I
DANIELS SUBMITS
. PROGRAM FOR NAVY
CONDENSED
THE 01D A
fnorr
-i i r
It ' - " ,
ft -j. it r s x '
'..y.V.'.V.V.'aPjv.-.-.-.'.'A--'
By FRANK H. SHAW.
"AID Mrs. Hapshott: "You're a hard
man, Hiram Hapshott I never
knew it until now I named you for
a kindly husband ashore."
"Ashore and at sea are two differ
ent places," replied the captain of
the Uriah B. Gaster. "When I'm
ashore I take things easy ; when
I'm at sea I act accordingly. Sail-
ormen are dogs, and the more you
beat a dog the better it is. So with sailors.
Grind 'em down, rule 'era with an iron hand, and
they'll not only do their work at the run but
they'll come crawling along and ask you for
more. That's my experience, and 80 years at sea,
man and boy, hasn't inclined me to dispute facts
as they stand."-
I call it cruelty," said his wife without heat,
for she was a woman of sadness.
She knew the cause of that sadness, as did her,
husband, but it was never mentioned between
them by a tacit agreement Twenty-five years of
married life had resulted in a fine endurance of
marital affection the skipper's long absences
from home might have accounted for that in some
measure. The two were good friends, and bick
ering between them was a thing unknown. There
had been one child very many years ago, but it
only raised its voice once in the great world
and before the mother's heart had quickened in
response the voice was stilled forever. The Lord
had given; He had also taken away, and Mrs
Hapshott endeavored to say "Blessed be the name
of the Lord" with a good grace, though at times
the saying was hard.
To hide his emotion the captain threw gruff
ness into his voice. "I'm thinking I made a mis
take in bringing you to sea, lass," he said "It
lsn t a place for women, least of all soft-hearted
women such as you are. But you begged and
prayed, and the owners seemed willing"
"It got to be lonely waiting there ashore, Hi
ram, she said simply. it was at nights, when
when the windhowled and the snow fell every-
JnthT1 Su hT Wmen happy and Pan
lonable, with their men about them; and it it
was more than I could stand. It would have been
easier if if there'd-if Amos had lived." He un
derstood and his rough gnarled hand crept out
along the rail until it rested on hers with the
pressure of sympathy.
"Hiram, I want to ask you a favor. I
its Christmas day in two days' time. Are
SS gIVe a Christmas-a proper
Hapshott opened his mouth and laughed a
laugh that was pregnant with cynicism.
Bt whlrhT Chrlstmas-a proper Christmas 1
'ShriSS . ?PP0Se you mean a holIiay and
ristmas fare? Why, lass, they wouldn't know
Iren't fltT V they had Besides,
arent fitted for Christmas meals, IThere'a a
hrace of chickens in the coon tw riIle8 a
dinner that -1 btte'S
Purpose; but beyond the'pTg " U
Give them a proper Christmas, Hiram," plead
ed Mrs Hapshott earnestly. i't's a( ondeSS
day ashore though-a sad one. That ijfor m?
Bhe amended. i always get thinking of tte 5d
and of how happy His mother muf t have Sen
2S 1?t HIm' t0: she l0t Him' '
She thought the wound was fairly healed hnt
aje at her heart,, It companioned the void at his
-All hands muster aft," cried Captain Hanshott
The men slouched along to the
""rr' waaerstana
A faint whisper seemed to pass through the
ranks. One or two of the faces lit up suddenly,
sloughed off their assumed age, and became young
and comely once more. It was Christmas eve
and thoughts flew with lightning speed to long
forgotten homes, where Christmas had been a
festival of delight in those bygone davs before
the hungry sea claimed them as Its own.
"You've got to thank my wife for that," went
on Hapshott "She's asked me to give vou a
Christmas a Christmas you'll have. Make the
most of it. There'll be a fresh mess served for
dinner tomorrow, and there'll be grog for all
hands at eight bells. That's all dismiss."
.The 'men broke up, walked forward slowly
then, as if moved by . a common impulse, they
came back. .
"Ve vish der lady for to dank," grunted a Ger
man sallmaker, fingering his cap. "Hey boys,
vat you says? AInd't It right?"
"Yes-ja-dofs it, Hans," came the replies.
Mrs. Hapshott was aware of a strange compres
sion in her throat; her eyes smarted. A stiffen
ing of the crew was followed by something faint
ly resembling a cheer; then the men went fonvard
slouchlngly. Their tongues were busy and they
wondered.
.
