Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-10-16

several years ago quiet young
chap shipped as = machinist in the
navy aboard the receiving ship Yer
mont at the Brooklyn navy yard. He
gave San Francisco as his place of
nativity. He was assigned to a cruiser
about to start for the China station by
the Suez canal route. He was 4 crack
mechanic and very soon showed the
engineers that he knew how to earn
his rate and wages. He never said
much about himself. He wasn't any
thing of what is called a 'man-o'-war
chaw," and, although he had been
up and down the world a good deal,
he let others do the talking. He was
perhaps the quietest man in the Amer
lean navy at the time he served
His ship got to the Asiatic station
all right and cruised back and forth
there between China and Japan for
close on to three years. Then she was
ordered back to the United States.
She had 4 lot of overtime" men
aboard OF her by that time, sailors
whose time had expired, but who pre-
ferred to wait until they reached the
United States before they took their
discharges. When the ship was or
dered back home, n lot of overtime
men from other ships on the Asiatic
station We're sent to her to be brought
back to this country
This machinist-call him Beall-had
just - days left of his three year en-
Iistment when the ship left Yokohama
for San Francisco via the Hawaiian
Islands. All Of the overtime men
were talking about their trip around
from San Francisco TO New York by
passenger steamer. They had all ship
ped at the Brooklyn navy yard, and
the navy always sends men to the
point whence it takes them when they
enlist unless they waive transporta-
ton for the purpose Of stopping Off
at an intermediary point.
1t took the ship II days to fetch up
Honolulu from Yokohama. and then
BeaIl. the machinist, had five days yet
to serve.
Are you going to waive transporta-
ton ard drop off at San Francisco, or
are you going around TO New York
with u.s." the men asked him when the
ship pulled into Honolulu.
Don't know yet" the machinist re-
Piled.
Afrr coaling at HonOlulu-which
took four days, done leisurely-the
skipper OF the ship decided to take 4
bit OF n run around the Hawaiian Is
lands before up anchoring for San
Francisco. BcalTS time expired on the
morning that his ship was headed for
Lahaina. on the island of Maui, 4 lit
tie sail Of about 50 miles from Homo
lulu. The ship dropped Ter anchor
within about goo yards of the Lahaina
beach along toward 3 o'clock in the
afternoon.
The island OF Maui is very beautiful
20 look upon-a veritable gem of the
ocean. II such 4 one was ever fashion
ed by the hand of the creator. Beall,
the machinist, was off watch and
standing on the to'gallant fo'c'sle.
smoking his pipe. when the ship cast
her anchor off Lahaina. There was
some longing in his quiet gray eyes.
He knocked the ashes out of his pipe,
stretched his arms and then walked
down to the mainmast and told the Of
ficcr of the deck that he wanted to see
the commanding officer The command
ing officer came out of his cabin.
What is it, my MANI he asked the
machinist.
My time is out, sir" said the ma
chinist. Il guess I'll take my dis
charge here"
The commanding officer looked sur
priscd.
This is rather queer notion" he
said You shipped in New York, did
you not? l should think you would
want TO get back to the United States
81,
station. Or at any rate. that you
would prefer to wait until we get back
to Honolulu, if you want to waive
transportation and take your discharge
down here among the islands. Why do
you want your discharge today and
here?"
The machinist smiled as he replied:
Because this island here, Maui. is
my home. At this moment my father
and mother and seven brothers and
sisters are on this island. They are at
n place not very far from Lahaina, cali
ed Spreckelsville. The girl that 1 am
going to marry is also there. l was
born in Frisco, but my father came
down to this island as engineer OF 4
sugar plantation when l was = years
old. None of them know that 1 am
within just n few miles OF home now.
1 want TO give them 4 little surprise.
1 waive transportation, and I'll take
my discharge now
The commanding officer listened to
the recital with interest.
"Of course We'll give you your dis
charge. son." he said. although I'm
sorry to lose you, and had hoped you
might ship over. Close mouthed men
are wanted in the navy. You owe US
some thanks. | think. for starting you
of at New York. taking you around
the world for three years and then
fetching you up within an hour or so
of your home on the very day your
time is out. To all intents and pur-
poses. we have been 4 yacht for YOU"
II was rather n remarkable happen