Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/91

65 After looking at me for a minute searchingly, he made me some slight apoligy for his suspicions and dismissed me with a pleasant smile. I suppose his suspicions had grown out of my being intimate with Shaler. When I came to learn the facts, I felt it had been quite an unnecessary [act] and should not have taken place, no cause existing why they should have fought. Upshur was a high minded officer and by no means quarrelsome and Shaler was pacific in his disposition. It grew out of the cussing and national feelings of others. Shaler at the end of the cruize resigned & went to the West. Upshur continued in the Service and died before the [Civil] War after having been in charge of the Naval Academy.

During our stay at Syracuse I was with Midn Wilson in the Launch watering ship. Among the crew of the Launch was the ship's trumpeter (Rodriguez), whom 1st Lieut Joe Smith had taken a great fancy to. He was a very indifferent bugler, and blew away at Reville furiously, and did not mind how many notes he omitted, either then, or at the tattoo, and it was generally the signal for boisterous mirth in the steerage. One of the days, Rodriguez took leave of the Launch and went to seek his pleasure. When we [were] ready to shove off, he was missing and Wilson was obliged to return without him and returning on board, reported him absent. It was soon ascertained in the Steerage and such shouts & thanks returned to Wilson & myself for getting rid of him as took place was indeed laughable. All were glad the vile music [was ended]. It may seem strange in a Man of War that is under strict discipline such conduct is admissable, but the Steerage is an exception & free quarters for talk and fun. Although it is next to the Lieutenants' Wardroom, yet custom of the Service has sanctioned its freedom of remark.

After an hour or more I got a message from the 1st Lt and went to him & found him sitting playing the fiddle, holding it between his legs, when without stopping he ordered Wilson & myself to get ready to go on shore in search of Rodriguez, and a boat was ordered to land us outside of the Gates of Syracuse. There was no fear of Rodriguez deserting. He was too worthless a fellow for that and one of no [use], for us [a] hard bargain. We came to the conclusion, both Wilson & myself, it was for punishment and as neither of us could speak Italian, we mentioned it to Mr. Smith. He ordered the old Mast Man (Moran) to accompany us, and thus we thus were landed on the beach outside the town & nothing whatever to do, for there was no police & no entrance within the gates. Consequently, we had the prospect of spending the night in our useless search with old (Moran) to watch and take care of. I told Wilson that I thought it was an useless errand going around among the many shanties, and proposed we should take a canoe & pass across the Bay to the City Water Gate and get aboard by one of the Ship's boats, for I had no idea of submitting to such punishment. I hoped it would be reported to the Captain. He [Wilson], being the older officer, of course, was more responsible than I was but I would take the blame of outwitting Old Joe (as we called the 1st Lt).