Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-09-03

ueu LII JcIOl w imam N'N
recent trip to Norway he surprised and
pleased his old Norwegian rilot, Nord-
huus, very much by talking to him in
his native language. Two years ago,
at the beginning of Nordhuus's expe-
rience as pilot on the Hohenzollern,
he expected, as the result of his first
trip, to be summarilY dismissed from
the Kaiser's service. Instead, he was
made life-pilot to the Emperor at a
salary of $500 marks year, and since
has received many tokens of favor.
The entrance to the Norwegian har-
bors is extremely narrow and tortur-
GUS. The whole peninsula is surround
ed by islands and peaks Of rocks jut-
ting out Of the water, and the chan
nels often run go close to them that,
standing on the deck Of ship, it seems
that you could almost touch them by
reaching out your hand. The Nor
wegian pilots know these channels so
we'll that they can run through them
at high speed. Indeed, they become
so expert that in foggy weather they
control the ship by the revolutions of
the screw. The indicator on the
bridge tells them how fast the engines
are going, and by counting the revo-
lutions they know when to put the
wheel over. Round invisible cliffs
and pointed rocks the pilots whlrl the
ships without tremor, when the va
ration of a hairs breadth would al
most tear the bottom out Of the vessel
and sink her with all she carried.
The entrance of the harbor of Odda
is especially dangerous, and Nord-
huus, on his first trip on the yacht,
was carrying the Hohenzollern in at
half speed, when the Emperor came
on the bridge in one of his fits of i'm
patience and ordered everybody be-
low, declaring that they did not know
how to handle a ship, they were set
of towards for running go slowly, and
he was going to take charge of the
vessel himseli. The German officers
promptly obeyed, though they expect
ed in few minutes to be struggling
in the sea, but Nordhuus stood stolid-
Iy at his post, ceaselessly shifting the
wheel.
He is man of medium height, with
the fair hair of the Norwegian type,
wearing yellow beard, and having
the bold, strong features of his Viking
ancestors. The Emperor strode across
the bridge and rang the bell for full
speed ahead, at the same time putting
out his other hand to take the wheel.
Nordhuus placed himself in the way,
and, leaning over the wheel, called
down the tube to the engine room,
"Half speed Never mind the bell =
"You countermanded my orders
cried the Emperor, giving the bell an
other jerk.
Disregard the bell" called Nord-
huus through the tube, unmoved.
The Emperor glared at the pilot
moment, and then, drawing himselfuP
stifIy, said, majestically go below
and report yourself under arrest. "
Leave the bridgel" responded
Nordhuus, grimly, graspiDg the wheel
more firmly. "Ihls ship ls IN my
charge, and I'll have no interference
with my orders from king or seaman
The officers on the deck hurried ST.
lently aft, wishing well to the pilot.
Nordhuus stood at his post, unshaken
by threats, unheeding commands, and
carried the royal yacht safely into the
harbor.
TIE next day the Emperor deco
rated the sturdy pilot with Que of the
lower grades of the Black Eagle, and
made him life pilot for Norwegian
waters.