Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-12
THE END.1
YARNS BY PILOTS.
Chats Around the Radiator Whom thA
Men Were on Duty

Brought in the Spree did you?" asked
the Long Jacket of the SLOUGH Hat, one
rainy afternoon as we all sat around
the steam pipes.
mo, she brought me in. Do you
think an Hercules? That's his ssc-
cialtv," answered the SLOUGH Hat.
Tell the young man the Hercules
story"
Got out; do you take me for news
paper syndicate? Tell it yourself"
rejoincd the Long Jacket.
We'll" began the SLOUGH Hat, Her
culcs is very fond of joke, and he
tells en- good deal better than any
body around here, for he's been ut 1t,
man and boy, ever since l remember.
Several years ago there was n bit of
scare about sickness on foreign ships
Hercules got tho Spree. Well call him
Hercules because that isn't his name.
It's something very like it, though.
Well, as | was saying, Mr.. Hercules
boarded the Dutchman about two hum
dred miles out. There was sickness In
the steerage and the health officer
didn't do thing but hold that same
steamer for three days when she
reached quarantine. Hercules was
standing ON the bridge that evening
when the Spree got abeam the yellow
house over on Staten Island, and whom
does he see balancing and Juggling
around in a canoe below but his young
neighbour johnson.
Hi, there, young man. sings out
Hercules, will you tell my wife that
I'm detained at quarantine and won't
be home to-night?'
And johnson, being an obliging
young fellow, and thinking good deal
Of Hercules, Us everybody does, said
yep and pretty soon went in. And
when he got home that night what
does he do but forget all about that
message until next day and then he
goes over to our friends house.
"'Mrs. Hercules he said, 4 saw your
husband on the Spree and he does not
know when he'll get back 'f
well. as you may imagine, young
man, Mrs. Hercules took on dreadfu1ly,
and when, after that steamer got out
of quarantine, her husband came home
she looked him over mighty careful
"'Havc nice timer she asked.
"'Never had better in my life, says
he.
"'Who were with you?'
Oh, n great many ladies and gen.
tlemen,' he answered.
"Then she told him what young
johnson had said. We'll, my DEAR
said Hercules, slow and deliberate like,
young johnson was quite right.
was on Spree, but that young person
neglected to say that it was the
steamer Spree, and that was in quar-
antinc.'
''Thcn she didn't ask any more ques-
tions for awhile. ..
Women are curious" remarked the
bearded pilot. But tell you, man,
they are the light of our lives. They
do poster fellow with questions,
though, especially if that fellow Is a
pilot just come aboard the steamer
they're on. Why, they light on you
before you get over the rail. They
want to know all about receptions, aud
horse shows, and campfire teas, and
art exhibitions, and thcatcrs, Just us
though they thought pilot put in his
time on shore going to swell society
raclsets. Now, of course, you've got to
speak civil, for if pilot was unciyil to
n woman, and never knew CT ono who
was, why, she'd complain to the cap
tain, and then there would be row."
Don't talk to me about women"
said he of the long jacket. "The men
ask just as many questions. II they
meet Il prize-Gghtcr on board steam
or he wants to know how this and that
slugger arc training, and If it is likely
that he can make q match with so-and-
so, and what his chances are. Just as
though Il pilot were n walking com
pcnjiurl Of reports. And then as likely
as not some well groomcd old chap will
como up and ask you about the price of
stocks, and the state of the market.
My goodness said to one of those
broker chaps I'm pilot. That's the
only kind Of steering know about
well, don't blame people for being
bit curious when they've been at sea
week, with nothing to do but sleep
and eat and sit ON deck. And, Young
man, You ought to see them grab the
newspapers. We always carry a file Of
papers, of course, and when the passon-
gers get hold Of them it's fun to see
them diving into them -