Still more did s they wonder Christmas day
when, two bells having sounded aft, Mrs. nap
shott appeared among them, her arms piled high
with gifts. From the commencement of the voy
age her nimble hands had been busv with pins
and wool, and now there was something for
them all, warm caps that completely covered a
mans head and held him Immune from frostbite
in the most rigorous weather; mufflers, jerseys
not one was forgotten. Even the greasy cook, a
man of foul speech and unclean habits, found
himself the possessor of a sleeved waistcoat knit
ted out of the fleeciest wool.
"I hope you'll have a merry Christmas, men,"
said Mrs. Hapshott, and they cheered her thev
were gaining practice until the idle vards
seemed to swing In answer. .
Dinner time came round, and steaming kits
Were passed into the forecastle, kits that con
tained savory joints from the porker killed over
night. The men ate and were thankful, but when
a monster plum pudding appeared they stared
with awe-struck eyes.
"Don't thank me, thank the missus," said the
cook, who brought the duff in person. "She made
hinrie fr!fSt Dight; miXed the -nole Moomin'
thing with her own hands. Ain't it a 'onerr
It was a very giant among puddings, and as
oothsome as it was vast. Came, In the miSst of
he revels, a call aft, where the steward stood at
the capstan with a dipper in his hand. Each
map presenting a pannikin, received a tot of
to dlDfhf?if; fr PtaIn Hapsh0tt had reslved
'ft. t M WeH D0W he was barked upon
It, no half-water measures for him. Each man
rece ving his allowance, raised his drinking ve
seLin the direction of Mrs. Hapshott, who was
7n ?them frm ab0ve' and drank a siC
toast to her and to the memory of Christmases
So the wonderful day passed away and once
again night drooped down upon the sea
JUf8, I5801 rose' 8lIpped 011 her clothing and
went swiftly out on deck.
"Hiram what was that?" The skipper had
awakened and, missing her, had made for tte
deck. The faint streaks in the sky showed hinTa
TZ figT' Clad In a ping suit sncS
TrJ TJ?Je MrS' HaPshott clutcLd at bis
arm and held tightly.
fnat'S WHftr He had been thinking what a
seem if the story were ever told
clous. 7 PaSt' and hls manner ws nngra-
erlTW ?eK fingf W8S stretched and quiv
ering, but all beyond was still dark
cea bird-your nerves are on edge," he told
Mrs. Hapshott drew herself to the tnflVn
leaned out. listening. The wind waiW
again; the ship had almost lost her wa; she was
lLCTa thr0Ugh the ater to the accTm!
P 2ixment f flflPPing canvas aloft '
"Hiram, it wasn't a sea blrdl" The woman's
conia wPs r Lsr to wwc" Pss
larmSt haTO been-w"t else conW It be.
and to walk briskly along the deck until she
reached the forecastle. She could not have ex
plained to herself what impulse took her there;
It was something outside herself, some strange
power working detached, yet compelling her to
obey Its behests.
She crouched up in the bows, watchln the
sparkle of water spring gurgling from the fore
foot, watching the frothing bubbles stream away
on either side the black bluff bow.
Vainly she shook herself and assured her own
heart of its foolishness. Vainly she tried to drag
herself away from her self-appointed post. The
air was chill with the beginnings of the dawn
wind ; she shivered repeatedly and remained.
Mrs. Hapshott lifted her eyes and searched the
sea's far rim. Her gaze returned, only to be
lifted again; suddenly she stiffened where she
stood, and her ears strained.
She sprang upon the rail and stood there erect,
her eyes peering Intently. Was it fancy or could
she actually see something? .
There, in the middle distance a veritable
speck ;in the waste of waters was it a shadow,
was It the fin of a lurking shark, or was it was
it? Two seconds she looked, then she ran aft
the men watching her In wonder.
"Hiram out there what is it, what is It?
Hiram, I heard a cry!"
She was clutching at him hysterically and
pointing with trembling finger. To humor her he
fetched his binoculars and focussed them. Mad-
"''i ,(w, sne tnougnt him. He searched
Idly for a moment, then his figure became rigid.
"Back the mainyard !" he roared in - mightv
uii.r. rnun me iorepeak, whither he had de
scended, the mate came aft at a run; the men
following fast.
"There's a raft out there some one on it,"
said Hapshott slowly, his voice almost drowned
by the clatter of the swinging yards.
It was Captain llansh
into the boyt that was hastily lowered; it was he
who urged the rowers onward. Mrs. Hapshott,
now that the thing was done, was possessed by
umuus caumiesis mat yet held expectancy
something strange was happening out there be
yond the range of her vision ; but all was work
ing together for good. She tried to focus the
binoculars on the boat and on the fragment that
floated ahead, but she was all unused to the task
and could make out nothing but a blur.
The boat turned hung motionless; those
aboard were busy at some task. Then the oars
shot out like the limbs of a gigantic spider; Mrs.
