The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-13
A BLUFF oIo MAILER
some Good ssorie. of Captain Dyer OF
Manila PANE.

Captain n. Mayo Dyer. whose name has
been advanced seven points on the list OF
captains, placing him nearer promotion
over the heads Of older officers, on ac-
a native OF Massachusetts. He was not
a graduate Of the naval academy, but
prior TO the war of the rebellion was "A
second mate on board "A whaling vessel.
The crew of the Marion took pride In
excelling at spar and sail drill. never al
lowing the vessels of another nationality
TO 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. and the whole force was thorough
ly exhausted After three hours of this
arduous drill without ntermission he mer-
cilessly gave the order to repeat the work
of sending up the yards and mast again.
The tired men d~iscontentedly obeyed. but
at a certain point i'm the ascent of the
top-gallant mast IL stopped and obstinate
ly refused to move The sailors were APP
p~arently hauling with all their might. the
muscles were standing out taut on their
arms, but in reality IL was a mock ex-
hibit. The cnraged lieutenant was shout
ing out invectives, which had no effect
upon the muttering conspirators. when
Captain Dyer walked out upon the deck
with his halting step. tHis limp Is the re-
suit of old wounds and his brow is often
contracted with pain from these sources
of irritation.)
well. Mr.. -. what's the matter?'
he demanded, in his quick. sharp tones.
for Dyer's speech Is marked by "A strong
nasal twang.
The - rascals, captain. won't
move a peg"
You don't know how to handle the
men. -" responded Dyer. quietly.
Just let me talk to them "A minute. Now.
then. men, | want you to drill for me.
and ! want you to send up that mast and
yards as 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 af-
lection of the crew, and everything flew
into position with extraordinary celebrity.
and the tired men lay down full length
upon the deck to rest.
Captain Dyer's excellent seamanship
was proved on the return trip Of the Ma
rion from Yokoham to San Francisco.
Her coal supply was low and the voyage
was performed by getting up steam for
awhile and then running by aid of the
sails until compelled to use steam again:
yet the vessel arrived on the date set by
her orders. II was during 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 seafaring life and not discriminat-
ing I'm his ideas of the Importance of
events. Soon after taking his stand on
guard. "A BOBBY which IL called by
sailors the LATEST bird on the wing. be-
cause II will alight on the ship at any
point. perched upon the fore yardarm. The
lieutenant contemplated the BOBBY ear
nestly, as II IL 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 yardarm.'
Tel 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 at the cabin
door.
"well?' he asked. with a nasal jerk,
looking up over his spectacles.
Mr.. - reports that there is a BOBBY
on the fore yard"
The captains face at this extraordinary
piece of information was a study. but as
he never scrupled To bestow what he con-
sideTed an appropriate epithet upon any
person. he calculated i'm a tone a little
more nasal than usual. to express his sar-
casm:
"a BOBBY on the yardarm. is there? Go
back and tell Mr.. - that I say there is
another one on the BRIDGE.
The ~grinning marine retired to deliver
this message. with the addition Of a few
adjectives of his own manufacture.-Les-
lies Weekly.