LORD CHARLES BERESFORD'S PRANKS AS A MIDDY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 317, 16 January 1908, Page 4

LORD CHARLES BERESFORD'S PRANKS AS A MIDDY

Innumerable are the anecdotes related of Lord Charles JJeresford'a early seafaring days. On one occasion the navy value within an ace of losing him altogether, owing to the fact that he participated in the pulling down of the Stars and Stripes one night from the house of an American Consul, a joke which nearly cauaed serious trouble. Another typical story is told of the "lays when he was on the Marlborough, his first ship, where there was a great burly ship's corporal, a fair boxer, w hose duty it was to wake the middies in the morning. One day it so chanced that lie couldn't arouse Lord Charles. " Come on, sir," said he, or I'll make

"Now, look here," sleepily retorted the boy, - you're a pretty big fellow and a good boxer, and <>o you think you're cock of the ship. Now, you say nothing about it, and 1 won't, and we'll go on deck anil settle this thing at once." So in the ea'rly morning, half-light, liefore anyone was stirring, and with only the sentry to see fair play, these two—the great iron-fisted fellow in the heyday of his lusty-manhood, and the flight, delicately-nurtured youth—met one another face to face. It was a magnificent set-to, but both were battered and bruised liefore the officer of the watch had them separated. It is just the story one would expect to hear of a man who has three times won for himself the Humane Society's, medal for saving life at sea. \Va3 it not " Ciurli.' Itereaford who jumped overWard iu a heavy shooting suit with his pocket* full of cartridges to rescue a -ailor that had fallen into the seas that gird th<> i-rerile, ice-bound shores of the Kalkland I-laiids!

lb- i- alwav- to the fore where good work h,i- to be done, always ready to help a friend, with ever a cheering word to tlni-e who arc appointed to carry out hi- order-. He lias an eve for everyfTiing: nothing e-ca|ies him. He has personally done everything in a man-o'-war that he might call upon any of liiofficer* and men to do, including stoking and chipping a boiler. He could Bew a -earn. rope a -ail, and cut out and make a jumper and a pair of trou-ers against jnv -ailntaker i'.-r-ir. he was many years in the -ervice. When he wa* himself in charge of a ship he taught all his middie- how to do the-e thing-, and always in-i-ted on iheir wearing a canvas suit when working in the engine-room, driving a -tcambiiat. or for general work oil M-ani.sii-hip l.i\'l hi' youngster* li.nl to do everything with their overall?, and work ill Miit- made bv themselves.