Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-11-20
LOST HIS PORT WHISKER.
Sad Accident that Befell Rear-Admirai
John g. Walker.
TNew York Times.1

That the whiskers of Acting Rear-Ad-
miral John G.. Walker, of the United States
navy. have been admired in many coun-
tries of the globe, and that they have
amply merited such admiration. may be
asserted without fear of contradiction.
Every one who has seen them acknow-
lodges their supremacy over other whlskers
in point of length. sickness, color, and gen.
eral organization. and even the Rear Ad-
miral himself views them with a pride
that is admitted by all of his friends
and acaualntances to be amply justi-
fed. IL is not too much to say, in
deed. that the Rear AdmiraPs whiskers
are pre-eminent, and that they held the
same proud position in the community or
whiskers as did, for many years. the Sulll-
yanic Duke" in the community OF fists,
and what higher praise can be bestowed
They have. In fact, awakened the enthu-
siasm of innocent boys 10 many iap0s' ana
the yearning words, "Oh. for chance at
dem ilocksl' no matter in what language
spoken, have been uttered with the sin:
cerity and the absence of prejudice OF
which youth only is capable.
Ii is true that IN the navy the Rear Adj
miral is often referred TO as odd Whis-
kers.n but the term Is not used irreverent-
". Far from it. 1t is an abbreviated en-.
comium. conveying also the assurance OF
respect.
The whiskers are of the Dundreary order,
and il is declared by conn0i sSeurs IN whlsk:
ers that the sight of the Rear Admiral
facing the whistling wind on the quarter
deck, with the elongated sideburns stream
ing gayly back over each shoulder, can
never be forgotten. :,
The Rear Admiral's whiskers we're all
right when his flagship Chicago sailed
for Venezuela, and they are all right now
that she has returned. But between these
two periods, one of them-to be accurate,
the port whisker-has passed through a
sore trial
1t was while the Chicago was in Vene-
zuelean waters. One day the officer OF
the deck was ordered to order the bosun's
mate to order "Old Shears" the ships
barber, to "stand By to trim the Admirars
hair"
"Old Shears" stood by, and presently
the Rear Admiral was in the chair. The
Rear AdmiraPs hair IS chiefly black hair,
and. with q full realization of the respon-
sibillty of the task, the barber began work
in the region of the nape of the neck.
He progressed satisfactorily, in spite
of the fact that the ship was rolling
rather awkwardly. But presently be
I caught sight of a short, bristly hair In the
port whisker, which stuck out stubbornly
/ from the whisker itself. Acting on I'M
! pulse, the barber determined that the un-
ruly HAIR should be cut of, when-it is re.
! corded with pan-the ship lurched heavi.
+ ". The shears closed on the obstinate
hair. but alas on the port whisker also,
severing it. and giving the proud Real
Admiral the appearance of having a heavy
list to starboard.
! The Rear Admiral roarediwith rage. and
I hurrying from the BARRIERS shop ran to hi:
cabin. issued orders that odd Shears
should 90 to the dungeon cell, and Their
retired from the world. "Old Shears
I offence was considered so serious that h'
had to serve thirty days OF solitary con
! hnement.
1t was some time before the Rear Admira
was again seen on deck. When he did re
appear 1t was noticed with Joy by the
crew that the port whisker had regainec
its former proportions. II is emphaticall,
declared, however, that there is no con
nection between its unpIecedentedl'
rapid growth and the fact that on boar6t
/ the Chicago are seamen who can beat al
( others in the art of splicing.