Evening star., 1903-08-15

globe. The incident took place outside New
York harbor. but first heard of Il from a
creek sailor on the veranda Of a japanese
tea house In Nagasaki.
When war was declared the crews of the
American warships of the Atlantic squad
ron were at once swelled by the addition of
numerous naval militiamen-amateur sail
ors whose seagoing experiences have been
confined to anchored training ships and
sailboats. Jack has an unspeakabe con-
tempt for these fresh water sailors. and
this makes itself obvious in the stories of
the militiamen's clumsness aboard ship.
One small gunboat had seventeen of them
assigned to 1t, much to the disgust of the
regular crew. One night this boat. having
been out cruising. ran into a fleet of torpedo
boats. One of the mlitiamen was on look
out. and as the various lights appeared he
reported them.
first '
IAN right" answered the executive officer
from the bridge
Another light appeared.
Some more lights on the port bow" cried
the greenhorn becoming somewhat bewil-
dered and uneasy
All right" came the officers cool an
swer.
The lookout stamped nervously up and
down until suddenly he caught sight of tho
red and green sidelights of steamer This
aft.
"Cap'n," he shouted breathlessly. dashing
up the steps to the bridge, turn around az
quick as you can! There's whole blamed
town ahead. and If you don't lookout you'll
run right into drug storer'
The blunders of greenhorns supply rich
material for humorous anecdotes. Another
story is told of the naval reserveman who
came to the wheel while one of the QUAR-
termasters was regulating a big azimuth
compass.
Mister" said the greenhorn. "vour
clocks three hours slow. Yours is half
past H. while the right times three thirty"
The Spaniard Who Tried English.
There is story much circulated among
sailors of the Latin nations which usually
falls fiat on Anglo-Saxons whose ignorance
of French, Spanish or Italian stands in
strong contrast to the knowledge of English
so general among the I.atns
The captain of a Spanish ship had lost his
reckoning on account of several days OF
misty weather and storm. To correct this
position the captain determined to speak
the first vessel he met. This opportunity he
had few days later when strange bark
bore down on him. AS she drew near the
stranger showed British colors
Now the bos'n of the Spanish ship had
often boasted a knowledge of English. SO
the captain summoned him at once to in
terpret. The bosn stationed himself beside
the captain on the poop with speaking
trumpet ready for use. The British vessel
came within hailing distance.
Now. said the Spanish skipper, ask
what latitude we're in"
The truth was, the bos'n's real knowledge
of English was confined to few vulgar
swear words. but he determined to bluff his
way out of his dilemma
Placing the megaphone to his lips he
bawled out hoarsely:
"Ho! bow -wow-wow wahi
or course the British skipper failed TO
catch his meaning and he roared back:
"What?"
What does he answer. bos'n?" asked the
Spanish skipper. anxiously, standing ready
with pencil and pad.
''Cuatro four), captain" said the bos'n.
He says 'cuatro.'"
Good said the Spanish skipper de-
lghtedly. Now ask him his longitude"
Again the bos'n bawled forth:
Hey! wow-wow- ow-wow-wow-wahi'
What ye say?' replied the Britisher.
Treinta-Seis (thirty-six), captain inter
preted the bos'n, beaming with the import
ance of linguistic accomplishment.
"Wonderful!' exclaimed the Spanish cap
tain. How much English is like SPAN
ishi'
The Georgian and the Jap.
Another story of similar nature but pc
culiarly American, is told of a Yankee tar
aboard a man-o'-war in Japan. The ship
had anchored in Nagasaki. and a native
known. the Jpanese are the most courteous
people in the world, so. according to Gus
tom the sampan man, when met at the
gangplank by a long. loose -jointed boy.
bowed low and greeted him with the uni
verSal Salutation:
Ohio" Good morning)
Nav" replied the sailor "ah'm from