The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-02-07
AsTIR AT THE NAVY YARD.
Orders From Uncle Sam.-How a Man-of-
War IL Putin CommissiOn.-And Omcered
and Manned for Sea Cruise

in some way is supposed to preside over
our national affairs, has decided to send
one OF his ships to sea, for the purpose
Of Astounding and appalling the oaroar-
ian world, he goes about 1t in business
like way. His orders are issued to the
officers Of the Navy Yard, where the yes |
sci is lying in ordinary, and instruction
10 given TO the various departments to
direct the work in repairing and equip
ping the ship for the sea cruise, upon
which he has been pleased to fix his
mind and heart.
In . large Navy Yard like this in
Brooklyn, of which am going to tell
you, there ia nothing startling in Uncle
Sans brusQue orders, for often dozen
war vessels are lying at her docks, and 1t
Ia sometimes a relief to be rid Of them.
Besides everybody is glad to have the
nations of the earth know that we pos
sess few ships, and can man them with
as gallant officers and crew as ever
strolled the decks Of more pretentlous
navy,
With its large facilities, its abundant
dockage and its competent management,
the Brooklyn Yard is enabled to repair
and equip vessel, for a three years
excitement is awakened, to be sure, and
a show of some interest is manifested
among the eligible officers, who happen
to be on wslting orders, when particu-
lar ship is designated to bear the com
pliments of America to the remotest
parts OF the world, for they who are to
wear the honors have not been chosen,
and expectation goes about, in her &C
customed way, on tip toe.
A ship, lying in ordinary, is hardly
more than a skeleton, from which all
movable articles, masts, spars, equip
ments and furniture of every kind, have
been removed and put in storage. The
vessel, upon the arrival of the depart
ment orders, is placed in the dry dock,
where the work of painting, caulking
and repairing the hull is carried forward
vigorously. The sound of hammers and
the stir within and without the ship and
at the FORCES, the hustle in the stores
and warehouses and along the docks,
and the close application of the work
men OF all grades to their immediate
duties, give evidence Of the positive will
of Uncle Sam, which the observer may
interpret as the law that governs the
Navy Yard and sets its machinery in
motion.
The various departments, into which
the business Of the Yard ia divided to
give greater facility and efficiency to the
service. perform their respective parts
in the repairs and equipment of the YES
sci. The Bureau OF Construction does
the carpenter work and makes the re-
pairs upon the hull that,of Steam En-
gineering puts in order the motive pow
or and machinery that of Navigation
adjusts the compasses, nautical Instru-
mentS and the electric light plant that
of Ordnance makes ready the battery,
the guns, small msiand ammunition,
belonging to the ship and that of sup
plies provides and puts on board the pro-
visions needful for three months, and all
the clothing required by the crew and
likely to be issued to them during the
cruise.
AS soon as the repairs are completed,
the machinery tested and the work Of
the several departments is done to the
satisfaction Of those in authority, the
vessel is pronounced ready for the sea,
equipped with armament and all nauti-
cal appliances, and coaled and provis-
Toned for long voyage in foreign wat
ers. The federal government is notified
that the vessel may be put in commission
and formally committed to the officers
and crew, who will remain with and in
charge OF her during the cruise in con-
temptation.
Ths officers, who have been selected
by the Navy Department to carry out
the whim Of Uncle Sam in displaying
the stars and stripes in foreign ports and
doing gallantries on all court occasions
In the presence Of the barbarians, are
ordered to report for duty to the com
mandant OF the yard, where tina ship
lies in waiting, by whom they are in
structed to report to the captain of the
vessel, he having received his orders
from the commander, for assignment to
their grade and line of duty.
In manning q war vessel the selection
OF the crew is made from the sailors who
previously have been enlisted and quar-
tered on the receiving ship. This vessel
10 usually an old line-of. war ship, large
and roomy, which has been retired from
the service and stationed at the Navy
Yard for recruiting purposes, and gives
up her men in quantity aud quality
about az desired. The enlisted men are
received for term Of three years upon
a rigid examination, and are paid accord
ing to ability and usefulness from six
teen to thirty dollars a month.
When it becomes known among the
men on the receiving ship that crew is
to be mustered in for sSa-going vessel,
the scene 10 all animation and excite
ment. The prospects are discussed,
The ship il talked about, and world OF
ideas is set going as to her ability as a
sea boat, whether she rolls much, wheth-
er she takes iu much water in heavy
weather, and whether there be abund-
ance Of room for the use of the crew.
The probabilities of the course of the
cruise are carefully weighed, whether
the ship is to stay on our coast, or to be
stationed in European, Chinese or South
American waters. The climax of inter-
est is reached in the discussion of the
merits OF the various parts of the world
all OF which leads to the thrilling stories
by the old sea dogs of when l was in
China in 49," and "when came round
the Horn in go"
With the sailors, however, in Eantici-
patton OF cruise, the uppermost thought
centers on the "old man" as the com
mander, under whom they will serve, is
AAO ~ - "uO may l1dkt lH6lI
life agreeable, or who NAV impose upon
them the severest hardships. Some
have sailed with him before, and know
him thoroughly as kind hearted man
and respected officer Others have
heard OF him as veritable tyrant. and
fancy that they hear the clanking of
chains when his name is mentioned.
After profound deliberation Jackey
makes up his mind whether he wants to
go to sea or not. losing sight of the great
er fact that in all humLn probability he
Will have to go. whatever be his mental
reservations. Like the true American
citizen that he is, with an air of impor-
lance he boastingly declares what he will
do. and then quietly does what is re-
qulrsd OF him by the superior authori-
ties.
On man-o. war from two hundred to |
three hundred and fifty men are required |
to make up the full complement OF Off
GERS and crew. The commissioned Off |
GERS include the captain, chief executive, |
navigator, chief engineer and assistants,
doctors, paymaster, watch and marine
officers, midshipmen and cadet engin-
GERS. The sailors, marines. fremen, me-
chanics and servants constitute the crew
who are assigned to specific duties and
to particular parts Of the ship.
At the appointed time the officers are
assembled on the quarterback with the
crew grouped about them, forming a
picturesque scene, when the captain
reads aloud his orders, compliments the
men, outlines the duties OF all on ship
board, and praises the nsme and genius
OF Uncle Sam in a becoming manner.
The h'g ia then hoisted, and commits
sion pennsnt il raised to the masthead
which remains flying until the end OF
the cruise. The pennant may be changed,
but as it is the vessels official insignia it
must not for5ake its place above the rig