Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-12-21

fairly begun for Jack far out at sea.
on the bridge the QuartermaSter AT
the wheel has no thought apparently
beyond the compass in the lighted bin
nacle before him: the officer Of the deck
I'M rubber coat aud boots stands beside
him on the bridge. looking of through
the gloom across the waste of heaving
water. or giving glance aloft now and
then az the bellying sails, and again
ahead az the lOOkOutS by the bow
spirit. The green and red lights in the
starboard and port rigging shine brave
'v. and the masthead light sends "A
rlimner down 20 the deck, where the
men on watch lie about in sheltered
nOOSS and the sergeant OF the guard
walks 10 and fro with a semi-mllitary
swing that accommodates Itself Won
derfully well 20 the motion of the ship.
10 is cold gray morning: sky dark
with hurryiug clouds, and the wind
blowing in sharp gusts from the north
east. with q wicked promise of more be-
fore long. driving Sleet and frozen
spray full In your face and coating the
staunch cruiser with ice from stem 10
stern.
The sound Of the bell has scarcely
died away when the clear notes OF the
bugle come swelling after, sounding the
reveille. Then the gruH voices of the
boatswain'S mates call: "A-all ha-a-ndS,
Upall hammOckS," Everybody turns out
marines. apprentice boys, tiremen.
cooks, SailorS-each man jumps into his
trousers and shoes, then folds his ham
mock and carries il up through the
matches % the netting in the bulwarkS.
Fifteen minutes are allowed for this
duty and fifteen more Tor coffee and a
smoke. Then all hands turn 10 and
work until breakfast time, for ships
routine never varies for holiday.
There are decks 10 scrub Is usual, and
before il is light enough even 70 turn on
The electric circuit on the spar deck the
pumps are working, and Jack with
bucket and broom is making his ship
tidy for the day.
But il is a healthful exercise after
all. and when the bOS'n'S pipe whistles
mess gear" nj $50 a. IN, the sailor
man has an appetite for his breakfast.
This meal. which is eaten at eight
o'clock, consists ordinarily OF bacon,
beans or muSh, hard tack and black
coffee For Christmas fare the men
have probably set apart some of their
wages before leaving the last port, and
If they have not been long out the mess
may provide bacon and eggs this morn
ing, condensed milk for the coffee and
canned fruit Of some kind.
At S:45 "Sick call" Men who are
under the surgeons care report At the
diSpenSary. and any ease of sickness
that has developed within the past
twenty-four hours is accommodated IN
the Sick-bay. All hands turn TO now
and work during the morning watch.
The shining Of guns, the hand rails and
brass fittings all over the ship, must be
polished. and there is many job be-
sides for u Seaman'S hands before the
drum beats quarters, at 900. If the
call were general quarters the ship
would be put into fighting trim. The
marines, fully armed and equipped,
would fall in, tackle would be- rugged
over the ammunition ehatches forspasS-
ing cartridges and shell up 10 the gun
deck: each gun crew would east loose
It's piece, open the port and prepare the
gun for action. Meanwhile rifles, re-
vOlverS and cutlaSSeS would be seized
from the racks and squads of men
would be drilling i'm different parts OF
the deck.