Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-07-13
CAPTAIN pswsY.S GOODNESS
Interesting Incident in the Career OF
the Hero os III nila.

Interesting Incident in the Career Of
the Hero os Manila.
A good story is told of Commodore
Dewey, which illustrates not only his
coolness and judgment in a moment
of peril, but also the high regard in
which he Is held by the men under his
command. 1t was during the spring
Of 1887, when Commodore Dewey, then
| q captain, had command Of the flag
ship Pensacola, sailing vessel. In the
Mediterranean. While en- route from
Athens to the coast of Spain the vessel
encountered 4 series of short but vio-
lent squalls, which not only greatly
retarded her progress, but proved in
tensely wearing on the crew.
One night, when the inconsistency OF
the weather was particularly annoy
ing. the officer of the watch happened
to be a young lieutenant who was very
unpopular with the men, being what
is termed in nautical vernacular a
"Bucko." Several times during the
watch all hands had been called to
shorten sail, and they were naturally
very much exhausted from racing
back and forth from the decks to the
upper rigging. Finally the order was
again given to make sail, and the tired
sailors set about to put 1t into execu-
ton. But, after the work had been
accomplished and all hands had come
down from aloft. 1t occurred to the
officer that the men had not exhibited
sufficient alacrity to suit him. and, ad-
vancing to the break Of the poop,
speaking trumpet in hand, he thun-
iered q torrent of epithets at the crew,
following 1t up with an order to lay
aloft and go through the tactics OF
shortening sail by way Of drill. I'm
fortunately, however, he had failed to
reckon upon the inborn spirit of the
American sailors, and right here their
man Of their number made n move
ment to execute the overbearing order.
Wildly fourishing his trumpet. the now
frenzied martinez threatened and
cursed and stormed. but to no avail;
the blood Of the crew was up, and they
cursed back, ridiculed. laughed him to
scorn. Suddenly the sea and sky were
seen to grow darker to windward and
Il was clear that another sQuall was
imminent.
Alive to the danger to which the
ship. with all her canvas spread, was
exposed, the lieutenant retrcated from
his threatening attitude and urged, en-
treated, implored the men to save the
vessel, but in vain-they had been driv-
en- to sheer desperation and only
scofred at him the more. Onward came
the tempest, its fierceness foretold by
the livid shafts of lightning which
peatedly flashed from It's inky depths.
The lieutenant. In despair, had sunk
to his knees, with his face In his hands.
awaising the inevitable doom. Sud-
denly from out the cabin companion
way form emerged. 1t was the cap
tain. In an instant his glance had talk
en- all in-the approaching storm, the
defiant crew, the suppliant officer, the
Tapping sails, and then, clear and loud,
rang out the order: "All hands Short
en- sail"' That was all. But 1t was
sufficient Before the last word Of that
command had been uttered the rigging
was full Of flying sailors, cheering
their captain, as they sped to their
task, and in twinkling every foot OF
canvas had been slowed and the ship
placed under bare poles. Even before
they could regain the decks the gale
burst upon the vessel, demonstrating
only too forcibly the fate another mo-
ment's delay would have hurled upon
her.
When the shock had passed and the
crew had assembled in readiness to
obey the next order. Capt. Dewey ad-
dressed his first " ords to the officer of
the deck. "Go to your room," he said.
Then turning TO his crew, he command
ed them without the least suspicion Of
rebuke in his tones, "Boatswain. pipe
dOwn"'-St. Louis Globe Democrat.