San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-19
AMONG THE BREAKERS.

At a pleasant family reunion in New
York the sons and daughters of an old
commodore of the navy were assembled at
the house of a well known citizen to cele-
brate a domestic anniversary.
The table had been cleared, cigars light
ed, and the veteran, being urged by the
young ladies to spin them a sea yarn, re-
lated the following story:
1t occurred, he said, soon after | entered
the service, now more than forty years ago.
We were just about to leave Hampton
Roads on a cruise, when the captains gig
dashed alongside, and with the old skipper
came a slight, girlish, fair haired boy, ap-
parently a mere child, but dressed in the
uniform at that time worn by the midship-
men of our navy.
The little fellow had been sent to sea to
learn an honorable profession, tacause his
father, since his bankruptcy, could not
educate his son at home in a manner be-
coming his former station. He stood I'M
certain for a while on the quarter deck,
alone, neglected, abashed, until the cap
tain, suddenly recollecting himself, turned
round and introducing him to us ended
by committing Harry B~roughton, as shall
call him, to my oversight, as the oldest
midshipman on board.
We were soon on intimate terms, and he
was so frank, generous aid winning in his
manners that you could not, for the life Of
you, escape loving the little fellow. Even
the rugged old tars would do anything to
please him, and the severity of the first
lieutenant himself often relaxed itself when
little Harry, rs we all called him, had Of
Tended against some Daltry rule of disci-
pline. Always the first to turn out in q
gale, never to be found skulking like some
of the other youngsters from his watch,
and at all times eager to volunteer on any
extra duty, he gradually wound himself
into the hearts of every n on board, from
the landlubbers in the waist to the captain
in his after cabin. If we went on shore
Harry was sure to be one of our company,
for he was such a favorite with strangers
on account of his youth and beauty that
we were always better welcomed If he was
along.
We had been out nearly three years,
cruising on the Pacific station, when we
were ordered home, and right glad we all
were to hear the news. The long, beauti-
full mOonlights came and went like the
sound of music, and a hundred gallant fell
lows danced away the evening watches to
the lively notes of the violin.
Wereached the Philippine Islands, passed
the straits and at last entered the Bay of
Bengal. We were all heartily tired of
close confinement on shipboari, and re-
solved to run up the bay and visit a few
of the chief stations on the coast. 1t was
a glorious day when we first caught sight
of Madras, with the sunlight playing full
on it's walls and miuarets, the long, low
beach of white sand crowned with the
walls of the fort above, and n tremendous
surf rolling ana laundering in ah4,td.
Every heart beat high with pleasure, and
it was not Il difficult mater 40 obtain per
mission to land. A party of officers, among
whom were Harry and myself, resolved to
make an excursion into the town.
should have mentioned that there is no
port for vessels within twenty miles / st.
Georges Tort, and Us Our frigatc would be
compelled to stretch cIt aI,l in until II
we had bat little time for our adj
venture. W. had irsa2I",l "'l'r ve start
ed to leave the boats uIJ,rde the surf and
to land in flats which are used for passing
the breakers, and which, being sewed to-
gether and without ktels, are admirably
fitted to resist the Jerking of the surf and
cannot without great difficulty be over
But when we Ee'"ed the shore we
saw that none Of these native boats were
at hand, AMI ~ We had but listie time to
lose we lay upon our oars just outside the
breakers and called a council 10 determine
Continued on Third page.