Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1908 — PEOPLE OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PEOPLE OF THE DAY

A Critic of Our Warships. Whether founded on competent knowledge or not, the recently published criticism of our battleships has attracted wide attention both In and out of naval circles. Henry Reuterdahl, author of the criticism. Is a marine •rttat and claims t !>e an.expert In warship construction. He maintains that our battleships are not sufficiently protected by armor above the water line, that the location of the magazines is a source of danger and that the guns are set too low. Mr. Reuterdahl Is a native of Sweden and Is thirty-seven years old. He be-

gan his artistic career as a scene painter in his native.land, later taking up black and white work. He came to this country to Illustrate the Chicago exposition for European magazines and liked It so well that he remained. It Is said that Reuterdahl has been on ships of all navies as an illustrator and that he has also made a study of naval architecture. At present he Is a correspondent on board the Minnesota in Admiral Evans’ fleet.

Tha Joke Was on Tillman. Senator Bacon, whose committee room Is next to that of Senator Tillman, has a secretary named Bolffelet. A French name he has, but’ he Is an American and a well known citizen of Georgia. Senator Tillman was introduced to him the other day, but when they met again the senator could not remember the way the name was pronounced.

“Here, you Frenchman, you,” he said. “I can’t pronounce your name. I’ll just call you Buffalo.” Pointing to the name over Senator Tillman’s room, which Is about the only thing which reminds either Senator Tillman or any one else of the name of the committee of which he Is chairman, Mr. Bolffelet asked: "la it because yon are the chairman of the committee on the Five Civilized Tribes that you think of buffalo?’ And the two went down to lunch together, with the meal ticket on the aenator.—New York Times.

Ths Nsw Navigation Chief. Captain John E. Pillsbury, U. S. N., who succeeded Rear Admiral Brownson as chief of bureau of navigation, haa had a wide experience in various branches of naval work. He la a native of Massachusetts and a graduate of the United States Naval academy. For ten years he was attached to the coast survey and performed work of great value.

Captain Pillsbury tells a vivid story of Georges banks. It was during his cruise In command of the “enemy’s squadron” off the New England coast some six years ago. By the rules of

warfare as prescribed the captain had to go 100 miles out to sea. A council was held and the sailing course determined. The captalu reasoned that In returning he would go over Georges banks. “We shall surely find a thick fog there. We can hide In'lt,** he said. The enemy’s squadron reached the shoals at night, and the captain was disappointed at finding the clearest moonlight of all his sea service. Suddenly two streaks of’light shot over the horizon. “They’ve found us, and we are done for!*’ exclaimed a shipmate who was with the captain on the bridge. “Simply the, lights of Cape Ann,” said the captain. A few hours later something green was seen in the distance, sneaking along the water. It was a ship with Admiral Hlgginson, who commanded the forces of defense, and the enemy, commanded by Captain Pillsbury, was discovered.

HENRY REUTERDAHL.

JOHN E. PILLSBURY.