The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-19
LOST his PORT WHISPER.
Sad Accident That Beten Rear Admiral
John G.. Walker.

John G. Walker.
From the NetO York Times
That the whiskers Of Acting Rear Ad-
mirsl John c. Walker Of the United States
navy have been admired in many countries
Of the globe, and that they have amply
merited such admiration, may be asserted
without fear Of contradiction.
Every one who has seen them acknowl-
edges their supremacy over other whiskers
in point of length, sickness, color and or
ganization, and even the rear admiral him
self views them with q pride that is ad-
mitted by all of his friends and acquaint-
ances to be amply justified. It is not too
much to say. indeed, that the rear admirars
whiskers are pre-eminent, and that they
hold the same proud position In the com
munity of whiskers as did, for many years,
the Sullivanio duke" in the community of
fsts-and what higher praise can be be-
slowed.
They have, In fact, awakened the enthu-
siasm OF innocent boys In many lands, and
the yearning words, 80. for q chance at
dem lilocks !" no matter In what language
spoken. have been uttered with the sincerity
and the absence of prejudice OF which
youth only is capable.
1t Is true that In the navy the rear ad-
miral Is often referred to as "Old Whiskers i"
But the term is not used irreverently. Far
from it. It is an abbreviated encomium,
conveying also the assurance OF respect.
The whiskers are OF the Dundreery order,
aud it is declared by connoisseurs in whisk-
ers that the sight Of the rear admiral fac
ing the whistling wind on the quarter deck,
with the elongated sideburns streaming
gayly back over each shoulder, can never
bs forgotten.
The rear admirals whiskers were all right
when his flagship Chicago sailed for Ven
ezuela, and they are all right now that she
has returned. But between these two peril
DDS, one OF them-to DO accurate, the port
whisker-has passed through q sore trial
1t was while the Chicago was in Venezue-
Ian waters. One day the officer of the deck
was ordered to order the bosun's mate to OF
der sold Shears" the ships barber, TO
stand by to trim the admiral's hair"
"Oid Shears" stood by, and presently the
rear admiral was in the chair. The rear ad
miral's hair is chiefly back hair, and, with a
full realization of the responsibility of the
task, the barber began work in the region
of the nape of the neck. He progressed
satisfactorily, III spite OF the fact that
the ship was rolling rather awkwardly.
But presently he caught sight of a short,
brlstly hair in the port whsker, which
stuck out stubbornly from the whisker it.
self. Acting on impulse, the barber deter
mined that the unruly hair should be cut
| ship lurched heavily. The shears closed on
the obstinate hair, but alasl on the port
whisker also, severinE 1t, and giving the
proud rear admiral the appearance of hay.
ing heavy list to starboard.
Tho rear admiral roared with rage, and,
| hurrying from the BARRIERS shop, ran to his
cabin, issued orders that 'Old Shears
should go to the dungeon cell, and then re-
tired from the world. ''Old Shears" offense
was considered SO serious that he had g
serve thirty days Of solitary confinement.
1t was some time before the rear admiral
was sgain seen on deck. When he did re.
appear it as noticed with joy by the crew
that the port whisker had regained its for
mer proportions. 1t is emphaticaly de-
clRred, however. that there is no connection
between its unpreoedentedly rapid growth
and the fact that on board the Chicago are
seamen who can beat all others In tho art OF
splicing.