The Portland daily press., 1883-10-22
Naval Life and Routine.
IN. Y Evening Post.l
The band on the receiving ship Colorado
at the navy yard was playing

few days ago, when reporter for the
PowhataD, and it occurred to him that the
average landsman has little knowledge or
appreciation of the daily life AID routine on
board naval vessel, or of The rules, regula-
tions, disciplines and practices there current.
He reasons that the naval service is only
higher grade of the merchant marine, hav-
ing more of regularity and discipline in its
operation and much less of hard work and
duty, since there are no carg. es to handle
and multitude of men to perform what
little services may be demanded He i'm
AGNES that the principal difficulty is to find
employment for the ships company. He
looks upon the officers life as one of ease.
fancying him an autocrat on board ship and
petted dandy on shore. Such an estimate
of this noble aud busy service entirely disa-
grees with the facts in the case.
The naval service is not school for idle
ness, nor is a naval vessel theatre for com
edy or farcical performances, or club-room
Tor the use of aristocratic young gentlemen.
The rules and regulations of the service are
adjusted to system of constant and suffi-
GENTLY arduous activity; It's discipline is
iron; its duties are neyer-ending; even its
etiquette has practical method and meaning.
Neither do these conditions exist for the en-
listed men of the navy alone. The officer.
whatever his grade, finds always some pow
er higher than himself set over him, to which
he must render implicit and ready obedience.
Moreover, he not only lives on board ship
under all the conditions of labor, activity
and obedience which are imposed lpon the
men under him, but he has call upon his
forces and energies which they have not
the exercise of responsibility. There are.
OF course, pleasant and agreeable features
in the life OF naval officer, but as long as
he remains in the service he is the bond
man OF discipline, and is never allowed to
forget bis responsibility OF that be is work
ing bee in the great hive.
Few officers understand the matter of
grade and rank in the navy, although mapy
may be familiar with titles and partly with
their application. Officers are divided into
the line" "staff, ''marine," and 'swar-
rant officers. The line includes. in order,
the admirals, commvdores, captains, com.
manders, enant-commanders, leuten-
ants, ensigns, and midshipmen 1.-THE grade of
master having been abolished bv the last
Congress). The staff officers include the
engineer, medical and pay corps. With the
exception of the medical and paw corps. all
of the above mentioned are graduates of the
naval academy, and, receiving their commits
slons directly from the President of the
United States, with the approval of the SEN
ate, are appointed for life. The marine of
fnnra hQlnpO 10 Jict;p
termed ''sea soldiers" and receive their
commissions from the secretary of thanavy.
They are appointed from civil life, although
many members of that corps were at one
Time midshipmen and failed in their exam
nations. The warrant officers are the boat
SWANS, gunners, carpenters and sail max
ers. The boatswains and gunners are gen.
orally promoted TO those positions from
among the apprentice boys of the training
ships, or from the enlisted men. The sail
makers and carpenters are appointed from
civil life.
The petty officers form heightened list,
and are, in grade, equivalent to the nom
commissioned officers of the army. They
include the master-at-arms, p's-corporals,
boatswain's, gunners, carpenters and sail
makers mates; quartermasters, coxswains,
captains of the hold, top, forecastle and
afterguard; ships writer. apothecary, mach
inists, boiler-makers, cooks, stewards,
"Jack-of the-dust," etc.
During peace activity on board naval
vessel begins at dawn Of day. The boat
swain blows his whistle at daylight and cries,
"All hands up all hammocks" Within five
minutes the sailors may be seen piing up on
deck, each with his hammock neatly rolled
and lashed, handing it to the slower in the
netting" the long, box-like receptacle
along the rail. where it remains unti sun
down, when it is taken down on the berth
deck again and made ready for occupation.
Immediately after the hammocks are sto aed .
the sailors get pint of coffee and then turn
TO "holy stone'' and wash down decks: or,
II 1t is Monday, the sailors are first piped to
wash clothes,' and lines may be seen run
ming fore and aft, filled wi cleanly- washed
white and blue clothes, or scrubbed white
hammocks. At "seven bells'' e 80 o'clock
the sailors are pped to breakfast, and those
who are to go on watch at "eight bells' Is
o'clockl 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 hand, if ON flagship, or drum and
fife On the others than flag ships. At the
same time the boatswain's whistle is heard,
followed by the believing: "All the watch:
hold the reel; pump ship, and relieve the
wheel" After breakfast the watch is en-
ployed in cleaning the brass-worx and the
guns, coiling ropes and generally making
the ship clean.
The officers not on watch do not generally
rise until O'Clock, and then, after making
their toilet, sit down to cup of coffee and
toast or fruit. At ''two bells' 70 o'clock
the assembly 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' Ill o'clock, the officers have
breakfast, substantial meal From this
time until "four bells" in the evening (6
o'clock, the officers not on watch may occu-
Ply their leisure as they see fit. They may
generally be found pouring over their books
or working out some problem, when at sea.
to avoid being rusty for their next examina-
ton. If in port they may stroll on shore.
At two bells" Is o'clock, is the officers
dinner hour, and an hour afterward they
drill the sailors in seamanship, making,
reefing, furling, bending or unbendng sails,
in boat exercise or target practice.
Rank and rank etiquet are strictly enfor-
ced 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 harbor, and when at sea the
officer of the deck taking the wind ward and
the others the leeward side. The captain
enjoys the exclusive use of the starboard
side of the poop deck, and the other com
officers of the port side. Forward |
Of the mainmast all the officers have the |
exclusive right of way ON the starboard or |
The windward side of the deck, while the |
sailors must keep on the opposite side In |
leaving or coming on board ship the same
regulation is observed-the line and staff |
use the starboard companionway, while the |
warrant officers and crew use the port lad |
der. Commissioned officers are received on |
board with the boatswain's pipe as salute. |
The captain messes alone in the cabin, |
having his own steward, cook and waiter, |
and unless he invites some of the officers to |
line with him at times as often happens |
be lives in this monotonons way. The line |
and staff officers, above the grade of ensign, |
constitute the ''wardroom mess,' and live |
in the maiD sal Don of the vesse'. The mid |
shipmen and ensigns and other officers of |
assimiated rank from the "steerage mess,''
and the warrant officers mess by themselves.
The mess expenses of the wardroom will
range from $50 to $45 a month, according to
the station; those of the other messes about
$25 to $50 month.
Curious Facts About Supes.
philadelphia Times.l
ga 'supe' hasn't much to do, you'll say.
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