The Washington herald., 1907-12-16
EARFUL GOOD -BYS FOR FLEETS MEN

and inferior alike kind TO al in trouble
Stern only TO those upon whom his just
wrath fails.
Il helped pull out some men drowned in
launch from his ship last spring. right
here in Hampton Roads. And as he stood
on the shorv and saw those poor drowned
bodies brought out, he trenlbled like an
aspen. Every one of those lads he had
loved and cherished. He had watched
their progress from the moment that they
Joined the ship. He had corrected their
faults. praised their good deeds. loved
them through good and evil report.
Strong man that he was. he was de-
MED the relief of tears But never did a
man so shake with grief as did Capt.
Hubbard the day his drowned midship-
men came 10 their own again
The Fragrant Past.
And then there's Capt Hugo Osterhaus.
OF the Connecticut another notable figure
in the Chamberlin lobby. Once he was
in charge of the school at Annapolis. Now
boys will be boys, even at naval school.
and hazing was Just as dear TO the minds
OF the kids then as It is now. So Oster-
haus. having fallen under their displeas-
ure. what did they do but run a hose
into his bedroom window one night after
he had retired and pour into it sui
phurated hydrogen
There's only one thing that smells worse
than that chemical. and it's dead. 1t
reminds one Of the old story about the
chap who scented this delicacy for the
first time.
Well, Osterhaus Is a heavy sleeper. and
the fumes didn't rouse him. as they were
intended 10 do. His window was open
but a little way, and the room was soon
filled with the dense gas In fact, Oster-
haus almost smOthered, and the boys who
played that prank. men and officers in
good standing for years now, still de-
clare themselves ashamed Of il And
they feel ashamed, too, even II they do
have 10 grin a little as they ,tell the
story.
And there's Capt Charles f. VreeIsnd
OF the Kansas. also young looking. for
all that he worked his way TO his present
proud position from the place Of appren-
tice boy.
Through the Hawse Hole"
When he began the age OF steam hadn't
far advanced. The battle ships Of his
youth would be taken into camp by
torpedo boat destroyer now. But, for all
that. he doesn't show many lines on his
forehead, or too many gray hairs on his
head. He is one or the few who Went
through the hawse hole. as the old saying
was in the days before steam
II is true that after serving his appren-
ticeship he went TO Annapolis. and was
graduated there with honor But, never
theless, he began as an apprentice boy.
barefooted. homesick, and padded TO the
bo's'n's mate whenever his little breeches
needed patching.
Capt William p Potter, OF the Yer
mont, is another in the group He Is one
Of the men in the navy TO whom the term
Just is often applied. Not that the
other captains are not Just also. but his
is a temperament peculiarly judicial, ac-
cording TO the declarations Of those who
have served under him.
He Is always liked. always respected.
and never feared by his crew. When he
punishes he does so because that pun
ishment IS deserved. and never because
the captain Of the ship got out OF bed
wrong foot foremost. or sat up too late
the night before.
There are other captains In the lobby Of
who=. rot so much might be said. Two
or three are condemned in round terms
by their own officers. But IL may be
said that there has yet to be found a
single complaint Of the seamanship. even
OF these men, and their fellow-officers
dislike has been earned by unfortunate
defects OF temper or bearing.
A Handsome Chaplain.
one Of the striking figures of the even
ing is Father Gleason. the Catholic chap
lain Of the flagship Connecticut. Tall.
slender with brown hair brushed back
from a handsome face. and with two
brown eyes which twinkle with under
standing and humor, he is a man 70 be
remembered, and in his evening dress he
presents a most distinguished figure.
He doesn't preach" is the praise be-
slowed upon him by his men. He just
tells you what is right in a quiet way.
and then he does 1t himself right along.
SOS to show you how"
There isn't a better loved man than
Father Gleason in all the American fleet
of war.
II one were to go into the roster Of the
younger young-lOoking men. the list
would be endless. There's Lieut. Com
mander Robinson. of the Kentucky. for
instance; a man 10 whom his vocation is
passion. Twenty years in the service
have earned him a high place. It Is true
but, IL rumor is correct, there is open TO
him a position at 10000 a year the day
he resigns and gives over his abOunding
talent to the peaceful arts Of commerce.
He can't even understand. however, why
any man should accept such PROPOSE
ton. If to do so would be TO leave the
navy. Try TO argue with him about it,
and he'll get angry. Probably no one but
Robinson himself knows how much the
navy has benefited through him, for his
inventions have been numerous and prac-
teal.