The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-03-01
. DANDY JACK. i"
4 Hero In Kid Gloves and Patent
Leather Boots.

"Dandy Jack!"
This was the involuntary exclamation
chat came from several of the group Of
blue jackets gathered about the main
mast OF the Colorado, when the new
lieutenant we were expecting came up
the ward-room hatchway, and stepped
out on the starboard side Of the quarter
deck.
He was trim and dapper little fell
low, barely Ave feet 1--WE in his shoes;
slim, and yet with certain wiryness
standing out that to the careful observer
told of strength. His clothes looked as
though they had just come from the
tailor, SO bright and fresh were they.
His cap, Respondent with its I'M
furnished ornaments, set jauntily on q
head whose every hair seemed to have q
place and occupy it. His black side
whiskers were as carefully arranged,
and kid glove clothed the hand that
he held out for the trumpet that de-
noted his charge of the deck, while
patent-leather boots shone beneath the
smoothly-buttoned CATERS ON his feet.
We were used to the neat clothes and
bright ornaments, for many Of our OH
GERS were noted examples Of WE'LL
dressed manhood, but we had not been
educated up to the standard wherein kid
gloves and patent leather were blended
with salt water and tar, and our criti-
cisms, ii not loud, were many.
But Dandy Jack" flor the name thus
inyoluntarily given chung to him), il he
knew of these, gave them no attention,
and a daily acquaintance with them
soon made us accustomed to the innova-
walton, and we quickly discovered that
our new lieutenant was thorough mas
ter of the different drills we found
thrust upon us by the opening of HOSTILE
ties We had been ordered South. and
were lying of Fort Pickens, with the
Confederate flag in plain sight, as it
huttered over the walls of Barrancas
and McRae, and at the truck of the flag
stat In the navy-yard at Warrington.
Steamers from Pensacola ran down to
the last named place, and now and then
. schooner winged her way alongside Of
the sea-wall fronting the buildings. But
~ 20 10 ~ wokAA0 PHcpaIa-
.ions On Doafd OF tnese. ana 20 they
Dr0ugnt US no excitement.
The case was changed, however, when
one morning we saw, hauled undcr the
shears and already partially armed,
schooner whose yacht-like build and
rakish spars told OF an adaptability for
pI1ssseer purposes mat could md ready
s"pioy mens II once allowed to get out
u sne waters OF tne dulf, 30 full Of
small AanKee traoers 10 capture this
s Z VI aossroy ner' was an object
'nss our oncers mucn Desired, and an
= Peoisaon was soon proposed, and ~
u.C4iy ORGANISED.
ve uau nos kno" tne number OF guns,
= now large crew the schooner Car
aeo; Ons We oia know that heavy and
'lncaens osstef1es. manned by numer-
'us eonieaerase force, protected her,
~ sne was mooreo directly IN their
snEe. 1es TINS Was MOI considered dis
ouraging' ior one can not expect such
' ! Prises 70 % oevolo OF danger. Were
ney 80, ~ would take from them great |
'ars OF the charm tnas makes men seek |
ne exclsement tney now possess.
VI course the preparations for the ex-
'edttion were carried ON secretly, so
hat no intimation of them should reach |
ne enemy, and on the 18th Of Septem-
er every thing was ready for the dash /
'e were to make that night. Five of |
ne boats were to compose the expedi-
lon' headed by the nrst launch under