The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-06-29
CHAPTER v.
The Captain Makes q Friend.

HNG SAHISlika WdNSS ~ E-EhCNGu
T-SIYE minutes later be was at the
" street corner inQuiring OF a Pc
liceman 1.-THE handiest way to get
10 Pine street" Following the direc
tions given, he boarded q train at the
nearest subway station, emerged at
Wall street, inquired once more, To-
Gated the street he was looking for
and, consulting q card which he took
from big stained leather pocketbook,
walked on, peering at the numbers Of
the buildings he passed.
The offices Of Sylvester, Kuhn &
Graves were on the sixteenth floor of
a new and gorgeously appointed sky
scrapcr, when Captain Elisha entered
the firms reception room he was ac-
coSted by a wiie awake and extremely
self possessed office boy.
Informed by the none too courteous
lad that none OF the firm WIS in, he
4eft his card, saying he'd return later.
Captain Elisha strOlled down Pine
street, looking about him with interest.
1t had been years since he visited this
locality, and the changes were many.
Soon, however, he began to recognize
familiar landmarks He was approach
ang the water front, and there were
fewer new buildings. When he reached
South street he was thoroughly at
home.
Ghe dOcks were crowded. The river
was alive with small craft OF all kinds.
Steamers and schooners were plenty,
but the captain missed the old square
riggers, the clipper ships and banks,
such as he had sailed in as cabin boy,
as foremost hand and later command
ed on many seas.
At length, however, he saw four masts
towering above the roof of a freight
house. They were not schooner rugged,
those maSts. The yards were set square
across, and along with them were furl,
ed royals and upper topsaiIs. Here at
last was a craft worth looking at. Cap
tain Elisha crossed the street, hurried
past the covered freight house and saw
a magnificent great ship lying beside a
UAOnOp OpCA WANlAs DOWn IIC WudIA
ne walked, joyfully, as one who greets
an old friend.
The wharf was practically deserted.
An ancient Waterman was doing in a
sort of sentry box, but he did not wake.
There was pile Of foreign looking
crates and boxes at the farther end of
the pier, evidently the last bit Of cargo
waiting to be carted away. The cap
tain inspected the pile, recognized the
goods as Chinese and Japanese, then
read the name on the big ships stern.
She was the Empress of the Ocean, and
her home port was Liverpool.
The captain strolled about, looking
her over. The number Of improvements
since his seagoing days was astonish-
ing. He was standing by the wheel,
near the companionway wishing that
he might inspect the officers quarters,
but not liking to do 50 without an in
vitatfon, when two men emerged from
the cabin.
One Of the pair was evidently the
Japanese steward Of the ship. The 9TH
er was tall, clean cut young fellow,
whose general appearance and lack of
sunburn showed quite plainly that he
WAS not a seafaring man by profession.
He said he was a friend OF one CT the
consignees and would be pleased to
show the captain over the ship.
Captain Elisha, delighted with the
opportunity, expressed his thanks, and
the tour Of inspection began. The
steward remained Oh deck, but the
captain and his new acquaintance
strolled through the officers quarters
together.
"JCrushyg' exclaimed the former as
be viewed the main cabin. "Say, you
could pretty nigh have O dance here,
couldn't you? a small one. This re-
minds me Of the cabin aboard the Sea.
gull, first vessel went mate of-it's
30 different. Aboard her we had to
walk sittin' down. There want room
In the cabin for more'n one to stand
up at time. But she could sail, just
the same, and carry 1t TOO. I've seen
her off the Horn with studdin' sails
set when craft twice her length and
tonnage had everything furled above
the tops1 yard. III hum! You mustn't
mind an old salt ruaRln' on this way
rye been out Of the pickle tub a coed
while, but l cGl'late the brine amt all
out Of my system"
His guides eyes snapped.
Il understand" he said laughing.
i've never been ut sea en- long voy-
age In MY He. hut ] can Gadcrstand
Just how you fee. les in my blcod, |
guess. cone " S.vlt water line.
My people were from Belfast, Me. md
every man o. them went TO sea-
"Belfasr, teT? They turned ou:
sszae g No. J sa;lore in Belfast. /