The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-05-15
DISCIPLINE IN THE NAVY.
Commodore aollins' Amusing Substitute for
FlOggings.

lniScenceS OF the late Commodore
Hollins, who was the first officer to
put in force the new system of punish
ing insuboIdinate seamen after the
abolition of fiogging IN the United
States navy. The letter, suggested by
reading a condensation of Commander
F~arquhar's prize essay before the ma
val institute, which was published IN
TIE Sun of April 6, is as follows:
On reading an article in this morn
ing's issue of The Sun discussing a
prize essay by Commander Farquhar,
| recalled an episode in the life of the
late Commodore Hollins that / think
will be of interest to those who re-
member that gallant officer and excel
lent seaman.
Some time between the years 1848
and 1850 the navy department sent
circulars to all the senior officers of
the navy, asking their opinions and
sentiments as to abolishlng corporal
punishment In the navy, and sugges-
tons al to the best methods of i'm
proving the condition of the sailors in
the government employ. Three Off
GERS only advocated the abolition of
corporal punishment, or, as it used to
be termed, ''iogging," in the navy.
They were Capt. McKeever, Capt.
Levy, and (then) Commander Hol-
Inns.
Commander Hollins. than whom no
officer ever had better discipline when
in command of men, urged the aboli-
ton of 1ogging, and at the same time
Communication of the spirit ration, Civ
ing the men money instead of grog.
At that time he was stationed at PEN
sacola. His suggestions caused both
to be chaffed by his brother officers,
who thought the service would GO to
the Id" if logging and grog were
done away with. He bore their laugh
ter and jokes with his unvarying ami
ability and good humor; but remained
in a woful minority.
In 1852 he was detached from the
naval station in Florida. In the mean
time the law had been passed by con
gress abolishing whipping in the ma
Wy. Hollins came north, A sloop-of-
war Q think the Cyane) was at that
time being fitted out for sea. Al
though the law had been passed, there
was no substitute enacted for the
proper enforcement of discipline, and
many of HOllinS' brother officers sug-
gested to the secretary of the navy
that he should be sent in command of
the Sloop, on the ground that Hollins
advocated ''no fiogging," and they
were curious to see how he would get
on without it. He received orders at
once, and with his usual promptitude
proceeded to take command of the
first man-of-war q imagine) that ever
went to sea without rules and regula-
tions. Shortly after the vessel had
sailed the officer of the day appeared
in the cabin with the report that one
Of the seamen was openly lnsubordi-
nate, and refused positively to do his
duty. The officer retired, and Capt.
Hollins remained in thought as to
what measures he should adopt. His
ready wit soon suggested an expert
ment. He went on deck and ordered
the delinquent to- his presence. The
man a~ppeased, a healthy, hardy-look-
ing fellow of fine physique and in full
yigor.
HWell, my man." said Hollins, ST
hear you do not want to work; are you
slckp"
mo, SIR"
What, well, and not want to do
your workP''
''Oh. you must be I'LL. Quarter
MASTER called Hollins-the quarter
master was there. 'sTake this man
and carry him below. Put him to bed
carefully, tuck him in; don't let him
catch cold; put a scrsen around his cot
and place a sentry, and see that he is
not disturbed. He does not like work
Nor exertion. Feed him yourself; put
a napkin under his chin. keep him
warm and comfortable, but by no
means let him exert himself
The whole ships crew were on the
alert to see what was to be the result
of this (no doubt) test case. The man,
low. and the captains orders were
carried out to a letter. w. was put
to bed, tucked in, fed by the quarter
master, his meals served on a waiter,
and tended with great care. He was
also screened from view, but the men
were seen getting on gun-carriages or
anything else, peeping from a distance
to get a glimpse of the invalid. Had
severe measures been adopted he
would have had the sympathy and
support Of the crew, but this treatment
excited ridicule and amusement, not
sympathy for suffering or a feeling
that their messmate was a martyr to
TYRANNY and oppression. Thus mat
tiers rested for perhaps thirty-six hours.
At the expiration of that time. when
Holllns appeared on deck after break
fast, he observed a group of sailors at
the mizzenmast. As he approached
they touched their hats, and he know
ing by the position they occupied that
they wanted a parley, remarked to the
leader: