The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-29

NtNO OhAlJ CiiiD "a WY Wv " W "'tA No.
thing upon his head but a tall hat. The
skipper protested several times, but as it
was a matter beyond his jurisdiction nothing
came OF his protests.
Yet / set It down az a mark Of his amaz-
ing imperviousness TO humor that never
once did l see him smile during the whole
of that voyage, although many of the in
cidents were killingly funny. He went
ashore at Gravesend to clear the ship, and
80 did not witness the pure joy which greeted
our arrival at the pier head Of the East
India docks, the cheers of the gamins, the
shrill shrieks of the women, as we gravely
went about our work Of mooring the ship,
disgrace to any ragshop.
l was once lamp trimmer in flor those
days. a fine ship of the A. s. N. australian
Steam Navigation Company, the Went
worth. We had, among other queer souls
who ran her. a fireman Of the Scotch per-
suasion named Archie McKillop.
He was a good man, and the most terrible
theologian you would dread to meet, His
great failing-I might almost say his one
falling was whiskey.
Enforced abstinence during a passage,
for the chief officer saw to it that Archie
got no liquor between port and port, led
to an outbreak whenever Archie went
ashore. On a memorable occasion he came
down to the company's wharf an hour
before his time (he was never late, was
Archie), clad az became an elder Of the
kirk. in shining broadcloth, regardless OF
expense or cut, his long coat tails almost
sweeping the ground and his top hat
Immaculate in its glossineSs.
But alas, he did not steer a straight
course, and coming too near the edge Of the
wharf where, it being low water, the
multiplied denominations of a busy port
had accumulated, he fell in and for a mo-
ment was lost to sight in filth. He was
promptly rescued, his saviours hating
themselves for the odors they aocumu-
lated. laid upon the wharf and the fire
hose pie yed upon him.
Somewhat cleansed, 1t was noticed that
he still retained the mummy like attitude
in which he came up from disaster. At
last investigation revealed the fact that
those closed arms across his breast held a
bottle OF whiskey safe, unbroken through
all those vicissltudes. Archie, fired his
three furnaces that night southbound, be-
ing, as his chief said, worth twiceas much
drunk as any other mar sober.
Another piece of comedy which | can
vouch for occurred curing the time that l
was an officer. / will not mention the
name Of the ship, because some one con
nected with her on tina voyage may be
still alive and feel aggriev ed; but like all
the rest Of my remini SCIENCES the facts
may be relied upon. 49,.
She was a fine ship and had a splendid
crew, nearly all English, and she had been
skipper was a Shetlardnan. one Of the
most splendid old men l ever knew, and
the mate was from the brave West Coun-
try.
Australia, when, owing to an ,outnurSt OF
enthusiasm. it was suggested by the skip
per that We should hold q Good TemplaTs
lodge on board (Which. as liqu or was irl-
possible Of attainment, was quite easy.
An A. B. was lodge deputy, arrogating
a dispensation, another A: B; was made
worthy chief tenplar, and the subordi-
nate offices. such as treasurer, chaplain
and secretary, were left to the officers.
The cook and steward both begged TO be
excused, On the ground that they we're not
worthy. 1 confess that the experiment
appeared to me full of risk, especially when
after the lodge business was ira nsacted,
the meetings always being held in the cabin,
the usual motion was made that the lodge
do now proceed to harmony"
The unregenerate outside expended their
powers of sarcasm upon us and even limited
that such a tempest Of noise as emanated
from the cabin could not be produced with
out the cid Of some more potent huld than
was nothing Of an intoxicating nature on
board.
One OF the drollest parts of the perform
ance to me was the expression on the mates
face during the proceedings, for he was a
mar Of so, a seaman of the old school, while
l was a mere boy of 20. He was profoundly
disguised with the whole affair, but his
long habit Of obedience to the will OF his
commander and his strong t~eetotal prin-
ciples combined to make him endure.
His penance did not last long. The
ship upon arrival in Adelaide was ordered
TO be laid up for sale and the crew dis
charged. They had two years pay due.
And alas, they fell. The lodge broke up
in the greatest possible disorder, the worthy
on a charge of ! eing drunk and disorderly.
Fun Of q mild type, for one Of the par
Elephants at least, was provided for the crew
Of the Liverpool bark Panuca, during her
stay In the Mexican port Of a
the details as told by her master to ours.
In that port there was no law really, the
group Of rascals of all Municipalities who
composed the inhabitants being above
or beneath all, laws; Yet for their "
as a sort Of referee in cases where the dis;
putants did not care to resort to the usual
arbitrament Of knife or revolver.
This worthy they called FL Senior Com:
mandante. TO him came the skipper OF
the Panuca Immediately on arrival, deem-
ing him the equivalent Of a chief magis-
trate. The Greek received him gravely
and proffered refreshment OF aguardlente
the meeting place wal In q rum MILL then
babe him get on with the yarn.
The skipper volubly related how his
men were a recaloitrant crowd, h had
threatened to desert en- bloc on account OF
the we'll known high wages ruling here for
seamen. Would he, the commandante,
kindly receive hat mutinuous gang and
put them in the local Jail for safe keeping
until the Panuca was ready for sea? In
which case the skipper's gratitude would be
tangible and prompt.
With swelling chest and flashing eyes
the Greek arose and grasping the skippers
hand assured him that he had come to the
right shop for law and order.
Send those villains ashore roared he,
"and I will speedily teach them the error OF
their ways, at a dollar a head, payable In sd-
vance as far as one hundred dollars
A mild attempt at protest was entered BY
the skipper, but drowned by Giorgios. The
men were brought ashore and treated
royalty by the c~ommandante lille the ship
was being loaded ~ the extra expense OF the
owners for labor. OF course there was no
Jail there or anything in the nature Of one
except an antiquated pair Of stocks, osten-