The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-13

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Captain ". Mayo Dyer. whose name
has been advanced seven points on the
promotion over the heads Of older ofh-
GERS. on account of his gallant service
at Manila. Is a native of Massachusetts
He was not graduate of naval acad-
emy, but prior 10 the war OF the Rebel
lion was a second mate on board a
whaling vessel. rt'
The crew OF the Marion took pride In
excelling at and-sail-drill, never
allowing the vessel Of another nation
ality 10 surpass them I'm dexterity. one
day. in the harbor of Yokohama, the
executive officer had been putting the
men through "a prolonged exercise at
sending down the yards, ana the wnoie
force was thoroughly exhausted. After
three hours OF this arduous drill with
out intermission he mercilessly gave
theSorder to repeat the work of sending
up the yards and mast again. The tired
men discontentedly obeyed. but at GER
tain point in the ascent OF the top-gal-
liant mast IL stopped and obstinately
refused to move. The sailors were ap-
parently hauling with all their might.
the muscles were standing out taut up
on their arms, but In reality II was
mock exhibit. The enraged lieutenant
was shouting out invectives which had
no influence upon the muttering con-
| spirators, when Captain Dyer walked
out upon the deck with his hating
step. (IIis limp Ia the result OF old
wounds. and his brow is often contract
ed with pain from these sources of irri-
| tation.)
"wcll. Mr. -. what's the matter?'
ne demanded In his quick. sharp tones
for Dyer's speech is marked by u
strong nasal twang
alc mt n
| move n peg!'
you don't know how to handle the
men. -" responded Dyer, quietly.
| "Just let me talk to them minute.
| Now then. men, want you 10 drill Tor
\ me. and want you TO send UP thot
| mast and yards az fast as the Old Nick
| will let you. This is the last time, and
| then you can go below. Now take your
| stations and do your best,
| Stubbornness melted suddenly before
| the words of the officer who held the
\ affection OF the crew. and everything
| flew into position with extraordinary
| celerity. and the tired men lay down
| full length upon the deck TO rest.
l Captain Dyers excellent seamanship
| was proved on the return trip " the
| Marion from Yokohamn to San Francis
| co. Her coal-supply was low. and the
| voyage was performed by getting up
| steam for while and then running by
| aid of the sails until compelled TO use
1 steam again, yet the vessel arrived on
| the date set by her orders. 1T was dur
| ing this trip. which required so much
| skill and management. that Dyer. one
/ day, on going below. said to the officer
\ who took his place on the bridge, Now
report to me everything that occurs
| The young lieutenant was new to sea
faring life, and not discriminating In
/ his ideas OF the Importance or events
Soon after taking his stand on guard
"booby." which Is called by sailors
| the LATEST bird on the wing because IL
will alight on the ship at any point
perched upon the fore yard-arm. The
| lieutenant contemplated the booby
earnestly, as II 1t had been an omen OF
fate, then called the captains orderly
| and said: "Go tell the captain that
there is a BOBBY on the fore yard-arm.
Tell the captain what?" blurted out
| the old marine.
Tell Captain Dyer that there is a
BOBBY on the fore yard" reiterated the
punctilious officer.
Captain Dyer was seated reading
when his orderly presented himself al
the cabin door.
"Well?" he asked. with nasal jerk
looking up over his spectacles.
"Mr. ---- reports that there is 9
BOBBY on the fore yard"
The captains face at this extraordi'
| nary piece of Information was study
but, as he never scrupled to bestow
what he considered an appropriate
epithet upon any person, he calculated
in a tone a little more nasal than us
ual. to express his sarcasm: "A booby
on the yard-arm. In there? Go back ant
tell Mr.. - that I say there is another
one on the bridge"
The grinning marine retired to deliv
er this message with the addition Of 6
few adjectives OF his own manufacture
Joanna Nichols Kyle in Leslie.
Weekly.