SOLD BEFORE THE MAST

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 46, 19 November 1918, Page 9

SOLD BEFORE THE MAST

. » . . ■ '. PATHETIC AUCTION TN'THE NAVY. That she was one of H.M. cruisers was apparent to the most, casual observer: she lay at anchor where, casual observers are not, that, is r<Jl. She had just finished a twelvp-day untr.ol.nnd now swung lazily .with tho tide, bathed in. a sea of sunshine. She had encountered heavy wea-. they on that patrol. .The captain had said..so. You may, therefore, tako it from me that tho sea.was. not of the variety, that laps the coast of. the Rivierain. spring. She had. one casualty as the result. It happened .on the fourth day. out. The auxiliary wireless aerial had broken loose, and,-in spite of orders that no.ono.was allowed in the battery, that aerial had to bo repaired. So it wits a cruel trick of Neptune's to sond a hugo green sea clean over, the ship, shaking her from stem to stern, just us Leading Telegraphist "Nobby".'Cole.was risking his life to repair tho damage. . The poor fellow had risked and given, for when his battered body was. afterwards recovered he was. dead, his skull smashed to a pulp. Subdued excitement prevails in the ship as later wc see her in harbour. Directions havo been. received from the Admiralty "that tho belongings, of Leading Telegraphist. Colo shall he sold before tho mast,, with tho exception of tho ditty-box containing his, private effects.". (This is reserved inact; it wilt bo 6ent direct to "Nobby's". mother.) A spaco of about IS feet square is roped off in tho starboard battery just abaft the foremast. Thero the effects ■ aro laid out in neat "lots." It is almost ono bell (12..30 p.m.), and the ship's company begin to gather round tho ropes. At a signal from the officer of the watch tho sale begins. Tin/ spirit of comradeship—tho respect that exists for a dead manifests itself. Tho bluejackets know that all the proceeds will go to "Nobby's-' mother as his next-of-kin, and, further, he was populnr. There is no need for' the master-at-arms' exhortation to "Bid brisk, lads; worthy cause, you know," and the first lot, an old. duck suit, white as.snow, fetches 755. "All right. Chuck her in.again, master,", cries a voico (There is-no nouter gender in the. Navy, everything is feminine.) .Tho old duck suit is again the subject of spirited bidding and,is'eventually "knocked down" for 225. • » And so tho snlo proceeds. A hundred - cheap cigarettes found in his *ap-box [etch 135., and must surely consider them-selves-elevated to the cigarette peerage when they are. sold tho third time, having realised in'nil the substantial sum of 31s.

His grease paints, tho secret of his wonderful' "make-ups" at the ship's concerts, sell well, bidding being stimulated, no doubt, by green memories of his excellent rendering of Dutch .songs.. So the lots aro disposed of, and l,he sale finishes ns the sailors disperse to tho call of the bugle. ■--:■■■ - Tho writer makes a hurried calculation.

",£37 lis.!" he exclaims. Tho officer of the watch turns to tho mastor-at-arms with an appreciative smile. , , ■ "Very- good sale," says' he as his eye catches sight of an old tin lying on the deck, which had evidently passed unnoticed by the salesman. . "Oh, writer, put mc down a guinea for that-tin of boot polish." he remarks as he makes his way to his cabin to change for a run nshore.-"A.J.N.," in • the "Daily Mail."