The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-22
DISCIPLINE IN THE NAVY,
Commodore Aollins' Amasinx ssbstasass fOr
E10RRin0R

Flos{ings.
''veritas, In letter to The Swn,
supplies the following interesting rem
iniscences of the late Commodore
Hollins. who was the first officer to
put In force the new system of punish
ing insubordinate seamen after the
abolition Of fiogging in the United
States navy. The letter, suggested by
reading q condensation of Commander
Farquhar's prize essay before the ma
val institute, which was published in
The Sun of April 6. is as follows:
On reading an article in this MORN
lng's issue Of The Sun discussing q
prize essay by Commander Farquhar,
l 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 wears l848
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.
tions as to the best methods Of inn
proving the condition of the sailors in
the government employ. Three Off.
GERS only advocated the abolition Of
corporal punishment, or, us it used to
b. be termed, "aogging," 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-
tion OF aogging, 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 tho service would go to
the ''d-l" If tiogging and grog were
done away with. Hebore their laugh
ter and jokes with his unvarying ami
ability and good humor; but remained
in woful minority.
In 1852 he was detached from the
naval station in Florida. In tho mean.
time the law had been passed by con-
gress abolishing whipping in the ma
Wy. Hollins came north. A sloop.of-
war Il think the Cyane) was at that
time being fitted out for sen. AL
though the law had been passed, there
was no substitute enacted for tho
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 fogging," 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 tho
first man-of-war Il 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 us to
what measures he should adopt. His
ready wit soon suggested an cxperi-
ment. He went on deck and ordered
the delinquent to his presence. The
man appeased, a healthy, hardy-look-
ing fellow of fine physique and in full
"Well, my man." said Hollins, II
slckph ~"
mo, sir"
"What. we'll, and not want to do
your work?"
"Oh, you must be ill. Quarter.
master,' called Hollins-the quarter
master was there. Take this man
and carry him below. Put him to he'd
carefully, tuck him in; don't let him
catch cold;pu a screen around his cot
and place u sentry. and see that he is
not disturbed. He does not like work
nor exertion. Feed him yourself; put
n napkin under his chin. keep HIM
warm and comfortable, but ky 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,
w., will call him, was escorted be.
low. and the captains orders were
carried out to q letter. w. was put
to bed, tucked in, fed by the quarter
master, his meals served on q waiter,
and tended with great care. He was
also screened from view, but the men
were seen getting on gun.carriages OK
anything else, peeping from distance
to get 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 feeling
that their messmate was martyr to
tyranny and oppression. Thus mat
tiers rested for perhaps thirty-six hours.
At the expiration Of that time, when
Holl'ns 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 parley. remarked to the
leader:
"Well. do you want anything?"
Eyes, SIR" said an old salt, 1--WE
come to speak for W., SIR"
..Speak for W.. ?" said Capt. Hollins.
"Why, Is he not comfortable and
we'll cared fori''
"Oh. yes, SIR" was the reply. "he's
too comfortable, and we've come to
speak for him, sir. think he'll die,
he's so ashamed, sir, and we"-with Il
wave of his hand toward his compan-
ions-"we are willing to stand for him
and 90 his security, sir"
"Well," replied the captain, ''under
these circumstances, Ill let him get
up"
From that day there was no insubor-
dination on board that ship, and on
more than one occasion when any ono
of the men in the watch was suspected
of desire to skulk some of his mess
mates were overheard saying, You'd
better look out; the 'old man. will put
you to bed"
1t was an experiment that acted ad-
mirably, and was always a source OF
great satisfaction to Capt. Hollins, as
/ t proved to him that men could he
governed by other means than fog
ging. On another occasion. when HOl-
Inns went on board to take command
of another ship, and while being shown
around, he saw a MISUNDERSTANDING
concern, and said: ''What's this!'
IA sweat-box."
"A what?" he asked. A sweat
boxp Open the door" He looked in:
perhaps got in, and then said: Call
the carpenter." The carpenter came.