SIGNING THE PLEDGE ON THE GROG TUB.
H.M.S. Topaze was refitting in Devonport Yard, preparatory to her departure for sea, when I found myself on hoard. r l he commander of the ship was present, the sen of eager faces was before me, and we were Btanding on the middle deck. Anxious not to lose.an opportunity of taking names, as 1 paused I turned to him, and asked for ci small table on which to take the pledgor-. He kindly sent to his cabin for one, but it •waslong in eouiing j the audience wa3 dispersing, and I looked hopelessly round fcr BometluHg to serve as v., table. Ah, there il ■was, a tub—rl supposed a bread tub—of wood, with bright-polished bands. 'May I have that ?' I asked. ' Certainly,' was the answer, with a smile. ' You are welcome to anything on board. Now, men, a couple of hands roll out the grog tub.' Amidst cheers and laughter, for I had actually asked for that time-honored institution the ' grog tub,' it was rolled out and placed before me. The men came tip ; about sixty enrolled their names. One man carefully signed his name, and then, laying down the pen, he rapped the tub with his knuckles and said, 'There goes a nail in your coffin, old fellow.'—Sunday at Home.
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Bibliographic details
Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3233, 10 November 1881, Page 4
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218SIGNING THE PLEDGE ON THE GROG TUB. Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3233, 10 November 1881, Page 4
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