The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-01
YARNS BY PILOTS.
Chats Around the Radiator When tn
Men Were OF Duty.

Chats Around the Radiator when the
Men Were of Duty.
From the New York Herald.
brought in the Spree, did you?" asked
the Long Jacket of the SLOUGH Hat, one
rainy afternoon as we all sat around the
the steam pipes.
"No, she brought me in. Do you think
/ am Hercules? That's his Specially"
answered the SLOUGH Hat.
Tell the young one Hercules story.
"Get out. DO you take me for news
paper syndicate? Tell it yourself" re-
joined the Long Jacket.
"WelI," began tho SLOUGH Hat, Her
cues IS very fond of a joke, and he tells
'em n good deal bet,or than anybody
around here, for he's been at il, man and
boy, ever since l remember. Several years
ago there was a bit of a scare about sick
ness on foreign ships. Hercules got the
Spree. Well call him Hercules because
that isn't his name. It's something very
like il, though. Well, as / was saying,
Mr.. Hercules boarded tho Dutchman
about 200 miles out. There was sickness
in the steerage, and the health officer
didn't do a 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 wIom does he sec balancing
and juggling around in canoe below but
his young neighbour, Johnson.
"'Hi, there, young man. sings out Her.
cules, will you tell my wife that Pm de-
tanned at quarantine and won't be homo
tonight"
"And Johnson, being an obliging young
fellow and thinking a good deal of Her
cules, as everybody does, said yep and
pretty soon went in. And when he got
home that night what does he do but for
get all about that message until next day
| and then he goes over to our friends
house.
"'Mrs. Hercules he said, i saw your
husband on the Spree and he does not
know when he'll get back
well, as you may imagine, young man,
| Mrs. Hercules took on dreadfully, and
when, after that steamer got out of quar-
antine, her husband came home she
looked him over mighty careful.
| "'Have a nice time?' she asked.
"'Never had a better in my life says he.
"'Who were with you?"
"'Oh. great many ladies and gentle
men, he answered.
"Then she told him what young John
son had said. well, my DEAR said Her.
cules, slow and deliberate like, young
Johnson was quite right. l was on n
Spree, but that young person neglected to
say that it was the steamer Spree, and
that / was in quarantine
"Then she didn't ask any more ques-
tons for awhile"
"Women are curious" remarked the
bearded pilot. "But l tell you, man, they
are tho light of our lives. They do poster
a fellow with questions, though, especially
if that fellow is pilot just como aboard
the steamer they're on. Why, they light
| on you before you get over the rail. They
want to know all about receptions, and
| horse shows, and campfire teas, and art
| exhibitions, and theatres, just as though
| they thought n pilot put in his time on
shore going to swell society rackets. Now,
of course, you've got TO speak civil, for If
q pilot was uncIvil to woman, and
never knew of one who was, why, she'd
complain to the captain, and then there
would be n row.
Don't talk TO me about women said
he of the long jacket. 1.-The men ask just
as many questions. If you meet prize
fighter on board "A steamer he wants TO
! know how this and that sluggcr are train
/ ing, and if it is likely he can make n
match with so-and-so, and what his
chances are. just as though n pilot were
n walking compendium of reports. And
/ then as likely as NOS some well groomcd
old chap will come up and ask YOU about
the price of stocks and the state of tho
market. My goodness said TO one OF
those broker chaps, Pm pilot. That's
the only kind of steering l know about
"WelI. don't blame people for being a
bit curious when they've been to sea a
week, with nothing 10 do but sleep and
eat aud sit on deck. And, young man,
you ought to see them grab the news
papers. We always carry a file of papers,
of course, and when the passengers get
hold of them it's fun TO see them diving
| into them