The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-31
Ar CONSCIENCE'S BIDDING,
BY w. ADDISON.
Copyrig hit, 1897.

0
,be nresent day this opinion is held by
many people.
.bofftb and sixth decades of the pres
~, century the endeavors of Great Bri-
.o;n 10 suppress the extensive slave trade
-.;od an ON the west coast of Africa at
traeted adventurous seafaring folks of all
na+ions to the squadron, which was order
s+, cruise about in the Atlantic Ocean in
tbo interests of the so-called prevention
s.r,,ioe. The German element was not
absent and not only in the manning of the
sbins hut also in the officers circles they
were well represented.
had also enlisted and found myself as
second lieutenant on board the Falcon, a
f,st-saiIing schooner. The commander
was also a German, who had previously
been an officer in the German imperial
navy. The first lieutenant was an Eng
,isbman called King. Both of them be-
longed to the most capable seamen. and
were honor itself In these two respects
they stood alone and <unapproachable.
But in other respects theybresembled each
other as much as day and night Capt.
Robert Hurst would be about forty years
old. He was conscientious to the last de-
gree. and always viewed things from
moral standpoint doing everything on
principle which morals he also tried to
bring into the service. Cursing and OBJ
scene language were forbidden on board
ship. Drunkenness and lighting were de-
tested by him, nor did he like unnecessary
noise and squabblng.
Whenever anyone was found capable of
these misdemeanors, he would give the
whole crew moral lessons, over which
they secretly cracked their jokes. In one
word, our commander was a singular per-
son. Lieut.. King was just the opposite.
II king regarded his superior's ways with
4 open contempt. lie himself was a Jolly,
smart daredevil sort of a fellow, who
liked good, hot drink, and who could
likewise stow one, two, and at a pinch
three bottles of the heaviest wine beneath
his god-buttoned vest without feeling any
evil effects therefrom. He considered a
real sailors curse both justifiable and in
dspensable, and maintained that Capt.
Hurst would have made a better parson
4 Than captain of a warship, which opin-
Il ION he made no attempt to conceal from
bis brother officers. He said the first real
e. brush with SLAYER would furnish a proof
& That the captain was wanting in that, of
Which he had most need, namely, personal
courage
Inc schooner lay at anchor in the har-
Dor OF Sierra Leone, not far from a French
corvette, lie Renard, commanded by a
capt d Ermonville. We had ample op-
poItuhlV OF becoming acquainted with
nm, as well as with his officers and
found them to be the most amiable people
imaginable. Between the crews of the
TWO shlps however, there had been re-
ledled squabbles, brought about by the
g n.ls and self-importance which the
prIliSh sailor adopts in regard to all for
elsners' whenever he has imbibed too
a,ee 5iya that is the case, without ex-
opdon, When he is on shore.
me French officers, Notwithstanding
were exceedingly indulgent, when we
lound ourselves compelled to excuse the
'oluuct OF the drunken British sailors in
V'VeI 10 avoid serious complications, and
~, |a9 lucky mat 1t was so, because the
aglcon' as well as the Renard, was UNDER
Guns repairs and they were thus destined
come oi 'oii0 'iiiie "
APT hurst did his best to exhort his
" 10 Keep the peace, and always re-
g 1'H4eu them that it was their bounden
S 70 treat their fellow men with due
on, ven II they were, as in the pres
ma,. "S1dHce, Frenchmen. His we'll
81 5sss 81 auihoniuons, however, fell upon
sa1 ears; the chickering's and fiebtings
Fl ,ot ','-u7u as before consequently we could
.o, De at all surprised, when the bearing
s. H9 french officers underwent a change.
N 1Hey became cooler towards us.
cra re ie'alis OF the two ships were at last
ossp ana the two bodies of officers
rot " mutual understanding-if l am
hs..g much mistaken at Capt. Hurst's
-9o.'oh--Jo celebrate their parting by
n o1quet, at which all grudges were to be
sor.' along with the viands, and all
H. uedleA by aid Of the wine cup.
4 arr soternor of Sierra Leone readily
F,,.5q 10 TINS proposal; the invitations were
iot, anu an looked eagerly forward to
ioIy evening.
b. rsai1,oeIue expectations seemed about to
Il ~ realized. The repast wonld have sat.
n.y. lae greatest epicure. The wines
4 perisi,, man IAN linously voted excellent, es-
A bo LIE. seeing that shortly after o'clock
E most 4''r4hess of the evening became al
E oiyo. ...,, able, and the thirst-creating
w. 5 fni continued to be passed round.
HAD I't'i'es OF France, the Rose of Eng
Anil T., '1e Gaelic cock, the British lion.
sr Napt Hursts honor. also the Pr,ls-
Isr'. sse' mad all in turn served as pre-
Eaiar vi noisy acclamations: the CONVEX
*comnIir,e'esalln unbrtdled, formality and
& an M ', nus disappeared, as the wine be-
E brs '@Ae mold Of the sense of the bib
H. n9i ''u we matter grew more serious as
&hrst as, He'd. The two captains,
81 gd ana d Ermonville, had both indul-
I'm fboIerately, and endeavored to break
81 om,n,. eohpany, whose behavior was be-
non more and more alarming every
a tgsrd Their hints, however. were dis
#bortt,.o' u COURSE an assertion OF al-
#rls,t, was not to be thought of under the
"A NJ tlrcumstances. The most excited
8an, ,Hnole company were our first lieu
#abar5 Wig ana a young officer from the
xsnosit1 'allSu Lepage. They were sitting
#als. edch other, conversing fercely to-
sm,ti "VlnE Just in the middle OF a hot
#sintaf.ap ABOUT Napoleon. each stubbonlv
O. Jung his own opinion.
os"" Ermonville, who was seated on
%gands n.,S,aptain, regarded the two fire.
\ n ~ E'n uheasiness, and as Lepage
Il 81 Of ooH Tor a few minutes. he made
n taks r. opportunity thus afforded him
n nd s.s ~ ms place. Lepage returned.
&af Ia ms seat occupied, seated him
#hrsf captains chair opposite Can't
#ar3s me two captains, as It after
81 b. tbe ',.leu out, had also been discuss
(. fars,t s.le subject, although In quite a
b.Er,,..' aih % theh officers