The San Francisco call., 1908-08-16


with clothes, shoes and many material
comforts. AS the midshipmen fully ex-
pected, Mr.. Porter's first request was
for books, pens and paper, and on
the third morning of their captivity pa
per was handed to Totten to be pasted
it was written the regular routine of
the day, which followed, as far as pos
sible. the course on board ship. With
his usual ingenuity Mr.. Porter found
something for the midshipmen to do
every hour in the day up to 4 O'clock.
exercise in the open air. At o'clock
their supper was served and afterward
they had couple of hours recreation.
At 8 o'clock was lights out"
Nothing could have made their cap
tivity more endurable than this syste-
matte employment. With little else TO
occupy their minds they turned to their
studies with eagerness and made rapid
progress. In their out of door exer-
else they organized such games as were
vigor OF their young muscles and sin
ews. The Tripolitans watching with
solemn black eyes and stolid coun-
tenances the exciting games of the
Americans, were secretly astounded,
and when match games were played
between the younger watch officers
and the midshipmen the amazement Of
their 'captors knew no bounds. This
surprise was further increased when,
after supper, the midshipmen, with un-
abated activity, organized impromptu
balls and danced vigorously to the
music of comb played with great en-
ergy by Totten. Among the older Of
ficers Lazy" Maitland turned out to be
a valuable acquisition. His unfailing
good spirits, his debonair manner and
his determination still to be a dandy.
in spite of being reduced to three shirts,
were not only amusing to his fellow Of
fcers but assisted in keeping up their
spirits.
He succeeded by some occult means
in securing a rude stringed instrument,
somewhat resembling a guitar. which
was the favorite with the Tripolitans,
and to this he sang sentimental songs
of his own composition. He organized
among the midshipmen singing club,
which was source of great pleasure
and amusement. In the evenings after
supper, when the midshipmen gathered
round the table to sing songs, accom-
o-s15 ~ +raroandouc fhupnpinC and
pounding on the table and a furious
rafting of tin plates and dishes, the
Tripolitan guards outside the building
would peer in curiously at the barred
windows and exchange significant
looks with each other. implying that the
Americans were all more than half
crazy. Among these songs were some
original compositions rejecting upon
the Tripolitans and promising them
terrible things when the American fleet
should arrive. These effusions always
aroused the widest enthusiasm and
excessive noise. The propensity which
the midshipmen and also the sailors
had for making a noise. and especially
for cheering every sentiment which ap-
pealed to them, was not in the least
understood by the Tripolitans, and an
attempt was made to suppress it. Cap
tain cambridge, however through Sidi
Mohammed, informed the bashaw
that these demonstrations were per-
fectly harmless, but nevertheless would
be difficult to check.
Sidi Mohammed made this clear to
the bashaw, and all restrictions were
removed from the Americans. as far as
making a noise was concerned. up to
9 O'Clock at night; after that dead
quiet must prevail. On Saturday nights
the privilege was extended for half an
hour, for on that night, according to
time honored custom in the American
membranes of home and country. and
a toast was drunk with allN honors to
"sweethearts and wives" Mr.. Maitland
was the life and soul of these Saturday
evenings. when the midshipmen and
watch officers united in their celebra-
ton. Among the sailors Bulge was the
star performer. He had a great, rich
voice. in which he roared out songs
adored in the ,fo'c's'le. and in addition
he had fund of stories which never
failed to interest and amuse the sailors.
His various adventures with Mary Ann
at the Two Doves. in Port Mahon, were
prime favorites, and Bulge would re-
late. them with a deadly seriousness
that was half the joke. At the even
ing's close. however. one sentiment and
one song was received by both officers
and men with grave tenderness. a
touching respect. that came from the