The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-12-11
Secretary Morton's
Nautical RneCdote
~ AUL MORTON. Secretary Of the
- United States Navy, told a good
story about q Jack Tar who was
called as 2 witness IN connect

story ABOUT & JACK AZ VINO was
called as p witness in connection
with criminal trial recently.
THE case concerned a burglary in
ieweiry store. said MI Morton. The
sailor i am about 10 speak OF. however
was in no way implicated. Most sea-
men. an you know. have an inveterate
tendency 90 describe everything Ia the
language Of the sea. In the case have
just mentioned this popularity was
amusingly illustrated. On Jack entering
the witness box and being sworn. the
conversation, as near as l can remember
II. went something like this:
Now Mr.. Rowley as was Jacks
real name. said the lawyer for the prose
eution, you viii please tell the court
just what you know concerning the pris-
oner at the bar
Well, said Jack, 'ye see. twas like
this. i was steering along in the lee OF
the postofice. just baclin' an film SOS
10 let friend as 1 was expectin' range
up alongside, when sud lenly that fellow
opened out his harbor lights an came
bowling along like the Mayfower In
1T. when he gets under my lee he
damned his helm hard down an stood
away on the port tack until he about
AHnAFA AAAE NAEAAAEeAA men ne UHA MS
wheel up an bore away, before a good
ten knot
My dear man. said the lawyer,
this Jargon is utterly uninteliigible to
the court You must be more explicit.
Was not the night on which you saw
The prisoner a particularly stormy one2'
oh. well. replied Jack, you could
have carried your tOpsails easily
e.
would hardly have been safe 10 set
your to'galiants without a double reef
in each OF them. You might have car
ried the spanker with one reef, but she
would have steered better II you had
put on couple
% This Is not answering my question.
cried the lawyer. You are tFiaing with
the court, sir. Now. please pay atten-
tion. and reply 10 me In an Ineligible
manner. About what time was Il on the
night on which you saw the prisoner7'
% i should say Il was about three bells
IN the second dog watch
You are insulting the court sirl'
cried the lawyer. angrily. i must ask
his honor 10 warn this witness against
any further triting with this court.
The judge, turning 10 Jack. said,
Hteraly; You must cease your profess
slonal JargOn. my man. IL Is wholly in
comprehensive. Give your evidence ia a
plain, STRAIGHTFORWARD manner
Wholly incOmprehensiblef eNclaim-
Cd Jack, n amazement. Why. you cal
yourselves scholars, an you don't un-
delstand plain English. How the dick
ems do you want me 70 sDeak2
1t Is only a waste OF time dealing
with this AN. You can stand down.
- j can ghatI' asked Jack
stand down. SIR cried the lawyer
- flgEu sea twenty wears an new
eT heard such an order all the time
What yer gett!n at? queried Jack.
"fhink he means you 70 trip yOul
anchor and give him wide berth, Jack.
cried a brother Jack IN court.
We'll. why didn't he say SOP NUT
tered the sailor. as he was stepping
down from the dock. 'Darned II ! evei
seen such q bunch OF lUbbers! They
don't know as much as the galley boy
And yet they say Dir. Morton Is not
q sailOrmau.