The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-29
CLEVER sUnsrIrurioNs.

Another morning the side cleaners
were at work. when one OF them came
over the Snngway with Il half gallon
paint pot In his hand, ostcnsibly filled
with oil. The master at arms was
standing there, ana his suspicious be
ing I'm some manner aroused he invcs-
tigatcd q the thrill of joy he expert
enccd! There had been much liquor
on board the ship of late, and he had
been threatened with disrating. II he
here was the culprit taken redhanded
o happy day!
The unfortunate man with the pot OF
whiSkcy was taken to the mast and
turned over to the officer of the deck
who went aft 10 call the commanding
officer. The evidence of the crime was
deposited upon the deck and all hands
looked on. waiting for the supreme uu,
thority and wondering what he could
do. In 4 short time he came. and tho
trouble was explained to him. The
man denied having brought whiskcy
on board, and said the Master-at- Arms
had Il Erudgc against him OF course
every one was aStonished; none NOR,
so than the one who made the arrest
and he produced the evidence. when
10. ii was Il pot of oil.
The captain tasted II ana sworc that
ii was oil. Now. the captain WAS Il
moral man. and the Mastcr-at-ArnS
who thought himself Il Fly cop" wa.
denounced as II fool and n lunkhead. anG
told not To come TO the mast again
with any such fool yarns. Protest tina!
IL was whiskcy when he captured ii was
of no avail. and the crew laughed and
got drunk. While all hands concerned
We're aft waiting fer the captain one ol
the men had crept behind the mast and
substituted one can for the other.
When the old minnesota" was in
commission as II cruising ship some
years ago, she was anchored off the
battery in New York harbor 4 boat
had been off to land an officer, and
when sho came back she remained
alongside for II few minutes only. Dur.
ing this short interval. however. an Of.
fort was made to get II whole bucket OF
stun on board The officer Of the d. ok
discovered the vancouver and ordered!
the man with the bucket to come up on
the bridge. Nov" said the officer.
eco right to the side there and empty
that stun over board" Obcdient to the
command. the man went out to the END
OF the bridge. and ostenSibly poured the
contents Of his bucket into the water.
l5ut there was an old nine inch gun.
one of the main battery. projecting out
of Il port hole directly under the bridge,
and astrde of Its nuzZle was another
man with another bucket. and the con,
tents OF the bucket above instead of
going overheard. fell with little loss into
Wv o,'NheA " my 'i''''l btlbW, anu were
quickly within the ship. The officer.
being satisfied that the man had emu
tied his bucket. gave him a sound repri-
mand. and warned the man to look out
for himself. If he repeated the offense.
"fhank you sir" said the sailor
Then he went below and took drink
1t must not be supposed from these
stories that American man-or-wa
men are set of drunkards. for such &c
Iar from the case, and il is chiefly his
love OF fun and frolic that leads him
into transgressions that he could MOI
othrrwiS" tnink about. There Is MOI -
more respectable or law-abidng set of
men IN the nation than the men OF the
navy out they do like to fool" the