The National tribune., 1890-03-20

half OF February, landing the ships COM
pany, aud breaking out stores TO enable the
medical officers TO direct thorough fumiga-
tiOn, 10 drive out the germs of the dread dis
ease.
About Feb % il was believed safe to re-
turn northward, and the ship sailed for Mon
tevideO, Uruguay, taking course generally
northeastward as the coast trends along the
Patagonian and Argentine Republic shores.
The weather was fair and bright when the
ship sailed. and all on board were in high
spirits The trade winds still held favor
able, and the great vessel bowled along COM
fortably for the first day or two, under
nearly all Of her huge spread of canvas.
Here i must digress to tell of matter
that will explain much that is described
hereafter. ear-Admiral Lanman was not
on good terms with Capt. Trenchard, and all
Of their intercourse was confined strictly TO
official communications; Capt. Trenchard
disliked Commander Johnson exceedingly,
and was inclined TO strongly resent the least
appearance Of interference by the latter in
anything relating to the management or ad-
ministration of the vessel, and lastly, Com
mander Johnson's relations TO his immedi-
ate chief were not the most friendly, and in
fact, were somewhat strained.
If was still following the sea, should
most respectfully prefer 10 be excused from
serving in a flagship, for il not infrequently
happens that there are too many masters on
board, when naval discipline requires for the
benefit OF good management and good sea-
manship, that there should be but one abso-
lnte master.
Let me dgress further, TO tell an old navy
yarn that illustrates this point: A flagship
was about TO leave port where it had been
anchored for some time, and when il came
TO get the anchor on board il was found TO
be fouled in the chain cable as completely
as was ever an old lady's ball of yarn, and
the Boatswain was having hard time get
ting the thing clear
He was on the topgallant forecastle with
his gang of mates, perspiring and using Ian
guage calculated 10 loosen the kinks and
yelling bloody murder at the men; the Ex-
ecutive officer was on the bridge, yelling Mt
the Boatswain, and the Captain was on the
quarterback nagging at him, while the
Commander-in-Chief was on the break of
the poop, sending messages to worry the
Captain. Everything was TO pay, and the
pitch was hot in the deck-seams.
Finally the Admiral went forward onto
the topgallant forecastle, and while watch
ing the work became interested, and began
giving suggestions that were orders TO the
men. The Boatswain. over the side, didn't
notice who il was, and sang out:
You 20 10 -. I'm clearing this
anchor"
Who in the - are you talking TOP"
was the wraihy response. : ] want you TO
know that I'm Admiral -, and command
this squadron"
"Well, sir" said the unabashed old barnacle,
as be threw his leg over the low rail; "by --.
sir, I'm commanding this job. You get af; OF
the poop and command your - squadron, and
III fish aud cat this anchor"
The Admiral glared at him second. and
then turned and walked aft 10 his cabin hold
ing his face straight until he got there before
enjoying a hearty laugh
TIE state Of affairs on the Lancaster among
the ranking officers almost led 20 disaster to the
ship. Under the regulations of those days.
land yet, 20 some extent it was not allowed 10
have steam Oh Navy vessel except while 60
ing into or out Of a port, and az such other
times as The Commander should deem im-
peritively necessary. In the case Of a flagship
the Admiral was the person who must author
inc the fires TO be started.
When the Lancaster left South Falkland Is
lands the fires were banked and the propeller
uneOuplcd from the SHAFT, hoisted on deck with
heavy sleeTs. sHd then slowed away below, aud
the ship Was nayigated uader sail alone, was
the custom the object in hosting the propel-
ler on board being 20 keep il from checking the
sailing speed by dragging through the water
About tire second day cut heavy fog settled
over the sea, and soon alterward the baronc-
ter began failing, slowly al FIRST but then rap
idly, fOrcteiing heavy storm. and in "A few
hours IL WAS blowing fresh from the northeast
ward almost q head wind.
By the next morning the wind had increased
20 gaze, and the sea was running heavy bnt
easily, until Tie wind shifted to tie southward
and made d cross sea, aud the ship began % be
uneasy. AL dag long the heavy sky made II
impossible sor MF. Mccormick, the Navigator,
% get a sight AZ tie sun with his instruments,
and it was only for . moment. on the morning
Of the fourth Jay, that be Was able to take
sight, and even that was a snap shot, for the
clouds dEi!icl across again and shut out the
sun to the northWard.
BY the third night the sea was in a fearful
condition. long IS well as lumpy, and the shin
was very uncomfortable. while those on board
began 20 lbe inns. 1t was not the gale alone
or the discomfort on board that produced
anxiety but every officer there unless IL might
have been tie aged Commander in-Chief knew
that the course laid left only a Ieeway Of a
couple of hundred miles between the port
beam and the Tock-bognd coast Of Patagonia.
where. wEiie the cliffs ashore are high and bold
the Atlantic shoals glowly landward. so that
Ecant water ig iCaad at very considerable dis
lance from shore.
Capt. TrcucllaTd was fully alive 10 the con
ditiOn Of affairs. aud he knc8 as well AZ his
Executive ana Navigator, who conferred with
him, how faT . vessel may Drift 10 ieeward
under certain conditions Of storm and currents.
but he lacked the strength Of character some
commanding officers have aud did not take
sharp action when Admiral Lauman refused to
believe there was q necessity for breaking Ogt
the propeller aud getting steam ready
All that sight / have mentioned, the gale
increased rather than Unfinished. and the wind
came. ag one officer puts il, - from all points at
once" Tho ship was IL the center Of the storm.
and az the WiHd did not h5id in one quarter for
half an hour a. time. she rolled 50 deep that
she WIS 81 iitaes almost on her beam-cnds-
making fully 42, Of aB arc from an even keel.
Her spaE-deek battery consisted then Of four
heavy pivot guns. and her guH-deck battery.
] think. o. ~ heavy S-inch Dehlgrcn she'll
guns q ti5e pattern in use just AZ the close OF
war. Thee were watched anEiously aud fear
fully by oiBccrs and men, -: had they. or
either Of thcm. broke away from their lash
ings, they would have gone overheard as
though her gyid Oalsen sides we're Of paper
macbe, Or e.se wrought death and destruction
in every direction Oh the decks. Victor Hhgo's
vivid description o. such a scene IN his novel
The Year '33 /" viii give an idea Of such a
mishap IL the guns went through the sides
that would ead everything, Tor the ship would
Ill through tic rcGts and sink before the boats
could be cleared away and launched.
Just about dusk of that worst night the