The morning call., 1890-12-15
MlDSHlPMAN AND MONKEY.
An Incident in the Early Career of Cal
tain SchIey OF the Baltimore,

An Incident in the Early Career of Cap
tain sch1ey of the Baltimore.
A naval officer recently told story Of
Captain Schley, the commander of the crack
cruiser Baltimore, the officer who led the
attack upon the forts of Corea when we had
trouble with that country, and the man who
SO brilliantly conducted the Greedy relief eX-
petition.
The first Japanese embassy that came to
this country was sent home in the United
States frigate Niagara. This country being
DESTROYS of opening up trade with Japan
paid every attention to the members of the
embassy while they were here, and the splen-
did Niagara was specially fitted out to take
them home. Temporary quarters were fitted
up sumptuously for them aft on the spar
deck. They were given to understand that
the ship and her officers and crew were at
their command. The voyage was pleasant
and all was well until Cape Town was left.
A stop of several days was made there.
When the Niagara hove up her anchor and
resumed her voyage there was an additional
member OF the embassy contingent. He was
tame baboou and had been bought by one
of the chiefest of the japanese passenge RS.
He was an "amoosin' cuss" withal, but
very free and uncieanly in his habits. He
took liberties with the quarter deck that
brought upon his head many an anathema
from the officers of the ship and her crew,
| for there is one thing that every one on
board man-of-war takes particular pride
in, and that is in having his floating home
as clean as ever was the kitchen of thrifty
housewife.
Captain Schley was then midshipman
and was on the Niagara. he was about
l6 years of age. high hearted and very prank
some. He chafed so much under the re-
straint Of man-of-war discipline. and so
often broke out of bounds, that it was freely
predicted that, while his career in the ser
vie might be very breezy and eXhilarating
one, it would also be brief One bright
morning the Niagara was heeling along in
the Indian Ocean with favorable thirteen
knot breeze bellying her sails and singing
through her rigging. The decks had been
washed down and had dried. They were as
spotless as bridal linen. Midshipman Schley
was one of the watch on deck. There came
from the embassy quarters the diplomatic
baboon. He offended as he had SO often
offended before. Schley could not stand it.
He stood by slush bucket on the lee side.
lie called the simian to him and caressed
him with his hand. He then took a handful
of oakum and dipping it into the liquid
grease In the bucket, made the baboon's
tail thoroughly lubrieous.
There was something in Schley's eye
which showed that he was working
scheme of revenge and destruction. With
ropes end he gave the baboon three or four
smart blows The ugly brute Immediately
took to the rigging, amid which he had so
often sported before. Schley followed him
for a few feet. The baboon reached the
height of the main yard. to which he sprung.
He ran nimbly out to the yard-arm and then
made the mistake of his life. Wrapping his
tail around the foot rope he swung head
downward, with nothing below him bat blue
water. But the prehensile function of his
tail had been destroyed by the lubricating
that Schley had given it. As a consequence
tho brute, with wild yell, plunged into the
Indian Ocean and was seen no more.
Schley's excuse TO the captain of the ship
for what he had done was that he could not
have prevented the disagreeable passenger
from committing suicide even If he had had
orders to that effect. With stern face and
twinkling eye the captain told the lad to
go and sin no more.-N, Y. Sun,