The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-08-16
A Salute Wasted.

Inc naS-Snlp sMOnOQSdnela Was an
chored off the navy-yard at Pensacola
Bay in 1856, and Admiral Farragut,
who was then in command was on
board. He had been very busy the
week before paying official calls on the
mainland, and among those who had
entertained him was General Candy.
When, therefore, word was received
that the general would visit the ship,
the next day, the admiral was deter
mined to have everything ready to re-
ceive him in a style becoming his
rank. The old boat was scrubbed and
holystoned from stem to stern, the
bright work was given an extra rub.
and things generally were put into the
best of order. Captain Haywood, now
brigadier-general commandant of the
marine corps, had special inspection
of his company of marines, and not a
spot of rust or a dull helmet spike
escaped his notice. When night closed
in, darkness settled down over very
clean ship and a very tired ships
company. Bright and early the next
morning the admiral's launch was
sent off to bring the general aboard
At the last moment it was discovered
that there was no fruit for luncheon,
and Pompey, the admiral's cook, was
pey was a character in his way, and
had been with the admiral for many
years. He was very proud of what he
called his military bearing, and wore
his beard carefully trimmed to point.
His hair and beard were nearly white,
and although he was sixty years old,
he ruled the other negroes with rod
of iron. By ten o'clock every one was
standing by in full dress, when the
quartermaster came aft and reported
that the admirals launch was return
ing. The officers of the deck walked
to the rail and took squirt at the
boat through his glasses. A man clad
in a blue uniform was seated in the
admiral's cane chair in the stern. but
as the gunwale struck him just below
the shoulder and the awning hid his
head, the officer Of the deck was not
certain that it was General Candy
until, as the wind lifted the edge OF
the awning, he caught glimpse of a
gray beard. Word was passed that the
general was coming off. The crew
were beat to quarters, the marine
guard paraded, and the gun squad, de-
tailed to fire the salute, took their
stations. Everything was in readiness.
and the admiral and his staff stood
at the head of the gangway to receive
the guest. A hush of expectancy set
tied over the ship. The boat drew
nearer. Just as the launch scraped
alongside, boom! boom!! came the sa-
lutte from the guns Present arms!,,
came the command to the guard and
at a sign from the flag officer the band
struck up Hail to the Chief Amid
all this military pomp and splendor
the occupant of the launch was slowly
clambering out, feet foremost, and Just
as the last gun was fired he stood
erect at the top of the gangway. Merci-t
full heavens! 1t was Pompey, with
a bag of fruit in each hand! Confu-
SlOls' iS AULOIS lILSIuGu lOF gen.
eral had been rendered negro cook!
AS the situation daMned on lie men,
even discipline could not check a gen
eral shout of laughter. The old adj
miral himself laughed until he could
laugh no more. 1t seemed that in some
way the dingy had gone off and left
the old negro, and that he had man
aged to convince the coxswain that
'Marse Farragut was jes bound to
have dat fruit befo' the general came"
Pompey wanted to land at the port
sangway, but the coxswain Insisted
that the .admiral's launch never went
to the pcrtside, and that the old man
would have to land on the starboard
side. aft. Had the awning been a r.
tie higher, the mistake in Identified
ton would NOT have occurred. AS
were, nd one could be blamed