Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-07-07
How Mad Jack" Fooled His Shore Low
ing sailors.

ing sailors.
Old sailors will remember Capt
Pcrcival known in our navy before
The war us Mad Jack" Can't. Per-
cival was Il conSummatc sailor. and
us inflrXible as the laws of the Modes
and Pcs;lns. Although noted for his
rcccntricity he was admired for his
ability and determination.
When Mad Jack commanded Il
Sloop-of-war on THE Honolulu station
Just before our civil war. Il number of
midshipmen and petty officers incur
red his displcasIre by some riotous
conduct ashore. Calling the deln-
uucnts before him. the captain admin
iStcrcd Il severe rcbukc. and Sworr IL
mighty oath that not one of them
should put foot on shore again during
the cruise. The lads were rather i'll
clincd to laugh in their sleeves at get
ting off SO cheaply. for the cruise was
nearly up. and they We're daily rx-
prcting "orders for home But the
business became serious whcn soon
after. news arrived of Il diplomatic
row. or case of oppression. some
where's TIVE won't be too particular in
she 1ctailS). and the vessel re-
ccivrd orders to sail in that
direction and prolong her cruise
for several months. The --
sailed for her destina ton. touching ut
several fine ports. and affording fro
quent opportunities to the senior off
GERS and crew to indulge themselves
ashore; but the midshipmen. with
daily heightened viSagcs. We're con-
fined to the ship. Finally the -
dropped anchor in a port famed for
its lively society. its lovely women,
the beauty of its natural posi-
ton. its walks. its drives. and
the brilliancy Of its places of
amusement-in fact. the paradise of a
naval officer. Here it was announced
they We're to remain some three
months. All hands were rcjoccd-cx-
ccpt the midShipmen. who. as the
days and weeks passed away and no
permission reached them to 20 ashore,
suffered all the horrors of Tantalus.
The ship had been some two months
in port when their sutferingS reached
the eliminating point and they held
meeting to discuss their condition.
They argued that when their punish
m"nt was pronounced this prolonga
ton of their voyage was not antici-
patrd. and as they had already been
sufficiently punished by confinement
on board when in port for a long
period. surely Mad Jack would. on
proper representation of the facts. re-
lax his iron discipline in their behalf
and annul the sentence against them.
So it was resolved that they should
proceed in Il body to the captain and
ask permission to go ashore. 4 SpOkcs-
man WAS chosen, and they advanced,
caps in hand. melancholy process
sion. to the captains cabin. and be
fore that potcntatc they feclingly re-
presented the hardship of their case,
announced their deep contrition for
past offcnSeS. and wound up by Il re-
quest to be allowed to go ashore.
$50. so. young gentleman-want to
go ashore. do you?'
"Why yes. sir: we thought"
"Humph. Yes! Well. | expected IN
application of this sort: but I'm afraid
you'll miSbchavc yourselves"
"Oh. no. indeed. sir: We'll be very
circumSpcct.'
"And you won't get drunk
'Oh. no. sir! we won't drink Il drop"
"'And YOU won't go to any dance
houses. or low theatres. or anything
of that Sort:'
''Ccrtainly not. sir: We'll seek the
very best society we can tind.'
Eyes. yes! humph! 1t might I'M
prove your health. too. YOU are look
ing rather thin: but | trust | shall
hear no bad report of your conduct"
''You will not. indeed. sir
''And you will be on board the ship
again at IN early hour?''
''Oh. yes. sir. we will he very pune
tual to any hour that You may fix
"Iumph, Yes. Well. young gem
tlcmcn. you can't go!'