Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-05-05
A WASTED SALUTE.
Naval Powder, Pomp and Splendor
and a Fizzle.

Naval Powder, Pomp and splendoT
and a Fizzle.
A group of officers were swapping
stories at the Army and Navy club IN
Washington one night when one was
reminded of an amusing incident that
occurred in connection with the stay
of the flagship Monongahela at Pen
sacola bay when Farragut was on
board.
The old fighter had been very busy
the week before paying official calls
on the mainland. and among those
who entertained him was General
Candy. When, therefore, word was
received that the general would WISH
the ship the next day the admiral was
determined to have everything In
readiness to receive him in a style be-
coming his rank.
The old boat was scrubbed and holy-
stoned from stem to stern, the brass
work was given an extra rub, and
things generally were put into the
best of order. The captain Of the ma
rines had a special inspection Of his
company, and not a spot of rust OF
a dull helmet spike escaped his notice
When night closed in darkness settled
down over a very clean ship and
very tired ships company.
Bright and early the next morning
the admiraps launch was sent OF to
bring the general aboard. At the last
moment it was discovered that there
was no fruit for luncheon, and Pomp
the admiral's cook was sent In the
dinghy to get some.
Pomp was a character In his way
and had been with the admiral FOL
many years. He was very proud OF
what he called his military bearing
to a point His hair and beard were
nearly white, and, although he was 6C
years old, he ruled the other negroes
with a rod Of iron.
BY 10 o'clock every one was stand
ing by in full dress, when the quar-
termaster came aft and reported thai
the admiral's launch was returning
The officer of the deck walked to the
rail and took a squint at the boa
through his glasses. A man clad ir
blue uniform was seated in the ad-
mirars cane chair In the stern, but aS
the gunwale struck him just below hi!
shoulder and the awning hid his heao
the officer of the deck was not certain
that it was General Candy until as the
wind lifted the edge of the awning ne
caught a glimpse of gray beard.
Word was passed that the genera
was coming. The crew were beat t
quarters, the marine guard paraded
and the gun squad detailed to fire the
salute, took their stations. Every
thing was in readiness and the admi'
raj and his staff stood at the head OF
the gangway to receive the guest.
hush of expectancy settled over the
ship.
The boat drew nearer. Just as the
launch scraped alongside, boom, boom
came the salute from the guns.
Present arms" came the com
mand to the guard, and at sign from
the flag officer the band struck uT
Hail TO the Chief"
Amid all this military pomp anC
splendor the occupant Of the launcf
was slowly clambering out, feet fore
most and just as the last gun fired ne
stood erect at the top Of the gangway
1t was the admiral's cook with bae
Of fruit in each hand! The honors In
tended for a general had been render.
ed to old Pomp! AS the situation
dawned on the men even discipline
could not check a general shout o1
laughter. The old admiral himself
laughed until he could laugh no long
er.
1t seemed that in some way the
dinghy had gone off and left the ole
negro and that he managed to con.
vince the coxswain that "Marse Far
ragut was jest bound to have da'
fruit befo' the general came"
Pomp wanted to land at the porl
gangway, but the coXswain insisted
that the admiraPs launch never went
to the port side and that the old mar
would have to land on the starboarC
side. aft Had the awning been a lit
tie higher the mistake in Identified
ton would not have occurred. A:
things were, no one could be blamed
and the affair was treated as a joke
while the old cook was nicknamed the
General"
When an hour later General Can
by did come he was received with al
due ceremony and on being told the
story laughed until the tears rolled
down his cheeks and demanded to SEE
the man who had stolen his salute
New York Press,