The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-22
nc Admirnr. Pedometer-

United States steamship Burleigh lay
~ aHcncr ln the harbOr Of Havana. says
truth, and the temperature OF that pori
IN Jay was not eonduciye 10 persistent
acuYity-on the part Of the Junior watch
OIlceTs, at any rate.
In fact, a comfortable armchair or
me "lnuWard side Of the after turre'
seemed exactly TO fit the exigencies OF
the watch, after the captain and the ad-
miral had turned In.
capt. Forestry could remember when
ne mad been a junior watch officer him.
self, and he could pass nearer that arm
chair without seeming to notice il, and
Vet always avoid stumbling over IL. than
ieve possible.
Admiral Pennant, however. seemed long
since 10 nave forgotten that he had ever
been youngster; and that armchair
was so constantly in evidence TO him
mat ne invariably looked for Il the first
tniIg When he came on deck. So long,
however, as he had never been able TO
catch one Of the watch officers mapping,
ne did not wish TO interfere with Capt.
torestays management.
But one morning the mail brought a
small, square box TO the admiral, and that
evening he gave a small round instru-
ment, resembling a timepiece, to the jul
nior watch officer, saying,
Mr.. Marine. carry this with you on
your watch aud pass IL along to your re-
lief with similar instructions"
Marine put the machine in his pocket
and commenced to stroll to and fro until
the admiral retired. Then he stretched
himself IN MS cIaH ana, llSnlinS a cigar
cite, he began 10 watch the lights go out,
one by one, on shore.
The next morning Ensign Marine and
Lieuts. Mainhold and Lazarette stood be-
fore the admiral
Gentlemen said that officer sternly,
Il have examined this little instrument,
which you tell me was carried by you
three gentlemen, in succession, on your
respective watches. Gentlemen. this lit
tie instrument is pedometer and ] am
astOnished to ind that, although l set 1t
aEf 0nfW
two and one-half miles. Gentlemen. l do
not propose TO condemn you on the un-
supported testimony OF a purely mechan-
ical contriVance, and l must confess that,
knowing you TO be ambitious and dill
gent officers, L am lOath to trust an ap-
parent record so far below the actual
requirements. However, l shall ask you
to carry the instrument again to-mOr-
row evening. Gentlemen, you are ex-
Cused."
Lieut.. Mainhold had this first watch
that evening, and as soon as the admiral
had gone to his cabin, he seated himself
in the armchair and ordered Apprentice
Ratline to appear before him.
Apprentice Ratline," said the lieuten-
ant, when you went ashore to-day, you
absented yourself without permission for
over half an hour
AYE, aye, sir"
You doubtless imagined that 1 intend
ed to overlook your offense."
Il hoped so, sir"
Not at all. However, take this instru-
ment and shake 1t violently for four
hours, and / shall say no more about
it," The morning after, the same three
officers stood before the admiral d
misjudged you. find on examining the
pedometer this morning that il records a
distance of eighty-nine miles, walked by
you three gentlemen in twelve hours. IL
is evident that the - machine Is utterly
worthless" and sharp splash was heard
as the pedometer struck the limpid water
of the bay. Gentlemen you are ex-