Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/69

43 the mids with a few Mizzentopmen to assist. We were divided into watches, but it was of short duration, for the older Mids desired to put the work on the youngsters who came to the resolution to rebel, and absented themselves in a body in sending aloft yards. In the morning it so happened that the Comdre was eyeing the ship from his office window and [saw] that the yards were hanging aloft and no one to receive them. Lieut Salter had the deck and when the fore & Main were ready to cross, he looked up at the mizzen and found no one there. His temper rose and he made a fool of himself, throwing his trumpet down and swearing, calling for the Mizzentopmen. The yards were soon crossed but the quartermaster, who was on the lookout, reported the Comdre's signal for his boat. All the Mids were suspended at once and sent below except two or three, among whom I happened to be, to do the duty. Salter & the Mids were at issue and the Comdre had seen the strike and it was evidently his intention to see into it. A great stir took place on board, or what is called a row. There was, of course, great discussion among the Mids; the youngsters were in high glee at the row and nicknamed Lt Salter "Fantods," by which cognomen he was known ever afterwards in the Navy.

The Comdre was not long in making his visit and, as was usual, he required all the officers to receive him, always giving time by pulling in his smile as his splendid boat was called around the ship before he came alongside. Of course, the Mids being all suspended, there were none on deck to receive him and only the guard of the marines. I shall never forget his appearance on the occasion. Mr Salter or Fantods had been relieved and such a black look as the Comdre showed was enough to scare anyone. "Unto, Unto, Sir, what is the meaning of this?" After a few words with Mr [Robert] Rose, our 1st Lt, when the Comdre descended into his cabin and shortly after, all the Mids were summoned, their story patiently heard through the older ones, who were especially appealed to. It appeared that due notice had not been given them, and that from the want of organization the duty assigned was devolved upon but a few and those mostly the youngest, who had respectfully remonstrated before. The Comdre was evidently in their favour, though he did not relax his black look but immediately said, "Unto, unto, Gentlemen, leave my cabin." There was a rush out and some uprising.

Then the 1st Lieut and Fantods were sent for and got their share fully, when orders were given for the Mids to go to duty. It seemed that the orders for the exercise of the Mids had not emanated from the Comdre, and as he considered it interferred with the schools, it was countermanded and the Mizzentopmen ordered to do the duty. If it was necessary to exercise the Mids in this way, a day to be set apart for it, and light sails were ordered to be used instead of the heavy ones which they could not handle. As the Comdre was leaving the ship when we were all present, he turned and said to his Young Gentlemen how much he was pleased with their appearance and hoped there would be no more refusal on their parts to carry out orders, and left