Notes by the Way in A Sailors Life | Page 4

but escaped for what might have been a worse fate - fire.
Her cargo of coals caught fire, and after some days of hard work, the
fire was extinguished; but when the vessel reached Hongkong and her
cargo was discharged, it was found that the hull was a mere shell. Her
frames and planking in many places were burnt nearly through.

The vessel was condemned, the crew were paid off, and the captain left
Hongkong for New York and Syracuse, where was his home. When he
had nearly reached his house he met an old friend who conveyed to him
the sad news of his wife's death and of the funeral from which he was
just returning. A sailor's life is not always a happy one. Is there a
fatality attaching to certain men or things?

Beginning of the German Navy.

In the beginning of the year 1862 I was chief officer of the ship
"Ballaarat," with Captain Henry Jones, of Far East fame. We loaded in
the East India Docks, London, a full cargo of piece goods for Shanghai
and for Taku Bar. We arrived at Shanghai, and, as the war was finished,
we were ordered to proceed to Taku to discharge our cargo for Tientsin.
In due time we reached Taku Bar, where we found several of the
British warships anchored, and the South Forts occupied by British
troops.
We anchored in the forenoon very near to a vessel flying the Prussian
flag, and when we had furled sails and cleared up decks it was
tiffin-time. To our surprise, a boat came from the Prussian, bringing the
captain. I met him at the gangway, and reported him to our captain,
with the result that he stayed to tiffin with us. And then he stated his
business on board our ship. He said he wanted to buy provisions and
stores of any kind, sailors' clothing, boots, or anything we could sell,
which our captain laughingly agreed to do.
The following conversation then took place: "What is the name of the
vessel you command?"
"She is now the 'Hertha,' and was the British sailing-sloop 'Thetis.' The
British Government had her converted into a screw vessel, and
presented her to us to bring our Minister, Count von Eulenberg, to
negotiate a treaty with China as soon as the war should be ended, and
that is why we are here; and the barque with the American flag flying
near to us carries extra coals for our use."
"But," said our captain, "you are not a German. How is it that you are
in command of that ship?"
"No," said he; "I am an ex-Danish naval officer, and all my officers are
Danes, and we have German cadets. There being no German navy,

there are no officers yet trained."
Business then began, and the transfer of provisions and stores of almost
every kind was made from one ship to the other. After this we used to
have daily friendly intercourse for about three weeks, and one fine
morning the "Hertha" left her anchorage. A fresh easterly breeze was
blowing, and the "Hertha" was working under sail against the wind,
which was increasing, and a nasty, short sea rising. After a couple of
hours we saw her yards squared, and the vessel put back and she
anchored near to us. In the afternoon, the wind having moderated, an
officer from her came to buy a grindstone.
This caused some little merriment. Then the officer explained that in
the forenoon, when beating down the gulf, in one of the plunges, the
grindstone had been washed off the forecastle-head, where the men had
been employed in grinding their cutlasses.
They were expecting to hear news of a rupture between France and
Germany, and they were on the way to Hongkong for shelter.
It is highly creditable to the Germans that from so humble a beginning
they have raised such a fine fleet as they now possess.
After our return to Shanghai from Taku I was permitted to leave the
"Ballaarat" and take command of the "Neimen" on the Yangtse.

An Incident in Hongkong Harbour.

The following incident regarding Captain Keppel may be of some
interest to sailors, and perhaps is remembered by some residents of
Hongkong who may have been there at the time of the last war with
China.
Sir Harry Keppel was every inch a sailor, and sometimes did some very
strange things, which would annoy his superiors; but the very oddity of
his actions gained the hearts and confidence of those who served under
him, and he could rely on every one acting as one machine when he
commanded.
One day, for some reason, the Admiral, Sir Michael Seymour, who was
then on the flagship "Calcutta," gave orders for the "Raleigh"