The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-13
On q Man Of War.
New York Evening Post.


During peace activity On board a
nav al vessel begins at dawn of day.
The boatswain blows his whistle at
daylight and cries: Cali hands up all
hammocks." Within Eve minutes the
sailors may be seen piling up on deck,
each with his hammock neatly rolled
and dashed, handing it to the slower
in the netting" the long, boX-like re-
mains until sllndcwn, when it is taken
down on the berth-deck again and
made ready for occupation. Immedi-
ately after the hammocks are slowed
the sailors get pint of coffee and
down decks, or, If it is Monday, the
sailors are first piped to wash
Clothes" and lines may be seen run
ming fore and aft. filled with cleanly
washed white and blue clothes, or
scrubbed white hammocks. At "seven
bells" (7:30 o'clock the sailors are
piped to breakfast, and those who are
to go on watch at "eight bells" e
o'clock must be ready at that hour.
at eight bells the ensign is hoisted at
the peak, and "The Star -Spangled
Banner" is played by the band, if on
flagship, or drum and file on others
than fag-ships. Attic same time the
boatswain's whistle is heard, followed
by the believing: "An the watch;
hold the reel; pump ship, and relieve
the wheel" After breakfast the
watch is employed in cleaning the
brass-work and the guns, coiling
ropes, and generally making the ship
clean.
nho oAsoaro not IN xr,otoi, do not
generally rise until 8 o'clock, and then,
after making their toilet, sit down to
a cup of coffee and toast or fruit. At
is beat, and for the next two hours
the crew is drilled at great guns or
the small arm, or sword manual. At
"six bells" I'll o'clock the officers
have breakfast, a substantial meal.
From this time until -four bells" in
the evening Is o'clock, the off GERS not
on watch may occupy their leisure as
they see fit. They may generally be
working out some problem, when at
sea, to avoid being rusty for the next
examination. If in port they may
stroll on shore. At three bells" Is
o'clock is the officers dinner hour,
and an hour afterward they drill the
sailors in seamanship, making, reefng,
furling, bending or unbending sails,
in boat exercise, or target practice.
Rank and rank etiquette are strictly
enforced on board ship. None but the
line and staff officers are permitted to
walk on the quarter-deck-the officer
of the deck having the starboard side
and the others the port side, when in
/ = of <@e
| the deck taking the windward, and
the others the leeward side. The cap
tain enjoys the exclusive use of the
starboard side of the poop deck, and
the other commissioned officers the
port side. Forward of the mainmast
all the officers have the exclusive right
| ward side of the deck, while the sail
leaving or coming on board ship the
same regulation is obServed-the line
and staff use the starboard compan.
crew nse the port ladder. Commls
stoned officers are received on board
with the boatswain's pipe as a salute
The icaptain messes alone IN the
cabin, having his own steward, cook
and waiter, and unless he invites
some of the officers to dine with hin
at times Gas often as happens) he live:
in this monotonous way. The lint
and staff officers, above the grade Of
, ensign, constitute the "wardroon
mess" and live in the main saloon OF
; the vessel. The midshipmen and en-
signs and other officers of assimilate(
rank form the 'tsteerage mess" ant
! the warrant officers mess by them
|, selves. The mss expenses of tn
! wardroom will range from $50 to 81
, a month, according to the station
|. those of the other messes about $25 +
$50 month.
The crew live between decks. The