The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-08

ters from nearly every admiral in the United
states navy, which no other man under the
stars and stripes can boast And yet he is so
modest over it all as to regard his record with
indifference almost, his absorbing desire being
TO see larger navy bands that can compare
1aVorably with the naval bands of other ma
lions, and be in keeping with the standard of
the new navy; and also to see pension pro-
VISION for musicians who have given their
lives, or at least twenty years, to the service of
Uncle Sam on the seas
when 10 years OF age" said he, az joined
the United States navy as leader in Italy
with the understanding that l would be on
the Mediterranean station. My first ship was
the Saco, which went to China during the
troubles at Canton. AS soon as my time ex-
pired left the Saco with the purpose of going
home again to Italy, but instead of getting
ticket to Europe found myself with pass to
New York. came to California and presented
my papers at Mare Island, and here am yet
never saw the East, never left the Pacific sta
ton. In twenty years I've been going around
from China to the South Sea Islands and as far
down as Patagonia and that's all the sailing
have done-neyer to the Atlantic or Mediter-
ranean."
"What do you regard as your most exciting
experience while away from homer" he was
asked.
at is not one, but many" he said with
laugh.
"Well one, for instance"
ooh, yes, understand Well, we were lying
off Panama when the admiral received in
formation that the American Consul at Aca-
pulco was imprisoned for killing natives. We
steamed away in great hurry and sot to
Acapulco, where the people were in rebellion
and mad for fight.
"What do you think the admiral did? He
left the ship with his staff and the band and
marched right up to the jail. We played for
him and then he and his staff left us. I had
Mexican drummer in my band, and you know
that fellow was so delighted he drank aguardi-
ente until he hammered that drum like moth
ing in the world. l cried, Stop, you can't
play; you put US astray,' and he shouted
'Gringo,' like that" and the professor uttered
a wild YELL
"That fellow" he continued, told his coun-
trymen / wouldn't let him play because he
was Mexican. The mob, with swords like
butcher-knives right here at their belts and
stacks of arms all around, attacked us on
veranda There was an Italian merchant i'll
Acapulco who had great influence with the
people He was listening to our music, and 1
told him in Italian what was the matter. He
came between us and the mad natives and
saved US. Only Tor him there would not be one
man left alive in that American banc."
"And what did you do them"
az? We? We played Spanish music and the
crowd danced. But that fellow didn't beat the
drum; no, SIR
In his years of service Professor Contrado
has won seven MISUNDERSTANDING bars which
are attached to his medal ribbon, and the
eighth bar is due now. On these bars the word
Saco appears once, Pensacola twice, hide
pendence once. Hartford twice and Charleston
once. Each bar represents three years honor
able service without a blot in the navy.
Int lEhn T oil hat raolu !,
they?" he asked. "a man gives the best of his
life to the service of his country and gets
medals. Other navies provide for pension in
such cases, and surely great and rich Nation
like America ought to do as well if not far and
away better"
Professor Contrado, a graduate of the Naples
Conservatory of Music, who has trained and
led hundreds of musicians in the navy, spoke
like man with very strong convictions He
continued with all the apparent pride in the
navy OF an old sailor:
''Why can't rich Nation like ours afford
more than eighteen men in a band? When we
go abroad we often have to play in contrast
with bands from European ships. They have
forty, hfty, sixty men with tuIl complement
OF instruments, aQd here we are with sixteen
or eighteen musicians. think ii the United
States wants to make an impression with her
new navy she should appropriate money to
keep up respectable bands 1 have had to
arrange my music for effect, and have been
told have got the same effect as If there were
twenty-eight meu in my band. Oh, but have
ielt 1t when had to play against european
navy bands in South America. Our country
ought to do more to encourage music and
musicians in the army and navy, particularly
the navy, where our music Is nearly all the
time in contrast with great bands OF foreign
powers"