The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-28
"REMINISCENCES or FARRAGUE
How n. Became = Midshipman and Took
Prize 10 Valparaiso.
6bpv,;y,,. 1922. BY s. s Mcclure.

at Tunis as midshlpman. But I never no.
ticed the design on the scabbard until yester-
day when ov erhauling some mementoes OF that
time. came across It. will show 1t to you.
It was about foot long. with the silver scab-
hard heavily embossed. in the centre OF which.
in alto relieve. was the design that he had
never before noticed-a channel or stream. on
the high opposite banks OF which wore TWO
batteries and vessel passing between.
Had fate" I said to myself thus strangely
written out his future career? or was 1t mere
accident that his destiny had thus boon fore
cast. and that he was to read 1t only after 1t
had been ful1led?"
Admiral. do you see anything mysterious
In this'' asked.
II think 1t is mysterious that never noticed
the design until now" he replied. laughing.
could see he had not escaped the influence
which such strange coincidence would nat
urally have on any man.
A little while after he inquired II I had re-
Gently visited the Academy Of Design and
seen the painting representing Porter's battle
In the harbor OF Valparaiso.
II have bought that picture" He remarked.
1t occurred to me then why he took such an
interest in it remembered he was in that
most terrific fight and that as an officer. q
midshipman. though only II years old. ana
that he was wounded IN II ana that ne Wo1 Sar
psnsS BEEN sns old As%s sat
sssn sa m ao fsH standing
t Sas's sGlp, fS Snd strina gunner iu IN the
h hs s; s9ds s hsiTe oy
back. but the feeling lasted only an instant.
for the shot came so thick and fast that the
SsSn FIFE Fifteen mem we're killed. at single
battery. As the men and subordinate officers
compelled to act as Guartermaster Captains
sd and powder BOY ~ turns 5s b as the
he saw that his wrecked vessel had drifted
that We're ere mailing ki ndiine wood Of the vessel
jump overheard and swim. ashore. 1t was
plain to ne net that he had resolved to 60 doW n
@ hs aT y liz a os erowd
felt it would be cruel to let them 90 heIplessly
xvii R0 you tell me- AdmiraI said. "how
you came to be a midshipman SO youne?"
was sailns he sald Ct
New Orleans when hen was child u End was
yellow fever. and father had him, at once
l 5sS on SaS hs sP I
too. both died Tie same day ana within a few
doSn to take Ills place. %hether feeins for
illness was the cause Of my mothers death. or
for both. Dc not know but . ne proposed to
WEI Ren Poster stsrtod In bombtetch for Wash.
~ cried my self to sleep the first night got
Porter walking the deck. He looked at me
closely as he came up to me. as to see how |
Taxing. my hand he walked up and down the
taking to mo 9W and then
ON the table. From that time on had no more
home sickness. Porter was stern man. rough
a warm heart; game to love him like son:
at Porter presented
to take an interest in me. and had me sent to 9
IN sns pe af
inevitable; and Porter thought active service
e the Rss tng III hs0 hn
was United States officer. walking the deck
COAST mine to e = ths ~ Fasis 6eeaa
English commerce. although in case Of disas-
ter to hiss ship there was not port into which
ine IN enp
tuTng English merchantmen, until our career
was ended in the iight in Valparaiso barber"
crpIss q % persons interest e ssursslt ~ l0ns
and said Y' Yves. there was 'e one thng Which
was very serious to me- over which have had
aobbns s up EnsiIsh SLIPS until he had f }ieet
Gox Essh which to Be
VALPARAISO Wei l. he ordered me to go on board
Captain TO take her to TINT port forthwith. shall
meyer f15gett the l"ok OF plank ast0nishment
tho we, Vessels Side and drew upmy men on deck.
But at boys piping voice. which l strove in
vain I" make sound h%nrs% n and stern his snr,
rage lie grew rel as n lobster in the face, aud
began to curse and swear us only British sail
him nan Under the orders d Yankee BABY, and he
would be - il no would obey mo l might
wanted to. but he would DO = II hc. would
sail it under me. and; growing more furious
as ho swore he At Length decla re-; ne would 60
was ; a, first cowci by tho haughty. iierce.
only II years old. and felt my small mess In tho
presence q TINS rrofann; ruilal. Who with ono
into the sea. / did not utter q word. But tho
next momen, | remen,hered that WAS an
american "r%r ;hts b nnt fellow
myself. ! shnut"h alter him lnst as no was dis
appearing through the cab II door:
Ii YOU bring those pistols on deck will
have you pitched overheard.
"Ho did not come on deck for some time.
and ] could boar HIM swearing and growing
not come on deck with his histols What men
tai process he went through don't know. but
make good his threat for his manner had
"bnt. Admiral, / remarked. you would
not nave thrown him overheard ~
reply, IF I had not. believe Capt. Porter
would, have Pitched me into the soa. ] pre-
was lr"wned: for needed hin to navigate :hs
/ never blamed tho man mnch. for 1t was worry
humiliating. considering the contempt with
Prs to Pc sMbeet to d he orders Of Yankee
yofte safe into Valparaiso though was sus-
picous OF him and watched him closely. not
once beyond the reach q porter's guns and
when We at last reached the port and l was
FREQ to Join my own ship again.