The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05
One Of the Savannah's Crew.
Charles Byrnes and His Memories Of the
Unpopular Commander

the English in those days were fond o
calling the wooden walls of England
She was formidable vessel. and her TAX
ing the position she did, where she coud
use every gun ON the most efficient ships
OF the American feet was looked upon as
a belligerent act that Immediately caused
intense excitement aboard the Savannah
and Congress.
almost before she was thoroughly
moored in her position orders were given
on the Savannah and Congress to clear
decks for action. Train tackles were cast
off and overhauled, the tompions were
taken from the guns, ana within few
moments we were in a good condition
where we could have given the CoIlingwood
broadslde in very short order. AS soon
as the big English ship was in the position
they wanted her, a boat was lowered and
Admiral Seymour came aboard of the
Savannah.
He was tall. fine-looking man, with a
savage-looking scar across his forehead
and cheek, where he had received a sabe--
cut in some action.
He saw our men at quarters as he came
up the side and glanced keeuly fore and
aft, but never word he uttered, but went
into the cabin with Sloat, where they re-
mained for considerable time. What
was said at that conference we did not
know, but at any rate the English did not
offer any opportunity TO test their mettle.
The officers in command of our feet did
not let this lull them into a state of false
security, however, but went on with their
warlike preparations. Several "a 4-pounders
were landed and blockhouse for their
accommodation built on the heights COM
manding the bay. l remember we'll the
tremendous task we had hauling those
ponderous 'barkers' up the hillside. The
lines got so hot sometimes that we had to
pour water on them to keep them from
burning.
cat another place a strong house sur
rounded by a picket stockade was built,
with quarters for good number of men.
A brass 6eldpiece formed part of the
armament of the house.
"Sloat was very unpopular man with
the ships crew, principally because he
was tyrant among the men. The cat-o'-
nine-tails was his favorite sentence to
offenders and usually he failed to investi-
gate the offense before ordering the ur-
fortunate triced up for punishment.
81 remember one incident that went q
long way to make Sloat unpopular on the
ship, and as firmly believe led, through
the instrumentality of Commodore Stock
ton, to the abolition of hogging in the
American navy. It was rule then. as ]
| suppose it is to-day, that orders must be
obeyed promptly and 10 some extent
blindly by the sailors of the ships. One
| day we were firing salute to some Officer
or dignitary who had been aboard and wa:
| leaving in boat. James Mclaughlin, ar
old gunner 65 years old, who had beer
through the Tripolitan war, was at the
port gun that was being used in the salute
"The first lieutenant was under the afteI
deck. as was customary, and called out
Are you ready2' Mclaughlin sang out
No. for he had not taken the tompior
out of his gun, but the lieutenant did not
hear him, and gave the order, Port fire
| There was. nothing for Mclaughlin to dt
but obey and he pulled the lanyard.
''The result was that the tompion was
sent with nearly the force of shot anc
very narrowly missed killing the Officer
who was being saluted as his boat pulled
away.
sMcLaughlin was called up and Sloat de
manded to know why he had fired the CUR
| with the tompion in.
"He explained that he had signified thai
he was not ready, but the lieutenant con
! tradicted him, and though there were
dozens of McLaughlin's sh1pmates who
would have testified that the gunner sai6
he was not ready to fire the gun Sloat
would hear no more. and ordered al
hands piped on deck to witness punish
ment.
mclaughlin was given his choice be-
tween apologizing to the lieutenant fol-
having disputed his word, or taking q
dozen lashes, and chose the latter.
"He was stripped to the waist, triced ur
in the rigging and given a dozen on his
bare back that brought the blood at every
swing of the cat. Then he was cut down
and put in the brig, though before he
| could be ironed there he gave the lieuten.