The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-05-21

OF the board, which, with one other
exception, that viii relate to you,
was the only duty that ever missed
in my life Since then the service
has been filled with the most eNtrav-
agent rumors 'Sperry was ineapac'
itatedH 'Sperry was sick mani
'Spcrry would be forced soon to ask
for retirementH Perhaps the wish
was father TO the thought when it
was known that ! was the youngest
admiral on the advanced list
The Admiral certainly did not have
the appearance OF sick man. a
healthy and handsome tan was on his
iace-the tan which only years Of cx-
poSure to all climates breeds in fine
texture OF skin, the tan which looks
as ii pigment OF sepia had been in
serted beneath the cuticle. His eyes
which, at the beginning OF our talk,
slept with the prophetic vision OF sea
soned age, from time to time flashed
dry humor and again a sparkling in
telligence. His form was upright,
spare, and his walk, when he later
went on deck with us, possessed the
springy alertness OF one who had
spent his life on the ladders OF battle
ships.
The other time when was of
duty" continued the Admiral, was on
the China station some years ago,
when was commander OF the New
Orleans. One day | contracted a Sc
we're cold and having spry young
executive officer, took to my bed
for two days and downed the cold,
With those two exceptions | have
never missed days duty in my llie,"
He then became reminiscent and
gave glimpse OF what vigorous,
successful naval officers must do tor
hall a century if he wishes to attain
supreme command
Il have been fortysix years in the
service said he. MAN and boy.
That takes in the time from when !
entered the naval academy to now. In
that forty-six years, including a
months vacation each OF my four
years in the academy, | have had leave
amounting to one year and ten
months; the remaining forty-four
years and two months | have been
every day on duty. Since 1871 ! have
had six weeks leave, which was spent
with my wife on Our honeymoon in
Savannah.
$50 think you are safe in denying
absolutely that rumor about my SER
ious illness"
when were you in Australia last"
I'm 80 on the old Kearsarge, the
original Kearsarge, the one that i'm
ished the Alabama, original OF the ship
| am now on. | was an ensign then;
the captain was Jim Thornton, who
had been the executive officer on the
day they whipped Semmes and the
celebrated Confederate cruiser. 1t
was Thornton's idea OF lowering the
anchor chains over the side and COW
ering them with canvas painted to
look like the hull that saved the kear-
sarge's boilers. That was a bully
cruise. We youngsters loved that life,
roaming through the South Seas, and
it will be great delight for me to go
over it again with so magnificent a
feet as this"
What Australian ports will you
take in"
"Of course, | can't say what the
navy department will order, but it
will likely be Sydney first, and then
| Melbourne. Though, if we want to go
from Honolulu without stopping to
coal in either the Samoan group or
the Fijis we had better 60 to Auck-
land, a run that could be made direct
from Honolulu without a stop"
will you 60 inside the Barrier
Reefs?"
at is hardly likely. We would have
to take pilots then, and you know the
navy is not partial to pilots, We like
to do our own navigating We will
get along well enough with British
Admiralty charts. | think we nevet
get enough credit for the navigating
, we do, without local assistance. z
great howl is always made if a naya
ship gets into trouble, but you will
find that Our percentages are far les
than those Of merchanters. The pilot
always raise a great cry if we strike
rock; it would be fine business 70
them if they could add the navy t.
} their list. Everything was done t.
/ make it appear that we had pilot
= through the Straits Of Magellan
when, as you know, our own naviga
! tors only laughed at the suggestion
'' The passage Of Magellan, however,