Hapshott's heart beat faster and faster so fast
that only with difficulty could she draw her
breath. - ,
"Shall we haul you up, sir?" hailed the mate,
reaching far outboard, and from Captain Hap
shott s lips came a hoarse, unreal cry that Jones
took as an affirmative.
The boat shot alongside; still the captain's wife
did not move from her position by the mizzen
mast. The tackles were hooked on, men swarmed
up them and added their weight to the falls; the
boat leaped upward, was swung inboard.
Bear a hand here," she heard her husband
say, and then the mists vanished from her eyes
w S SawtClearly' Captain Hapshott was com
ing aft talking earnestly to the mate. And in
his arms he carried a little child !
Mrs Hapshott acted exactly as If she had been
expecting this gift from the sea. She held out
her arms and took the walling mite, hushing it
deftly against that broad maternal bosom of hers,
coaxing it,, smiling down Into its crumpled faw
It mattered nothing to her how the babe had
come-it was there; Its tiny fingers around her
finger ; its little head nestled agafnst her heart
A dead woman and a living child-no signs of
forcing011", The WOrds came to her fiXly
nened S k lDg "No tellinS at's hap
penedmust be wife of some skipper sole sur
vlyors-who knows? The woman's d ,
beS"1 ChIId Seems strong enouS
passed Wifdi resterday we'd hava
passed it in the dark likely," said the mate"
we'd never have seen it. God! look at
Hapshott; she's grown younger -V Mra
The. skipper walked across to his wife
"We'll have to advertise v
toyIng with the tartf-aS5:
read-.v 6 SteWart ke some Zi
'Unto' us a child 1 riven" r-. n
shott solemnly. "Hiram, tois EL v, 5?
present to yon and m " ChrtstmoB
APPROVAL OF CONGRESS FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF EIGHTY
EIGHT VESSELS ASKED.
N. C. B. POUR .La, "
1 I
co market has CnT to
baccd daring the JS
IF WE DO NOT ENTER LEAGUE UT
Three-Year Program Recommended
Includes Building of One cYuiter
and Three Battleships.
'Washington. Approval of another
three-year naval building program, in
volving the construction of 88 ves
sels, if the United State does not
enter the league of nations or a simi
lar world organization, is given by
becretary Daniels in -his annual re
port to President Wilson.
"If the United States is not to
enter into any agreement with the
other powers of the earth, which are
now hound together In the leatrue of
nations," says the naval secretary, "I
reel compelled to approve the recom
mendation of the general, board that
Congress authorize three-year uro
gram to be begun as soon as the cap
ital ships now under construction are
launched."
The three-year program recom
mended by the general board to be
under way by 1924 includes the con
struction of three battleships , one
battle cruiser, 30 light cruisers, eicht
gunboats, 18 destroyer leaders, 12
mine laying submarines, 6 cruiser
submarines, a 4irplane carrier, 3 de
stroyer tenders and 3 submarine tend
ers.
No specific recommendations for
appropriations for new construction
during the next fiscal year are in
cluded In the secretary's report.
Contest Seat in Congress.
Washington Dr. J. I. Campbell.
republican opponent of Congressman
Doughton, will contest the election of
he eighth North Carolina district
congressman. This was decided upon
at a meeting of the republican con
gressional committee which met to
consider the evdience.
Southern Would Issue Bonds.
Washington. The Southern Rail
way company asked permission of the
nterstate commerce commission to
ssue $5,900,000 of development and
guarantee mortgage bonds at 4 per
cent, payable ApVil 1, 1956. to be
pledged as security in part for gov
ernment bonds of $3,825,000 to be ex
pended for equipment.
Scramble For Concessions.
New York. A mad scramble amonc
he world powers for industrial and
commercial concessions in Russia
were forecast by Washington G. Van-
derlip, American mining engineer,
wh.o landed here bearing documents
involving $3,000,000,000 worth of Kam
chatka oil and coal lands and fisheries.
Rumanian Senate Bombed.
London. A bomb was thrown
among members of the Rumanian
senate" shortly after it had assembled,
and M. Grecanu. a member of the
ministry., and Bishop Radu, were
killed, says a Central News dispatch.
Accept Reduction In Wages.
Chicago. More than 70.000 negro
laborers of Chicago and vicinity have
agreed to accept a reduction in wages
rather than lose their Jobs on ac
count of reduced production, R. E.
Parker, president of the American
Unity Labor union, announced.
Suspend Students For Hazing.
Ginesville, Fla. Forty-five students
of the University of Florida were In
definitely suspended- as a result of a
faculty investigation of the shaving of
heads of lower classmen by members
of the upper classes.
Long Range Machine Gun.
