The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-04

~SVOS - =
came almost fatherly, We learned more
about Jan. He kept sober in porJ-another
rare virtue-and from mis- very scaut
earnings a portion was sent to the poor
mother in Denmark. His honest placid
face reflected the pleasure of the rest OF
US the day we left the bleak Atlantic
waters behind. and towing up the Thames
in the sweet breath OF the hawthorn
hedges, passed. of Gravesend. the white
cruiser Chicago and twoAmerican flags
dipped just at sunset on foreign waters.
We locked in the dingy regions of Green
wich. The sailors, dressed in their best
and dragging their boxes, were swallowed
up ashore. Jan preferring. and this time
chosen, to stay by. became the sole &C
cupant of the forecsstle. He kept watch
at night and slept by day. and living on
cabin fare grew stouter and mere com
Portable looking than ever. Again he re
sisted the taverns and passed evening af-
ter evening Of those lonely smoked-siain-
ed twilghts o IA Lonlon summer. in soll-
ude, with an accordion that he never pro-
duced before thee rev, but from the home
sick strains Of which. when by himself
he seemed to gatehr solace. Night after
night, when he came down the electric
lighted wharf his round head b0b6sd
above the rail 10 investigate, after which
heappeared a the gaugway, lantern in
one hand and the other lifted TO receive
wraps and parcels. Nigh, after night his
steady tramp went az intervals past our
4
when he was relieved.
From I do not know just what time
there had strengthened in me the desire
TO know and tell JAMS story. Il is surpr.s-
ing now in looking over old journals 10
see the number of notes made all along
to that effect. for l could no; have dream
en- then how fate had taken his short
course in my hand and would perfect its
ending. That's left to the woman pas
senger's conjeceteure. and my opportun-
ity came Unexpectedly.
1t was the August evening that ended a
London bank holiday. day OF rollicklnS
that naturally extended even to the city's
dock fringes- The scant ship population
had decreased until lastly. after tea. the
steward and stewardess, n the JHssful
incompetency of a honeymoon sqerlcd.
drifted out for a peep at the excitement
tina texisted beyond the dock gates, and q
great loneliness settled over the ship.
Each trip to the forward doorway showed
me Jan either on his beat o. putting at
his pipe, resting against he rail and gaz-
ing, as sailors do when Off duty, 70 the
horizons edge. which here in Lon ION
was smoke-veiled until its golden sunset
color looked brassy. Even 10 our Isolated
berth came faint shouts, singing. and
laughter now and then.
1 hesitated about going out 70 jan be-
cause in the light Of ship etiquette such
an irregular course might embsrraes the
boy. But eventually I went. and I an
sure that he was as lonely as ], ard as
grateful for companionship. So There IN
rhe damp brown evening. SIM: in by fnc
rows Of coal and storage-sheds and The
more distant weaving q masts. yards.
and smokestacks. we talked for hours. SIS
sometimes people will talk who never
spoke together before or viii nor speak
again.
He told the story OF his twenty years.
Of his birthplace on the shore q a tig
river. How he always felt tns river %. q
ing him to the sea. while his mother tcId
him back. OF a childish escape from hcr.
when. embark.ng in d tub. he made ms
first voyage down the rushing river. only
to be rescued by chance from the lard
that death on the waters stretched TO-
wards him then. And. az last ri rig
fight from snip in Cope7har@n - o.
cape irnpressment 20 military service. Re
turn 70 his own country then mean. en-
prisonment. followed by service in ;te
navy. He had been away for year. nd
must wait SIX more before be could TO-
turn 20 see the widowed mother and his
nine young brothers and sisters.
on an English ship he went 20 Calcutta.
and there were few countries thar he hid
not seen since After experience on Arnfr-
ican ships. his ruling ambition and desire
was 20 enter the United States navy. As
fas as h.s limitations had allowed. re PAD
Investigated the matter. and als plan -
action. formed % Be followed upon hz
next return % New YORK e18ve1 fou
deeply be had de- fberated ar1n f.. R8t re
wanted combination and ats.-e. sad as