The times., 1898-11-06
FARRAGUT, EVANS, DEWEY
Varied Sea Experiences of Cap
tain John Buchanan.
A SAILOR FOR FORTY YEARS
Knew and Served With These Three
Celebrated Ohicers-Superstitfon
of Seamen-Hfs Hard Work to Re-
form an Incorrigible New York
YOunEster.

Among those persons in Franklin Coun-
the navy of the United States with keen
interest was John II. Buckman. retired
sea captain, of many years experience
on the waters of both hemispheres. writes
a correspondent of the New York Sun
from Chambersburg, Pa. He now re-
sides on a farm of more than 200 acres,
near Fayetteville. An Irishman of good
family. but long a wanderer from the
paternal hearthstone; an American by
adoption. a sailor from choice. and a
participant in the sea fights during the
sixties because of his love for the
Union, he has had a varied and interest
ing lifetime. He was a sailor nineteen
years before the civil war, and he serv-
ed in the war under some of the officers,
then lieutenants. who attained new celeb
rity in the recent war.
He was on the Hartford under Admiral
Farragut when that fearless commander
approached the defenses of New Or
leans in April. 1852 and saw Farragut
standing on the forerigging of his ship.
with one arm through the ratings. but
he did not see officer nor a sailor
lash him to the mast, nor does he be-
ieve that the admiral was so protected
from probable accident. It's hardly
right to take away from the romance
of that days great work by the gallant
admiral, reflects Capt. Buckman, but
facts must always remain facts
Perhaps the officer for whom Capt.
Buckman has the greatest affection is
Capt. Bob" Evans. When the land at
tack was made on Fort Fisher on Janu-
IL 1sfo l.ieYt IaadarN of q
scaling party and was at the head of his
men. A quick rush was made for lad
der, and there WIS emulation among the
party to reach ii first. Lieut.. Exams
beat Buchanan to the ladder by about
six feet, and as he climbed upon its rungs
he was hit by 4 rife ball in the thigh re-
ceiving the injury which yet causes him
to walk lameiy. Il have always thought
/ have reason to be grateful to Bob Ev-
ans that he was the fieeter of foot" re-
marks Capt. Buckman. I'VE made hard
run to be there first. but it was only for
second that l was sorry my legs had
foiled my ambition"
Capt. Buclkman sailed under Admiral
Dewey and has no fear that America S
interests will suffer In the Philippines as
long as that magnificent naval officer and
diplomat is there. He eulogizes the firm
ness and coolness of the admiral, and his
superior fitness for his place That Dew
ey was always man of resources Capt.
buchanan illustrates by a story of an oc-
currence in Boston harbor. A lot of green
Irishmen had been sent to his ship He
ordered them aloft. but they refused to
go, apparently afraid to risk their necks
SO far from deck. Dewey thought over
the matter a moment, and sent out to a
store for n half dozen hods When they
were obtained he ordered the Irishmen to
carry bricks to one of the cross-pieces
and lay them there. and Capt. Buckman
says he and his comrades were somewhat
surprised at the alacrity with which the
Irishmen. hods over their shoulder!
climbed aloft. One an Irishman got the
better of Dewey, then a lieutenant COM
mander. The ship was being prepared
at Boston for sea. Dewey asked the
1rishman whether he had lever been tc
sea" The quick response was:
And how do yez think 1 came to thi
country, in a donk cart?"
OF course. Capt Buckman has a stor
of "reminiscences of the sea that is al
most unfathomable. He was sailor TO
forty years. and knows the legends an
the customs of sailors. He is familia
with all the superstitions of Jack" an
does not believe in one of them, yet h
confesses that he has had some expert
ences that are hard to explain. TIL
Firms are the most superstitious sailors
They are great wanderers and inoculat
nearly all the rest of the sailors with theI
superstitions. Capt. Buckman tells sey
eral Incidents of the remarkable hold thi
''uncanny power has on them. On tn
bark Wild Rover. of which he was car
tain, he had a Finn as carpenter. On
day the carpenter was squaring a piec
of timber and placed his watch on tn
rail. In reply to a query as to whetht
he was not afraid someone would take /
he replied:
mo. Any man would be glad to brin
1t back" He placed his purse on top {
1t to show his confidence, and said:
i will leave that there until sunse
and dare any man to take it. If he doe
he will bring it back, I say-that is, if h
can"
Not one of all the motley crew woul
touch the pile. but Capt Buckman watct
ed his opportunity and put the articles
his pocket. Peterson, the carpente
when he observed his loss performed a
sorts of jugglery. He took three hair
three drops of water from the tank an
three from the ocean, put all in bott
and shook it violently, all the time '.blatt
ering like Shakespeares witches" an
then threw 1t overheard. He Informed III
short next morning; that the charms i
had worked would drive the thief to jun
overheard and drown himself Lest /
might be suspected of injuring the sailC
who was doomed to Davy Jones locke
he requested the captain to lock him u
He was not locked up and all hands r,
piled next morning. For week there Wa
almost as much trouble aboard as II Il
thief had been murdered or drowned, f.
the sailors could not understand why II
charm had failed to work, and they wal
ed. in a state of nervous expectancy thu
almost produced insubordination, for Il
blow to fall each day. At the end of
week the captain restored the money an
watch and endeavored to preach a lie.
son on the absurdity of sailors superst
tions. but they would have none of it.
One day as Capt. Buckman was prepa,
ing to sail for New York he was vis:te
by a prominent and wealthy political
who asked that he take with him on tt
voyage his son, reckless fellow, wh
had been well educated but had chosen
associate with criminals. Capt. Buckma
refused, as his ship was not a reform;
tory, nor a penitentiary, he said. Bl
the mother of the young man pleade
with him to take the boy away from h
evil companions and save him for he
The captain persisted in his refusal, unit
the tears of the mother melted him, an
he agreed to accept the young fellow
a sailor. The mother was lavish in h,
thanks and bade such farewell to h,
son as should have strengthened him
do right. But he couldn't. The bad W.
too deeply rooted. Before the pilot le
the ship the youth tcall him SMITH ha
a fight with a big Sweede and hit hi
with a Delaying pin. In five minutes
was in the brig. Capt Buckman, aft
keeping him three or four days on brea
and water. went to him and said: