Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-06-21
CAPTAIN AND MIoDIEs.

CAPTAIN AND MIOOlES.
The Latter Were contrits, But the
Former Was obdurats.
Old sailors will remember Captain
Percival, known in our navy before
the war as Mad Jack" Captain
Percival was a consummate sailor,
and as infexible as the laws OF the
Modes and Persians. Although noted
for his eccentricity he was admired
for his ability and determination.
When Mad Jack commanded a
sloop-of-war on the Honolulu station
Just before our civil war, a number
Of midshipmen and petty officers in
Cured his displeasure by some rio
tous conduct ashore. Calling the
delinquents before him, the captain
administered severe rebuke, 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 of so cheaply, for
the cruise was nearly up, and they
were daily expecting 'orders for
home" But the business became
serious when, soon after, news arrived
of diplomatic row, or a case of op.
preston, somewheres 1--WE won't be
too particular in the details), and
the vessel received orders to sail in
that direction and prolong her cruise
for several months. The - sailed
for her destination, touching at sew
eral fine ports, and affording fire.
quent opportunities to the senior
officers and crew to indulge them
selves ashore; but the midshipmen,
with daily heightened visages were
confined to the ship. Finally the
- dropped anchor in q port famed
for it's lively society, it's lovely
women, the beauty Of its natural
position, its walks, it's drives, and the
brilliancy of it's places of amusement
in fact, the paradise of naval Off
Ger. Here it was annou need they
were to remain some three months.
All hands were rejoiced-except the
midshipmen, who, as the days and
weeks passed away and no permission
reached them to 60 ashore, suffered
all the horrors of Tantalus. The ship
had been some two months in port
when their sufferings reached the cul-
minating point, and they held a
meeting to discuss their condition.
They argued that when their punish
ment was pronounced this prolonga-
ton of the voyage was not anticipa-
ted, and as they had already been
sufficiently punished by confinement
on board when in port for a long Pc
Rod, 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 body to the captain and
ask permission to go ashore. A
spokesman was chosen, and they adj
vanced, cap in hand, melancholy
procession, to the captains cabin,
and before that potentate they feel
ingly represented the hardships of
their case, announced their deep con-
triton for past offenses, and wound
up by request to be allowed to 60
ashore.
80, sol young gentlemen-want
to 60 ashore, do your
"Why yes, sir; we thought"
"Humph! Yes! Well, ex-
pected an application of this sort ;
but I'm afraid you'll misbehave your
selves"
''Oh, no, indeed, sir; we'll be very
circumspect.
"And you won't get drunk"
"Oh, no, sir! we won't drink q
DROP"
''And you won't go to any dance
houses, or low theatres, or anything
of that sort?'
Certainly not, sir; we'll seek the
very best society we can find.
Eyes, yes! Humphl 1t might
improve your health, too, you are
looking rather thin; but ! trust ]
shall hear no bad report of your
conduct"
"You will not, indeed, sir. y
"And you will be on board the ship
again at an early hour?"
"Oh, yes, sirl we will be very
punctual to any hour that you may
fix"
"Humphl Yes Well, young gentle.
men you CAN'T col"