Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-10-14
A Day Ashore at Madeira.

Twas the morning Vt the seventh of
July, 1873, that the "St. Mary's" the
New York nautical schoolship, while on
her annual cruise, dropped her heavy
! port anchor and swung lazily around
with her bows pointing directly toward
the little, Nesting town of Funchal,
Madeira.
In explanation to those who have
never heard of the above vessel, it may
be stated that the "St. Mary's" is the
training school for the youth of New
York city, established by the Board of
Education OF that metropolis for the
purpose Of encouraging the growth of
the mercantile-marine, by supplying to
it annually large number of young
American seamen. These young men,
after thorough course of instruction
on the ship, are graduated and granted
diplomas certifying to their proficiency
in the art of seamanship.
During the summer of each year long
cruise is made, generally to the south of
Europe and the island of Madeira,
which affords the boys much practical
experience in their chosen profession.
It is of visit to the above island, in
the year had the pleasure of being
numbered among these embryo sailors,
that am aboat to write.
The schoolship had made a most
pleasant and speedy run across the
Atlantic to Lisbon, and after a week or
ten days stay at that historic city had
sailed for Madeira, the island that
Marryatt pronounces the prettiest on
the globe.
She had been beating to and fro off
Funchsl for nearly twenty-four hours,
on account of the light and variable
winds met with, and it was only by the
merest chance that she succeeded in
creeping in, just at daybreak that beauti
full Sunday, to our anchorage within a
mile or 30 of the town.
Scarcely had the laundering splash of
the anchor into the dark blue waters
died away, when the boatswain's whistle
echoed shrilly through the ship. calling
all hands to furl sail, squave yards, trice
up awnings, and in general to render
ourselves comfortable and show their
foreign community how really ship
shape and neat New York naval ship
could be.
By four bells (ten q. m. J the huge ship
was in perfect order; every deck as
white as snow, the brasswork cleaning
like gold under the fervent sun, and
the ropes femishing down in true
nautical style and hung in graceful fes-
toens everywhere.
After thorough inspection of these
preparations by the officer of the day,
the word was passed:- -
"All hands go below, shift and muster
in blues;' which iargon, translated into
respectable English, was now intended
to express a desire on the part of our
officers to behold us in our best ap-
parel.
Instantly all was confusion. Grimy,
tarred habiliments were exchanged for
the shoddy although neat blue uniforms
passing as "full dress" amongst us
blue hats with nice gold letters rel laced
the canvas denominations worn at sea,
and an unprecedented demand for soap
and black silk neck kerchiefs led to the
ransacking of innumerable "ditty boxes"
and clothes-bags, with most beneficial
and pleasing results. We were prepar-
/ ing for the morrow.
The latest wrinkle in nautical dandy
ism was eagerly seized upon and i'm
proved to suit individual tastes; gsudily
colored handkerchiefs peeped furtively
out of sundry shirt fronts. hats were set
with more rakish air upon curly heads,
and q general spirit OF mutual regard
flor the benefit of the party regarded)
seized upon this fraternal assemblage,
owing to the insufiiciency of few hand.
] glasses.