The National tribune., 1888-12-27


on the East India Station, he distinguished
himself by calamity cutting out and capturing
a Malay pirate Junk near Macao. he became
s Master Sept. Ia, 1855 and the very next day
was promoted TO Lieutenant, the rank he held
when the rebellion broke upon the country.
He was at once ordered to the gunbOat Water
Witch, Of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron,
and was engaged in the battle with the squad
ron Of rebel gunboats Oct IL, 1861, at the
Southwest Pass Of the mouth Of the Mlssis-
sippi. In the Spring of 1862 he was ordered
to command the gunboat Vixen, on the South
Atlantic fleet, and in the following Summer
was given the new gunboat Wissahickon, with
which heidi yeoman' service IN the rivers ana
sounds on the coast in the ueighborhOod OF Sa-
vannah. On one occasion one of the monitor
irOnclads got into serious trouble IN one OF the
narrow and winding estuaTies, and was IN eX-
IRENE danger of capture by the rebels. The
low rice and cOttOn-felds so hid the tortuous
waterways that the course could not be seen
from any distance, but Davis dashed ahead
with his wooden craft into another channel
and poured in such heavy fire across narrow
neck of land that the rebels turned tail and
ran for protection under the guns OF Fort NC
Allister. This enabled the ir0ncl2d to pun out
safely, but Davis, then a Lieutenant COM
mander, had his dander up and followed up
and again engaged the rebels and the tort nhJlI
night forced him to retire. In August, 1903,
he let TIC " tSsanlCkDu ~ NONAAAleAAd viz 49,
tor Montauk, but meantime he had half a
dozen times run up the Georgia sounds to
fight Fort McAllster, and he made himself
so obnoxious to the rebel gunboat command
ers that they kept safely out of reach OF
his guns. In the Montauk he was engag-
ed in every battle of the ironclads with
the Charleston batteries after Aug. %, 1863,
and then took a prominent part in the light
at Fort Fisher in December, 1864 and at the
capture of that stronghold Jan. TO- 1865; and
ia tie next month at the reduction OF Fort
Anderson and Fort Strong, on the Cape Fear
River, that gave us Wilmington, and opened
up communication from the coast with Sher-
mans victorious army. In these battles the
MOntauk was always pushed well TO the front,
and when that vessel lay at the Navy Yard
here for several years with the little feet of
monitors. the numerous scars of heavy shot on
her deck and turret were objects of intense
curiosity to sightseeing pilgrims, as showing
how well her daring commander had fought his
craft In the routine of service in time Of
peace Davis became a Captain on Valentine
Day Of 1913. Commodore in February, 1852,
and Rear-Admiral Oct. so, 1885. During the
last dozen of years before his retirement (Sept.
8, 1857 Admiral Davis was several times on
special duty here IS member of the Boards OF
Examination and the Lighthouse Board, and IN
the intervals in which he was waiting orders.
be made his home here with his wife and
daughter. While still a Commodore he was
ordered to command the Asiatic fleet but under
the law which authorizes officers who have
been specially distinguished in action to be
given temporary promotion, he was made an
Acting Rear Admiral. and his flag bore the
twin stars of that grade when he received his
promotion. / doubt exceedingly whether even
Admiral J0uett is more of a tavorite IN the
service than he, and that is a bold assertion.
Since his retirement he has made an extended
visit TO Europe with Mrs. and Miss Davis, but
returned last Fall to the Ebbitt House, which
he tells me he considers his home for life. he
is charming racoRtear, loves a good joke, aud,
what is rare among men, can enjoy good joke
upon himself Some years ago, Admiral Davis,
then Commodore, was sitting with party
one hot evening on the pavement outside of the
Ebbitt House. when tramp came along and
spoke to him by NAME
/" Who are you said Davis.
81 sailed with you in the Mediterranean, but
I've been on the tramp lately, and / wish
you'd spare me q dime"
"0hi you have; l suppose you want dime
to get bowl of soup" said the Commodore
sarcasticaly.
"No, Commodore" replied the tramp; ave
just had as good dinner as any man wants,
but I'd like dime to get good, square drink"
Davis stood up in establishment, while the
Others laughed heartily, and said Pm
blamed if l don't give. you a half-dollar for
that You're the first man l ever saw who
wanted money for anything but food"
The Others Clipped in with the Commodore,
and the sailor left the crowd with, about s. in
his pocket.
An AMERICAN SPECIMEN OF THE BUG THAT
GOT THERE ALL THE SAME"
A well known artist of New York City, some
Of whose haudiwork adorns the National Capt.
tol. has a nephew in Washington who is some
thing of was. the readiness Of his wit only
being eqHalled by his patriotism.
Being over at Baltimore one day, he met an
Englishman at one of the smaller hotels who
was pretty free with his comparisons, which
were made specially Odious by his laudation of
his own country at the expense of ours.
All ofour cities together would not make Lon
don we had no buildings that were more than
cottages compared to theirs; we had no poet
ike TennYson no art This last hit the young
fellow, who is exceedingly proud of his distin-
gGished uncle, IN a vulnerable place, and he
determined to pay him off fer it.
So withdrawing from the smoking-room
where the conversation occurred, he went to
the clerks desk, and ascertaining where
this blatant Britisher was to sleep, managed
by bribing waiter, to get TO the room with a
live crab which he deposited in the bed, and
returning TO the smoking room, yawned as
though excessively bored for lack of amuse-
ment and sat down.
Presently the Englishman took his leave and
retired to his room, when the young fellow
letting the others of the party into the secret,
went upstairs 10 await developments, and ap-
peared to be accidentally passing through the
hail. with his companions, just as the English
man rushed out in his night costume, with the
crab hanging by its nippers to his arm.
Help, help, somebody! What the devil is
it, any'ow?"
"That2" said the wag, while his companions,
CONFUSED with laughter were very accommo-
datingly unlocking the creatures claws from
the suffering flesh, why that is nothing but an
American chinch bug. Can you beat that in
| Hengland 2"
S. B. N.
One of our most prominent Senators proved
himself quite wag on recent occasion.
Among his acquaintance was young man
( belonging to fine family, but alas like many
other OF shoots of greatness, possessing no
other claim to distinction, because he thought
/ that all-suliicent, without any exertion on his
! part more than that required to keep up an
! immaculate wardrobe beftting his station He
! was hopeless dude.
Calling on the Senator one day and finding
! him absent he turned down a corner of his
visiting card and took his departure. Meeting
/ the Senator soon after, he said:
"Senatah! ! had the pleasure of calling on
/ you the other day when you were out. Avn
! quite awkward you know"
- Yes - replied the Senator. 90 had the nInas-