The Bossier banner., 1894-08-23
"MAD JACK" PERClVAL-.
How Relentless Sea Captain Punishe.
the Ridshipmen.

How a Relentless Sea Captain Punished
the Nidshipmen.
Old sailors will remember Capt. Pet
cival, known in our navy before the
war as Mad Jack" Capt. Percival
was a consummate sailor and as inheXi-
bic as the laws of the Medes and Per
slams. Although noted for his eccen-
tricity he was admired for his ability
and determination.
When Mad Jack commanded a sloop-
ofwar on the Honolulu station just be-
fore our civil war number of mid
shiprnen and petty officers incurred his
diSpleasure by some riotous conduct
ashore. Calling the delinquents before
him. the captain administered severe
rebulze and swore mighty oath that
not one of them should put foot on
shore again during the cruise. The
lads were rather inclined to laugh in
their sleeves at getting off so cheaply,
for the cruise was nearly up and they
were daily expecting orders for
home"
But the business became more seri-
Gus when, soon after, news arrived of
diplomatic row, or case of Oppres-
sion somewhere 1--WE won't be too par
ticular on the details), and the vessel
received orders to sail in that direction
and prolong her cruise for several
months. The - sailed for her desti-
nation, touching at several fine ports
and affording frequent opportunities
to the senior officers and crew to in
dulge themselves ashore, but the mid
shipmen, with daily heightened vis-
ages, were confined to the ship. Finally
the -- dropped anchor in port
famed for its lively society, its lovely
women, the beauty of its natural posi-
ton, its walks, it's drives and the brill
liancy of its places of amusement-in
fact, the paradise OF a naval officer.
Here it was announced they were to
remain some three months. All hands
were rejoiced-exceptt the midshipmen,
who, as the days and weeks passed
away and no permission reached them
to go ashore, suffered all the horrors
of Tantalus. The ship had been some
two months in port when their suffer
| ings reached the eliminating point,
and they held meeting to discuss
their condition, They argued that
when their punishment was pro-
nounced this prolongation Of the voy-
age was not anticipated, and as they
had already been sufficiently punished
by confinement on board when in port
for long period, surely Mad Jack
would, on proper representation OF the
facts, relax his iron discipline in their
behalf and annul the sentence against
them. So it was resolved that they
should proceed in a body to the cap
tain and ask permission to go ashore.
| A spokesman was chosen and they ad~
vanced, caps in hand, a melancholy
procession to the captains cabin, and
before that potentate they feelingly
represented the hardship of their case,
announced their deep contrition for
past offenses and wound up by re-
| quest to be allowed to go ashore.
$50, so! young gentlemen-want te
goashore, do you?"
"Why, yes, sir; we thought"
''Humph! Yes. Well. l expected an
applica ton of this sort, but IN AFRAID
you'll misbehave yourselves.
''Oh, no. indeed, sir we'll be very cir
cumspect."
And you won't get drunk?"
''Oh, no, sir, we won't drink drop. >
"And you won't go to any dance
houses, or low theaters, or anything OF
| that sort?'
Certainly not, sir; Wen seek The
very best society we can find. .
Yes, yes! Humph! 1t might improve
your health, too, you are looking rather
thin, but trust shall hear no bad re-
port of your conduct"
You will not, indeed, sir"
''And you will be on board the shiE
again at an early hour?'
"Oh. yes, sir! we win be very pune
tual to any hour you may fix"
"Humph. Yes! Well, young gentle
men. you can't go!''-N. Y. Advertiser