New-York tribune., 1909-03-28
TOLD BY CAPTAIN WATT.
Retired Commander Of Lusitania
.SDins Some odd Yarns.
Bang, bang, bang! crashl

Bang, bang, bang crashl
some one was knocking wildly al the door Of the
stateroom.
.,HaIIoa. Who's there?" asked the captain.
Seaman so-and-So. I've to tell you. sir.
there's a man in Nc. 20 Drandishing a loaded re-
,oIver and he threatens 10 shoot himself"
"Can the doctor" replied the captain laconi-
caly. as he turned over and dozed again. He had
just left the bridge after long spell in the teeth
OF gale.
Such incidents occur so frequently in the daily
run of sea captains life that no more than pass
ing attention Is ever given to them.
Here is something much more amusing which
came under the personal observation OF Captain
Watt He tells the story in these words
"A woman came to me day. apparently IN
great trouble. Captain she said. my husband is
playing cards with a lot of swindlcrs. who are
robbing him of all his money. For the love of
heaven stop IT shall be ruined
Il looked into the saloon and glanced At tho
players All were perfectly respectable gentlemen,
we'll known to me. So l turned To the lady and
told her I could not disturb the party; they were
all honest men, and II her husband chose to play
for money that HIS lookout. However. he
seemed to be having appalling luck. I promised
the lady would endeavor to break up the party.
Il sent for the doctor. Pointing out the lady's
husband said. See that gentleman sitting in tho
corner-the old gentleman who Is getting so ex-
cited? l should think he is unwel: what do you
think?'
The doctor looked quzzicaly at and under
stood.
Yes yes he aswe:ed; he looks decidedly un-
well. I'll just speak to him
Then in his most professional manner the doc
tor called the husband aside and told him he might
injure his health II he continued to play. But the
husband understood the dodge and refused to cease
playing, despite the warning of the doctor and the
prayers OF his wife. who by this time beseech-
ing him on her knees to lay down the cards Sew
eral other lodges tried. but all to no purpose
The old lady got frantic. and before could stop
her she had pushed her head through the porthole
and shouted so that everybody could hear:
You rogues! You swindlers! If you continue
to rob my husband the captain will put you in
prison at once
The men threw down their cards, Mortified. while
the poor husband. rising to his feet gasped. more
in sorrow than in anger:
"'Oh. woman, woman! I'd all my money
back and was winning theirs hand over fist Go
away, you fool. go fway! "
A MIDNIGHT INTRUDER.
1t is customary for Captain Watt to sleep with
his stateroom door open. Once this led up to a
queer experience which he still remembers Tell
ing the story, Captain Watt said:
"One night while I sound asleep some one
crawed stealthy into my room and gradually
made his way to my bed. | awoke instinctively
feeling all not we'll over me-wth his head
bent down to my face. his breath warm on my
cheek-was man l had the light full on his
face in second. His hair was dsarranged. and
there a wild look in his eyes. Evidently it
a case for pacihcaton.
+" Well I asked. what do you want?'
He replied in a soft whisper as though fearful
that anybody might hear him:
g Listen. There IS a conspiracy against you
sir. They want TO sink the ship