Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-26

| of order. The captain of the marines
| had special inspection of his com
pany and not "A spot of rust or a dull
helmet spike escaped his notice. When
night closed in darkness settled down
over 4 very clean ship and very
tired ships company.
Bright and early the next morning
the admirafs launch was sent off TO
bring the general aboard. At the last
moment it was discovered that there
was no fruit for luncheon, and Pomp,
the admirafs cook, was sent in the
diEgy to get some.
Pomp was a character in his way,
and had been with the admiral fer
many years. He. was very proud of
what he called his military bearing and
wore his beard carefully trimmed to a
point. His lair and beard were nearly
white, and although he was so years
old, he ruled the other negroes with a
rod of iron.
BY 10 O'clock every one was standing
tby in full dress, when the quartermas-
ter came aft and reported that the ad-
mirars launch was returning. The Of
ficer of the deck walked to the rail
and took a squirt at the boat through
his glasses. A man clad in blue uni
fom was seated in the admirafs cane
chair in the stern, but as the gunwale|
struck him Just below the shoulder
and the awning hid his head. the Off
Ger of the deck was not certain that i'll
was General Candy until, as the wind
lifted the edge of the awning. he
caught glimpse of gray beard.
Word MAS 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 bis staff stood at the head of the
gangway to receive the guest. y hush
of expectancy settled over the snip.
The boat drew nearer. Just as the
launch scraped alongside, boom! boomi
came the salute rom the guns.
Present arms!" came the command
To the guard. and a a sign from the
flag officer the band struck up Hail
to tho Chief
Amid al this military pomp and
splendor the occupant of the launch
was slowly clamberins out, feet fore
most, and Just as the fast gun was
fired ne stood erect at the top of the
gangWay. 1t was the admirafs cook
with bag of fruit in each hand, Tie
honors INTENDED for general had been
rendered to old Pompi AS the stua-
ton dawned on the men. even disci-
pline could not check Il general shout
of laughter. The old admiral himself
laughed until he could laugh no lon
ger.
1t seemed that in some way the din
gy had gone off and left the old ne
gro, and that he mad managed to con-
vince the eexswain that "Marse Far
ragut was jes' bound IL have dat fruit
befol the general came"
Ponlp wanted to land at the port
gangVay but the coXswain insisted
that the admirars launch never went
10 the port side, and that the old man
would have to land ON the starboard
side, aft. Had the awning been lit
tie higher the mistake III Identification
would not have occurred. AS things
were no one could be blamed, and the
affair WAS treated as a joke, while the
old cook was nicknamed the Gen
eral"
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
checks. and demanded TO see the man
who he'd stolen his salute.-N. Y.
Press.