The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-09
ALEXANDER BAIRD
AS he looked twenty years ago.

up a big pavilion. made of gaily col
| ored cloth, near the landing. 1t was
| gorgeous thing to look at. 1t was
like a circus tent
'All of the small boats of the ships
were sent ashore, but about half the
sailors were left behind to man the
vessels. All told, 1 can't think there
were more than 200 of US who followed
the commodore TO the landing place.
The commodore and the officers had on
their most gorgeous uniforms. All gilt
tered like new pins. OF course, the
Jackies were as smart as they could
make themselves. for we felt that it
was history making occasion.
THE commOdOre's flag was carried
by the tallest sailor in the fleet, and
while we were few in number we GER
tainly looked imposing on that day.
THE shore was lined for miles with
eager spectators. There was no mis-
taking that it was tremendous event
for the japanese. From the landing to
the pavilion a carpet was spread for
the commodore TO walk on. He plant
ed his foot upon ii proudly, taking it
as a matter of course, and a thing
which should not be omitted when an
American commodore comes ashore
The rest of us not to detract from
the dignity of the occasion, bore our
selves as loftily as our statures would
permit
When we left our ships we were all
armed with cutlasses, guns and pistols.
These we were required to leave in
the boats at the landing, and we we're
unarmed as we advanced toward the
pavilion.
Antics of Japanese.
There was a Japanese prince there,
with other dignitaries. to receive the
commodore. Their antics took my
breath away. They Rugged the com
mOdOre and carried on in an astOnish-
ing fashion. l had never seen any
thing like ii before
While the conference was going on
some of us -seamen wandered .lhOut
taking in the sights. At intervals,
along the shore, we saw what seemed
to be batteries, but on closer observa-
ton we found that most Of the guns
were painted upon strips of canvas.
Each Of the make-believe batteries
had one real quarter-pounder, so that
some sort of noise could have been
possible, but that was all.
We had good laugh over the bat
teries, and came to the conclusion that
the little Japs were clever at putting
up a bluff
While we We're in the bay there was
not gun fired except in saluting.
Japs Are Mystified.
The commodore's conference with
the japanese took place in July, 1853
Soon afterward the Supply was ordered
to Shanghai for coal for the steam
frigates. We got back to Yeddo bay in
November, taking with us a small,
circular railroad and a telegraphing
outfit. These aroused much wonder
and interest among the Japs. They
could not understand how it was posi-
bic for men to communicate from diff
ferent points over the wires. The tel
egraph line was about a mile long. We
had great deal of fun listening to
the eXtravagant theories advanced by
the little islanders concerning the Won
ders from the western world.
1T was while in Japan that 1 had
myself tatooed," continued the old
man. barring his arm, and showing the
arms of the United States in faded
blue ink. This was done by one of
my shipmates while we lay-in the har-
Dor"
At the side Of the government coat
of arms was a square containing the
initials. "A. B., G. B.. Forever"
That means" said Captain Baird,
" Alex Baird and Grace Baird, For
ever Grace was an old sweetheart of
mine. She is now married to another
man and lives at Ogden.
A Dangerous Situation.
1T was not until "a that the ships
got back to America. at once re-
enlisted and was picked out as one of |
800 men who were sent from New York |
to Philadelphia to bring around the |
frigate Mississippi for repairs at the |
navy yard. The weather was |
rough and we were ordered aloft TO |
furl a sail. Only about seven or eight !
men got into the rigging at the first !
I was one of these. Our
was not sufficient to do the |
work The sail blew over my head /
and the yard struck my legs, giving |
me regular beating. The other men, |
unable TO help me until reinforced, |
thought my chances good for going to /
Davy Jones. but l chung tight to the /
ropes until the skin was rubbed from
my fingers, tough as they were at that
time.
Before my strength gave out, more
men We're hurried aloft. They were
able to furl the sail and save me from
my dangerous position.
When l got down to the deck once
more. found that my legs were badly
bruised from the humping they had