The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-14
ADMIRAL E A BART.
fine Bluff Old Mariner After Whom the
French Warship IL Named.

Fl.
(he Blur Old Mariner After whom ths
French Warship IL Named.
One OF the French warships which took
part in the Columbian naval review ut New
York was named the Jean Bart. As the
ship was one Of the first class, and attract
ed consequently a great deal of attention,
no little curiosity was aroused by its name,
which to most people seemed a strange
one. In books Of reference people were
told that jean Bart was n French admiral
who hourishsd ut the close Of the seven
teenth century, NC who, beginning life as
q fisherman, rose to high rank and became
a popular hero. but o of the current
biographies contains any u the curious and
amusing anecdotes about him which have
come down from h time when he lived.
One of these stories will serve to show
what sort of man Jean Bart was. When he
had mado q brilliant record rs a kind OF
b%uccaneer and shown that he was q much
ADLER sea warrior than any Of the officers OF
noble birth who commands the navy,
King Louis XIV made him SVst a heuten-
ant and then the captain of a frigate, in
which position he greatly distinguished
himself.
One day, while several elegant courtiers
were waiting in the great monarch's ante
chamber for an interview with the kings
rather rough looking sailor came in. The
courtiers and attendants were greatly
shocked, but the sailor announced that he
was Jean Bart, and that he had come to
see the king. N of his men, keyser. had
been condemned to death for killing a man
in a duel, and he was going to ask h king
to pardon him.
''But, NJ. lie Capitaine,'' said the attend
ant, shave you a royal invitation entitling
you to an audience?"
"a royal invitations" exclaimed the cap
tain. what do I want Of THAR The king
and / are good friends. No need of all that
nonsense between usl You just tell him
that Jean Bart wants to talk to him, and
thatll be enough!'
But I can't any IL who
hasn't an invitation" said the attendant.
"All right" said jean Bart. I'm an
nounce myself"
He bounded toward the door Of the kings
apartment, very much as if he were start
ing to run up a mainmast. The attendant,
with pale face, placed himself before him.
sxclaiming:
But the kings orders! Don't you obey
tho kings or1ersp"
"Oh, WELL" said the sailor, IF it comes
to that. I'll wait. won't go against the
kings orders"
He sat down among the astonished court
iers, took out a pipe and some tobacco,
struck a light with his flint and finder and
began to smoke. The attendant protested
that no one smoked in the kings ante
chamber, but Jean Bart insisted that when
he was waiting he always smoked.
Put him out" some one whispered, but
no one vcntured to do more than whisper
it. Soon the king learned what was going
on and ordered Jean Bart ushered. in as
soon as he should have finished his pipe.
The interview, in which Jean Bart con
Quoted himself with all due respect to the
king, ended in the granting of keyser's
pardon, and Jean Bart came back into the
courtiers' presence triumphant.
They all crowded about the bluff captain,
very obsequious to him now, and completely
blocking his exit. He was in great haste to
carry the pardon to Keyser.
"Oh, tell us, N. Jean Bart, the courtiers
began to exclaim, tell us how you got out
Of the harbor Of Dunkirk when you were
blockaIed there by the English feet!'
''You want to know, chr" asked the cap.
tain, pansing.
still more closely about him.
done. Look here. I'm Jean Bart, amt II
Well, this room is the harbor of Dunkirk,
and you fellows are the English fleet block
aiding me. And now
Whackl bang! whack! Jean Bart laid
about him, now administering a cuff, now
a kick, and very forcibly clearing a way to-
ward the door. AS he reached it he ex-
claimed:
And that's the way. gentlemen, that I
got out of Duukirk barbor when 1 was
olockaded there by the English feet! Good
oy!"
The warship that bears the name of this
redoubtable seadog should be q formidable
antagonist.-Youth's Companion.