Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-04-30
"Wally," the
Russian
By T. JENKINS HAMS
(Copyrightl

Hjalmir, but we knew him as "Wally"
and hailing from "Wallywadstok."
The war had made us a bit careful
about shipping either Russians or
Japs, bat we were short-handed, and
"Wallywadstok" was a good place to
get away from before the warm
weather set in.
We ran to the southwark and man
aged to get well into the heat Of the
China sea before the wind failed us.
"Wally'' was in my watch, and as 1
held the chief mates berth I had a
chance to see much OF him.
In the quiet moonlit nights al
lowed the watch to lie about the main
deck and rest as they saw fit. They
had plenty of work in the daytime,
and the man on lookout was the only
one that saw kept awake.
''Wally" had a way Of climbing
upon the rail at the fore-rigging and
sitting looking at the moon, with his
legs hanging over the side. 1t was
manifestly an improper position for a
sailor on duty, but 1 never bothered
him, save to try and find out some
thing of his past. He had much Of
the anarchist about him, and his de-
sire to leave Vladivostok at a time
when most of his countrymen wished
to remain and fight the Japs was a
source Of some speculation to us. 1
tried to win his confidence on several
occasions and treated him as he had
never been treated before aboard any
ship, but my reward was only a great
Difference OF manner, coupled with an
alacrity at obeying orders "Wally''
would not discuss his countrymen or
their affairs. He could speak English
very well and with only a slight ac-
cent, which showed that he was
above the average Finn in intelligence
and that he had travelled much in for
| eign vessels.
He was sitting In his favorite posi-
ton one night when happened for
ward.
you don't mind, sir?" he asked.
quietly. meaning my discipline con-
| corning his seat.
mo, sit STILL" l answered. "But
you'll get overheard, and If you do I'll
not stop for you"
1T is no matter, sir; you would
waste time. All. what does It mat
vi AAC opOhS III a lOW tome,
above a whisper. and / leaned on the
rail and looked over the moonlit
ocean. What does It matter when
this little consciousness is over? II is
nothing. I've gone out and come
back and might as we'll have
stayed"
"There're easier ways than drown
ing" I remarked. "Then there are
the sharks"
Il doubt It, sir, 1 doubt It," he an
| swered. I've seen hundreds go
down, sir, hundreds and hundreds. In
wriggling masses, yelling, screaming,
cursing and all trying to stay up
for what?-yes, what? l was in the
'Petropavlovsk' when she sank
Your" l said, and 1 looked at him.
He was not Joking. He was quiet for
a minute, and then began again:
yes, sir. There were 600 of US in
her when she sank, you remember. 1t
took but few minutes, and then the
sea was Just as smooth and quiet as
before-a few minutes OF struggling.
crying, straining-just a madness of
fear as her bottom opened under her
and she went down like the great
mass OF iron she was. Did they know
what sunk her? Did they? Not less
than 100 of them knew IT."
DO you know" I asked. abruptly.
somewhat sharply, for he seemed so
unnaturally garrulous that began to
wonder II he had stolen any of the
rum in our stores.
II was aboard. sir" he said.
who were picked up?" 1 asked.
hoping to start him again.
ABOUT 20 of us, sir. I was in the
crew OF the forward torpedo-room,
below the water line. There was a
big dark man in that crew, Janski-
a powerful man-and he went down
in her. He's down there now with the
rest. But what difference does It all
make-what difference does it make
to all those who lie under this
ocean,
| He spoke so low that could hardly
hear him. The creaking of block
and the soft wash of the sea alongside
sounded loud IN the still night.
There's no blaming anyone for
certain things. It's the social condi-
tons existing that cause so much of
our troubles. We are taught to look
up to the wealthy and superior class
as higher beings OF greater knowledge
and education. We are taught to look
down upon the drone In the same
breath, and no one seems to see the
paradox. We are all striving to reach
the higher sphere Of life, to walk in
the higher social paths, to mingle
with the class of people who do little
or no work. The whole thing is so
absurd that one cannot blame anyone
for anything. He's liable to get con-
fused ideas.
mo one brought up under those
social laws can conceive marriage be-
tween man of the higher order and
J a girl Of the lower. But they are
both human and have all the human
passions. To believe in any interpre-
I tation Of the Christian religion is all
| the more absurd under the circuuo