Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-02-16

gnoothbore guns. looked like Q scene
from q medi@val drama. aud when she
went to sea the Tapping Of the sails
and the snapof the cordage were not an
unwelcome lullaby to those who slept
beneath her cool White decks.
This old Brooklyn sailed one dAy
from New York. bound upon roviug
cruise and came in time to the Azores
islands. whence she sailed for Lisbon
and Gibraltar and, passing through the
Mediterranean and the Suez canal.
steamed slowly down the scorching Red
sea A stop At Alden for day or two
made her ready for q journey to the
Persian gulf but when the gulf Of
Ormaz was reached the skipper thought
to take look at Muscst. and 60 the
course was shaped for the capital Of the
son If Abraham whose forefathers for
hundreds, nay, thousands, of years. had
been sheiks Of the desert
In all her jourusy the good ship had
entered not pwt where the proud
Cross Of St. Georgs could not be seen
from the staff Of a. Britisb man f-war,
but here at MuscatF it was thought that
at least our flag would be the only token
Of western civilizations! inevidence. But
it was not so, for as tho Brooklyn
rounded a high prunsontory that shut
in the little harbor, there, lying at al.
Choir, was seen this: English gunboat
Sphinx with her milk white flag fioat-
ing above her.
Muscat had much tatat wae strange
and weird to interest the Americans,
but neither the palace Of the sultan,
with its double wall, between the two
parts Of which are. Kept the tigers
whose duty it is to guaBd the palace at
night, nor the imperial tarem's grim
exterior, nor the gorgeousapparel of the
sultan himself had half the attraction
for the westerners that the grim, sheer
face Of the promontory that shuts in the
harbor had; for there upon the bleak
wall of this towering height were
painted the names Of many ships. and
high above them all. i'm place that
seemed inaccessible. were the words.
"H. M. s. Sphinx. .
The men OF the Brooklyn stared at
( that name day after day, until it seemed
burned into their brainss and the spirit
\ Of emulation grew within them
The nigat before the Brooklyn was
| to sail for Persian waters there were
! evidences Of secret movement among
I the crew, and after the nigh. had fallen
| still and black boat pulled of from
the vessels side. and with muffled oars
| made rapidly for the shore. It carried
/ many things Of various sorts, and among
them lantern, whose tiny glimmer
those on the ships watched with hated
breath as 1t reached the shore and slow
y began the ascent Of the womontory.
| Now it would disappear and then gilt
ter again like a star of hope and COM
fort, and SO it went slowly on. ever up
and up the fmse Of the outlined precipice
The hours dragged slowly by, and it
was far into tho night, when tired
boats crew clambered slowly over the
Brooklyn g side and dropped exhausted
into their hammocks for short sleep
before the call Of "alll 1ands'' in the
morning.
The Brooklyn sailed away just as the
eun began to show above the eastern
horizon, and az she swung upon her
course and stood for the waters Of the
open gulf cheer burst from the throats
Of the whole ship 9 company. For there.
in great letters Of white that caught the
warmth Of the rising sun, far above the
name Of her majesty g. ship Sphinx. fal
above the highest name Of all. could be
seen the legend ~. s. S. Brooklyn. -
And there today. looking down upon
the tiger guarded palace and the harem
Of the sultan, ever hafoEe the Arabs and
the Belooohistanese Of the tiny sultan
ate, still CLEANS the magic name tina,
Schley and Cook onee again made "a
nous and that shall endure in history
when Muscat itsal6 shall be forgotten
Washington Post