The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-07
T,vo stories OF sch1ex.


How Commodore schley got his first
command is an amusing episode in his
early career, says the New York Ledger.
After leaving the Niagara he was promptly
promoted to a lieutenancy and assigned as
executive officer of one of the ninety -day
gunboats, the Owaseo of the Gulf squad
ron. Her commanding officer-his name is
of no consequence and he is dead now-was
a devotee of John Barleycorn, and period
ically had to retire to his cabin for repairs.
where he usually stayed a week. The
Owasco was stationed off Mobile and was
one of a small squadron of which Capt
James Alden of the Richmond was senior
officer.
One day a quartermaster of the Rich
mond reported to Capt. Alden that the cap
tain's gig of the Owasco was approaching,
the captains pennant flying. Surprising his
visitor to be the captain of the Owasco.
Alden put on his uniform coat, the side
boys were ordered and the boatswain's
mate made ready for his three pipes at the
gangway. When the Owasco's gig came
alongside the man who sprang up the lad
der was Lieut. Schley.
Il expected to see Capt - of the
Owasco," said Alden, with slight sar-
casm.
Il am commander of the owasco, sir"
said Schley.
'Since when?" asked Alden.
AN hour ago, SIR said Schley.
where is Captain --?"
Locked up IN his cabin, sir, drunk"
who locked him in?" asked Alden
II did L first put him under arrest and
then shut him up in his cabin Then took
command of the ship, and here am to re-
port for orders"
Alden was fond of joke. and he was at
first disposed to laugh at the young mans
summary action, but he said:
We'll, the first order I'll give you is for
you to lower that pennant in the gig, go
back TO your ship, sir, unlock that cabin
door and restore Captain - TO duty.
Then report to me in writing if the cap
tains illness still incapactates him and I
will know what to do. Don't be in too great
a hurry to get command of a ship, Mr.
Schleyw $685.
None of these boys on that eventful
voyage was much more than p. They
We're fresh from the academy, and felt it
chiefly incumbent upon them to have fun
with the Japanese attendants upon the
embassy Life was often made miserable
for the Japs when they ventured forward
into the midshipmen's watch Now that
the then midshipman Schley has become
a commodore and is in command of a pow
erful fleet, he may not appreciate this
Renaissance of his youth but his fellow
citizens may enjoy it. The Niagara, on
her way around Good Hope stopped on the
coast of Africa, where the Japaneses laid
in a stock of monkeys. Old Capt. Mexican
and the officers did not object, for II was
public policy then to crafty every wish
of the Japaneses. 1t was only Midship-
man Schley and his deck scrubbers who
objected. The monkeys were allowed to
roam about the ship as they pleased
There were all kinds of. monkeys, big and
little. Several huge ringtails would al
most live in the rigging, making flying
leaps from footrope to backstay. always
catching firmly by their tails. The mon
keys were not pleasant creatures about
the decks. and were a subject of especial
aversion to Midshipman Schley, who on
his watch was responsible for the decks
| whiteness and cleanliness. One mornina
Schiey had the early watch, and with a
gang Of men was scrubbing down.
Bring me a bucket of slush," said
Schley to a captain of top, and to an
other he gave orders that two of the big
monkeys should be caught.
1t was in the China sea- and the big
ship, with every thread of canvas. ON, was
bowling along with The wind abeam and
a heavy sea on. She was making fifteen
Knots. Schley TOOK the two captive mon
keys and carefully creased their tails,
then, with a savage whoop at them
struck both with a ropes end. Both mon
keys broke for the fore weather rigging,
and made wild leap for the lower stud
ding sail sheet which was over the water
and thirty feet from the ships side
Swish went the tails around the CULVER
ing sheet. Alas the tails slipped and the
two sons of Africa went shrieking into
the sea. The Japs ran screaming from
their cabins, but the officer of the watch,
Lieut.. John Guest, who died some years
ago as rear admiral told them the ship
! could not be put about or her sail short
ened in time to save the monkeys, so there
was mourning in the Japanese cabin that
day.