Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-09-18
He WANTED THE SHIP
Thought He Was Eligible to Com
mand a Cruiser.
AN OLD TIME NAVAL PRANK.
The Shabby Trick That Was Played
Upon a Patriotic Greek BoiIermsI<er
by Some Of Uncle Sans Sailors With
Whom He Had Shipped.

Upon a Patriotic Greek BoiIernn aI<er
by Some Of Uncle Sans Sailors With
Whom He Had Shipped.
"a number OF years ago the cruiser
on which I was serving shipped a boil
ermaker while we were on the Medi-
terranean station" said a retired petty
officer OF the navy. "Our former boil
ermaker's time expired while we were
at Gibraltar. and as he was not In good
physical shape he wasn't re-enlisted,
but took his discharge and returned
TO the United States by mail steamer.
So the ship was shy boilermaker.
very important and necessary petty
officer down below in the engineers
department. and when the ship pulled
into Naples harbor the chief engineer
went ashore TO see II Inc couldn't dig
up boilermaker.
There was a clause I'm the enlist
ment regulations permitting command
Ing officers To ship necessary men on
foreign stations In short handed emer-
gencies- The chief engineer brought
back TO the ship Greek named Char
lie Marc. The man couldn't speak any
English To speak OF. Lut he was a
good man Mt the boilermaking bust
ness. and he was duly shipped aboard
OF us for three years. lie was Il wild.
hairy looking lot. Marc was. and Inc
got good deal Of laugh nj the
hands OF the crew. especially the
younger fellows. from the time he first
came over the side.
"Maro thought that there wasn't any
other country on the map except
Greece. and after he got hold Of
enough English TO make himself un-
derstood he used to take some OF the
young apprentice boys up into the
eyes OF the ship and tell them. with
many gesticulations and furious words.
u the different kinds OF tar Greece
could knock out of Turkey.
THE ship was around on the Pa
clfic station when the war broke out
between Greece and Turkey. When
the news Of the outbreak Of the war
got To- Marc, our boilermaker, he
nearly had heart disease and a whole
lot OF other sudden things from pure
excitement. He Just couldn't hold
himself I'm. he looked so tickled.
'Da Greek man villa bin. bin.
BIN. ia Turka man. was Charles
Maro's way OF putting II. and he didn't
see that the Turk had n ghost Of a
show. All hands forward encouraged
him I'm the belief. They all acquiesced
In expressing the belief 10 Marc that
Greece would simply eat Turkey up.
Then bosun's mate who knew how
TO crack the most impossible Jokes
with face rs solemn and wooden as
an Indians took Charlie In hand and
told him some things. He told Marc
that the United States was SO much
In sympathy with Greece In the strug-
gle with Turkey that the navy depart
ment had decided TO turn over all of
the ships OF the American navy to
Greek commanders
Here's big chance for you. Marc
the bo'sun's mate told Marc. You just
want TO work your edge. Here you
are already shipped on this cruiser. and
It's dollars 10 doughnuts that IL you
ask for the command OF this ship in
order 10 take her over TO Greece TO
mix IL up with the Turks you'll get 1t
hands down. Better try 1t on
THAT idea impressed Marc heap.
He asked the bo'sun's mate whom he'd
have 10 apply to TO get command Of
the cruiser.
"'Why. 10 the commanding officer.
OF course was the reply.
MARC was tremendously important
for day or so while he let this huge
idea grow within him, and he bullied
the men detailed TO work with him
down below in the boiler room a good
deal. The bo'sun's mate kept working
him up TO il, and finally Marc appeared
on deck one morning logged out in his
very best mastering suit OF bluejacket
clothes and went up 10 the officer OF
the deck and asked permission TO see
the commanding officer at the mast
The officer OF the deck was rather sur
prised to see the man all done up in
his mastering toys when all hands
were at work; but. as he is obliged TO
do when an enlisted man requests per-
mission TO see the commanding officer
he sent word TO the skipper, who soon
emerg ! from his cabin and appeared
at the stick
"'Well. my manr said the skipper to
Marc, who stood bolt upright and sa-
luted with n flourish.
"'Sare,' said Marc to the skipper. L
hav-a da honor to her-a-by TAXA da
command OLA ia ship
"'Hey?' said the commanding officer,
putting his hand 10 his ear and looking
as II ne hadn't heard Alright.
"'Da ship repeated Marc. Fora da
navce OF Il i:ol.1S-da Grceka navee-I
hava In honor Il TAXA On commend
AN hands among the enlisted men
were up on the to'gallant fo'c'sle TAX
ing the thing IL. and they broke into n
roar that you could have heard FIVE ca
bic lengths distance Marc heard it
and, suSpec;inG that his confidence had
been abused. got rel and flabbergasted
He suddenly boltcd for the engine
room hatch and made his way below,
and 1t took three marines to drag him
aft to the sick bay, where the surgeon,
at the shippers command, gave Marc
n half hours examination as to his san
ity. Marc was game enough to decline
TO give the name of the enlisted man
who had told him he was eligible for
the command of the ship upon its being
turned into the navy OF Greece but
the thraShing he gave that bo'sun's
mate when he got him ON the beach
was certainly savage"
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