, 1889-09-19

the top, and when tho order was given
TO let go the sails they did notsgo out
together. Now you know everything
that's done on board u naval vessel must
bc perfect in all its details; SO We were
commanded to furl the sheets and try a
second time to set them. This was
no improvement on the first attempt;
neither were the third or fourth trials.
Finally the officer in charge had half
dozen of us whipped because of our un-
seamanlike work. When we arrived in
the Mediterranean, we were joined by
the sloops-of.war Prcble aud Columbus.
There was third vessel, but her name
escapes me. We remained on the Euro.
pean station about n year, and during
this time we were given u good deal OF
liberty, which enlarged our views of the
customs and habits Of the peoples
morning our commander, who, by the
way, was Captain r. +. Voorhees, gave
orders to get under way and our ship
was pointed directly for America After
a voyage of hfty.two days we come to
anchor oil the coast of Montevideo. We
could see
THERE WAS TROUBLE ASHORE
and it was soon after learned that tho
Montevideans were in rebellion against
the Buenos Ayreans. | don't suppose
IL was the intention of the United States
government to recognize either side as
belligerents, but one day we discovered
| IL rakish looking craft trying to make
port. She flew the American colors,
but there was something about her that
our captain did not like so we run out
four of our starboard guns, charged
with solid shot, and blazed away ut the
stranger. 1t was not our object to hit
her, but simply to bring her to. She
paid no attention to us, however, and
Kept on her way toward the harbor
We sent another shot ut her, which just
\ grazed her bow. This seemed to have
the desired effect as she came about
and bore down upon us. We sent
boat oil, and learned that she was laden
with stores for the Montevideans, and
was registered from that country. She
was sailing under our colors Tor the
purpose of deceiving the Buenos
Ayreans, who had established u
blockade all along the coast. We
told her commander that he would not
be allowed to- proceed If he didn't haul
down our flag, as our government did
not care to be represented as favoring
either side in the rebellion. Well, we
cruised around South America waters
for two years, and then started for home.
Upon our arrival at New York the
government authorities learned that our
captain had smugglcd in a lot of fRussian
carpcting, and he was placed under
arrest. A court-martia was organized
for his trial, and, after sitting four or
five days, he was found guilty and
retired for 10 years under half pay.
al never liked the sea-" continued
Jim, ''as the boats motion made me
deathly sick. | was born a landsman,
and no amount of training appeared to
lit me for, the life on the
water, so when our ship arrived
in New York, | took the pay
due me and bid farewell to the
Congress and her crew, and made
straight for the banks Of this lake,
where have remained up TO the present
moment. When was blue jacket the
sailors were daily served with grog, but
| never touched a drop until the third
year of my term. When ! began drink
ing 1t | was not near so sick as | had
been, and from that time / cultivated
quite u taste for the darncd stuff,
which has hung to me ever since.
| What are you going to take,
boysY and Jim brought his
horny hand down upon the little
counter with whack that made the
chimneys in the kerosene lamps rattle.
Jim, in addition to his other accom-
plishments, is one of the best rabbit
hunters in the whole state, and those
who are fond of the sport engage him to
accompany them when they go on Il
raid against the little long-eared hoppers.