Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-09-06
The LONE CORVETTE,

morant. was entertaining some friends in
the harbor of San Francisco, and the talk
turned upon '"red'' Debney, his brother,
who had resigned from the navy several
years before because he had chivalrously
prevented French cruiser from boring
holes in wretched opium smuggling
craft. Ted was impulsive, brave, dar-
ing and loved alike by his superiors and
his men.
''Have you ever got on the track of
Ted?"
''Once I thought I had at Singapore,
changed his name. He never asked for,
nor got the legacy which my poor father
left him.
An hour later they were aboard the
Cormorant dining with a number of men
asked to come and say good-by to Mos
tyn, who was starting for England the
second day following, after a pleasant
cruise and visit with Debney.
Meanwhile, from far beyond that vel
low lane of light running out from Gold
en- gate there came vessel, sailing
straight for harbor. She was large old
fashioned cruiser, carrying guns, ana
when she passed another vessel she hoist
ed the British ensign. She looked like Il
halfobsolete corvette, spruced up, made
modern by every possible device. and all
her appointments We're shapely and in
order. She was clearly a British man-of-
war, as shown in her trlm-dressed sail
ors, her good handful of marines; but her
second and third lieutenants seemed like
Englishmen, and indeed, one was an
American, and one was a 1Ollander.
There was a gun drill, and cutlass drill
every day, and, what was also singular,
there was a boat drill twice a day, so that
the crew of this man-ofwar, as they saw
Golden gate ahead of them, were per-
haps more expert at boat drill than any
A., FNboxy could lnUpr u nd
a boat with a wonderful experiences in a
bad sea, and they rowed with clock-like
precision and machine-like force.
Their general discipline did credit to
the British navy. But they were not Civ
en- to understand that by their command
en- Capt. Shewell, who had an eye like
a spot of steel and Il tongue like aloes
or honey as the mood was on him.
This was the most noticeable when he
was shut away from the others in his
cabin Then his whole body seemed to
change. The eye became softer. and vet
full of sort of genial deyiltry, the
body had careless alertness and elias
ITCHY the whole man had the athletic
grace of wild animal and his face had
a hearty sort of humor, which the slight
Uplifting lip in it's bizarre disdain could
not greatly modify. He certainly seemed
we'll pleased with himself, and more than
once, as he sat alone, he laughed out
right, ana once NE Salu tlouu, oS hio LII
gers ran up and down schedule-not a
man-o'-war's schedule-laughing softly:
Poor old Farquhar, if he could see
me now.' Then to himself: well, as
told him, | was violently tossed like
a bail into the large country; and I've
had a lot of adventure and sport. But
here's something more-the biggest game
vate person with a half million dollars
as the end thereof, if all goes we'll with
my lone corvette!'
The next evening just before dusk,
after having idled about out of sight
of the signal station nearly all day,
Capt. Shewel entered Golden Gate with
the Hornet of no squadron. But the
officers at the signal station did not know
that, and simply telegraphed to the har-
Dor in reply to the signals from the cor
vette, that British man-ow was ar
irving. She came leisurely up the bay,
with Capt. Shewell on the bridge. He
gave Il low whistle as he saw the Cor
morant in the distance. He knew the
harbor we'll and he saw that the Cormor-
ant had gone to Il new anchorage, not
the same as British men-Of-war took for
merly. He drew away to the old anchor
age-he need not be supposed to know
that change was expected; besides (and
this was important to Capt. SheWelD,
the old anchorage was nearer the docks,
and it was clear, save for one little life
boat and a schooner which was making
out as he came up
AS she came to anchor the Cormorant
saluted her. and she replied instantly.
Custom officers who were watching the
craft from the shore, or from their boats,
gave up hope of any excitement when
they saw and heard the salutes. But
two went out to the Hornet, were re-
ceived gracously by Capt. Shewell who,
over a glass of wine in his cabin-appro-
priately hung with pictures Of Nelson
and Collingwood- said that he was pro-
ceedlng to Alaska to rescue a crew ship
wrecked ON an island. and that he was
leaving the next day as soon as he could
get some coal, though he feared it would
be difficult coaling up that night Still
he did not need a great deal, he said
which was, indeed, the case-but he did
need some, and he knew that, for his
own safety and the Hornets he must
have it. After this, with cheerful com
pliments, and the .perfunctory declaration
on his part that there was nothing dutia |
BILE on board, the officers left him, greatly
pleased with his courtesy, saluted as they
left the ships side by the marines and
sailors standing at the gangway. The |
officers did not know that one of these |
sailors winked an eye at another, and
that both then grinned, and were prompt |
ly ordered aft by the second lieutenant.
AS soon as it was very dark two or
three boats pushed out from the Hornet |
and rowed swiftly to shore, passing a |
customs boat as they went, which was |
saluted by the officers in command. Aft |
er this boats kept passing back and forth |
for a long time between the Hornet and |
the shore. which was natural, seeing that |
4 first night in port is sort OF holiday |
for officers and men. If these sailors |
had been watched closely, however it |
would have been seen that they visited |
but few saloons on shore, and drank lit |
tie, and then evidently las blind" |
Close watching would also have discov- |
ared the h tact tnho .nere d rev PEG
safe arrival of the Hornet, and who. |
about l o'clock in the morning, almost |
fell on the neck of Capt. Shewell as they |
babe him goodbye. Then for the rest |
IF the night coal was carried out to the |
Hornef IN boats instead of her co,r,ino