Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-02-20
THE CAPTAINS GRIP.


An old California friend--John Will
son. let US call him for convenience--had
been strolling about New York, refresh
ing his memory, visiting new points of
interest and generally stalking in" the
sights. In plotting him round the city
naturally stumbled upon the Eden Mn
see, and took him In to see the grisly
groups and tableaux in the crypt. He
was very much interested in them and
repeatedly expressed surprise and admi-
ration at the skill of the workmanship
and the artistic and realistic effects of
the grouping and attitudes. Having
worn the blue during the civil war he
was especially attracted by the repre-
eentation of Clusters last fight but OBJ
served that he could hardly take his ewes
off group of figures in oriental cos
tunes, and that for some minutes after
examining that group he continued
grave and absent minded. Presently, at
luncheon, asked Jack what particular
memory that oriental tableau had slim
ulated. | put the question advisedly,
because knew that my friend had seen
men and cities and experienced many
and strange adventures, and all his sto-
ries were good, while most of them were
apt to be new. So deliberately angled
for yarn. feeling that ii would har-
monize better with cigar than fresh
descent into the streets. Jack, on being
questioned, fell once more into his alb
stracted mood, and. after a minute of
silence, said slowly:
Il was thinking Of a group once saw,
not composed of wax figures, yet as rigid
and motionlass, in which an Oriental
bore a conspicuous part
After this beginning, of course, did
not let Jack go until he had told his
story. and what he said il now repro
duced here:
After the close of the war found
II impossible to settle down again to
humdrum work, but | soon found that
If Twas in search of adventure it would
be necessary 10 try some other country
than my own. The United States was
at that time bonnd 10 make up for lost
times All the business and money max.
ing tendencies Of the nation seemed
stimulated to the uttermost. Specula-
ton was booming: the war spirit had
put uaheard OF atdacity into all kinds
of commercial enterprises, and, gener-
ally, the hour of the capable had come
l did not happen to be Of these. | had
a little money, enough to live upon
comfortably, and felt no inclination 10
go a-grubbing for more. Action. excite
meat. picturesqueness. the unexpected
were what desired. and began look
ing over the world for some situation
containing promise
AT Last | got tired of waiting and
tried to compromise with myself by a
course of drifting. lrifted TO the Pa
cific coast; then to the Sandwich islands,
from there TO Japan, and after stay of
several months In one of the most in
teresting countries and among tho most
delightful people | know | found my
way to Canton. This was some time
after Horatio Z. Lays fasco. You re
member about that? No2 Well, this
Lay was blue blooded English diplo-
matte fellow, who thought he could do y
stroke of business for himself by under
taking 10 organize a feet for the Chinese
government wherewith 10 put down
piracy. at that time very troublesome,
especially in and about Kwangtung.
Lay obtained some sort of authority,
went to England, bought or built lot
of gunboats. fitted them out for service
and engaged Capt. Sherard Osborne, q
gallant naval officer. 10 command tho
squadron.
..But this was not what the Chinese
wanted. Their idea was to man tho
vessels with their own people, and give
them native officers, too. OF course.
this would have resulted In one of two
ways; either the pirates would have cap
tured the gunboats promptly, or the
commanders Of the gunboats would have
gone into partnership with the pirates.
That, however, was nohody's business
but that Of the government, whose sub
jects were cutting one another's throats.
Lay was repndiated. tho contracts made
by him were rejected. and, finally, Sir #.
Bruce solved the difficulty By taking
Osborne's fotilla off the hands of the
Chinese government Most of the gun
boats were sent back 10 England, but
one at least remained. and the under
standing was that the government
would buy her II she proved up 10 her
guarantees.
.sNow. 10 test such boat. II WINS
clearly useless 60 send her 10 sea with
Chinese officers: and even Chinese
crew could hardly DO her justice in the
engine room and stoke hole. So it was
determined 10 make a trial trip with
scratch crew Of white men; and when
heard that they were looking about for
somebody to command her jumped at
the opportunity, and hastened TO offer
my services. You know | was In the
navy before the war. and had passed .
good examination In steam, so felt my
self competent 10 manage this gunboat.
which was only small craft. calculated
for ahallow waters, and carrying crew