Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1911-06-08
A WASTED SALUTE
Naval Powder, Pomp and spIen-
dor and a FizzIe.
A SURPRISE FOR FARRAGuT.

The Admiral, With His Assembled
Staff. Was Undsr the Impre :sion
That He Was Abos TO Greet Mill
tary Guest, but tic Was Mistaken.
A group of officers were swapping"
tories at the Army and Navy club in
Washington one night when one was
eminded Of an amusing incident that
occurred in connection with the stay
{ the flagship Monongaheia at Pensa-
ola bav when Farragut was on board
The cid fighter had been very busy
he week before paying official calls on
The mainland. and among those who
.:.l entertained him was General Can
hy. When. therefore, word was re-
rived that the general would VISIT the
Zip the next day the admiral was de-
ermlncd to have everything in readi-
.ess to receive him in a style becoming
i: rank.
The old boat was scrubbed and holy
oned from stem to stern. the brass
work. was given an extra rub, and
hings generally were put into the best
of order. The captain Of the marines
hDd special inspection of his com.
,mny. and not spot Of rust or dull
"lluet spike escaped his notice. When
sht closed In darkness settled down
yer very clean ship and very tired
.,ilip's company.
Bright and early the next morning
;he admiral's launch was sent off to
ing the general aboard. At the last
,ment 1t was discovered that there
-.as no fruit for luncheon. and Pomp,
g admiral's cook. was sent In the din
'-..y to get some.
l'omp was character In his way
I'd had been with the admiral for
any years. He was very proud of
nat he called his military benring and
IRE his beard carefully trimmed to a
int. His hair and beard were nearly
ute. and. although he was sixty
slrs old. ne ruled the other negroes
with rod Of iron.
by 10 o'clock every one was standing
by 10 full dress. whom the quartermas-
ter came aft and reported that the ad-
t;nirnl's launch WIS returning. The
,iiicer of the deck walked to the rail
md took a squint at the boat through
is glasses. A man clad in blue uni
rm was seated In the admiral's> cane
.G,ir In the stern. but as the gunwale
truck him Just below his shoulder and
- awning hid his head the officer of
e deck was not certain that It was
eneral Candy until rs the wind lifted
,e edge Of the awning he caught
;inpse of gray beard.
Word was rassed that the general
sas coming. The crew were beat to
uarters. the marine guard paraded.
nd the gun squad. detailed to fire the
.,lute. took their stations. Everything
.,,s in readiness. and the admiral and
is stafT stood ut the hend of the gang
.aiy ito receive the guest. A hush Of
sI,ettancy settled over the ship.
The boat drew nearer Just as the
tnneh scraped alongside. boom. boom.
anne the salute from the guns.
.Ircsent arms!" came the command
. the guard. and Mt sign from the
ag officer the band struck up "Hail
20 the Chief"
Amid all this military pomp and
:plendor the occupant Of the launch
..;ls slowly clambering. feet foremost.
nd Just as the last gun was fired he
stood erect at the top Of the gangway.
| u was the tadmiral's cook with bag
VI fruit in each hand! The honors in
tended for a general had been rendered
- old Pomp! AS the situation dawned
:. u the men even discipline could not
heck a general shout Of laughter. The
q ID admiral himself laughed until he
could laugh no longer.
Ii seemed that in some way the
dinghy had gone OF and left the old
l..gro and that he managed to con
, ince the coxswain that "Alarse Farra
gut was Jest bound to have dat fruit
l..fo' the general came"
Pomp wanted to land ut the por,
yungway. but the coxswajp insisted
ti,ut the admirnl's launch fnever weni
to the port side and that the old man
r-ould have to land on the starboard
side. aft. Had the awning been q
little higher the mistake In identi0ca.
tinn would not have occurred. As
things we're. no one could be blamed.
and the affair was treated as Joke
while the old cook was nicknamed the
-t;cneral."
When an hour later General Candy
I'D come he was received with all
iue ceremony and on being told the
,ory laughed until the tears rolled
town his cheeks and demanded to see
the man who had stolen his salute
New York Press.