Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-11-19
JACKS WORK CHANGED
zyE rs H4RDLT ar BOTE IN THE
NEW CRUISERS.

Navy and the New Illustrated by the
PhiIsdeIphIa.
1t would be difficult to find more
vivid illustration of naval progress than
Is afforded by the new steel cruiser
Philadelphia when taken in comparison
with the wooden steam frigatss and
corvettes of our Navy. The contrast
between the two is as sharply drawn as
black and white. To one who has
served any length of time in the old
Navy, TO which category the wooden
ships have been relegated since the ad
vent of the steel cruisers. a change to a
vessel of the Philadelphia type seems
like breaking with the past, and begin
ming new life AMI occupation. The
eve searches in vain for some familiar
object; nowhere is found a point of
resemblance between the old Navy and
the representative of the new. From
construction to routine every thing is
different The mariner of the piping
times of reef tackles and royal yards
looks regretfully at her stumps of mill
tary masts, and makes a mental calcu-
lation of how long it would be before
his life lines unrove should the ship be
on lee shore and some part of that
mass of complicated machinery beneath
him got out of order
And this absence of spars and coHse-
quent exemption from drill with spars
and sail is one of the first things notice-
able to one accustomed to heavily
SPARED ship of the wooden navy. In
those the call Of the boatswain, "A-a-n
hands send up or send down something,
repeated by his mate on the lower decks,
sends every one tumbling up from be-
low several times day. This is never
heard on the Philadelphia, as the attract
i've, snowy, somewhat risky, and en-
tirely useless sail and spar drill is inn
practicable on ship that carries neither
sail nor spars With these dashing evolu-
tions aloft SO fine and striking, so highly
priced by first lieutenants when done
smartly, and of so little value withal, it
has been matter of much conjecture
as to what outlet the effervescent energy
of executives would find on ships where
such drills have the merit of being inn
possible.
None the less clustering and obsolete
is the exercise at general quarters in
vogue on the woode1 SHIPS, two of which
are attached at the present to our
squadron of evolution. For the pur-
pose of illustrating the change in
drills that the new ships have brought
about, it will be necessary to give an
idea of how they are conducted on the
old.
The exercise of Clear ship for action, !"
for instance, is something more than
elaborate Not |, lg since it was the
writer's fortune to be on board one of
the old class when this order was given.
Instantly the quiet orderly groups OF
men about the decks were in motion,
the topmen swarming aloft, marines
tossing hammocks out of the nettings to
he used as barr;cades for the sharp
shooters, while the power division
scrambled down hatchways to receive
and stow articles which another
division was sending below. Preventer
braces were rove off, back stays "snaked
down" by painful process, light yards
and masts sent from aloft, and splinter
nettings stretched along the bulwarks.
Awnings. halliard racks, ladders, and
the many OF er articles about deck
liable TO incumber the movements of the
crew, or hinder the expeditions killing
of somebody in the mimic fray, were
tumbled pelmell down the matches.
Finally, when all was snug aloft and the
decks clear of every thing but the para
phernala of battle, another order was
given and the sharp rattle of the drum
sounded to general quarters. At the
first tap the gun or, ws swarmed like
bees around their respective guns.
Quoins were knocked away, lashing
cast adrift, and the guns, when released
from their confinement, run in, loaded,
and run out
Presently an incautioui enemy on the
starboard beam got bioadside. Stimuli
taneously another appeared on the port
hand, and the order, Man both sides
every other gun with a full crew was
heard Across the deck two gun divi-
sions went. tumbling over ramrods,
sDonges, and each other. only to find the
elusive foe dead ahead. Prepare for
raking fire from forward" was the next
order, and, in obedience to it, tile men
crouched behind gun carriages, matches,
anything that offered protection from
IDEALLY end ON fire Presently the enemy
gained the forecastle. evidently with
blood in his eye, and the order, Rally
on the quarter deck was given, sup
p.cmented BY the command, Retreat
firing. The crew streamed aft, firing
rs hey went A howitzer loaded with
canister blocked one side Of the deck-a
5stiag grsnned threateningly down the
pslier. The boarders, with bare cutIass
IA one hand and revolver that wouldn't
revoiye in the other. crouched behind
I e pieces The marines and rifemen
i.xed bayoaets. and fell in rear
Clear and sharp came the next COM
ma.d, Fire, charge. and clear the
,.sckS. The primers snapped in the
RON itzer. the locks of the GatIing clicked
Ike policeman's rattle, and hundred
crouching forms bounded forward on
Inc iraH of the discounted enemy.
f.crambiing over the pivot gun carriage,
t.ey warmed up the forecastle ladders.
NJ sss The order. B ard with cheer
reached them. rushed to the rail with a
4 .urish Of cutlasses and a deafening
=leer.
Tie drill has great deal of swagger
about it. is very showy, and very useful
for diserting visitors. but beyond that
!; is as useless and as obsolete for fight
ing purposes as the bow and arrow drill