The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-02-19
AN INTERESTING
NAVAL INCIDENT
A Story Taken From the Personal Log
81 Book Of one of Uncle Sans Blue Jack
1 cts, who isnow Spending an Enforced
FurIough Here.
Written By 4I2S)

Ihe y. .. >. Ohio, nagship OF the
| Asiatlc fleet, at that time the pride
Of the American Navy, lay at an
chor off the Woo-sung Forts at the
entrance of the Yang-tye Kiang
river.
Majestic Chinese Junks, with
their high. housed poops and team
ing, masts carrying one large lateeu
sail, foat-d by. Now and then, one
of the immense Transit Pacltic liners
churned sluggishly up the stream OIL
slipped rapidly by, outward and
honeward bound from that city
up the river, the Mecca of allsailor-
men, the wonder and ,bewildermen1
of all Oriental travellers; Shanghai
China.
The day was quiet and torrid and
around the decks of the Ohio the
gobbies,'' Or bluejackets. sought
every available bit of shade; some
pounding their beam on a caullng
mat, some gathered in gangs listen
ing to the sea lawyers" or enjoy
ing their games of acey-duecey,
plnockle or pedro.
Alongside of the forward twelve
inch lturret a battle royal ragged be-
tween the two champion acey-due-
cey players of the ship. Hugo, the
Chief Jimmy Legs" and Sparks. y
the Chief Electrfcian;y each backed
by his advisory board" "Kinkey''
Daners, the quarter-master. for jim
my Legs and ''Spud" Murphy, the
Sos'ens mate doing the honors for
Sparks.
Shakin& the Dice.
With a-uicieus shake, rattle and
roll" Jimmy rolled out two skies,
quickly taking his four doubles he
cleaned his opponents board and
with a good natured guffaw, arose,
stretched his mighty frame, and
said, well Sparks, that's three
Mex you owe me-" Yes if he ever
gets them broke in Chuck" Hill,
who had been an interested specta-
tor. two months, no money, no
shore liberty. no nothing; what the
bells! the matter with that pay
master"
Then the hammers began TO fly
and the and anvil chorus rose like
a wall of anguish. Give bunch OF
bluejackets two mouths aboard ship
with neither monthly money or
shore leave, and they will knock
every body; the old Man.. the First
Luff, the payInaster, the commissa-
ry steward; anybody, everybody,
comes in for their share.
But say! let anyone from any 9th
er part of the ship knock their part
of the ship; let any other ship knock
their ship or their officers; let any
flat foot" of any other nationality
knock their navy, then ......; we'll
there is only one thing jack likes
better than a good flight. and that
is more fight.
Finally, when he could make him.
self heard the Jimmy Legs spoke
up. "I'll tell you, boys" he said, it's
not the Old Man or the First Luff
that is to blame. The skipper has
instructions from the Navy Depart
ment to lay up here and await or
ders. No one knows why, not even
the Old Man himself; but there is a
rumor going the rounds in the ward
rooms that it is on account of this
last Boxer uprising that is playing
the devil, south of here, that's all
l know" and he turned and hurried
aft to make his hourly report to the
officer of the deck" -
WELL" said Harvey the cox'en
of the second steam launch, other,
wise knows to his mates as the Ash
attic Spider" Il snspose they know
what there doing, but. gee! I'd give
two months pay for twenty-four
hours ashore in Shanghai" and he
turned sulkily toward the rail to
watch the sam-pans and bum boats
clustered alongside gazing moodily
up the river for a few moments: he
turned quickly, ard grasping one of
the apprentices by the arm, a signal
boy from the after bridge; said:
Hey! Flags" quick; what pennant
is that launch carrying, see? stand
ing down the stream there"
Springing quickly to the rail the
lad watched the approaching boat.
Turning he started aft on the run.
SCome on fellows" he said; it looks
like, the consul general, let's see
what's DONG"