The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-10-20
ONE OF UNCLE SANS FIGHTING MEN.
Chief Master-at-A Arms Josepl1son Relates Some
of His interesting Experiences in the Navy.

In the recruiting party for the United
states navy who have Just closed an office
IN the shaw building, Is CHIEF Master-at.
the shaw building, IL Chief Master~at-
Arms Fred Josephson, whose varied ex-
perlences during eighteen years in the
service Of Uncle sam would make good
sized volume OF highly entertaining read
ing matter.
Enlistlng as a regular seaman In the
year 1884 Mr. losephson has risen to hls
present responsible position by untring
faithfoiness 10 duty, after passing through
series OF thrilling experiences that sound
like romance.
a native OF Sweden, Mr.. Josephson nrst
taw service on the old man-of-war james
town, one OF the early ships OF the United
states navy. Afterwards be was trans
ferred to tho Powhattan. a side-wheeler
which st present would be sadly out Of
date. Since his enlistment Mr. Josephson
has also served on tho Portsmouth. Frank
lin, Vermont, Wabash, Baltimore, Charles
ton, Boston, Constellation, Pensacola, Mo
hcan and the Independence, to which he
at present belonga In addition to this
record he has also been connected with
the training schools at San Francisco and
Newport.
During the years lpent IN the fascinating
life Of a sailor Mr. Josephson has become
familiar with every country on the globe.
Having had 40 many varied experiences It
is easy TO suppose that the gentleman Is
most Interesting talker When called on
by Post representative he kindly related
some OF the adventures Of very active
life.
THH OLD NAVY.
when I entered the navy" said Mr..
Josephson, "the United States was Tar be-
bind the other world powers In naval
equipment. Tho few ships in commission
were small, old-fashioned and poorly armed,
most OF them still depended on sails. But
those wero the good old days for sailors.
At that time the ordinary seaman was de-
pended upon much more than at present.
Then most of the lighting was hsnd-to-
hand and tho sailor was very important
person. When the graphing irons were
thrown across the decks and the two
drifting. battle-scarred vessels were hrln-
~ dashed together, then It was that the
brawny seaman, with his Cutlass aud PTS
tol, played a brilliant part 10 the light
and won glory for his commander.
But now things are different The com
mon sailor, with his ability TO wleid
marlin spike aud tie a fancy knot IS
thing Of the past, The modern sailor must
be a skilled mechanic, engineer, or cleo
trlcisn. The duties he is expected TO per
form require q long course of training
Nowadays the man behind the gun Is
everything, and to hold this position lie
must be highly trained
Everything aboard q modern battleship
Is worked by electricity The old time
Jolly tur has developed into o trained man
at science. Instead Of boarding the enemy
with an exultant shout the modern battle
ships stand on mile or more from each
other, the gunner coolly makes the cacua
lions. aims his huge complicated engine Of
destruction. and the missile goes speeding
with the rapidity Of thought unerringly to
In 1857 the new ships, Boston, Dolphin
nud Atlanta, were put Into commission.
These marked the beginning OF the rapid
development which the navy mas under
gone w recent years AZ presen, we rank
third among the nations of the world, and
every year Is marked 10y great improve
ments In all branches Of the service The
number OF new vessels Is being increased
rapidly"
in reply TO query Tor something more
personal, MIR Josephson said reminiscently
les, nave had 9 good many adventures
while knocking about the world. some
tragic some humorous.
THE AFFAIR WITH CHILE.
"Tbe AFFAIR With ChlleY Yes, was In
MI Of TINT. while on the Baltimore We
were barricaded two weeks On the Ameri
stirring up al kinds Of trouble around MS.
hut the most interesting experience | had
dnrins the Chilean disturbance was on the
rebel batteshlp ltntn. We had been
chasing her for some time about the Pa
clio, aud finally she surrendered to the
Baltimore. We boarded her aud were ia
formed that the crew, seventeen IN mum
Der were all below decks I'm the hold
~ was decided to man the capture Will
prize. crew from the Charleston and III,
latter ship was 10 escort her into an Ameh
can port As matter Of precuution IL wa.
thought best to count the crew VINO wer,
confined beneath the deck. The ioh wai
Entrusted to me. Taking a pistol IN on,
hand and lighted lantern In the other
| slowly descended the ladder into til,
dark regions below. The men were all linet
up and ! went to work, expecting To nnlsl
my count In Q very short time. But whel
] threw the light Of my lantern around
round that there were three times as man,
as had expected TO and You may imag
Inc that ! did not feel very comfortabt,
Just then. However. | went amend viii
the counting and the total amounted t,
sixty Instead OF seventeen. No doubt th,
fnscals had planned TO remain below unit
the crew from the Charleston was nut h
charge OF the ltata aud then they woul,
overpower the American sailors by force o
numbers ! tell you, we bundled them GU
Yes, | have been in some pretty st,e
gacs, hut We pulled through ali right
iHnelnDFf one particularly, both on account
of It's fury and tho fragile death that 4
Drought to a comrade of mine.
IN A TYPHOON
~ was on the Baltimore at that time
We bad Just cleared from Yokohama whe,
terrific typhoon struck Ms. For forty
eight hours the storm ragged with the great
est fury. At the height OF the storm on,
Of the ships small boats got loose from th,
davlts and was in danger OF being washet
overheard. My friend lessen and wer,
ordered TO make the ifeboat fast. III,
waves were rolling mountain high aud r.,
deck was exceedingly dangerous 49,. Y, "
we're making our way 60 the Ss,{ris AZ
something cracked up about ,lfne tarocnsti,
lessen, who was a fqSSriess Dane saiS
an going 70 see gsnats The matter nj
thtre, expcst gla'ted With him and berpe
MN 70 stny NTH me, as he would rnIl
1c.lIiui ilsk'1f he carried our his foolish in
tthuyDF All seamen had been warned no
S3ty "a about tic forecaatlc iurlng n heay
l>SiDrm. as they were almost sure 20 h
Nnslicd overheard. NV ,ntrenties were 4
vain He was determined to 90. He I'M
hardly gotten out Of sight when a tn
mcndous wave washed over us and l hear
ery
'erhe next moment. as the ship carcene
far over from the shock. | SAW the forr
OF poor Jessen high above Inc on the ores
OF gigantic wave
@Wher the vessel hepled over again h
pnsscd only a few feet from the rail