, 1889-05-18

General QuRrterS"
There is, perhaps, no body of men In
the service Of the United States govern
ment who have como in for a greater
share of oontumely and received less
praise for actual service rendered than
nave the marines Of the United States
navy. From time immemorial 1t has
been Jacks saying in response to all
doubtful stories. Tell that to the ma
rines," for the tars as n set are the most
i~ncredulous fellows, and the hearty con
tempt in which the hold the marines
is sufficient 10 incite the firing Of a volley
Of epithcts nj the latter on the slightest
~prOyocation
1t is amusing, too, to see with what
avidity the young apprentices seize hold
of the prejudices of tho able seamen. and
a person only need go aboard one of the
cruising training ships to hear tho young
sters bawl out with all the zest of an old
shell back. "Ohl you H~ottentot mariner
The duty of n marine aboard ship is
essentially that of n policeman, and by
eason of this very duty no fratcrnizing
a be safely permitted between ''thc
guard" and the men forward. As to the
tar, my n acquainted with his devil
me-care spirit and wild, fun loving mt
ure must know how he looks upon any
ono put over him rs n check. The tar
looks up TO and respects his officers, for
he fears them; but the marine he hates
for it is tho marine who gets him In
trouble. But II marines were not n feat
ure Of q man-of-war 1t Is doubtful wheth-
or the discipline required of n crew Of
900 men would boot that efficient nature
now in force. Our navy is peculiarly
distinctive in its method of mobilization
when compared with similar institutions
abroad. In tho first place, our service
offers better pay, better duty and greater
emoluments than does any other service
In the world.
All United States war vessels carry n
marine guard, ranging In size, however,
from n captains command Of fifty &c
sixty men on n flagship TO n corporal's
squad on n monitor. When n ship Is
about TO go in commission her marine
guard, which has been previously de-
tailed, Is marched aboard and stands In
readiness 10 salute tho ensign as 1t floats
out from the peak. From this moment
until the expiration of the three years
cruise the guard watches that element
forward" with n constancy that allows
of no relaxation. When the three years
cruise is at an end, when the seamen who
have been shipmatcs through every trial
and hardship are about to march ashore
and sever their associations, TINT stern
and ~implacable marine guard may DO
seen in line on deck and under arms
the last to leave the vessel-and rs the
flag is hauled down they give the last
salute to the colors they nave defended.
SHOOTING FROM II RIGGING.
The marines have warm admirers In
those persons who are acquainted with
their sterling worth and necessity. Says
Admiral Wilkes: ''The marines consti-
tute the grcat-I had almost said the
only-diiTercnce between n man-of-war
and n privatecr." They arc" adds an
other writer, tho bulwark between the
cabin and the ~forccastle," while Rear
Admiral Stewart remarked, 'the sup
port afforded by n steady column of
h~ayoncts has rendered mutinies scarce"
The marine is peculiarly n soldier. He
is dressed, equipped and handled as a
soldier, and his whole life is tho very op-
poslte to that of q sailor.
In time of action aboard ship the mn
rines hrc either stationed at one of the
heavy pivot guns, or else disposed about
decks and in tho tops to act as sharp
shooters. 1t was n marine who from the
top of the Frenchman alongside tho Vic
tory at Trnfalgur, shot down the brave
Nelson rs he stood on tho deck of the
latter ship. The guard messes, eats and
sleeps in a body, always apart and dis
tinct from tho crew.
Let tho reader imagine himself Mt mid
night on the gun deck OF n large vessel
of war lying quietly ut anchor. A dim
light is burning forward, throwing n
heavy glare among tho crowded ham-
mocks where 500 men are sleeping. Not
a sound is to he heard save tho steady
tread Of the marino sentry overhead,
while the swish of the black water
against the sides breaks tho ominous
silence. As the bell strikes ''eight," the
hour of midnight, n solitary figure In
full uniform, with sword and pistols,
steps noiselcssly from tho cabin door.
He stops and listens for n moment, as the
turning of some restless sleeper In his
hammock attracts his attention. he Is
the commanding officer. Walking for
ward, he bends over the hammock of n
drummer boy and whispers u word In
his ear; the only reply is a bound to tho
deck, and h mex instant tho long roll
is sounding through the ship.
ASH by magic 500 men leap from their
hammocks, hastily pass three lashings,
and throwing them against tho sides OF
the ship, rush half naked to the guns.
In three minutes after tho first sounding
OF that call to general quarters" the
guns are cast loose and the glare of the
battle lanterns along the deck reveals
the crouching forms OF the tars us clus-
tered about their pieces they wait the
word to open fire. And again all Is
silent along that deck, the same as when
a few minutes previous every mar was
wrapt in slumber. Not q word of warn.
ing had been given, and the sudden
alarm aptly proved the excellence of the
ships dlscipline.-New York Times
Took Himself Away. LIkeIy.