New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-10
Jonah Sailor
Changes Luck
of the BluebelE

When the old trawler Bluebell shed
her un.idy deckgear, covered her rusty
nakedness with Admiralty gray, and
slid down on the harbor rip with the
white ensign adroop over the taifrall
one would hardly recognize her as lne
same boat till you dropped below INTO
the fo'c's'le and saw the familiar oiG
crowd gathered round the dirty coal
stove. says Walter II. Hoiton IN Inc
Manchester Guardian.
UrClc S!las was still cock o the mess
and wore the same old bowler hat WIN
his thigh boots as Of yore, unless ne
went ashore, when he affected the UNI
form Stacks and jumper and a little
round hat. Then. IN course o. Tune.
discipline made itself felt and a couple
of outsiders came aboard 10 swell the
ship's company. One was wlld-eyed
youth from the great hills inland WITH
3 definite religious opinions that APP
upaled strongly 10 Uncle Siias and @
wheezy portable harmonIum that
coughed out dreaTy hymn tunes on
every available opportunity But me
other was a reprobate, merchant JACK
from one Of the big cities TO the south.
who scorned religious discussion with
profane contempt, attempted rag
time tunes on the harmonium, and ln-
variably came aboard with uncertain
steps. t2inting the air with wicked
ness where he breathed.
In the beginning the Bluebell was
lucky. Then, with the advent Of the
now arrivals and the harmOnlum, her
luck changed.
There's a reason for ev'rythin',' re-
marked Uncle Siias unctuously ono
evening
He turned 20 the merchant Jack, who
sat silent and Indifferent, his Jaws NOV
inc mechanically over his tobacco Qud.
IAN where were sc afore ye came
hero along" he demanded trucuicntly.
"ln the Niobe.'
4 an why amt &c aboard her now?
Zoos she was torpedoed,' rctorted
the other abruptly
An after that. what then.
"The Chrstabel, sweeper; she
fouled her gear IN mine i've days
after | was ABOARD an went down IN
eight minutes
"An' after that
Shipped along WI this Bible meet
But beyond occasionally reporting
drifting mines the Bluebells ill luck
continued. Then one fine morning
Uncle Silas called away boat ere"
60 run out 20 a big black tramp steamer
that. upon being siGnalled, had move
70. The patrol of Ger climbed easily up
her swinging sides and went through
mo usuai business Of scanning her
nanors Tho captain Of the tramp, I'm
yoluble broken English. assured Nun o.
his Dutch nationality. hrs str,ci ncu-
tral.tv and sympathy with the Alnes.
r. D. r.rsnHr as q
his hand in salute 20 the cXcitable niue
captain on his biz bridge.
There was no response from lhe
Jonah at the bow oar. The heutcnsnt
/ looked up and saw him fumbling with
some tangled gear forward.
"Now, then, there, step lively" nc
snapped out.
still bowed over his tangled rope IN the
bows.
"What the hell is the NATTER" in
ouired the officer. irritably.
"She's fouled, SIR reported the DO"
oar.
The officer sprang up and lodged
forward 20 investigate. There was a
mess Of rope in the bows. and the man
was apparently turning 10 over.
"Im only purtondin'. sir he whis.
pcrcd. hoarscly; "but there's somcthu
Gehy about this bot
Thc officer tumblcd quickly 10 tho SITE
uatIOn
"You clumsy lubbcr.' he shouted
Nth assumed Indignation. 81 reckon
YOU are only ~ 20 paddle visitors on
Yarmouth Beach. Wy apollo
gicr. captain, FOR this delay h'
shouted W 70 the little man, who wa.
yatcbinV events with contcmptu1u
curiosity
"Whon was a-holdir' on, SIR cH
ulatncd the Jonah. still fumblng