New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-17

~ the most popular NtSS'IS III '''u'h'iu
tors Nevertheless the metamorphosed Brit
- chin Haunting the Stars and Stripes beneath
-. walls Of Gibraltar and among British ships
n along the coast, presents piquant picture to
-. imagination Trcnchard did good service,
and captured six slavcrs upon one occasion
lone. but we like best to read OF some such
.1,cr,ence as that which the Cyanc had at Port
pr.va where the natives went mad over the
aims band and Trenchard invited out in
ns midst Of alarms to take tea and enjoy the
,,oonlight-if only ne would bring his musicians
.,onc 1t is in minor notes of this sort that the
rrenchard papers have yielded the most read
.he material The old sailors journals did not
aim al the dignity OF history. He was content
n sneak of smaller matters. and Mr. Maclay
tolls how at this same Port Praya where the
Governor-Gencral and all his staff were enam-
oured Of the band a salute OF only fifteen guns
VAS offered to our flag when seventeen was due
T, seems that the fort ran short of powder on
the fifteenth discharge. and 1t was only after the
sn,cers had bestrred themselves with much ef
for, that the two missing charges were secured
Then. several hours after Trenchards protest
the two guns duly fired
Stephen Decatur Trenchard (namcd for his
fathers old commander and comradc) was n
soldier Of much picty and much common sense
We mention the former trait because II counted
considerably in his career. his duty being pur-
sued with quiet gravity that may not be ro-
mantle but is nevertheless impressive. 1t was
not easy for him To unbcnd Mr. Maclay sur
misses that the scamen the Rhode Island were
little bored 10y the pertnacity Of their com
mander in insisting upon religious service every
Sunday and perhaps they did not relish hearing
the Rhode Island called the Gospel Gunboat,
but this observance OF Trenchard's only
one indication of his calmly rcsOlute nature
CANAAN Wilkinson the blockade runner. who
vas once a prisoner on the Rhode Island, has
noted that In most ships intercourse between
The conqucrors and the conquered was possible
but Trenchard he says. most Of US had known
Of old as prim little precisian. and a great
uicker for etiquette so strict con-
gtruc tioniSt that he would probably have refused
to recognize his grandfather IL II were agains:
orders" There is delightful story Of Captain
Trenchard as he then was. going from his ship
The Lancaster. to attend dinner given 10 him
and to his officers by the officers OF Russian
varship of Montivideo in the carly seventies
The Russians had a way Of Selling the guest
Of honor and raising him to their shoulders.
when they carried him three times around the
table TO the accompaniment OF festive shoIts
The American was ceremonious TO the core,
but that helped him little. His effort TO look
pleased when ne regained his feet must have
been as Mr. Maclay suggests. heroic. bu'
Stephen Trenchard had begun his naval career
With anything but ceremony. There were no
rtoves aboard chip for the young Officers when
h was a mildly A cannon-bal was heated and
placed in a bucket Of sand. Around this print
r.i
they could At the Philadelphia Naval Sch"o
the midshpmen were usually too poor to pos
pess more than their uniforms. and accordingly
were hard put to il when invitations came. The
acceptance Of which involved the wearing Of
civilian clothes. Trenchard and his companions
subscribed for a class wardrobe" and used in
common The garments accumulated The matter
h trivial vet 4 In in such random notes that
Mr Maclay gives US divertine impression OF
The Navy nfty years ago. There was hard work
70 be done. but there was abundant pressure
II is amusing TO read Of the bcwilderment OF
the young republican Trenchard on 'isi,hs
Italian ports and meeting innumerable persons
With titles In an account or one OF MS you'"'"'
Mediterranean cruises there If note on an
accident which occurred when several patrician
guests were aboard One OF them fell oo"h
hatchway. and a princess. VINO had not WIZ
pessed the fall, asked q dOwn-east quarter
master what the trouble was. "Oh nothing
much. marm." ne replied "Only one OF them
ere kings tumbled down a hatchway and broke
bis neck" In 1892 Trenchard returned from
The scene OF This serio- comic episode and was
ASSIGNED 10 du,y on board the Gallatin, assist
ing in the survey Of the coast Of Georgia ana
Florida