The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-11-24
On a Man of War.

During peace activity ON board a
naval vessel begins at dawn of dayI
The boatswain blows his whistle at day.
light and cries: ''All hands up all ham
mocks." Within five minutes the sail
ors 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 recepta-
Gle along the rail, where it remains UNI
til shutdown, when it is taken down on
the berth-deek again and made ready
for occupation. Immediately after the
hammocks are slowed the sailors get n
pint of coffee and then turn to to "holy-
stonen and wash down decks or, if it is
Monday, the sailors are first piped to
''wash clothes,n and lines may be seen
running fore and aft, filed with clearly
washed white and blue clothes, or scrub
bed white hammocks. At "seven bellsn
(7:30 o'clock the sailors are piped TO
breakfast, and those who are TO go on
watch at ''eight BELLS eight o'clock
must be ready at that hour AT eight
bells the ensign is hoisted at the peak,
and 1.-The Star-Spangled Banner is
played by the band, if on flagship, or
drum and fife on others than fiag-ships.
At the same time the boatswain's whis-
| tie is heard, followed by the believing;
"All 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.
The officers not on watch do not gen.
orally rise until eight o'clock, and then,
"a Il 10
cup of coffee and toast or fruit. At
1.-TWO bells'' (nine o'clock the ''assem-
bly, is beat, and for the next two hours
the crew are drilled at great guns or in
the small arm, or sword manual AT
''six BELLS eleven o clock), the officers
have breakfast, substantial meal.
From this time until ''four bells'' in the
evening (six o'clock, the officers not
on watch may occupy their leisure as
they see fit. They may generally be
found porting over their books or work
ing out some problem. when at sea, to
avoid being rusty for their next exam
nation. If in port they may stroll on
on shore. AT 1.-TWO BELLS (siX o clock),
is the officers dinner hour, and an hour
alterward they drill the sailors in sea-
manship, making, reelng, furling,
bending, or unbending sails, in boat eX-
ercise, 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 quarterback the officer of
the deck having the starboard side and
the others the port side, when in har-
Dor, and when at sea the officer of the
deck taking the windward, and the
others the leeward side The Captain
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 of way on the
starboard or the w .ndward side of the
deck, while the sailors must keep on the
opposite side. In.leaving or coming on
board ship the same regulation Is OBJ
served the line and staff use the star
board companionway, while the war
rant officers and crew use the port lad
der. Commissioned officers are received
on board with the boatswain's pipe as a
salute.
The Captain messes alone in the
cabin, having his own steward, cook
and waiter, and unless he invites some
of the officers to dine with him at times
Gas often happens) he lives in this mo-
notonous way. The line and staff oifi-
GERS, above the grade of ensign, consti-
tute the "wardroom mess, and live in
\ the main saloon of the vessel. The
a. Pidshipmen and ensigns and other
''Sers of assimi lated rank form the
p oflicage mess and the warrant
expefraess BY themselves. The mess
OF from TINT the wardroom will range
nd accordingo forty dollars a month,
en- other messehe station those of the
dollars morRut twenty-five to thirty
The crew live
EN- are divided into fReen decks. They
:. men each, and, byss of about twelve
'er sum out of their monibuting a small
J0, bled to purchase fewOay, are ena-
IN. to their Government ratracies to add
m, or pork, with fresh beef tWf salt beef
led potatoes, flour pilot-bread, ~ week;
bid molasses, vinegar, butter, copper,
Sc. tea. On Sunday morning the !, and
ain called to "quarters" for general Nare
ton OF person and clothing, and e
nd, who wish may attend the church ,
on, vices afterward. Saturdays, after
general work is done, are semi-holida
his when the men lounge about, mend u
de- clothing, read, and otherwise pass nv
the time. The pay of the crew ran
fair from nine dollars and fifty cents for
ice. prentice BOYS to twenty-siX dollars
last month for an s.able-bodied seam
NJ. The petty officers receive higher II
of pay. The sailors are permlttet
and draw monthly money, but a larger
ant portion of their pay is retained until
lilly. expiration of the term of enlistmen
at ~ 4 EUening Post.
and
,rm The true American poet, who
- l,nnr, lnn.I,nd for % lnnn has n1.i.i