San Diego State University - Del Sudoeste Yearbook (San Diego, CA)

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6 WHITEAND GOLD A Short Cruise on the ttPrinceton Thb United States Princeton lay in Panama harbor for about three Intonths, watching Uncle Samis interests I had heard that the captain was in need of more hands, and as I was a man of leisure, I offered my services, which were gladly accepted. In the morning soon after my arrival on board ship, I heard a loud gong suddenly sound, :1 harsh vdice command Up anchor? and in a few moments the Princeton put out to sea We had been at sea about two days when the captain summoned all hands before him. I was surprised to learn that the sailors are never punished for any misconduct during their stay in port unless the offense is very serious. When all the crew were assembled, the pay- master holding a long paper, called off their names, beginning with the first lieutenant. The person called stepped forward with uncovered head, and sa- luted, and then, as the sailors say, the captain straightwfay tibawled him out before his fellow men. If his case was serious, he was court marshalled or put in the brig tprisom from two to fifteen days, according to the captains decision; but if his: offense was slight he was deprived of his shore liberty for two or three weeks. After a five days cruise we put into Acapuled, a beautiful place. The coast is green and mountains form the background. The first thing we saw on entering the harbbr was a huge rock known as the Death Rock, a. rock which in olden times was used as an executing block. The next interesting thing we passed was an old Mexican fort. The Princeton as soon as she was opposite the fort, sent off a salute of twenty-one guns in acknowledge- , meat of the Mexican government Them from the fort a. few Mexican sol- diers emerged and advanced toward an old smooth borre gun and sent off their answering salute. This gun is so dangerous to those firing it that be- fore each discharge the Mexicans rushed far to the rear. The Princeton, having paid her respects to the Mexican governmnet. proceeded at once to bier anchorage. As soon as the anchor was dropped a number of small boats, filled with provisions and manned by women put off from shore, and pluckily made for our ship. These bumboat women, so called in place of provision women, were soon chattering like magpies on board ship and displaying their goods to the best of their ability. The women formed a striking contrast to the ship, which is considered the cleanest in the navy, with her white paint and her glittering brass work; the whole ship seemed subdued by the side of the gorgeously attired Mexicans, with their black hair, Hashing eyes, swarthy skins, and their beautiful white teeth, which are indeed the envy of every Ambrican woman. The manner of dress is pe- culiar; their bright colored skirts come just above their ankles, the waist is made with long, howing sleeves, and their.head gear is a bright, colored shawl gracefully wound around their well dressed hair. The women though fat are very graceful and as they sit cross legged amidst their wares, pointing to their beads and Mexican trinkets, t0 the pottery, fancy work, fruits, caries, cocoanuts, they form a picturesque group. Such an unusual chiarm do these women possess that a sailor is buying before he knows it. The canes and cocoanuts seemed to sell more readily, for the sailor, who is deprived of all

