The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-04-14
A WASTED SALUTE
Naval Powder, Pomp and Splen-
dor and a FizzIe.
A SURPRISE FOR FARRAGUT.
The Admiral, With His Assembled
Staff, Was Under the Impression
That Hs Was About to Greet a Mill
tary Guest, but He Was Mistaken.


tary Guest, but He Was Mistaken.
A group of officers were swapping
stories It 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 Monongaheia at Pensa-
cola 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
had entertained him was General Can.
by. When, therefore, word was re-
ceived that the general would visit the
ship the next day the admiral was de-
termined to have everything in readi-
ness to receive him in style becoming
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 marines
had special inspection of his COM
pany, and not spot of rust or a dull
helmet spike escaped his notice When
night closed In darkness settled down
over very clean ship and very tired
ships company.
Bright and early the next morning
the admirals launch was sent off to
bring the general aboard. At the last
moment 1t was discovered that there
was no fruit for luncheon, and Pomp,
the admiral's cook, was sent in the din
ghy to get some.
Pomp was n character In his way
and had been with the admiral for
many years, He was very proud OF
what he called his military bearing ana
wore his beard carefully trimmed to
point. His hair and beard were nearly
white, and. although he was sixty
years old he ruled the other negroes
with rod of iron.
BY 10 o'clock every one was standing
by In full dress, when the quartermas
ter came aft and reported that the ad
mirars launch was returning. The
officer of the deck walked to the rail
and took squirt at the boat through
his glasses A man clad In blue uni
form was seated In the admirals cane
chair In the stern, but as the gunwale
struck him just below his shoulder and
the awning hid his head the officer of
the deck was not certain that 1t was
General Candy until as the wind lifted
the edge of the awning he caught
glimpse of u gray beard.
Word was passed that the general
was coming. The crew were beat to
quarters, the marine guard paraded,
and the gun squad, detailed to fire the
salute. took their stations. Everything
was In readiness. and the admiral and
his stan stood Mt the head of the gang
way 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 armsw came the command
to the guard. and ut sign frouse the
flag officer the band struck up Hail
to the Chief"
Amid all this military pomp and
splendor the occupant of the launch
was slowly clamberlng. feet foremost,
and Just as the last gun was fired he
stood erect at the top of the gnngway,
1t was the admiral's cook with n bag
OF fruit In each hand! The honors In
tended for general had been rendered
to old Pompl As the situation dawned
on the men even discipline could not
check general shout of laughter The
old admiral himself laughed until he
could laugh no longer
II seemed that In some way the
dinghy had gone or and left the old
negro and that he managed to con
vince the coxswain that "Marse Farra
gut was Jest bound to have dat fruit
befo the general came"
Pomp wanted TO land at the port
gangway. but the coxswain insisted
that the admraFs launch never went
to the port side and that the old man
would have to land on the starboard
side, aft Had the awning been n
little higher the mistake In identihca'
ton would not have occurred As
things were, no one could be blamed.
and the affair was treated as joke,
while the old cook was nicknamed the
General"
When an hour later General Candy
did come he was received with all
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.