The weekly tribune., 1893-08-11
HOBBS AND HIS FLAG.
AN EPISODE OF WAR DAYS IN THE
HARBOR OF HONG-kONG.


During the greater part of the war,
said the retired skipper, there were {
large number Of American clippers stall
ed in Hong-kong harbor, having order.
to remain there from their owners, who
feared the Alabama. This arrangement
did not at all please the captains and
officers, as many of us were anxious tc
go home and ship in TIE navy, but orders
were orders. We could not leave the
ships, and the frequent visits Of the Ala
bama herself to the Earbor, forcing her
self into our midst as the saving goes.
were very vivid reminders that neutral
waters were pretty good sort of an in
vention.
Although we passed the long weeks
and months as pleasantly as we could,
with all kinds of arrangements for kill
ing time, both on shipboard and on
shore, there was of course continual
and concerted growl going up from our
little band of Yankee shippers, and old
Hobbs was the star growlcr of us all
His shipw the Humming Bird, n
brand new clipper haling from Boston.
The trip out to HonG-Kong had been her
maiden one, and it was chatting to Hobbs
not very smooth temper to have her lie
idle So early III her career. Having great
faith III the ships speed and in his own
seananship. he was more than anxious
70 put 10 sea and Let Sommes catch him
if he could; but. like the rest of us. his
orders 20 remain wcr" positive
professionally ship would manage to
clear by sailing under some foreign flag,
but as it was Il complicated process in
volving fathoms Of red tape and very Of
.en fell through Just when everything
seemed favorable it was not resorted to
very often. When 1t was tried, however,
old Hobbs would 20 ON his beam ends
with wrath. He would fumc and rant,
casting nsperSions on the patriotism Of
the owners. the agents. the officials, and
even tn Chinese crew. He was so in
tcnsclv patriotic that to see Il good Yam
Eee craft sail under false co!ors would !
keep nm boiling for Il week.
"lO on can see what his feelings were
wi. Il one day he was ordered to proceed |
TO Sumatra under the British flag. He |
fumed, ranted and swore aud then |
.iilItN, Itiil''l anu HNtIt over dLllil, |
with few extra choice nautical ana,i-
emas thrown in for emphasis. This nec-
essary operation over, he sent ashore to
the native sailmaker's for British flag
the smallest TO be had. When it came
aboard-it was about by 4 feet in size
Hobbs looked at it askance AMI or
dered it to be put ont Of sight until sail
ing day
Sailing day arrived, and the British
flag was seen fiuttering quietly from its
proper place on the Humming Bird. 1t
attracted mighty little attention, how
ever, for the Alabama was entering the
harbor. She hOated slowly along and
dropped anchor exceedingly close to the
Hunming Bird. About this time the
harbor master was seen III his boat be-
ing rowed rapidly toward Hobbs ship,
and huge bundle Of bunting about the
size Of an old shcllbacE's sea chest was
rapidly hauled to the maintop Of the
Bird.
The harbor master pulled up along
side the Humning Bird and yelled for
tho captain. 1t could be seen that he
was angry about something. Hobbs
came to the rail in his plug hat ami long
tailed bottle green coat, the customary
uniform of Il skipper in those DAYS
and asked the harbor master what he
could do.
81 want yOu to take down that flag
instantly, sir said the harbor master.
"Guess not said Hobbs.
Its disgrace, sir, and an insult to
hoist such "a flag as that'
"'What's the matter with the flag?
said Hobbs, surprised
Its all wrong, sir; the proportions
Ire all wrong. The field is too long for
IS width, and the rest Of it is too wide for
is length. The crosses are wrongly ar
'anSed, sir, and it is vile caricature of {
IN honored flag, sir! Remove it imme-
lately"
"iness not, said Hobbs again. That
lag was bought in a British port and
made by "a British subject. He was a
yhlAaman, bnt that is neither here nor {
here. | don't care if it is the flag Of
'ataGDnla, go long "a, it was sold to me '
or that Of EuglarG Guun morning. {
The harbpr master Ind nothing to say I
~ NA'lN 'i'I' Hl'st l''l bi.'h, DtlL ne ma TO
ooncr done so than the main halliards
we're pulled. the bundle ut the peal; .
roke ont, and in Il second the stars and
tripcs We're waving before the aston
shed eyes of the harbor master, the Yam
ce shippers and Captain Semmes of the 3
Alabama. Indeed, so large was Old ,
ilory in this particular case that it al I
lOst brushed the Alabamas decks, the :
cssels being 50 near together. The huge $
ag had oeen presented to the ship at 8
er launching and to the excited c.
ators on this occasion seemed larger :
han the ship herself
The harbor master put about, angricr 7
nan before, and demanded explanations.
What does that flag mean, sirf' said I
g. ,
That's my house flag said Hobbs; I
he trademark Of my owners. do not q
now whether that red rag M there is +,
and clubfootcd or not, but 8
on can't give me any points on the con- g