Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-09-04


ter first heard of it from g. Greek SAIL
or on the veranda Of Japanese tea
house in Nagasaki.
When the war was declared the
crews of the American warships OF the
Atlantic squadron were at once SWELL
ed by the addition Of numerous naval
militiamen-amateur sailors whose sea-
going experiences have been confined
to anchored training ships and SAIL
boats. Jack has an unspeakable con-
tempt for these fresh-water Sailors
and this makes itself obvious In the
stories of the militiamans clumsiness
aboard ship.
One small gunboat had seventeen OF
them assigned to it, much to the dis
gust of the regular crew. One night
this boat, having been out cruising, ran
into a fleet Of torpedo boats. One or
the militiamen was on lookout, and as
the various lights appeared he reported
them:
Light on the port bow, sir" bawled
first.
"All right" answered the executive
officer from the bridge.
Another light appeared.
Some more lights on the port bow
cried the greenhorn, becoming some
what bewildered and uneasy.
"All right" came the officers cool
answer.
The lookout stamped nervously up
and down until suddenly he caught
sight Of the red and green side-lights
of a steamer. This was too much.
DESERVING his post, he fled aft.
"Cap'n," he shouted breathlessly'
dashing up the steps to the BRIDGE
turn around as quick as you can!
There's a whole blamed town ahead,
and if you don't look out you'll run
right into a drug store!"
The blunders of greenhorns supply
rich material for humorous anecdotes.
Another story Is told of the naval mill
tiaman who came to the wheel while
one of the quartermasters was regulat-
ing a big azimuth compass.
Mister" said the greenhorn, your
clocks three hours slow. Yours Is
half past 12, while the right times
$50"
There is a story much circulated
among sailors Of the Latin nations
which usually falls flat on Anglo
Saxons' whose ignorance of French,
@ orc Qtr0nP
contrast to the knowledge Of Eng
lish so general among the Latins.
The captain Of a Spanish ship had
lost his reckoning on account of sew
eral days of misty weather and storm.
To correct his position the captain de-
termined to speak the first vessel he
met.
This opportunity he had a few days
later when a strange bark bore down
on him. AS he drew near, the stranger
showed British colors.
Now the boatswain Of the Spanish
ship had often boasted knowledge of
English, so the captain summoned him
at once to interpret. The boatswain
stationed himself beside the captain,
on the poop, with a 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 boatswain's real
knowledge of English was confined to
few swear words, but he determined
to bluff his way out of his dilemma.
Placing the megaphone to his lips,
he bawled out hoarsely:
How! bow-woww wow-wah!"
OF course the British skipper failed
to catch his meaning and he roared
back:
WHAT"
What does he answer, bos'n?" ask
ed the Spanish skipper, anxiously,
standing ready with pencil and pad.
"Cuatro [four], captain" said the
boatswain. He says 'cuatro.'"
Good" said the Spanish skipper,
delightedly. "Now ask him his lon
gitude."
A6dtil lhC DOolo oiii bo"iSo LA eA'
Hey! wow-wow-wow-Wow -Wah!"
What We say?" replied the Britisher.
"Treinta-seis Thirty sikh, captain"
interpreted the boatswain, beaming
with the importance of lingui~tic ac-
complishment.
WONDERFUL" exclaimed the Spanish
captain. How much English is like
SPANISH"
Another story of a similar nature,
but peculiarly American, is told Of a
Yankee tar aboard a man-of-war in
Japan. The ship had anchored in Ma
gasaki, and a native sampan man
came aboard.
AS is well-known, the Japanese are
the most courteous people in the
world, so, according to custom, the
sampan man when met at the gang
plank by long, loosejointed boy. bow
ed low and greeted him with the uni
versal salution:
"O-hio," Good morning).
Nav" replied the sailor, "Ah'm
from Georgia. Ah'm no damn Buck
eye!"-New York Sun.