Washington. Development of a
new machine gun, with an effective
range said to be twice as great as
that of the Browning machine gun,
was announced by the war department.
Smith Opposes' Blue Sunday.
New York. The Motion Picture
Theatrical association made public
a telegram from-Governor Smith ex
pressing opposition to any movement
wnicn would forbid "wholesome
amusement" on Sunday.
Ex-Congressman Commits Suicide.
Montezuma, Ga. Former Congress
man E. B. Lewis, 65, president of the
First National Bank of Montezuma
and also president of the Lewis Bank
ing company, of this citv. shot and
killed himself here.
Board Assumes Jurisdiction.
Roanoke, Va. The United States
railroad labor board has assumed ju
risdiction over the differences be
tween the Norfolk & Western Rail
way company and the Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen now taking a vote
on a proposed strike.
a preoption given' at" WTnwfsiu wi
farrnor cad lira. CrTC;!.
Bank Reserves Lower
New York. The actual condition of
clearing house banks and trust com
panies for the week shows they ,hold
$11,247,910 reserre In excess of larai
requirements. .
storm nf tv, ' -e .
wix season . 'v. .
tlon following a se
Charlotte t
7 his father, DelecSt
on a liquor count c
fined $25 an W 'l
liquor, in the record,
rs court
. i
Concord. Th ... 1
of the North Caroli11
was held here. Delel
the five chapters ia tv !rajC
Salisbury. Rv n.
... Ul. wtL-a
retiring from the
the Lutheran -&rr
Salisbury to live and iJ!
home. '-"c!
Hickory.The handso-.
organ of the Church of f
Installed during the lar".
was used and it iT ea
the congregation and 4
Raleigh. Mr. c. T. &V .
newspaper man and at ? l
master of the citv nf p.r'3
Rex Hospital from paem'J
set in aftr f.n TT
broke his should
High PointDeputv s
Wagner and three rereaVci
captured two copper Kfli
branch sveral miles from thU o
Harry D. Smith, one ot thA 4
operators, was arrested aad r-'j
under a $500 bond. "
Greensboro. Two yoing bavs,
white, one negro, who a L
sentences for larceny in the Gx"s
J county jail, returned to thejaflats
a Drier period of hbertr. T,r r
hungry, they said, was tie reason ftr
coming back after having escaped.
Rich Souare. Sir
" ww wv
ampton county abolished the o!5ce i
county treasurer and appoiited tie
Farmers bank of Woodland u inat
cial agent of the county, to se.-rewli
out compensation. The wrr.ee hi
been entirely satisfactory, sarig
county aDOUt ?2,500 a year.
Winston-Salem. Matthev C O
ton, aged 90 years died athiiho
near Rural Hall.
Charlotte. An automobile, i fckfc
and half a gallon of liquor, w ca
tured by Jim Paxton and other c3ci
who were answering another ail ia
Dil worth.
Salisbury -The Sth. 9th asdlWd
this month are days that r3sa
much to North Carolina. forhepcJ
try rasing industry is to be 1ks-1
mightly.
Durham. Countv Officers V-
Morgan and Hall made a vistt o
banon township about eight t-
from the city and bagged two &
Washington. Joe L. Baker. SS
ly managing editor of The CJ
Observer and now holding the
position with the Asheville
was'' married in Philadelphia to X-3
Edna May Cox.
Mooresville. E. Martin llriP
O'd Fort, was crushed to f
sewer ditch at the Mooresville c-j
mills when the walls caved .a
caught him underneath.
Cope. Robbers entered the Ba-k
Cope but it is not known w
they secured any money or vaiu
The vault was found locked wiu
combination blown off.
Ashevllle.-Local grocers anno
reaucuons averaiu6 -
vegetable and many staples, icu
an announcement by whoUsaie
that reductions averaging Per
had been made.
Lenoir.-Burglars entered EfirdJ
department store here ana rf
complete getaway with a
nWhlntr arr shoes. 1 U i..vf
was made from the front b sm
the plate glass window.
' of
Fayetteville. A mass meel
several hundred cotton farm -
adopted" resoluUons d fof
demning the federal reserve
its handling of the present c m
tlon and censuring Governor
for "his criticism of farmers i
ing their cotton for higher pn.
Tarboro. At his home m fjl
Mr. C. J. Austin, an ow y 6t
Confederate veteran, Passeaattaci ot
the age of 78, following an aw
pneumonia.
auarter
Chapel HUL After threeJth boti
of desperately hard playing a
teams gaining frequently d , f)P.
able to score, Chapel HW to
ward in the fourth quarter, st
touchdowns, and won the n n fof
championship of North car d9
the second rear In success
fatinx Monroe here. 14 t0 u
jtad Eit Spencrr.