The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-25

single reporter was on the field. 1t was a
most unusual occurrence, as on every other
occasion these tireless workers were in the
thick of the fray and always ready for the
march. However, they were but eighteen
miles away, and that night, after the trouble
was over, the world had received the news. not
the reports written by eye-witnesses, but au-
thentic statements nevertheless. I never
really understood the cause of their absence
but they were doubtless misinformed as to the
exact spot where fight was expected to take
place."
"What does the reporter mean to an army as
factor of distributing the news, general?" in
CURED an interes ted listener.
'Well," and the soldier thought moment
before answering, "they are certainly very
quick about getting at the facts. AS q general
thing they are a little too quick. AS an illus
tration, we can take the incidents Of the out
break among the Bannacks in Oregon, Wash
ington and Idaho in 1878. The troops were
moving on the hostiles and had outlined o very
clean-cut campaign-one which could not have
failed The reporters were along and got wind
OF the plan. Before we had time to execute it
the newspapers had received the news and the
Indian Interpreters had read and spread it
among the braves. 1t was some time before
the cause OF their clever maneuyering was dis
covered, and the reporters agreed to hold off
few days until we succeeded in quelling the
uprising. IueTe are STeHE IudiIy IoaSOQS why
reporters should be at the front, the distribu-
ton OF reli able news is expected and sought
after in this country. In France, Germany and
Russia the rules are very strict and the CORE
spondents are II mited in their privileges p AS
general thing they are desirable people to have
along, but their unusual quickness in getting
hold of the plans of officers very often upsets
things little.
"By the way, while we are speaking of the
W0updad Knea oil viii all
incident About three weeks after the engage
ment was over heard knock on the canvas
door OF my tent one night and two individuals
answered my invitation to come in. One of
them held his hand behind his back and the
other proceeded to thank me for wiplng out the
Indians who had been terror to the people for
several years. After he had finished the fellow
with his hand hidden stepped up and informed
me that he had come from little town about
thirty-fve miles away and had brought pres
ent. With that he hauled 20-pound turkey
out from under his coat and said [ might have
IL II there was any way to cook it. / assured him
that such thing could be accomplished and
what was more that we could cook any number
Of them. After that it seemed to occur to the
inhabitants of the country that we had been
doing considerable hard travelling in the biz
yards and were in pretty good trim to eat all
the turkeys, chickens and fresh eggs they cared
to bestow upon us. 1t was q relief to get back
to civilization, but greater relief to find that
we had convinced several hundred bad Indians
that they were not sufficiently protected by the
new Messiah and a blessed brown shirt to stop
an ounce of lead and defy the firearms of
drilled soldiers. There will never be another
uprising in Dakota
Captain Naunton, the veteran shipping
master, was discussing with a couple of brother
tars who had held the W Gather side of the poop
inv o1nN
officers toward their men,
sI1emember,'' said the captain, "when was
boy a sea, witnessing about the most cold
blooded piece Of torture ever heard of. A big,
clumsy fellow had shipped for the voyage. He
was dull and awkward A life at sea would
not have made sailor of him. When he went
aloft all he thought of was hanging on to the
laekstay, and he would not venture to haul the
SAIL so he was practically of no use. He was in
the mates watch, and that officer had taken
deep dislike to the 1ubber. He believed that
he was soldering most of the time, and used to
lay for him with the ropes end.
"one night when 1t was my watch below l
was awakened by sniyeling sound outside
the house on the quarter deck, where we boys
slept 1t was bitterly cold and drizzling rain
had driven the watch to their oilskins.
looked out and saw the big fellow standing
on deck In his underclothes. The mate had
given him the job of reeving the main bow
line, ana every time he succeeded in crawling
up the leach OF the course, almost to the Grim
gle, the mate would tell the man at the wheel
to luff, and the poor devil would get shaken
OH ana tumble in heap on deck. He kept
him almost two hours at this sort of work. and
when the starboard watch was called the I'M
fortunate lubber was almost frozen to DEATH"
I'VE had similar character on board
Black Ball liner that I sailed in,' said one of
the shippers. "He was death on the boys. One
day an apprentice who was sittine on q bow
line over the side, passing some chafing gear,
slipped down and hung on with his feet to the
Dlgnt, but his head was under water. We got
him in just in time and rolled him on barrel,
and had about succeeded in restoring him to
consciousness when the mate sang out, What
is the matter with that loafng fellow that fell
overheard? Hasn't ne turned to yet?"
what you fellows have seen l myself have
experienced remarked the third seaman 81
was as green as leek when took to salt water,
and never hear the old song but think Of
myself:
I went into the gangway
To have game of cards.
But very soon was called away
:. TO mend the lib halyardS:
TOLD him didn't know what it was,
He swore he'd make me larn it,
And got my Jacket sweated
18th the blight of the fore-clew garnet.
That did, many time and off, I remember
on niobt xrh 5ooI II