The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-12
TONGuE-LASHED THE TURK.
Admiral Kirkland's Interview With an
Oriental Official.

Oriental Official.
when the Armenian troubles We're
at their height, a bit short of two years
ago" said a naval paymaster, my ship,
the San Francisco, flagship of the Med
iterranean squadron, carrying Admiral
kirkland's bit of bunting, dropped her
mudhook in the harbor of the most i'm
portant seaport town in one of the main
provinces of Turkey, Asia. The idea in
anchoring there was not alone to kill
time, but to give the engineers chance
for some overhauling required by the
machinery. After the ship had been
swinging to her anchor for an hour or
so a gayly caparisoned' shoreboat
came off from the beach bearing a mes
senger from the vail, or Turkish COVER
nor, of the province. He was III full
Turkish uniform, this messenger, and
he jabbered at the gangway for some
time before the officer of the deck
thought of sending for Lieutenant
Ward the champion linguist of the
American navy. who was then attached
to the San Francisco.
Ward is really sharp when it
comes to the languages, and he has
won wide renown al it. What Ward
doesn't know about any old language,
living or dead and buried, from ancient
Carthaginian down to the coon French
of Louisiana, isn't worth knowing. So
the officer of the deck sent for Ward to
see if he could pick any talk out of this
violently gesticulating duck in the bag
gy gilt pants at the gangway. 1t was
easy, easy for Ward, talking Arabic
was, and in no time he had the Wallis
messenger reduced to smiles with his
Turkish jokes. The messengers mes
sage was the simplest thing in life. He
simply bore the respects of the vail
who would be pleased to come off to the
San Francisco himself the following
day, with the gracious admirafs invita-
ton. etc, etc. All of this was carried
aft to Admiral Kirkland, of course, and,
also, of course, the bluff old gentleman
replied that he'd be delighted to re-
ceive his valiship aboard the San Fran
cisco on the following afternoon.
We'll. the vali gorgeous as the east
ern star in his clothes and jewels, came
off to the San Francisco, attended by
his encourage, whatever that means, on
the following afternoon. The vail was
a good looking Turk, with shrewd eye
in his head, and he was the incarna-
ton, quintescence and tintype of cour-
tesy and grace. He spoke only in Turk
ish, and, of course, Lieutenant Ward
had to be summoned to interpret his
talk to the admiral. At the gangway
the Vali expressed his appreciation of
the nobility of Admiral Kirkland as ex-
hibited by his gracious invitation, and
got off lot of other tafTy like that
which Lieutenant Ward faithfully
translated, Then the vail was conduct
ed aft to the admirals cabin, where
with the assistance of the dragoman
Ward, the bluff old sea dog and the
Turkish governor settled down for a
talk
Now, l ought to say that Admiral
Kirkland didn't have a bit of use in the
world for a Turk. and he was also pref
ty sore at this time over the Armenian
massacres. He would like to have had
permission from his government to
walk into the harbor of Constantinople
and to blow that town out of the water.
and, what's more, he often said so right
out loud, so shat ne could be heard
So that he didn't feel particularly hon
ored over the visit of this vail man, big
gun as the latter was in the eyes of
the sultan The vail, Admiral Kirkland
and Lieutenant Ward, the interpreter.
sat down at one of the admirals ia
bles for a talk.
Ward, said Admiral Kirkland to
his interpreter, you can tell that beady
eyed devil, that looks as if he's cot
murder i'll his heart. across the table,
that II / had my way about it I'd keel
maui every blithering mothers son of a
Turk that wears hair: you tell him
that. Ward and the admiral looked as
| graciously as you please at the pleased
| looking vail
| The august admiral translated
| ward to the bowling vail. 'commends
| me TO tender your eXcelency his re-
hFWea assurances OF his most devoted
and sollcitous consideration
| fhen the vail bowed his thanks
| gracefully.
| DID you tell the curmudgeon that,
| ward? inquired the bluff old admiral
All right. Now you Just tell him that
| II these outrageous massacres continue