The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-10-09


Ehs BIuK old Mariner After whom tho
French warship IL Named.
One OF the French warships which took
part in the Columbian naval review at New
York was named the jean Bart. As the
ship was one OF the first class, and attract
ed consequently 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 French admiral
who fourished at the close of the seven
tenth century, and who. beginning life as
a fisherman, rose to high rank and became
n popular hero, but none of the current
Biographies contains any of the curious and
amusing anecdotes about him which have
come down from the time when he lived.
One of these stories will serve TO show
Ehat sort of man Jean Bart was. When he
lad made q brilliant record as kind of
buccaneer and shown that he was a much
ADLER sea warrior than any of the officers of
noble birth who commanded the navy,
King Louis XIV made him first lieuten-
ant and then the captain of 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 king, a
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. One of his men, Keyser, had
been condemned to death for killing man
in duel, and he was going to ask the king
to pardon him.
but, M. 10 Capitaine," said the attend
ant, ''have you royal invitation emitting
you to an audiencer
"a royal invitationP exclaimed the cap
tain. "What do l want of thatf 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
that'll be enough!"
But / can't announce any one who
hasn't an invitation" said the attendant.
"All right" said Jean Bart. "I'll an
nounce myself"
He bounded toward the door of the kings
apartment, very much as if he were start
ling to run up n mainmast. The attendant
} with pale face, placed himself before him
exclaiming:
"But the kings ordersI Don't you obey
the kings orders?"
"Oh, WE'LL" said the sailor, sit it comes
|. to that, I'll wait. l won't go against the
kings orders"
: He sat down among the astonished court
. Tiers, took out a Pipe and some tobacco
struck light with his flint and finder ant
E began to smoke. The attendant protested
that no one smoked in the kings ante
: chamber, but Jean Bart insisted that wher
: he was waiting he always smoked.
. PUT him out some one whispered, bu
mo one ventured to do more than whispe
lit. Soon the king learned what was goinl
/. on and ordered Jean Bart ushered in q
!! soon as he should have finished his pipe
The interview, in which Jean Bart con
Quoted himself with all due respect to tn
G king, ended in tho granting of Keyser'
-tpardon, and Jean Bart came back into tn
= courtiers' presence triumphant.
They all crowded about the bluff captain
e livery obsequious to him now, and completed
l blocking his exit. He was in great haste t
. carry the pardon to Keyser.
"Oh. tell us, NJ. jean Bart, the courtier
: began to exclaim, tell us how you got on
r of the harbor of Dunkirk when you wer
b blockaded there by the English fleetl"
you want to know, chr" asked the car
tain, pausng.
= "Certainlyr" they exclaimed, crowdin
: still more closely about him.
v "All right. III show you just how 'twa
: done. Look here. I'm Jean Bart, amt /
Q Well, this room is the harbor of DunkirR
7 and you fellows arc the English feet block
: aiding me. And now"-
q Whackl bangl whackl Jean Bart lai
1 about him, now administering IL cuff, no,
e a kick, and very forcibly clearing way tt
ls ward the door. AS he reached it he ea
> claimed:
"And that's the way, gentlemen, that
got out of Dunkirk harbor when / wa
1. blockaded there by the English fleeti Goot
. byp .-.......
y The warship TINT bears the name Of thi
u redoubtable seadoB should be a formidabl
ID antagonist. Companion.