The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-23
STORES OF A MANILA HERO.
Captain Dyer, the Bluff Old Whaier, Who
Had Rather Fight Than Eat.

(Nioholas Kyle in Leslie's Weekly. ro
Capt. N. Mayo Dyer, whose Bpams has
been advanced seven points on the list OF
captains, placing him nearer promotion
over the heads of older officers, on account
of his gallant service at Manila, is
native of Massachusetts,. He was not
graduate of the naval academy, but prior
to the war of the rebellion was a second
mate on board of whaling vessel
The crew of the Marion took pride in
exoelling at spar and sail drill, never
allowing the vessels of another nationality
to surpass them in dexterity. One day.
in the harbor of Yokohama, tie executive
officer had been putting the men through
a prolonged exercise at sending down the
yards, and the whole force was thoroughly
exha listed. After three hours of this ar
auous drill without intermission he merci
lessly gave the order to repeat the work of
sending up the yards and mast again.
The tired men discontentefly obeyed, but
at certain point in the ascent of the top
gallant mast it stopped and obstinately
refused to move. The sailors were appar-
emily hauling with all their might, the
muscles were standing out taut upon
their arms, but In reality it was a mock
exhibit. The enraged lieutenant was
shouting out invectiye which had no in
tiuence upon the muttering conspirators,
when Capt. Dyer walked out upon the
deck with his haIting step. (His limp is
the result of old wounds, land his brow
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
Jwang
"Fhe - rascals, captain, won't
move pegP"
"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 l want you to send up that mast
and yardsias fast as the Old Nick will let
you. This is the last time, and then you
can go below. Nowstake your stations
and do your best!"
the affection of the crew, and everything
flew into position with extraordinary
celebrity, and the tired men lay down full
length upon the deck to rest
Capt. .Dyer's excellent seamanshtp was
proved on the return trip of the Mariou
from Y Yokohama to San Francisco. Her
coal supply was low, and the voyage was
performed by getting up steam for a while
and then running by aid of the sails until
compelled to use steam again, kyet the ves-
sci arrived on the date set by her orders.
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 &C.
ours. The young Lieutenant was new
to sea faring life, and not discriminating
in his ideas of the Importance of events.
Soon after taking his stand on GUARD a
BOBBY" which is called by the sailors
the LATEST bird on the wing, Because it
will alight OH the ship at any point,
perched upon the fore yardarm. The
Lieutenant contemplated the BOBBY ear
nestly, AS If 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 yardarm."
''1'ell the captain what?" blurted out
the old marine
"Jell Capt. Dyer that there is a BOBBY
on the fore yard" reiterated the punotill-
GUS officer.
Capt. Dyer was seated reading when
his orderly presented himself at the cabin
door. ZS&.
''Well9'' he asked, with nasal jerk,
looking up over his spectacles. n r.ss- I
MIR. - reports that there is 8booby
on the fore yard" "a
The captain face at this extraordinary
piece of information was study, butt as
ne never scrupled to bestow what he con-
sidered an appropriate epithet upon any
person, he calculated, in a tone a little
more nasal than usual, to express his
sarcasm, 6 A BOBBY on the yardarm, is
there? Go back and tell Mr.. - that l
say there is another one on the bridge"
The grinning marine retired to deliver
this message, with the addition of few
adiectiYes of his own manufacture. =
THE EAnIES '~A-Ntr