Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1894 — CAPTAIN AND MIDDIES. [ARTICLE]

CAPTAIN AND MIDDIES.

Th* Latter Wara Contrite, But the Former Was Obdurate. Old sailors will remember Captain Percival, known in our navy before the war as “Mad Jack.” Captain Percival was a consummate sailor, and as inflexible as the laws of the Medes and Persians. Although noted for his eccentricity he was admireJ for his ability and determination. When Mad Jack commanded a sloop-of-war on the Honolulu station just before our civil war, a number of midshipmen and petty officers incurred his displeasure by some riotous conduct ashore.. Calling the delinquents before him, the captain administered a severe rebuke, and swore a mighty oath that not one of them should put foot on shore again during the cruise. The lads were rather inclined to laugh in their sleeves at getting off so cheaply, for the cruise was nearly up, and they were daily expecting “orders for home.” But the business became serious when, soon after, news arrived of a diplomatic row, or a case of oppression, somewheres (we won’t bo too particular in the details), and the vessel received orders to sail in that direction and prolong her cruise for several months. The sailed for her destination, touching at several fine ports, and affording frequent opportunities to the senior officers and crew to indulge themselves ashore; but the midshipmen, with daily lengthened visages were confined to the ship. Finally the dropped anchor in a port famed for its lively society, its lovely women, the beauty of its natural position, its walks, its drives, and the brilliancy of its places of amusement —in fact, the paradise of a naval officer. Here it was announced they were to remain some three months. All hands were rejoiced—except the midshipmen, who, as the days and weeks passed away and no permission reached them to go ashore, suffered all the horrors of Tantalus. The ship had been some two months in port when their sufferings reached the culminating point, and they held a meeting to discuss their condition. They argued that when their punishment was pronounced this prolongation of the voyage was not anticipated, and as they had already been sufficiently punished by confinement on board when in port for a long period, surely Mad Jack would, on proper representation of the facts, relax his iron discipline in their behalf and annul the sentence against them. So it was resolved that they should proceed in a body to the captain and ask permission to go ashore. A spokesman was chosen, and they advanced, cap in hand, a melancholy procession, to the captain’s cabin, and before that potentate they feelingly represented the hardships of their case, announced their deep contrition for past offenses, and wound up by a request to be allowed to go ashore.

“So, so! young gentlemen—want to go ashore, do you?” “Why yes, sir; we thought—” “Humph! Yes! Well, I expected an application of this sort; but I’m afraid you’ll misbehave yourselves.” “Oh, no, indeed, sir; we’ll be very circumspect.” “And you won’t get drunk?” “Oh, no, sir! we won’t drink a drop.” “And you won’t go to any dancehouses, or low theatres, or anything of that sort?” “Certainly not, sir; we’ll seek the very best society we can find.” “Yes, yes! Humph! It might improve your health, too, you are looking rather thin; but I trust I shall hear no bad report of your conduct.” “You will not, indeed, sir.” “And you will be on board the ship again at an early hour?” “Oh, yes, sir! we will be very punctual to- any hour that you may fix.” “Humph! Yes! Well, young gentle* men you can’t go !”