The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-17
TIE NAV WHO DID.
a story OF Years Ago with Its Share or Pree-
ent interest

ent Interest
This is the story Of a man who did. There were
men at that time who didn't, and they wero as
honest in their actions, perhaps, as tho others
VINO did. 1t was moro or less n question OF
viewpoint. 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 no did
fifty years ago. n lot of young fellows who swear
allegiance to his service and then go forth on sea
and plain to duties involving mnnlincss, cour.
age. and hardihood. To their glory, be it said.
there are no funkers. The service to-day is
easier, however. than 1t was back in 1860, and
there is not the strain of sectional feeling
among the officers that disrupted many a mess
in that other time. The worst that happens
now is to get some priggish or unpopular chap
about who upsets cquanimities. But in 1860
feeling was so strong that even the quarter deck
was not free from suspicious Of a treason faint,
and the '.old man as the ships commander
is irrevcrently and affectionately called-was
compelled to be diplomatic beyond custom to re-
strain tho latent fires.
1t happened that a slow old tub of a sloop.of-
war lay in a French harbor awaiting orders to
sail in some direction or other. and her officers
and men were looking for the next mail to
gather news of what seemed to be an inevitable
conflict between the North and South. The
strain was rather n grave one, but the firmncss
and policy of the old man kept things In good
form and outwardly politeness and brotherhood
reigned. The days came and went, and one af-
ternoon the ships boat brought the mail bag
aboard. In n short time every mans nose was
buried In a newspaper or a letter. and an hour
afterward the fires we're more than smouldcring
That night the old msn-hc died an Admiral
took counsel Of himself and decided that the
most comfortable place for him and his was the
United States: 80 at daylight he ordered anchors
up and all sail made for home. Then began n long.
alntN dranr t- npn M hulH E,alnn lr.1at ,-h.a-
able to the officers and men because OF what might
be happening while they were dragging along.
has a sad habit of doing. and tho 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 n
restrained, almost sullen. animal. Duties were
done. to be sure. but pertunctorily. News would
soon be theirs, and IL was news they achcd for.
The pilots cockleshell boat was lowered and
it made for Uncle Sans tub. The pilot made a
grab at the ships ladder, made ii and began TO
Stam9sr Spide found o each on man Uo"s st f his w statiop,
every officer on deck, and The whole crew carry.
ing faces that were livid with suppressed emo
ton. Slowly he made his way to the old man,
and, pulling off his cap, scraped the deck. With
a deep clearing Of his throat the Captain said:
well. pilot. what's the news
Your Boston pilot was in no more of n hurry
in those days than he is now, and he deliberatod
q moment before he answered..
has gone TO hell!
Little by little the listening officers fell back
and instinctiycly made two groups; the North
and the south. The break had come; but. be-
cause of the old mans shrewdnoss, it came at
home and not in a 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:
THE flags servant and yours. gentlemen"
The groups, now knowing tho worst, whis-
pered apart, and one by one the mon disap-
peared. Late that night tho anchor chains
h%qrtling through the hawso holes chanted
Home again"
In the carly morning all tho officers were
called together and their Captain said:
"GcnLlcmen. it is the parting OF the ways.
Some OF us Will never meet again. and some of
us will die in doing what wo believe is right.
Uncle Sam has educated. fed. and clothed us.
and we have sworn to stand by him. Yet no
oath can bind a man beyond the strength of his
conscience, and changed conditions make a
changed man. On that table l have written out
the dear old oath Of allegiance and signed IT.. 1
stay by the flag. Let each one OF you go to his
cabin and think 1t over; then let him come back
here and sign below me or-let him 90 his way"
And then he went on deck.
Ono at a 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 30 he
looked up and saw the man who did. A young.
tall, handsome mldshipman from Maryland was
this man who did. and the Captains voice trem-
bled as he said:
Winnie. do you sIgn Z"
sam in Maryland asin Massachusetts, y know"
God bless you. boy! Your father and I
fought side by sidc as lads in 1912. and. while
there are some of us who arc not goir.E away. 7
prayed God your fathers son would stick to MS"
Schley. the man who did SILK to his flag when
some others didn't. And iL's gospel truth.