The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-10-06

guardians could apprentice their
charges at tender age.
Jimmie was sent south with what in
those days was facetiously termed
"knee-pants draft" and placed on the
training ship Wdtchful for a six
months cruise. Patrick Kehoe was
already aboard the little steam and
sail gunboat, and in this wise it hap
pened that these two cast-offs from
opposite shores Of the continent came
together. On June morning the
WdtchfuI steamed through the Golden
Gate, turned her nose northward, and
floundeTed almost straight back to
Jimmie's home city.
OF the hundred and fifty apprentices
aboard the training ship, about seventy
were of the watch on deck, and most
of these were In the grip of the sea
malady before the vessel had cleared
the heads. Veterans of the regular
crew picked their way laughing and
grumbling among the sprawling, mus
lin-clad forms that Uttered the decks,
Indifferent to objurgations of irony, or
the cool spindrift that drenched them.
Many lined the rail, hanging Imply
over the upper chain, for specific pur
the iron grating Of the engine-room
hatch, which, opening on the main
deck, was protected from the seas by
a three-foot combing. This aperture
was necessary for the ventilation of
the heated spaces below. Ensign
Swayne, officer of the watch, called
from the bridge.
"Bo'sun's mate, clear the engine
room hatch"
"Ay, ay, SIR" answered the petty Of
ficer, and passed the order on. Ike
hoe, chase the boys off the hatch
Kehoe chased them. "Off-a this here
hatch here, seapups! Think that'll
make seadogs out'a you? OFF you go!"
The huddled shapes stirred weakly,
but made no move to vacate their cosy
bed of woe.
"Out-a this! Beat it-vamoose, you
dopes, you clans, you"
Kehoe had seized an empty coal-sack
and was belaboring the boys with
harmless but singing effect, and they
scrambled hastily out of his reach, ex-
cept one, who kicked viciously at his
tormentor. Kehoe dragged him to the
deck by his heels. The apprentice
sprang to his feet and with lightning
quickness struck the seaman in the
face. Astounded, the latter dropped
his hands to his sides and gaped I'M
belieyingly at the pugnacious young
ster.
What's your name, boy?" feelingly
inquired Mr. Swayne from the bridge.
The apprentice looked up at him,
fury in his eyes, and answered sharp
ly, James Colmer."
You're under report. Colmer. And
so are you, kehoe; you were abusive
and violent"
Say sir when you're speakin' to an
officer, Jimmie" gently advised Pat
rick. Look here, kid, where'd you
get that fistie? Lemme shake it"
The left eye of Patrick Kehoe, bully
of every ship on which he had yet
served, was already swelling and turn
ing blue as the result of blow from
a boy of fifteen; and from that hour,
as long as Jimmie Colmer remained
in the Navy, he did not want for a
friend and instructor, both in seaman
ship and fisticuffs.
The alliance between the two was
cemented next morning by their hav-
ing to appear together, with other pet
ty offenders, before the commanding
officer, Eat the mast" to be assigned
punishment. Both sought to assume
the blame, and their Damon-and-
Pythias attitude secretly so pleased
the "Old Man" that after a severe rep
rimand he gave them a minimum pen
ance, two demerit marks on Jimmie
record and two months restriction OF
shore liberty for Patrick.
After leisurely visiting Victoria and
the principal ports of Puget Sound
the WdtchfuI came to anchor in Sc
attic harbor. and Jimmie joyfully pre-
pared to visit home. Patrick took only
a practical interest in his young
friends home going. Jimmie was as
yet by no means a model youth, and
his conduct had been regulated by
Kehoe's watchful eye and warning
tongue, the profanity of which had al
ways cause and effect, in order thai