The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-17
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! The MYSTERIOUS cOCKSWA|N.
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a The big Dartleshlp was rolling ma
;est.cally to and fro several miles of
4 ,be coast when the fiery sun appeared
& shove the horizon and bathed in golden
4 bues the stunted palms and deserted
q shores Of Cuba. The bluejackets had
Il heel turned to earlier than usual, and
q the work of the morning watch was
a s..-ea,ly completed. On the forecastle
q .he idlers and marines were performing
a their morning. ablutions, while the
81 ia .k:es who had been washing down
Il de,ks and cleaning ship were gathered
a il picturesque groups forward of the
3 biz turrets, excitedly discussing the
q news which had been brought forward
Il bv some of the wardroom boys
q The first luff has been ordered to
a set ont a steam launch and cutter
ss3 snj! send SOHO one into the harbor's
81 mouth to cut cable. 1t will be dan
:, pe-ons job, for the boats will have to
Il srapple for the cable right in range of
q the Spanish batteries.
y Here. at last, was an end to the mo-
noiony of blockading service and a
~ chance to do something. For weeks the
a biz ship had been steaming idly back
s1 and forth without once firing shot or
#eyen chasing blockade runner. It was
3ina strange that the news the ward
8 ro,n boys were telling created a furore
81 # settlement among the jackies on the
SSipre. .astle, and the early appearance Of
Il ,ne Young officers on the deck showed
Saihat ''steerage" had also been informed
=, tlo int
"a Among others who heard the story
on the forecastle was Cockswain Welch,
who, with his trousers rolled up to his
pPpnees and his muscular arms barred to
4 be shoulder, had just come in from the
Shird cutter, his especial pet and pride,
where. with bucket and swab, he had
3been removing some of the traces of
scnders and SCOT deposited by the big
tunnels overhead.
afis mates. He had but recently joined
he ship, and, to the disgust of many
hn old shellback, he had hardly been
8beted to the after guard when he was
3ated cockswain-vice Murphy, dis
s3ated for drunkenness-and now had
charge Of the best cutter on board.
dany strange stories were being whis-
PGed about among Welch's mates con-
9ferning the new cockswain. He was
poo young to have been an apprentice,
R3nd there were some who said he was
afow serving his first enlistment and
pad obtained his rating because OF
2e55I'l with some of the youngsters IN the
cS ,erage. Others averred that Welch
Tas not the cockswain's real name and
e ,'<sa3hat he had story to tell which would
Aake fine sensation for any Of the
newspaper correspondents lowering
bout the squadron on the swift little
|Pwboats could any one guess what it
sSas. But Welch. by his quiet atten-
Jon to duty, his reticence. and gentle
panty manners, had hitherto remained
8 mystery, which bothered the curious
pes among the jackies not little.
Fithal, he seemed to be good seaman
I'D &c ha7o the cunIusuce OF n;s sure-
3crs, who. If they knew his secret, had
1spt it well to themselves.
4 Pass the word for Welch, the cock
vain Of the third cutterl' piped the
sPatswain's mate. clay after to the
parter deckl''
The message was taken up and re-
Ieated by the boatswain's mates in the
8terent parts Of the ship. and the
Pckswain, rolling down his duck trou-
3rs and setting his watch cap equarely
Eff the top Of his head. hurried of in
sponse to the call.
@ teaching the quarter deck, Welch
pod at attention, forward Of the steer
|5e hatch, until his soldierly figure
the eye Of the first lieutenant,
IS % was pacing nervously up and down
weather side.
"Welchi" the executive officer spoke
Earply and stopped suddenly in his
fried walk
The cockswain sprang forward, and.
nging his bare heels together in the
posture Of t.attention, - aaluted
aF superior. s.
We're going to try and cut thss
ole today and shall send in the third
aer. with the launch, to do the wosR.
Will require q cool head to handle
% cutter under fire, and there are
1y chances that she may not come
OK unscathed. This work must be e
Pc and everything will depend on
i way the boats are handled. Lieu
Pant de Koven viii have charge of
@ expedition. and Mr. Karl win 20
Inc cutter. Only volunteers will he u
Zen, and / have sent FOR you to give
Z Ia chance to 60. = '
{ thank you, cir, = said SWelch, with
zone Of self possession. though his
isks flushed. 5Sss ,s:, 8 s
You may go forward and quietly
x out eight men for your boat. Take
~ volunteers and good, cool headed
II When yon have selected your
w. report to Mr.. Kari That will
Il yelch salutsd and harriod forward
'ass as his legs wonld carry him,
ls was a chance he had been waiting.
ik slng. praying FOR, The dangers Of! the
q petition did NOT occur to- him. and if
had he would have worried little
Ius them. He now had an opportuYii-s
\ 20 distinguish himself and perhaps
Nv some people Tint well, he would
think os fhia juat now, but Cock
ain WEIGH did think OF these things
M fhn -