on his skill
and bravery II was three days after
his return that Girard sent for the
captain to visit him at his office. The
chief clerk. Barrett was there. and
heard every word that passed. With
the ships papers in his hand. Girard
demanded the cause for which the
captain had violated his instructions
in China. He gave them, and re-
minded his employer of the many
thousands he he'd saved, and of the
brilliant manner in which no had
brought the vessel into port
mo matterr' cried Girard, spring
ing angrilY 10 his feet you have no
excuse. You have disobeyed me,
From this hour l discharge you from
my employ; nor will l give you a
recommendation And then he pro-
nounced the saying that has become