AFLOAT AND ASHORE

Evening Star, Issue 18784, 7 November 1924, Page 8

AFLOAT AND ASHORE

BLUEJACKETS AT BULL-FIGHT. AN ADMIRAL'S TALES. When a sailor who can write plain English sits down to pen his reminiscences (says the Sydney ‘ S'un ’) the reader can confidently expect something breezy, humorous, and well spiced with the spirit of high adventure. Such a book is ‘Spun Yarn: From the Strands of a. Sailor’s Life Alloa fc and Ashore,’ by Admiral Sir Hcurv F. Woods. One of the admiral's most joyous yarns is about two British bluejackets who went to a hull-fight at Valparaiso, taking with them a supply of fiery spirit: “Our two bluejackets, however, did ! not seem to think there was very much in it, to judge by their funny remarks about the ruddy bulls and the nionkilied jumpers, and presently I saw one of thorn suddenly leap into the ring. Pulling his black silk handkerchief , adrift, ho waved it about as ho had seen the ‘Chides’ do with their rod cloths, and presently the bull made a charge. Jack jumped nimbly aside, and die bull passed. Swiftly it turned land was after Jack again, J.nit the sailor was safe behind the barrier when the hull struck it with an angry blow that resounded throughout the enclosure. The spectators were wild with delight. ;■ Brave, nmrinero! Bravo, mnrinero!' : was shouted from all parts of the arena. Never had they seen such a line sight as this contest between a British sailor and a bull. Three times j Jack was chased round the ring by the | angry animal, always escaping a prod by" getting behind a barrier just in time. Then, tired of the game, ho got over the hairier and joined Ids companion. ‘Bravo, Bill!’ said his chum. i • Take a pull,’ and, handing over the bottle to Bill, climbed over into the ‘ ring’ in which the bull stood watch- , ing from the opposite end.” BILL’S CHUM. Apparently jealous of the applause bestowed upon the sailor, all the perft r■nun’s had retired. The other sailor had imbibed more than hi< chum Bill, but ho was convinced that what Bill had done !e> could do also. “ Advancing in zigzag stops and squaring up his lists in a fighting attitude, lie cried out ‘Lome, on! Come oul’ The hull next moment was upon him. High in the air the poor fellow ' was tossed, and he fell with a dull thud i upon the hard ground of the ring—an inert mass. “ The sound of the man’s body ns lie struck the ground was so loud that I thought his hones must have been broken, and 1 was disgusted and enraged to hear the applauding shouts of ‘Bravo, Toro! Bravo, Toro!’ Not a thought, apparently, was givcp by anyone in the crowd to the unfortunate sailor save by his ohutn and myself, i Bill, without the slightest hesitation, jumped into the arena, and, paying no attention to the hull, sat down alongside his friend ami lifted his head on to his shoulder. 'Taking the bottle from under his sorgo, ho pulled out the cork quickly with his teeth, and with the heartening request, ‘ Here, 80, take a swig of this!’ ho poured some of the contents into his chum’s mouth. M iraoulous as it may appear, the man was neither killed nor seriously injured. lie was just dazed a hit, and the liquor reived him. The hull was so amazed, apparently, at the sight of what was going on before bis eyes that ho never attempted to gore or to trample upon either, but just hacked away to the other cud of the ring as if to prepare for another charge. But ho never moved; he merely stood quietly gazing, as Bill, supporting his chum, walked him, quietly outside by the entrance.

“In justice to the spectators, I must say that their voices were hushed at orco when they saw what the other sailor was doing to save his friend, and their departure in safety was hailed by loud ‘ Vivas 1’ and ‘ Bravos!’ ‘ Bravo les marincros lugloses!’ ” SEA SERPENT SEEN.

The admiral declares he once saw a sea serpent. “ In crossing the Javanese Sea, ou the way to Angic-r Road, the great port of call for homeward-hound sailing vessels in those days, we sawone forenoon an enormous water serpent passing over the channel between two islands, just as we were, emerging from it. It must have been nearly 50ft long and as thick in width as the largest of our coir hawsers. It was holding its head some. 2ft or so above water, and moving at a rapid rate.”