The morning call., 1892-12-11
A JAP GETS WET
Vain Little Matsura Falls
Overheard.
lie Came to the Landing Like a Lion
and Went Away Like a
Drowned Rat.

When the launch from the Japanese man
of-war was coming ashore yesterday after
noon Coxswain Matsura thought he was one
of the biggest men in the world and looked
down on the sailors as common things Of
the earth. He gave his orders in a loud
peremptery voice that impressed the men
with his great dignity and Importance.
When the boat got close to the Clay-street
landing Matsura thought he would show the
Americans what great old sea dog be was.
He therefore stood up on the thwarts of the
boat TO give his orders. In this position he
certainly made a fine impression. and the
men wondered when the day would come
that they could do likewise.
The only trouble was that he did not stay
In the position very long. 1t was not bis
fault that he did not stay there, but the
fault of the boat and the frolicsome antics OF
the waves.
Just as the boat was pulling up to the
float Matsura stood up as high as possIb le
and. waving bis hand In a lordly manner
called out in a voice that made the crew
tremble:
"Meni XII chunn tum tgm yum kIry
how" and the next minute was investiga-
ting the mud on tile bottom of the bay.
He went down entirely by the force OF
gravity, leaving his beautiful command un-
finished. For a moment the crew were
paralyZed with fear and then began to won
Ger when he was coming back. They
waited long time. and as ne did not ap-
pear all began to talk in excited voices,
each evidently telling the other it was his
duty to go after the abscondiDg coxswain
and prevent his clipping with mermaid.
In the midst of the discussion Matsura
came back to the surface and leisursly be-
gan TO dig the mud out of his eyes and free
his uniform from the remains of few dead
cats and last seasons vegetables.
He still tried 10 keep his dignity and evil
IDENTIFY wanted to create the impression that
that was the way be always made landing
1t seemed as If he was about TO succeed in
this when the crew came to the conclusion
that they bad better get him out.
They poked everything portable they
could lay hands on at him. An oar struck
him on the head and mast landed in the
middle of his back, while ropes were all
around him. lie was jabbed and puDctured
with boathooks until he must have had as
many holes in him as pincnshion. Finally
one happened to catch in the slack portion
OF his trousers, and, with his head and heels
still in the water, he was pulled TO Shore
bowling like an Indian, Ii was plainly evil
dent the hook had a hold OF something else
besides broadcloth.
When he was on the ianding-hoat again
he made another attempt to be dignified, but
Ii WAS dismal failure, and he crawled back
into the sterRsheets Of the vessel and went
DacK 10 the snip 10 nave his clothes dried.
Twelve cases Of Irish peat were brought
over on the ship Ravense0urt for James
Phelan. They created great deal Of ex-
element on the wharf yesterday morning.
and every man who had the faintest trace
of irish blood in his veins was clamoring
for small piece. A large quantity of II
was broken off and picked up 10 be treasured
like jewels. Just exactly what 1t is for is q
matter of speculation. bat 1t is very likely
it will be used by Mr. Phelan on the cele-
bration OF bis seyenty-third birthday. With
the peat came two large casks OF poteen aud
a couple of skllets There were also
couple OF sods Of shamrock. The peat or
turf, looks ike piece Of very bad Califor-
MIA alkali soil that has had lot Of straw
mixed with il. but IL Is said TO make the
finest fire in the world.
The new elevated roadway for filing cars
with sand at Meiggs wharf is now CON-
pleted. and 1t was used yesterday for the
frs. --::C.s.
The steamer Willamette Valley, while
making landing at the seawall Yesterday.
crashed into the wharf ut the end and de-
slroyed is for ten feet. The accident was
caused by the Misunderstanding of signals.
With nerves uRstrung and head that aches
Wise woman Bronze Seitzer takes Uc bottle.