The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-25
Commodore Parker's Command Battling
with Imaginary Foes.
SMOKE AND WATER.
Hard Times for Gunners and Sig.
nal Officers.
A Puffy Prize Captured Off
Florida Reefs.
GULF OF FLORIDA

Tue regular report OF the cruise is mere takeh up
again. 1t Is hoped to present this in such shape
% to be inteligDle to every naval onicer and to
serve as matter for preservation ana future refer
ence. This morning (eriday) opened clear and
pleasant, with light southeasterly breeze. The
wind died out toward midday, and we suffered
from the neat as much as during sultry August
afternoon in New YORK. The feet weighed anchor
together at nine O'Clock, and the signal t2i0) was
At once made, under the Distinguishing pennant
OF the Shenandoah :-"From the vessel whose
disttn gushing pennant is shown over this
signal feet form double echeon." This was sup
plemented by the signal directing the feet to steam
west. All tie vessels had anchored In double
echelon, with the wings In advance, and as they
were heading east at the moment on which the
signal was given, all the helms were put hard
ABORT. Each vessel had reached her position when
her bow was brought around to west.
''BOARDERs AwAY.n
signal from the flagship at ten sent the ofacers
and crews Of every vessel to general quarters.
The guns were manned and each ship fred one
broadslde Of blank cartridge. Even from this
amOnnt OF firing the neet In the rear OF the nag
ship was for short time enveloped IN smoke.
then saw the pontedness p . no. commodore 81
vessels under cover OF the smoke OF battle.
could very readily realize oy the simplest system
SO much smoke, two hours Of battle would abso-
lNtelv obscure Toes and friends alike. An Fast
River fog would be sunshine In comparison. As
viewed from the poop deck OF the flagship, this
"make believe" battle was quite an Interesting
sight.
PLAYING WITH FIRE
The signal to exercise at fire quarters came soon
after. The pumps were manned and the men
thther among the throng men could be seen hur-
rying with fire extinguishers strapped on their
were sent o to make
were stationed at the falls OF the other
boats. 'Ihis reminds me Of -" was all
hurried down the ladder to the spar deck. was
very sure the comparison would eventually fail in
Action es tie served Sss @ a A and
Il there is anything for which sailor has weak
4 No71cEABLE IMPROVEMENT.
The neet was then ordered from double echelon
''forward into iine," and this movement was exc.
the Meet was now heading west. all abreast At
halfpast eleven the signal was made to the First
ne 1 se the S
''FrOm the lett OF division form echeon OF
vessels" The three extreme ships on each wing
centre advanced In line. The result OF the evou-
tton was to place the neet In positions which, ind
ton OF rruncated cone. A very marked improve
ment In the execution OF evOluti0ns s noticeable
the ne as tss Ds the
ward the east, and In that order and formation
they returned 70 their anchorage At twenty MN;
utes past three. This was the end OF the second
weeks evOlutions. Saturday and Sunday are days
OF rest.
st. Valentines Day-A Fishing Party ON
tho Florida Reefs-An Incident Of the
Naval Function.
GULF OF FLORIDA. ON BOARD UNITED STArEs(
FLAGSHIP WABASH, Feb 14-Evening.
Ihave just returned from q days fishing on the
famous Florida reefs. shall endeavOr TO give you
some account of the delightful sport Iawoke on
n tfrI how
another day. on board man-ofwar. wrangle
between two OF the wardroom boys, as to whose
turn 1t was 60 forward alter the next cup OF COZ
fee disturbed the tranquility Of my slumbers. A
sense Of soreness in my stdes-which nights toss
ing about on these hard mattresses always brings
and realization OF the fact that the
sun was streaming in through the open FORT, were
my first Impressions. This was St. Valentines
day; yet had slept till after eight O'Clock, and
remembered, all at once, thu the bonnie days
depicted in the familiar page OF 1.-THE Fair Maid
OF Perth" were 'lang sine gang" Key West Is
not remarkable, moreover, for the appreciation in
which its citizens hold these good old ceremonies
and myths.
COFFEE INSTEAD OF A VALENTINE.
The realities OF thus world, In the shape Of coffee
and toast and an apprecative appetite, got the
better Of my Imagination before long, and put in
an appearance at the wardroom table. The query
rs to how the day should be passed seemed to have
taken root in each one's mind, SO that it was with
feelings OF sincere and Keen pleasure ON
the part Of some that it became known
that q grand fishing excursion was to be
organized to 80 In to the coral reef Our pilot who
apparently knew exactly where every fish in the
Gulf OF Florida was located, was kind enough to
volunteer in this foriorn hopes In quest OF relief
from monotonous Saturdays rest Not o man in
that party, from the ranking of1cer to the boy
who went along to take care OF the fish, who did
not see himself returning with all his
PRIDE AS A FISHERMAN
gratified. "Fish enough for the ships company at
least" saw written In several eyes. Not seeing
any opportunity for "Deat" If l accepted the In.
vitation kindly rendered me, laid aside my note
book for few hours and stepped into the boat.
There were several very distinguished persons
among the number; still l nave no authority TO
on st. Valentines day, 1874
"oH, SAILORS LIFE FOR ME-"
After. sail OF ten miles TO the southwark, with
trary, we reached the fishing grounds. Shave
privately, and in the klndest manner possible, as
we left the Wabash. Never was more Just indigna
zion the
been the reply, but his face said Enthusiastically
1--WE can 60 ashore on one 81 q the keys and cook
that Il was . proclamation to insinuate
Sss ws one here THAT %e you'd cu a s
down anchor, fsb ahoyl ''Surely this Is not the
placer" says one. II guess not" replies the pilot
hours are passed in prospecting, with only six or
eight small 'yophers" to satisfy the desires OF the
nsheImen gallant Young midshipman produces
bottle OF Bass, and we lunch or this and some
sandwiches. Then to the sport ~ again. The
pale iace Of our signal 0ficer, filed as Is his mind
Win the past ten days neet evolutions, intmates
tn4t tpe nsh nave doubtless formed In echeOn for
the common defence At any rate, they defy all
our Efforts at capture.
HOW OUR VALENTINE CANE.
AL at once one OF the most popular o01cers in
she wardroom gets bite. We are ali glad OF it.
Not only because II signaizes the usual good luck
which attends the Jolly fellow who ia KnoWn
Familiarity as western Ocean Johnnleu but DE-
cause his good fortune shows that there are nsh
yet IN tho seawhich, In fact, 1t NAV he seriouslv
remarked, we were actually beginning to doubt.
"Haul her In Lieutenant" suggests the Mot. with
Joy in his eyes. ''Let her play" Remarks anoo,her
.Gve her Sheet, exclaimed the mdship.
man enthusiastically as he stops readinp