The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-01-20
4 NAVAL INCIDENT.
n. Y. Evening Post.

N l Evening Post.
The case of Danforth, the assistant
engineer Oh board the Philadelphia,
tried by cOuri-martial for disObedi-
euce of orders, and condemned to IL
years suspension on half pay, has eX-
cited the interest of others than navy
officers. Perhaps the lay mind can
not justly appreciate the sentence.
Discipline-at times it may be safety,
demands prompt, unreasOning Obedi-
ence to the command of a superior.
But common sense would seem to
teach that the safety of ship may be
endangered by an engineer suddenly
leaving his charge, even at the com
mand of the officer of the deck, and
that this autocrat, being on deck, can
not possibly judge of what may be
left to take care of itself in the engine
room. Jealousy between the line and
the staff has always existed and will
exist until law, recognized by both
classes, shall define the relation be-
tween them.
This case of INSTRUMENTATION recalls
an incident in the navy during the
war of 1Sl2-15. Richard Contee, of
Maryland, gentleman of high tone
but with a lack of self-control that
through life marred many estimable
qualities, was lieutenant of marines
under Commodore cambridge when the
Constitution took the lara. During
the cruise sailors hammock, one
day, was found out of place To de-
tect its owner it was laid within the
beat of IL sentinel, and, i'll person, the
Commodore ordered the marine to see
to it that no man touched it. When
no one else was by, Il sailor approach
ed the sentinel and said: Tom, you
don want to have poor fellow fog
ged, do YOU "Of course not"
Then let me have that hammock,
will YOU? I've nothing to do with
the hammock was the answer. The
result was that when the time came
whatever the sea term may be-that
was to disclose the delinquent, every
man had his own. Naturally the an
ger of the baked Commodore fell upon
the disobedient sentinel and orders
were given for immediate punish
ment. In those days officers and crew
alike thought that the proper punish
ment, that on which the discipline
and honor of the navy depended j, was
flogging on the bare back.
When the marine was about to be
stripped. Lieut.. Contee stepped for
ward AID said Commodore Balm
bridge, that man cannot be logged
Every blow laid on him is laid on me
[ commanded him to receive no order
not given through me. Had he obeyed
you, | should have punished him for
disobedence to me-" Whatever fol-
lowed this outburSt, the preparation
for the cat wasnot interrupted Where
upon, Contee threw his sword on the
deck, eXclaiming Il am no longer Off
Ger of this Ship The next words
heard were Lieut.. Contee, take up
that sword. Go to your quarters and
consider yourself under arrest The
marine was not flogged. After several
hours of solitude, during which sober
thought, and perhaps fear of conse
queuces, and time to subdue rage, the
Lieutenant received II message-an
order-''The Commodore wishes to see
you in his cabin When the door
was opened, Il table was seen on
which was a decanter with two glasses, |
and besides which were two chairs |
The Commodore said: Mr.. Contee, !
YOU have acted very foolishly: but |
stretched out his hand, Il can find an |
excuse for you. Let us tie better
friends Sit down and take IA glass of |
wine with me- How the clashing
claims of authority were settled is not
known.
Several years after the war Balm
bridge was in hotel in Baltimore
conversing with friend from whom |
this relation was received, when Con
tee approached him. So soon as he |
was seen. the generous Commodore |
sprans forward. threw both arms
arOuul his insubOrlinafp and lifted
him off the floor, crying out, why,
my little fighting cock, who dared me
on my own deck ~ w. +. b.