The National tribune., 1903-11-19

after the Captain had left the gig, We
heard orders to call all hands and then to
break out kedge anchor and hawser aud
to call away the lanch.
We were ordered to pull the First Lieu-
tenant to the British steamship Seout-a
war vessel. then lying in the barbor and
only a few cables from us. The First
Lieutenant was received with all the hon
ors and ceremonies due our Captain, and
went aboard the Britisher. where he re-
ma ned only about 10 minutes.
AS he came to the ships side to descend
we heard him say in voice that was
very firm and very courteous: "Rest as
sured it will be dOne!"
OF course we had no idea what that
meant, and it did not interest us. We
pulled back to the Ossipee and found the
crew active. She was warped broadside
TO the Scout. and there was every prepara-
ton for action. We were kept busy till
piped down, and afterward the fife and
drum called to quarters. and We wondered
what was coming. We were ordered to
loose" run in,'' load with she'll" run
out" and then, when it was all done,
we stood at attention. We knew nothing
whatever of the cause of all that was do
ing; but we thought: God help the Scout
we can help ourselvesn'
We heard the Scouts Boatswain call
his mates; heard the call up anchor;
then as there was no breeze, their boats
were called away, and strung out to tow
the ship, which hadn't steam up.
Eight bells-12 Oclock-struck, and in
a few minutes we were piped to dinner
and the danger of war between two pow
erful nations was owe, Cor that occasion.
1t was a bad time for war between the
United States and England-we were very
sore toward her then.
What was the cause Of this threat OF
war? Well, we learned long after. Then
the laws of Mexico forbid the export OF
her coins in large amounts; the Paymas-
ter of the Scout had, the day before. been
ashore and purchased-was it $4,000
n large amount in Mexican silver dollars.
which the customs officials had denied
right of export. The British Captain had
served notice that if, by noon of that day.
the Meyicans had not delivered the coin
aboard the Scout he would open fire, and
not cease until the town OF La PaZ was
utterly obliterated.
Now Can't Emmons had sent our First
Lieutenant with official notice to the Cap
tain of the Scout that if he fired one shot
on La Paz the Ossipee would open fire
on the Scout, and not cease until one ship
or the other went down.
Having seen what saw there, should
say that the two countries have never at
any time had narrower escape from
war; for our mutual tempers were some
what testy toward each other in 1867.
The two ships were as nearly equal IN
power and strength for attack and resis-
tance as could well be. We lay within
10 fathOms of her some time afterward
at Honolulu, and l examined her closely.
She WIS there when we arrived and few
of our men We're allowed to go ashore.
where they met few of her men and
there were greetings, by and by differ
ences. taunts threats, defiance, blows, rue
ton, More Englishmen went ashore: more
Yankees went ashore; whipped and bat
tered men began to return to both ships;
and still other men from both would go
ashore By and by Capt. Emmons said.
Lieutenant. / guess you had better LET
all of the men that you can spare go
ashore" and they went, of course. Well.
the police had their hands full, and as
the Yankees were able TO ship and trans
port more rum that the Englishmen, more
of the latter were arrested for being
drunk. The Honolulu Police Judge was
an Irishman, When Yankee tar was
brought up that time he would say: Il in
fer from the uniform that you wear that
you have the honor to be serving in the
United States Navy. 1 am sorry to find
that you were bit tipsy yesterday. I'll
fine you So"
When a man from the Scout was stood
up, the Justice would say: Your uniform
is evidence that you belong to the crew of
Her Royal Majesty's steam sloOp-of-war
Scout. The evidence before me shows that
you have been drunk and very disorderly.
The court fines you S10."-E. e. CHIP
MAN. Avenger, '65-'6: Sabine. '66; Ossipee,
'67-'9; Narraganset '72-'3, Quincy, Ore.