The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-11-12

L
This is the story Of a man who did
There were men at that time who
didn't, and they were as honest in their
actions, perhaps as the others who did.
1t was more or less question of view
point But this one man might have
turned the other way and been less
blamable than many of his fellows.
| Uncle Sam turns out each year now,
as he did 90 years ago, a lot of young
| fellows who swear allegiance to his
service and then go forth ON sea and
plain to duties involving manliness,
courage and hardihood To their glory,
be 1t said, there are no funkers. The
service today is easier, however, than it
was back in 1860, and there is not the
strain of sectional feeling among the
officers that disrupted many mess in
that other time. The worst that happens
now is to get some priggish or unpop-
ular chap about who upsets equanimi-
ties. But in 1860 feeling was SO strong
that even, the quarterback was not free
from suspicious Of treason faint, and
the "old man"-as the ships COM
mander is irreverently and affectionate-
ly called-was compelled to be diplo-
matte beyond custom to restrain the la
tent fires
1t happened that slow old tub of a
sloop of war lay in French harbor
awaiting orders to sail in some direc-
ton or other. and her officers and men
were looking for the next mail to gath
er news of what seemed to be an inevi-
table conflict between the north and
south. The strain was rather a grave
one, but the firmness and policy Of the
old man kept things in good form and
outwardly politeness and brotherhood
reigned. The days came and went, and
one afternoon the ships boat brought
the mail bag aboard. In short time
every mans nose was buried in news
paper or letter, and an hour after
ward the fires were more than smolder-
ing in every heart
That night the old mamie died an
admiral-took counsel of himself and
decided that the most comfortable place
for him and his was the United States,
so at daylight he ordered anchors up
and all sail made for home Then began
a long, slow, dreary voyage back. made
almost unbearable to the officers and
men because of what might be happen
ing while they were dragging along, all
unknowing. but the time went by as
time has sad habit of doing, and the
ship slipped by the banks and pointed
for Boston harbor. A few hours later
the pilot flag flew at the fore, and not
long after the pilot schooner was made
out to windward.
From that moment every man aboard
was a restrained, almost sullen, animal.
The pilots cockleshell boat was low
cred and it made for Uncle Sans tub.
The pilot made grab at the ships lad
der, made it and began to Chamber deck
ward. Once on board theweather beaten
guide found each man at his station,
every officer ON deck and the whole crew
carrying faces that were livid with sup
pressed emotion. Slowly he made his
way to the old man, and, pulling off
his cap, scraped the deck. With q deep
clearing Of his throat the captain said:
We'll, pilot. what's the news?"
Your Boston pilot was in no more Of
hurry in those days than he is now,
and he deliberated moment before he
answered:
"Sumter's fred on, and the United
States has gone to hell"
Little by little the listening officers
fell back and instinctively made two
groups, the north and the south. The
hv.,o L. hoA h,,< Al ~
mans shrewdness it came at home and
not in foreign harbor.
With a very steady voice the captain
said:
MIR. Pilot, put us into Boston as
soon as you can.
Then lifting his hat, he said:
1.-The flags servant and yours. gen.
tlemen," and went to his cabin.
The groups, now knowing the worst,
whispered apart, and one by one the
men disappeared. Late that night the
anchor chains hurtling through the
hawse holes chanted Home again. "
In the early morning all the officers
were called together and their captain
said:
Gentlemen, it is the parting of the
ways. Some of us will never meet
again, and some of us will die in doing
what we believe is right Uncle Sam
has educated, fed and clothed us, aud
we have sworn to stand by him. Yet no
oath can bind man beyond the strength
of his conscience, and changed condi-
tions make changed man. On that ia
BILE have written out the dear old oath
of allegiance and signed it. ! stay by
the flag. Let each one of you go to his
cabin and think it over, then let him
come back here and sign below me. or
Jet him go his way" And then he
went ON deck.
One at time the officers came back,
until nine names stood under that of
the old man. The others were going the
other way. An hour later the captain
went down to his cabin and took the
paper in his hands AS he did SO he
looked up and saw the man who did
A young. tall, handsome midshipman
from MARYLAND was this man yvho did