Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-05
BLCE-JACKET TRUTH.
The Value Some of Them Place on the
Requirements of the Situation.

''Sailors are the bravest fellows in the
world" said a naval officer to a STAR reporter
the other day. land the most remarkable liars
No reliance whatever is to be placed upon the
testimony of some of them as to facts, even
under oath. Just to illustrate il I'll tell You
little story about an incident that came under
my own immediate observation.
Il was lieutenant OH board the United
States ship Atlanta six years ago, when the
captain Of the vessel sent a boat ashore in
charge of Midshipman Smith, to fetch off the
chaplain. The chaplain was delayed on some
account, and the boat waited couple of hours
at the dock. Smith was easy-going sort of
fellow and he made no bones of letting the
coxswain go ashore and buy a bottle or two of
rum, which the men consumed the result be-
ing that they all. particularly the coyswain.
were half-seas-over by the time the chaplain
arrived. Owing to this state oil affairs
DISASTER ENsUED.
For when the chaplain at last did come-the tide
had fallen two or three feet-he found it diff
cult TO make his way down tine slippery steps
from the dock to the boat and the coxswain
helping him the wrong wav, he fell souse into
the water and was dragged out like drowned
rat.
I'm consequence of this incident. on the chap
laih's complaint, Midshipman Smith was court
martlaled among the serious charges en-
bodied IN the indictment against him being
conduct unbecoming an officer. behavior sub
yerslve OF discipline. neglect Of duty. &c. To
begin the proceedings. when the trial came on,
the coxswain of the boat was called and the
judge advocate said:
What your nameY
"'Bill Bobstay, SIR
"'iour occupation
:" Able seaman, SIR
PUT on OATH.
aOlatnnly An
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth about this case?'
81 do, sir
kiss the book. Now. tell me, did you act as
coSswaIn Of the second cutter of the United
States ship Atlanta OH the afternoon of May 16,
1883, when that boat was sent ashore under
command OF Midshipman Smith to fetch the
chaplain of the vessel?'
IL did, sir
"'Well, then. tell the court precisely what
happened on that expedition. leaving out no
detail; and remember that you are on your
solemn oath. so help you God
The judge advocate sat down. and the boat
swain transferred an unusually large quid OF
navy plug from his right cheek to his left
" You see, sir, he said, it was this way: The
second cutter went ashore for the parson, bu,
he wasn't on time. We waited and waited al
the dock, but not sign OF him turned up. Sc
hnaliy said to this young gen'l'm'n here, Mr..
Smith. touchin' my cap: please, sir, may we
go ashore and get a little something to drink,
just TO pass away the timer And Mr.. Smith.
says he: .'Cox'n. j am astcnished that you
should make such an insolent requests it would
serve you right If l reported you to the captain.
Pull that starb'd oar further aft"
THE AFFAIR EXPLAINED.
4" The time went on and still no parson-not
white choker nor SO much as a seedy black
weskit. was gettin' awful dry, and at last ]
says, says /: "Mr. Smith. would you give me
permission to go ashore myself alone and wet
my whistler I'll be back inside of ten minutes"
But Mr.. Smith flies in rage at that-yes, sir,
remember that I'm Oh oath-and he says. rays
he: ''ioa internal scoundrel"-it was me he
was alludin' to-.'I'll have you put in irons for
your impudence when We get back to the
ship"
g SO didn't get anything to drink, and
was just feelin' sorry for havin' been so cheeky
when who should come down the dock but the
parson-the chaplain. 1 mean, sir-reeling
drunk. He was so loaded that he missed his
footin on the steps, and d--n me il he didn't
60 ker-slosh into the water-whch was just as
wcl perhaps, for he was sobered up by the
time We fished him out. And that's all I know
about the affair. SO help me-"