The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-16
GLIMPSES OF ADMIRAL PHILIP
STORIES or TINE MAN " mo BROKE
THE TEXASS HOODOO.


When the battleship Texas was lying in
Hampton Roads just before the outbreak
Of the war with Spain, there was squadron
order against giving shore liberty to any
of the men. There was one man especially
in the crew upon whom the order bore
hard.
He was first -class machinist who had
been on cruise for more than two years
and had had no opportunity to visit his
home in that time. Now as the ship lay
at her anchor the machinist could see
rising above the tree tops in the village
Of Phoebus, just back of the big hotels at
Old Point Comfort, the roof Of his own
house, where his wife and children were.
The late Admiral John W. Philip, who
was then Captain, was in command of
the Texas One morning US he was walk
ing about the deck he went forward and
there standing by the small line rugged
up in place of the rail which had been
taken down in stripping the ship for war
service, he saw the machinist The man
was looking wistfully over toward Phoebus,
and something in his expression went
straight to the heart of the Captain, who
knew the man and his record well, and was
also aware that the man lived in Phoebus.
II was the custom among the ships of
the squadron then to send a boat ashore
every afternoon Mt o'clock with the mail
orderly and the stewards to purchase sup
plies. The Captain stepped up to the
machinist and said:
West l want you to go ashore for me
this afternoon in the 1 O'Clock boat"
The man turned as the Captain spoke to
him and saluted
AYE, aye, sir" he-replied.
Capt, Philip went on looking about the
ship and the incident passed out of his
mind. At 1 o'clock he was sitting in his
cabin having his tiffin, when messenger
came down from the watch on deck and
said:
-Machinst West has reported at the
gangway, sir, and says he has inst ructions
from you to go ashore on duty. but doesn't
know what the duty is
Send Machinst West down here" or
dered the Captain.
the doorway Of the cabin with his cap in
his hand. The Captain looked up at him
and sang out In the grur tone known in
the service as the parade rasp":
West, DO you know where the village
of PhGbus is?'
Yes, sir" replied the astonished ma
chinist. unable to conjecture what was
coming.
well. want you to go ashore in this
boat and go over to Phoehus, and want you
to stay there until tomorrow morning
at o'clock and keep sharp lookout to
see II you can make out the general recall
on the Texcs."
AYE aye. sir, responded West, with an
enthusiasm which comported not at all
with the seriousness Of his expression.
And ashore the machinist went, and had
a night at his home and got back to the
ship by the first boat in the morning. and
served all the better during the fighting
that followed because Of his Captain's
kindness.
That was the sort Of man Philip was.
and that incident was one of the thinCs
the luck of the Texas. which had been
known far and wide as the hoodoo of the
navy.
The unucky hattleship was at the very
top of her reputation as a hoocloo when
Capt. Philip was assigned to command
her. At the same time Philips good friend
Capt. KiSginson was ordered to the
Massachusetts.
Both ships were lying in the Brooklyn
yard, receiving their final touches before
being sent to sea. Capts. Philip and Higgin-
son were talking about their two commands
one day, and Philip said
Look here, Frank. I've never seen a ship
go under the Brooklyn Bridge. I've al
ways been on the ship and seen the bridge
from the under side Now when you go to
sea wish you would send me word 80 that
can get up on the Bridge and see you go
under"
Capt Higginson promised, and not long
afterward was ready to go. He sent word
Ill 4 al, r,,. l.,
Of the Texas went out on tho. big Bridge
and took a good position where he could
see the Massachusetts swing out from the
yard and down under him.
Presently the Massachusetts, came along
She attracted considerable attention from
the foot passengers on the bridge. Severa
persons stopped 10 watch the big battleship
and two of them were so near Capt. Philip
that he could not help overhearing their
conversation. They were roughly dressed
men who looked AS If they might have been
laborers in the ward.
As the Massachusetts came along one
said to the other:
Hey, look at that warship! What is
she?"
Huh" replied the other, as he took a
look at her. That 3 the Texas"
"No!" exclaimed the first. as that the
damned old Texas? Well, YOU better take
You'll never see her again."
Capt. Philip enjoyed telling a story i'm
mensely, especially if ii was on himself,
and best of all If it was this one about the
Texas.
Another story that he told with great
relish was of an experience he had when he
was stationed at the Crampss shipyard in
Philadelphia as inspector OF the cruiser
New York, which was then building there.
One day when work was stopped for the
noon hour he was poking around in his
dungarees seeing what he could find. The
ship was far advanced toward completion,
and had many visitors.
While Philip was looking around, a tall.
soldierly looking man came aboard with a
party Of ladies' and began showing them
about the ship with as much authority as
if he were the designer and builder. Capt.
Philip evidently appeared to them to be
one of the workmen employed on the ship,
and they paid no attention to him.
The soldierly man stopped beside a. couple
Of ventiators, which were lying on deck
ready TO he put in place, and. touching one
of them with his little cane, remarked
with an air of profound wisdom
These are the smoke pipes
Capt, Philip cooked up his ears a little
at that, for it was surprising information.
But the military man soon distanced that
He approached the hammock MEETINGS and
putting out his gloved hand. said.
This Ia the place where the heavy armor
is put on. This is to he one of the armored
fighting ships you know"
That was too much for Capt. Philip, and