Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-28

One-Ths Second Mates work-ImPor-
.ance of the First Mates onice-The
Captain supreme.
The office Of third mate in a large ship
is generally an unpleasant one, dlspen-
sing the stores being one Of his duties,
and the men always growing at the
quantity as well as the quality of the
provisions. In some ships, however,
the steward controls the provisions
The third mate commands no watch, but
assists the chief mate in his. Like the
chief and second mates, he takes no
wheel, and beside going alOft to a top
sail, he will lend a hand to topgallant-
sail or lib He works about deck the
same as the other seamen. If he is smart
at his work the mates gives him fancy
Job on the rigging or elsewhere; indeed,
it is necessary that he should, as he is
supposed to he the leader of the watch,
and for this reason, as much as his com
parative youth, some men show jealous
feeling. 1t is the third mates duty to
walk the poop, or otherwise look after
the ships welfare, while the officer Of
the watch is below getting his meals.
SECOND AND FIRST MATES.
IL Is commonly Stit di Std tiut ~ Ilidh
still keeps his tarry hands by becoming
second mate. but in reality this saying
applies more to former days, when he
was often picked ont from the crew by
the captain, and expected to turn his
hand tu anything. Now, although he
lends a hand here and there at some lit
lie lob. yet he woulG not dip his hands in
a tar po; unless specially ordered To do so
81, n fhiaf showing
that although his duty, as well as any
other. the practice has died ont. In
furling sail the second mate goes aloft
with the watch to the courses and top
sails. but no higher. He usually has
charge Of all the boating IN the harbor,
such as taking the captain ashore, or
fetching things off; or at sea, where a
boat is lowered. in boarding another ship.
The chief or first mate is the superin-
tending officer. and is known aboard ship
as the mate, par excellence. His duties
are very important. In taking in cargo.
he must give an acknowledgment, called
the mates receipt. for all goods slowed
in the hold, and for deficiencies in these
he is answerable. When the ship is in
port, the chief mate commands much
more than at sea, the captain being the
greater part of the time away ashore see
ing merchants, shippers, etc. At sea or
| in port he never goes aloft, neither does
| he put his hand to any work, excepting
when he chooses to give a haul on a
| rope II is the chief mates duty to keep
| the log book, an exceedingly responsible
| trust At the end of each watch the
| officer enters upon the log slate, usually
| placed in the chief mates berth, the
| courses, distance run, winds, and any
/ matter of particular interest. From this
| slate every twenty-fOur hours the chief
mate copies into the official log book,
| after submitting it TO the captain, who
| seldom makes an alteration. 1le mates
are always addressed by the captain and
the crew with Mr." prefxed to the sur
name and are answered with Sir an
omission in doing SO would. if inten'
tional, be against the rules of the service
and would lead to difficulties.
THE CAPTAINS AUTHORITY.
The captain has supreme authority
aboard, even TO regulating the hours OF
work and rest His word is law. To re.
! fuse obedience is mutiny. He can order
| a man to be put in irons at any moment
! of the day or night: yet, notwithstanding
this power. it is very seldom, fortunately
|
! The sole command in the navigation and
| working of the ship rests also with the
| captain. When he is on deck, the
weather side of the poop belongs solely tC
| him. the officer of the watch steps over
| on the lee side. In wearing tacking
| and in other all hands work. the cap
! tain commands aft, the chief mate for
ward, and the second mate in the waist
| In the ordinary daily work the captain
does not superintend personally, but in
structs the chief mate, who sees that the
work is carried on properly. II the cap
tain should find fault with the way any
man may be doing his work, he never %
dresses him personally, but through To.
| officer of the watch.
Sometimes it happens, much to Jack
disgust, that a steamboat officer i:
| placed in command of his ship, whos1
| want of experience tells severely dpor
the discipline of the ship, in the long run
| Steam officers and men are far less fit &c
ship in sailing vessels than men from
the latter to ship in steamers, steamboat
captains understanding but indifferently
the management of sailing ships, and
steamboat sailors being generally only
capable of cleaning brass and scrubbinl
| paintwork, or any other work under the
category OF sand and canvas. Ii is com
mon for regular sailor TO say, half hu
mOrOusly, when seized with temporary
| fit of disgust with his seafaring life: III
knock off the sea and go in steamboat. '
M. c. ID. " in Brooklyn Eagle.