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WHITE ANDGOLD 5 mate, but her proud, selfish nature betrayed itself often and made it very hard for the shy girl to whom every thing and every one were strange. One evening as they sat studying, the only occupants of the drawing-room it happened, Madge was roused by an exclamation of surprise. She jumped up with Hello, Frank, where have you been keeping yourself so long ? But with only a cheery ttHowdy, Madge?,i Frank walked briskly across the room and exclaimed, IIWell, Miss Stanton! Vera! Give me your hand. This is quite a surprise. Did you drop down here or-iw HFrank! The Itg'reen countrified girl rose, and with coloring cheeks, extended her hand, which Frank shook cordially. I did think of you when Miss Martyn spoke of a friend of hers, a Mr. Holden, but dropped it as an idle tHought. Yes, mother wishes me to enter college and I came here to prepare? ThatIs fine! Hope you are getting acquainted. I see you are studying so I wont intrude, but I shall look forward .to a visit with you soon. Bow- ing, F rank turned and recrossed the room to where Madge had been, but she had disappeared. He saw her walking up thie corridor and in a moment ovet' took her. Madge, you must come back and meet Miss Stanton. She i-s an old chum of mine from home. Please come? IIIndeed I wont Iive had the pleasure of her acquaintance in a rather forcible way already. - Sorry, but it is impossible. Permit me to say I ad- mire your tastes immenselyV Frank was overwhelmed by this outburst. nWhy, Madge, what he: happened? In what forcible way? Explain yourself! Then in a flash he saw it all. Her anger at Miss Hart; her actions for the past week ; the 'Igreen countrified girl? But he did not hesitate as to what to do. Madge should tiell him. She was silent, however, and no amount of persuasion brought to light the story he wished to hear. They were at the door of the building and with a lame excuse of having to study, Madge left him to his thoughts. The incident in the drawing room was a revelation to timid, shy Vem Stanton, and she shrewdly saw trouble ahead. Frank had been her best friend in their mutual tthomeii village, but here he was anothefs. Madge had only at day or two before spoken of him and lauded herself as having chosen Itthe best-Iiked young fellow in school as her friend. Vera had frankly said, and truthfully, that she had not associated him with the name Madge had spoken only for the instant. N OW he had in such an unexpected manner proved to be her old chum of high-school days! Even the sight of a home friend, and especially Frank, whom she had not seen for two years. sent a thrill over her, but she was resolved in an instant on her course of ace tion. She knew Madge jealously adored him and she would in no way in- trude. For days she avoided him, as Madge avoided her, when suddenly an unexpected and strange event occurred in Greendale Academy, which put an end to her worry on that line and turned it to something of a very different nature. tTo be continuedJ

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WHITEAND GOLD 7 liquor on board, hasx only to pull a plug out of the coeoamut or the head off the cane, and he can partake of the deadly intoxicating Mexican drink, mes- cal. So powerful is this drink that for days after, the man who hhs partaken freely of this mescal will be intoxicated with a. smlall cup of water. Then the water monkeys or water coolers are exceedingly cheap. I was surprised to be told that any size could be bought for fifteen cents, whereas in the city of San Diego I had to pay a1 dollar for a. medium sized one. ' A very comical incident happened to my friend and myself while we were in the city. We were tired of snhipfs food, so during our shforre liberty we entered a restaurant. The Panamanian, a swarthy old dame, could barely understand English. We asked for Spanish stew, the answer was: the no sabbe. We then asked for chicken, roast beef and ham and eggs. Still the same melodious yet hateful, me no sab F We were getting desperate when finally a bright idea struck me. I got down on my hands and knees and crowed to the best of my ability. The womants eyes lit up and at last she uttered sabbe. We felt a bit better, but how about the ham? My friend who was not to be outdone by me, suddenly got down on all fours and grunt- ed. Again the woman with great seriousness said, ttsab P At last our ham and eggs were put before us, but they were well earned. Our next stopping place was at San Diego, 3. beautiful city, with a few more amusements than the Mexican city offered. The sailors were very anx- ious for the bumboat man to come alongside, for his wares were quite dif- ferent from the Mexican womanis. Thevbumboat man arrived soon after the shipts anchor was weighed. The sailors crowded around him like wild animals and obtained to their delight pies, milk, candy, tobacco and any other article they wished We stayed in San Diego about one month and then we set sail for Mag- dalena, the American target station. We had a. very pleasant voyage down and kept in sight of land the whole time. The bay of Magdalena is horse- shoe shaped, very large and very beautiful. The squadron headed by the flagship Chicago, maderfor the left of the harbor, where a few white shanties, the only buildings there, stood. When opposite these shanties the flagship dropped anchor and the remaining fleet respectively took her position, each ship flanking the one in front of her. A huge target was then placed in the water a. long distance from the ships, and the fleet were ready for action. The sailors while at Magdalena utilized their Spare time by shooting the immense turtles which swarm in the warm. bay. We stayed here for about two weeks and then we again proceeded up the coast, back to the land-locked harbor of San Diego. Florence Smith- They were walking together down Logan Ave. As they crossed 23rd St., which has recently been named Crosby St., he looked anxiously up and down the avenue, then remarked: ttSay, old man, where does Gurwell live ? Witty student, on seeing Miss Lamb dressed in her shop apron-What is the price of beef today? . Miss Lamb-Sorry I cant tell you, but I deal only in lamb.