The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-08

SEA. Even 10 this present day this opinion
IS held by many people
In the dfth and sixth decades of the
present century the sn5eayors Of Great
Britain to suppress The extensive save
trade carried on on the west coast OF AZ
rlca attracted adventurous seafar!ng folks
OF al nations TO the squadron. which was
ordered 10 cruise about IN the Atlantic
ocean in the interests OF the so-called pre-
venti0n service. The German element was
not absent, and not only IN the manning
CT the ships, but also IN the officers cir
cles. they Were well represented.
l had also enlisted. and found mysslf
as second lieutenant on beard the Falcon.
fast-saiing schooner. The commander
was also German. who had previously
been an officer in the German impsria.
navy. The first lieutenant was an Eng
lishman, called King. Both Of them be-
ionged TO the most capable seamen. and
wsre honor itself. In these two respects
they stood alone and unapproachahle- But
In other respects they resembled each 9TH
er as much as day and night Capt. Rob-
ert Hurst would be about 10 years Old.
He was conscientious TO the last degree.
and always viewed things from a moral
standpoint. doing everything on princi-
pie. which morals he also tried TO bring
into the service. Cursing and obscene Ian
guages were forbidden on board ship.
Drunkenness and fighting were detesied
by him, nor did he like unnecessary noise
and squabbling.
Whenever any one was found capable of
these misdemeanors he would give the
whole crew moral lessons, over which they
secretly cracked Their jokes. In one word.
oar commander was q singular person.
Lieut. King was just the opposite. King
regarded his superior's ways with open
contempt. He himself was a jolly, smart.
daredevil sort Of fellow, who liked a
good, hot drink, and who could likewise
stow one. two. and at pinch three bottles
OF the heaviest wine beneath his gold-but-
toned vest without feeling any evil effects
therefrom. He considered real sailors
curse both justifabie and Indispensable,
and maintained that Capt. Hurst would
| have made better parson than a captain
or n wafshp, which opinion he made no
attempt TO conceal from his brother Of
ficers. He said the first real brush with
SLAYER would furnish a proof that the
captain was wanting in that. OF which he
mad most need, namely. personal courage.
The schooner lay at anchor in the harhor
of Sierra Leone. not far from French
corvette. lie Rsnard, commanded by
Capt. d'Ermonviile We had ample op-
portun.ty OF becoming acquainted with
him. as Wei as with his officers, and found
them TO be the most amiable people I'M
aginable. Between the crews of the two
sauabbles, brought about by the disda.n
and self-lmportance which the British sail.
L or adopts in regard TO all foreigners, when
/ ever he has imb. bed too freely-ano that is
the case. without exception. when he is on
shore.
The French officers. Notwithstanding,
were exceedingly indulgeni, when we
found ourselves con PEELED to excuse The
conduc. of the drunken British sailors In
order TO avoid serious complications and
il was lucky that Il was So because the
Falcon. as well as the Rsnard, was under
going repairs, and they Were thus destined
10 remain neighbors for some time 10
come
Capt Hurst did his best to exhort his
crew 10 keep the peace and always re-
minded them that IL was their bounden
duty 10 treat their fellow men with due
respect. even If they were. as n the prss-
ent instance, Frenchmen His well-meant
sdmouitioas, however, fell upon deaf ears.
the chickering's and tightings continued as
before. consequently we could not be at
al. surprised when The bearing OF the
french officers underwent a change, and
they became cooler towards US.
The repairs OF the two ships were at last
completed ard the two bodies OF officers
came 10 mutual understanding-if / am
not very much mistaken, at Capt. Hurst's
inst.gation--to celebrate their parting by
banquet. at which all grudges were 10 be
consumed along with the yiaEds and all
sores healed by aid of the wrne-cup.
The governor OF Sierra Leone readily
agreed to this proposal: the invitations
were Issued. and all looked eagerly for
ward 20 a Jolly evening.
Everyone's expectations seemed about to
Dc realized The repast would have sat
!siied the greatest epicure. The wines
were unanimously voted excellent espe~
~ ety. ~Ga+ zi,s Il
The sultrinfss of the evening became al
most unbearable, and the thirst-creatng
olives still continued to be passed around.
The Lilies OF France the Rose OF Eng
and, the Gaelic cock. the British lion,
aud. In Capt. Hurss's honor. also the Prus-
sian Eagle, had all in turn served pre-
texts for noisy aectamations; the couversa-
ton became uubrIdled. forrnality and
compliments disappeared, as wine began
W take ho.d Of the senses OF the biaaers.
and the matter grew more serious as the
minutes fled. The two captains. Hurst
and a Ermonyilie, had both INDUCED mod
Tateiy, and eadeavored to break up the
cmpany. whose behavior was becoming
more and more Alarming every moment.
Their HATS however, were disrs garded;
4 course. an assertion OF authority was
not 10 be thought OF under the existing
circumstances The ulost excited Of me
whole company were our first Lieutenant.
King ard young officer from the Re
ard. called LeTage They were sitting
opposite each other, coaversing fercely
ogether, being Just IN the middle Of a hot
lspute about Napoleon. each stubborniy
aaintaining his own opinion.
capt. dErmonvilig, who was seated OPP
.osite cur captain, regarded the two fire.
rands with uueas.ness, and as Lepage
+; the room for few minutes. be made
tse OF The opportunity thus afforded him
take up his place I1epaee resurE.d,
nd seeing his sea; occupied, seated HIM
II in MS captains chair opposite Opt
tiUrst The TWO captains. as Il after
wards turned out. had also been discuss
~ the same subject although in quite q
5.Gerea: strain TO their officers.
u ErYnorriI!e was a B0gfbc1-roya!ist
sud their views Gil The French emperor
Uttered very slightly. / must here add
yhag Capt Hurst WAS rather shors-sight-
4. and that the room was filled with to-
aacco smoke He had leaned back n his
eat lost IN thought. and had not as-
ICED TIA: another gentleman sat opposite
sim Nov he renewed the c0nYsrsat lon
lightly ircIinsag himself towards his
8s-a.yls 40 as 10 be uuheara by the rest
sfYs~ss a re- unite right. monsieur hs "a 4