Gilpin observer., 1914-10-29
Excuse Bluejaekets Give fo
Breaking Rules.
Some Of Them Arc NoveI-A Sailor
Drunk on shone Duty, Blamed Lo-
cal Malaria Epidemic as the
CAuee Of His Offense.

Now lay,aft 10 the mast al-l-l the re-
ports"
When. this, word Ia passed aboard
one Of Uncle Sans batteships it is
time for the sailorman "on report" to
think of HIS, excuse, II he has one, for
the, mast is the daily court held
aboard ship by the captain, and It is
there that; punishments are handed out
to- the Offenders against the ships
rules forSthe previous "a hours.
1t is there. that the offender Is eI-
tial or given minor punishment, ac
cording to the nature of his offense.
the skipDer's humor and his readiness
with the gift of CAB" Many and
varied are the pleas put up by the de-
fense. Some Of them would entitle
the author to life membership in the
Ananias. club, and il the captain is a
good one from the bluejacket's point
OF view he win give you the benefit OF
the doubt when otherwise anything
from g. few hours extra duty on the
quarter deck with rife to short
stay In the brig on bread and water
will be your portion.
At eleven o'clock every weekday
morning the reports" are all assem-,
bled al the mast. The executive officer
reports the fact to the captain. The
bugler sounds attertion as the "old
man" appears on deck, a mental re-
hashing OF stories and a stiffening OF
backs goes down the line. The order
reports, salute" is given and the. CAP
tain is ready to hear the first case.
Brown, H. R., two hours over leave
from liberty" reads the yeoman
standing by with the records and re
port book. Brown steps, forward,
salutes. gives his spiel and is excused
or punished, according to, the fates
and the skipper's humor.
We'll, sir. you see," he explains. 1T
was just like this. L was called late
this morning Just had time to make
q run for the dock and catch the last
boat for the ship. ] was coming along
straight for the ship when passed the
Salvation Army. The band struck up
The Star SDangled Banner and. of
course, l had to stop and stand st at
tention uAtil they had finished. By that
time had missed the boat
The captain calls for Browas enlist.
ment record, looks 1t over and sees
that Brown is a habitual liberty break
er. Young man." he says. 81 don't be-
lieve you, four hours extra duty with
rifle on the quartar deck" and Brown
retreats forward to explain his case to
his shipmates.
The story Is told Of captain. old in
the service Of the navy and wise in the
ways OF liberty breakers. who claimed
to have heard every excuse that could
be offered at the mast for overstayins
shore leave Should a man give him q
excused, but for an excuse he hat
heard before the punishment was to be
doubled.
Before long a man appeared at the
mast three days over leave. Sir" h'
said, Il heard about your offer for {
new excuse. Accidentally l broke m!
liberty for an hour and l have beer
over In town ever since trying to thfpl
up a new one"
60 forward" said the skipper
The yeomal consults the reports
book.
Smith, G. E.. drunk on duty ashore,
he reads, and Smith. newly rated pet
ty officer. steps forward. cycling thu
GROW" on his right sleeve In manner
that would lead one to suspect that h,
was fearful 1t would soon take figh
and soar away.
Well. young man. what have you t.
say?"
You see. sir, 1t was this way. l wa.
sent ashore on patrol. You know. sir
how the doctor has warned us abou
the epidemic of malaria now prevalen
and the danger Of drinking the watel
ashore. AS preventive | took al
overdose OF whisky and"
'Twenty-four hours solitary confine
ment on bread and water. Master a
arms. take him away"