The Washington times., 1904-07-31
OLD NAVY STORIES
LINGER IN MEMORY
WardrOOm Messes Like to
Revive Loved FaVOriteS.
Stories of mad Jack Percival and Of
the Franks He
Played

and steampoweIed, and why wardroOm
messes have the same familiar atmos-
phere now as in the past. The fact
that stories have been in print makes no
difference at sea.
The story of the Irish ieadsman is
purely naval in its origin. declared an
old navigator. in discussing sailor
yarns. They sent Mike into the chains
one day TO heave the lead for practice
during the easy sailing between two
pieces OF The journey that required an
experienced ieaGsman. The rhvtbrnic
rise ana fail of the trained leadsman' 5
cry continued but instead of .'five and
hair "A quarter less six the officer
OF the deck heard ''AwoW> WOW de- wow
Awow WOW de wow He could NOT
make entry of these.
Forgotten the Words.
Here. what are you saving there? p"
shouted the officer sure, sir" saws
alike L know the tune, sir, but I've
forgot the words entirely
Inc Old yarn Of the jackie who report
&c 10 the officer of the deck that .one
OF them there kings hez fallen down the
Aatcn when an accident had happened
10 member OF a party OF lords and
ladies' visiting a ship in the Mediter-
ranean. is equaled by the new story of
the gunners mate. An illustriOus high
ness OF the fair sex had expressed ad-
lhHatlon OF the spotless condition OF q
Alghiy poilsheo gun An OIncer toId the
man in charge Of the piece that her
lddyshlp had spoken highly OF his house
keeping ARR. did sheT' said Jack
Safcasilca-iy. but she couldn't keep her
blooming fingers eff II, could she2"
The especial point of this anecdote is
appreciated by only visitor who has
run his hand lovingly over the highly
polished breech Of the gun, and has lis
tened 10 the blistering comment of the
enlisted man as be removes the finger
marks.
At sea, as on shore, anecdotes have a
tendency 10 crystalline about some par
t.eular man OF marked character and
1dtOsyncrasies. Such was Capt. John
Percival known as Mad Jack" OF
whom stories. they say at the Navy De-
partment. are legion He was Cape
Colder, sailor every inch, but not
academy bred. he said 10 the officer of
the neck on one occasion. Mr.. SO-and-
so, think WEI have them stuns'is sot."
Inc officer was young and perhaps used
more emphasis than he meant when he
re1oined, Did you say you would like TO
have the studding sails set. Captain Per
cival2 Young man, said the com
mandine officer, Il said Wen have them
Stuns,ls sot."
On one occasion when Percival was Of
ncer OF the deck al night, the cOmman-
der, who was not very fond of him
stole quietly on deck and. not finding
the officer. gave orders TO shorten sail.
determined 10 jump PerciVal when he
made his appearance In apparent neg
lect Of duty. With much impressive
ness the captain gave certain orders for
the reduction Of sail. and was pacing
the quaTterdeck very conDlacently
awaiting Perctyafs appearance At the
neight OF his self-satisfaction PerciVal
poied his sandy head up over the gun
vale Of the quarter boat and shouted:
Haul down the flying jib. The captain
N his haste 10 get after Percival had
forgotten the nrst order IN shortening
sail and was running under reduced can
vas with the first Of the kites" TO come
IN stii standing. The captain turned
and went below without a word and
Percival resumed his comfortable posi-
ton OF watch from the quarter boat.
Unwedded to Precedent.
Such little incidents as that of paint
ing the port and starboard sides of his
ship OF contrasting colors when he was
executive officer enlivened the career
Of this splendid sailor When his SQUAD
ron commander chided him for arriving
at European port some time in ad-
vance OF the flagship. he nonehalantly
offered TO swap ships and beat his Sc
Nor officer back 70 any home port that
might be named
II IS told Of "a gallant officer who has
Snc weakness that beset our army In
idAlerS that he once sailed with a
commander who laid down a strict ruIe
lAat mere should never be any swearing
or t9at ship The lieutenant chokcd.
sA0ok an Expressive fist or relieved his
Ieelln8s rs best he could one dav IN
experimenting the transfer of a chain
c@1ble 10 a float alongside he faf7ed RI
take the Precauton TO make the inboard
era tasl and a length sliding into Tho
water took the whole cable 20 the hot
tom al speed bat little less than that
or chain lightning. The anti-swea gins,
captain came forward rather burried19
70 ASK: Who let that chain go over
board The lieutenant stepped forward
blank blank fool. sin"
Ihank you, lieutenant, / think ron
are right, replied the captain, as he al /
lowed has subordinate 20 retire.
The growing OF sailors Is proverbial !
but the srue salt keeps his compIafnts !
Tor consumption aboard shin. on shore
ana 20 the stranger. his captain md !
oIneeIs and ship are as near perfection F.
IS humanity can be expected 10 make
them. The chief article aboard shin /
which comes in for abuse Is canned
beef, or. as The sailor calls H. bully
o. soup and bully. The story goes 4
that Jack CT a railroad train WAS nc-
costed by ali afIable gentleman And
how do you Ike your ship Zine
ship, sir: best in the navy" Good /
food p Best grub ever. SIR" You
have a kind Of beef, an, roast beef in /
cans, How do you like that2" s'Yor
mean soup and bully. sir That's fine /
Aha said the aGable man. I'm
delighted. delighted. I furnish a great 4
deal OF that 10 the navy.
The narrator Of the story IN n group
OF enlisted men always stops at this
POINT 20 allow the significance OF the sit j
'uiilOn run weight IA the discussion &
which follows rs 20 what could. would. 4
ana should have happened 20 the pur- 4
tfyor Of the meat. the sailors oppor-
tunity for original suggestion comes into 4
play
The standins practical joke on board 4
ship IS the shooting OF Charley Noble ]
The galley stovepiDes goes BY that /
name and when 81 becomes cloggcd /
with SCOT The cook requests permission I
10 get n revolver from the arm chest
and shoot Charley Noble. which means /
10 discharge a revolver up the fiue and !
tor Is fair game on this point There IS I
apparently m attempt to keep the cas- J
losey from him The sailors speak ia q
guarded way OF the terrible accident.
They are going 10 keep II quiet and
away from the books o. the ship II 4
possible. Then the doctor becomes In
sis.enf that he must treat the case
4 messenger perhaps rushes IN with
excitement 90 announce that the cook I
cas- shot Charley Noble. The doctor
'eIzes his instruments. but never gets
'arther than the companion way. For
lOWheTe Is there more consideration !
lay in and day out. OF the feelings of
others than aboard n war vessel and no.
where between n:ea Is there 4 word
which conveys the sentiment OF good
VIII. forlJearance. and mutual helpful
less that goes with that often tender
lamo s'Enfnmate ." So the navy uanple