The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-01-13
Last of the Old Sea Dogs.
At 95 Years of Age Admiral Ker
pei Goes Elephant Shooting.

THE other day Admiral the Hon. Sir

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THE other day Admiral the Hon. Sir
Henry Keppel surprised England by
suddenly announcing that London life
was altogether too slow, and that ne was
going out to Borne0 again 10 snoot some
more elephants He packed his steamer
trunks and went there - few weeks ago
Admiral Keppcl - rather over Ninety
five years Of age. but he still feels equal
so shooting elephants in Borneo, SAILING
his own yacht, or doing anything else
for ne is the last of England s tough old
sea-dOgs. and he dates back to the times
OF the wooden walls.
There have been heppelS in the British
navy from the days of Elizabeth. Every
generation OF the family produces a dis
provcrb in India that If there was only
one loaf in the whole OF that vast empire
a Rivett-Carnac would get half OF it..
Similarly. if there was Only one snip III
the British navy. the odds that a
KeppeI would command her The great
est Keppei OF them all was the famous
sailor whose services to his country were
rewarded by the title of Earl of Abe
marie lie ranks in history along with
Nelson. Lord Hove and Rodney. The
present Admiral keppeL doyen or the
British navy. is his great-granCson-
Throughout his long life this tough old
sea-dos, has had many adventures as
ever fell 10 the lot or hero OF Marryat' s
novels He has boarded siavers. sunk
pirates in three different oceans, fought
with Russians, Malays, chinese. Japan
csc and many other peoples. weathered
typhOons and hurricanes and squalls, and
shot an incredible number OF elephants,
tigers. bears. lions and other game.
At am age when most American boys
are beginning TO emerge from kindergar-
ten he was sent to the Royal Naval col
Iege at Greenwich TO be trained for a
MILDLY. In those days England took her
food for powder young. 1t was not at
an uncommon for boys of eleven and
twelve TO serve aboard ships niddies
and powder monkeys" Keppel him
self went afloat before he was twelve.
But before then he had an experience
which any English boy would cOVet. He
was allowed to sit in Nelson's chair,
which is still preserved at Greenwich
hospital IL is easy to imagine what
sat there and ren1enaoered that his own
people had done deeds on the high seas
almost as great as those of the peerless
Chasing a SLAYER.
one Of young Keppers first adventures
was taking part in the chase of SLAYER.
The frigate on which he was appointed
a MILDLY was sent out TO the West In
dies OFF the coast of Santo Domingo
she sighted a low. black, rakish-lOoking
schooner. which ho.sted Portuguese COT
ors and tried to edge away.
The captains suspicious were aroused
and he chased her Before he could
overhaul the craft, one OF the sudden
the wind from the sails. He ordered out
the boats, and little Keeper went IN one
Of them. armed with cutlass almost
as big as himself When they reached
the Portuguese ship her character was
plain. They were received with broad
side OF 'Iangrange'' (which means that
the guns were shotted with rusty nails,
bits OF scrap iron and anything that came
handy. Several of the tars were killed
and wounded. but the rest pulled on with
redoubled energy and boarded the SLAYER.
They were met by a crowd of yillainous
cut-throats, the offscourings OF the seas
Portuguese. negroes. Greeks, and half
breeds OF a dozen different national
tiles
For . few minutes there VAS 4 desper
ate fight, Keppe shot his first Uan-a