The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1914-09-17
David Smith,
Able Seaman
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

| captain WtIuamS OF the UnlCeQ
States navy having had quite long
term of sea service was ordered to the
command of one Of the finest naval
stations on the New England coast
Miss Nellie Williams was in the hey
day Of youth. and visions of all sorts
Of pleasures danced In her head, the
principal Of which was flirting with
the young officers with whom she
would be thrown into contact Her
mother rejoiced that she would be able
| to introduce her daughter into society.
done because neither her husband nor
herself had any fortune. and she was
obliged to live retired life.
But no sooner had the captain as
sumed command and his family been
installed in the best quarters at the
station than Miss Nellie must needs
spoil It all by casting to the winds the
most sacred traditions Of the service
OF all the officers at the station, In
Guiding several midshipmen Of suit
able age to interest q girl of seven
teen. not one succeeded In sufficiently
engaging her attention to save her
from bestowing not only 1t. but her
whole heart. on an enlisted man.
No one can tell what a girl between
fifteen and twenty is going to do. and
when she does It no one can stop her.
The difference in the navy between an
enlisted man and an Afflcer can best
be illustrated by comparing bramble
bush with pine tree. There are in
these times many fine young men
among the United States tars, but the
grandson of millionaire can no more
overstep this sharply defined line be.
tween officer and enlisted man than
can the cook In the galley.
A girl Of seventeen Is as easily caught
az the. stupidest fish that swims. and
no one can tell who will catch her.
Miss Williams one day went aboard
ship locked at the yard. And there
she saw the young man who caught
her. What It was In him that caught
her no one could tell. True, he was a
pretty boy. but there were other pretty
boys who wore officers uniforms,
while the young man In question wore
the sailors cap. the blue flannel shirt
with broad collar and the trousers
tight about the hips and loose below
the knee Of common sailor.
Now. Captain Williams, who found
no difficulty In commanding his sta
tion. consisting Of many strong men.
found himself unable to discipline his
daughter. He threatened, II ever she
was caught speaking to the youngster
again. to send her away. She made
promises. but they were not kept He
would have ordered the sailor-David
Smith was the name on his ships
roster-away from the station. but
Miss Nellie's infatuation had become
known and such action would be con-
sidered using Official power to serve
private interests. and the captain was
very sensitive on such point More
over. he feared that II he put on the
screws" his daughter might run away
with the tar. This would not only
tie her up to common sailor. but
deserter.
How, when and where th3 tar and
the captains daughter contrived to
hold their meetings no one knew. At
least no one would tell They had
many adherents among the sailors, but
none among the officers or their fam
lilies. Finally 1t became apparent to
Captain and Mrs. Williams that some
thing must be done. and one morning
Miss Nellie was informed that she was
to be taken back to the quiet home.
There was nothing to do but submit,
and what had promised to be such
fine thing for them ended In disap-
pointment. And all this on account
Of Miss Nellie's having fallen in love
with q common sailor instead Of an
officer.
One day Captain Williams received
from Washington the discharge papers
of a sailor named Howard Singleton.
The discharge had been granted by
the secretary Of the navy at the re-
quest Of the British minister. The
case was brought to the commanders
attention by the officer having the care
Of discharges because there was no
such person as Howard Singleton at
the station.
make inquiries for him." said the
Captain: 'he may have enlisted under
an assumed name"
The officer retired and soon after re-
turned with David Smith. able seaman
The captain. who knew him well. hav-
ing had an interview with him con-
corning his daughter. looked at him In |
establishment.
lis your name Singleton asked
Captain Williams.
1T is"
I "Are you British subjectr'
81 am. My father is Sir Charles SIN
gleton, a shipbuilder on the Clyde In
Scotland. He builds ships for the Brit
ish navy. l am to enter his service,
but thought 1t better to learn some
thing of warships by serving awhile
On one Of them. In the British navy
r ~~..,A vn< horo nrocorvod INV 3nNOU