The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-29

Royal, South Carolina, and brought US
safely back TO Newport.
/ During this cruise the midShipmen were
stationed as a crew for the vessel, ana
| did all the work of the different ratings
! When off Hatteras on our way North our
efficiency was thoroughly tested. AT
about ten o'clock the ship was struck by
a sudden heavy squall, accompanied by
rain and hail. ALI hands were called TO
| reef topsails. the watch on deck having
successfully handled the light sails. We
were close enough to the Diamond Shoai
| to make haste a matter of Importance
| and the officers hustled us up without
much ceremony. The topsails were quick
| w reefed and l had just secured the lee
| caring on the maintopsal yard when
| heard the order, Hoist away the top
| sailr' I was straddling the yard at the
time, and just about to swing to the foot
rope and lay down from aloft; but l
changed my mind very suddenly, and in
stead Rugged that topsail-yard until 1
am sure you could have found the marks
of my arms on the paint. 1t was as
black as a pocket, raining in torrents.
and as the yards were braced UP the top
sails filled and the ship made. a butt at
a heavy sea. 1 thought my time had
come. / reached the deck, however, in
safety, only to be properly dressed down
by the officer of the deck for being slow
in laying down from aloft! We We're
back at Newport again in September,
better for our work, and ready to enjoy
the short leave then given u.s.
My family had all gone South, and 1T
was a question what l should do with
myself; but as my uncle's house in
Washington was in charge of house
keeper, 1 concluded to spend my time
there, which l did very pleasantly. The
good woman who had charge of the
house called me one night to inform me
that there was a burglar in the cellar,
and wouldn't 1 put him out? I was not
anxious for the job, but my position as
an officer forbade my declining; so with
a small revolver in one hand and light
ed candle in the other, 1 sought the bur
glar in the coal cellar. 1 had hardly en-
tered the passageway leading past the
door of the room in which he was hidden
when a large chunk of coal whizzed past
my head, and very close to it. / dropped
the candle, which fortunately went out,
putting us on more even terms and after
ten minutes 1 turned my man over to the
police with a bullet through his thigh.
I learned that night not to hunt burglars
with lighted candle; experience some
times teaches things in a very forcible
way.
During this leave / had rather curl
Gus meeting with my brother, whose
command was operating on the Virginia
side of the Potomac, a few miles away.
/ went one evening to an oyster house
with a friend to eat some raw oysters
The place was one that all of US had
known and frequented for years. AS |
entered the door 1 observed tall, hand
some young fellow who was finishing
what he had ordered, and at the same
7 civ ;1t-
glance of recognition. He drank up his
glass Of beer and then walked briskIy out
of the place, while | called for oysters on !
the half shell, and ate them very slowly |
My brother knew what / would do, and
he did not hesitate the least bit in his !
but I had some very serious |
to do while the man opened |
oysters for me, and I must admit that | |
ate more oysters than l wanted and ate !
them very slowly.
l could have gone to the exact spot !
where my brothers skiff was hauled out.
and was giving him all the time ! could
10 get there ahead Of the provost guard |
FINALLY, my friend asked me if l were |
going to eat all night, when l paid my |
snot and We went out together. 1 asked |
Il he had recognized my man. he replied /
that he had not and then asked me In |
my turn what / was going to do about it. |
De4CIe Nd0 Tune TO reply squad of |
the provost guard came by, and to the |
officer in charge / reported that there /
was rebel officer in the city-that / had |
seen him and recognized him, and knew
him as such. At first he seemed disposed |
to arrest me, but at last concluded to go |
after the real offender. After the war
my brother told me that he just managed |
to escape, and that he had concealed his |
boat at the spot where l imagined it was.
AS result of this incident l was twice /
arrested on suspicion of holding inter |
course with the enemy. The las time I !
told the officer confidentially who the
man was had reported. and after that /
was not annoyed.
october, 1862 found US all back at New !
port. and once more settled down m /
hard work and study. The demand for /
oIlcers was so great that the class was
divided into two sections. and the in
structions arranged 50 that the first sec
ton could be graduated in the follow
ing June 1t was not my good fortune
10 be one of this first section: but I lost
hothing by this. as we shall see later.
Ihere was in this section, however ma
OF whom We were all very fond-the
young Frenchnan, Pierre d'OrIeans. Duc
De Penthievre, who preferred 70 n oo,,t. ;