Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-05-20
LOLANPS LEAP.

: there was intense tribulation among
the steerage officers of the Vandalia a,
she lay at Ecr moorings in the TRANQUIL
harbor OF Apia on the occasion of GU,
first visit to the Samoan islands in Jan.
uary, 1889, for scarcely had we let 90
her bow and stern anchors, as is Gus.
tomary III those treachcrous ATTITUDES.
when it was discovered that our mess
man during the commotion attendant
herewith had unceremoniously slipped
over the side and swum to an outward
bound merohantman with view to alb
ruptly severing his relations with the
naval service III general and the mid.
ship mess of our vessel in particular.
The mess "striker, as he is unoffi-
clally designated, of man o'-war, is
Notwithstanding his apparent inferior,
lty, from standpoint of relative rank.
an important functionary, particularly
when SO thoroughly familiar with his
duties as was our late incumbent who,
IN spite of his characteristic, harum
scarum propensities. which had from
time to time called forth corrections in
various degrees of severity from the
members OF our mess, was far above the
average in his capacity. True, he had a
penchant for thrashing every new cook
who appeared for duty at the galley.
but his saucepans and baking tins were
III consequence always given the point
OF precedence, thus insuring us hot
cuisine at every meal, and if he did re.
strict himself to the best brands of TO-
bacco he could abstract from our priyate
stores he daily bestowed upon our shoes
n polish which was unimpeachable in
the eyes OF the inspecting officers, and,
thanks to his industry, our sword hits
and trapplngs invariably bore luster
which awakened undisguised envy in
The eyes of our seniors. But he was
gone now, and we had to console our
selves as best we could with blaming
Zach other for his flight
The carpenter, who alone appeared I
'pove reprcach in the affair, accused :,
ne sallmakrf because C having reviled
I'm Tor appropriatins IL bolt of canvas .
rom the sail locker with which to man ~
fracture deck cloths for our quarters Il
Vhlle the sailmaker in turn censured i"
ne boatswain for having gone still fur- II
aer IN reporting him for creating some ~ -
disturbance or other forward among the -
rev. Inc boatswain was equally con- 81
ihced that the fault lay with the pun. u
er' VINO had seen fit to impose extra ~ ~
aty upon him for having sighted his -
duties as set forth in the sbin,s
alton bill, though the grnner argued ~
lat the pay clerk, our caterer. was re-. IN
onslble for the catastrophe in having pl
I'D back the "striker's" ration money se
cover an overdraft in his accounts W y.
haIly all but myself, the command. ~
8 secretary, agreed that l was amepa. n ~.
10 contrlbutory negligence in not u!'
wing manipulated the conduct records sl'
such manner as to secure first class iee
'erty Tor him in every port we had s Que
'lted, from which privilege his turbu- i 10,
1t department had always precluded pu
n: however, such speculations were oie
'ductlve of no improvement in tba sel
uatlon, and after having endured tho an'
ty annoyance Of being forced to ad. 10
ulster to our individual wants for 1oe
space OF three days, intensified bv ''al
quent criticisms on the part of tho r. {
ihlandlng officer during his rounds 49,
inspection, we were not little re-. ihit
'ed to hear our caterer announces that uuo
ned secured another messman from plis
settlement on shore, the sams heinz, que
atlvo islander who had been recon-. an Il
lded Tor the billet by one OF the In. s'io'
rem
Ee entertained more or Less mispiv. o"l!'
as to the suitability of this new ac. '"','
alton, but under the circumstances anu
ready to accept any ono in the o "ar''
or an attendant, SO that when sinh. o'iio'
emily no appeared on board and en- I'l''
! upon the discharge Of his duties ne
llsparaging comments were forth surg
ing. sure.
IS hamc, in accordance with the uiol
ms OF his people, was limited to '0ie''
appellation, Wailoah, which, pro. c-.
ICED III his peculiar native accent. .o"i'
strangely pleasing to the ear. In nu,,
Aranco he was a strikingly hand. e t',1
fellow, tho comeliness OF his well n.',
)rtloned frame actentuated by n ~ :
lar cast OF features, fine eyes and ,r b:n
mt black hair. No doubt his spleu. , "nis'