Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-12-26
STERN CHASE.

etimes in these days OF steamboat
you happen to CONE across a salt Of
ood old fashioned kind, with bar
on his back and full rugged ship
ed on his shaggy, moss grown chest.
ren, whenever you meet such an in
,al, cherish him in your bosom, wrap
b in cotton wool and place him gem
glass case. For believe me, the old
back" is becoming scarce and is fast
gathered to his fathers In a little
he will become extinct like that ri
bird the roc, so graphically de-
d by Captain Sinbad, which has van
from the face Of the earth, leaving
ZEN feather or fragment Of egg
(or ornithologists to ponder over. &
lie cruising down South street the
day was fortunate enough to cross
bws of an ancient mariner-not one of
artificial kind, but one of old Nep-
private stock. He savored of the
alt sea to such an extent that verify
ke that If had tapped him with a
North Carolina tar would have ex-
from the wound and not blood.
WAS backing and filing, bound to the
gry, some three sheets In the wind,
IA rivtt II ii}facco juice running
his oakumlike beard. AS | got
art his hawse hailed him.
hoy yonrself,,' he replied, ''you can't
any tricks on an old saiiorman like
I've got nothing to give to your
ed longshore missions, neither can
hanghai me- I've traveled.n
Bottled him in nautical fashion, con-
ID him that was neither missionary
crimp, and made him spin me yarn.
bid me of the time his ship was chased
e Alabama. l would give a good deal
able to tell the story in the quaint
of the old sea dog, but unfortunately
gen't the faculty, so | must tell it in
bwn feeble way.
) ship was the Blue Rocket, one of
lid McKay's fastest clippers, hailing
\ New York and engaged in the East
An and Chinese trade. She was re-
kable for her fast passages and her
|ain used to boast that nothing that
Jed canvas could pass her, while the
nary steamship of those days wasn't in
procession with her. In the fifties and
jes we had fleet of merchant ships
finest in the world. The Yankee clip
and her smart officers were seen in
" port, no matter how distant, and the
Itrast between them and the slovenly
ish cargo carriers was as great as that
Eeen yacht and scow. The Yankee
y were kept as bright as new pin and
pretty as putty and paint could make
pa. Their yards were always square"
he in port, their running gear swayed
rs taut as harp strings and no Irish
nants" were ever to he seen trailing
j the sides. 1t used to be the pride of
b captains to make them look as smart
man-ofwar
be Yankee clippers glory is departed.
stars and stripes are no more to be
4 waving in foreign ports, but there are
ee glorious memories connected with
Pc days when our ships commanded the
&merce of the world.
HE Blue Rocket had taken out cargo
eisting of nearly everything under the
/. She of course made a rapid passage
discharged her cargo in various East
ban ports. There were rumors of war
en the pilot left her off Sandy Hook
the ship set cloud of snowy canvas
pointed her prov to the southwark.
Blue Rocket did a good deal of coast
trade, having, from her reputation as a
Pper, secured a number of lucrative
lrters. She took flying trip to Aus
pa, bringing back to Madras couple
hundred horses for use in the Indian
|alry, her spacious and we'll ventilated
'een decks making her an ideal ship for
purpose.
md all this time the captain was piling
the dollars and his owners were getting
per and richer. The skipper, whose
me was Randall, was a shrewd down
Per, smart as they were made in those
Is and as good seaman as ever passed
Weather earring. He was kind to his
" also, his theory being that Jack will
rk harder and is more to be depended
pm In an emergency if he is treated like
uman being. He had worked his way
from before the mast until be had
ched the rank of captain. His younger
Is had been passed in the forecastle of
OF the old lndiamen that hailed from
EN-, Mass, and thus he gained consider
e experience which stood him in good
ad When he became commander of the
le Rocket.
u last he grew homesick and determined
load up for New York. He wouldn' t
e the ordinary cargo of rice, sugar and
les, but reserved his space in the lower
a and tween decks for silk indigo,
ces and similar fancy goods. which com
hded the highest rates. He put into
gapore to take aboard the last of his
go, reaching that port in December,
lngapore is a delightful harbor from a
Tors point of view. Rum and tobacco
cheap and tropical fruits are plentiful.
aen the Blue Rocket got there there
re plenty of American ships at anchor,
all We're dismantled, their crews paid
and their captains wandering about the
'n looking wretched and demoralized.
climate is rather enervating, the
md being situated within l deg. of the
iator, and who could blame these skip
> with no occupation if they took too
quent pegs of brandy panees
-et me tell you the origin of the word
g, which has the same significance as
american nip" or smile" So far as
now, 1t is only used by Anglo-Indians,
II originated with those renowned
hSers' the Anglo-Saxons, who were
iaiiy good with tankard or trencher.
Ola friend of mine, who resides in TO
lntio manor house in the county of Sus-
: England, is an arch@ologist of some
'uee. Among the interesting relics in
possession is peg tankard," g fine,
fashioned piece of plate, holding two
ares-not the scanty measure that does
" Tor half a gallon in the Omitted States,
generous, full two quarts of old Eng
i standard, perhaps equal to modern
W lork gallon. Inside this noble cup is a
oi eight pegs, one above the other.
: grand old custom was that each COM
.a.or when drinking should empty the
'c' space between peg and peg. II he
'ssesa the measured quantity be wal