The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-25
SUNDAY ON THE SHIP.
Cruiser Charleston Thronged
With Visitors.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES ON BOARD.
warship the Center Of Attraction
Chamber Of Commences Arrangements
for Receiving the oniccrs.

,nrseuided one had wholly changed. For all
day long the beautiful cruiser Charleston lay at
anchor in the harbor, with the sunlight falling
clear upon her snow-white hull She was in
fuIl sieht from all the ssreetslesSiing down the
hill. and none could see her without touch of
national pride and OF enthusiasm for the spleu-
did navy which we are building for ourselves;
while those who actually went on board the
vessel and saw her 6ne armament, alert and
purteous officers and well-trained crew could
speak no words but praise.
According 70 the regular routine in the
Charleston the men turn out at 5 in the morn
fng and get . cup of coffee ana roll They
then 20 to work cleaning the ship and putting
everything to rights. At about 7:s0 their break
fast IL ready, and after eating 1t they continue
their former tasks till $50, when inspection oc-
can Then follow the drills till noon The
afternoon Is quiet. and at 6 each man reports at
his place for what might be called second In
specfion. Bedtime comes at Q. This routine is
varied somewhat when the ship is in port. and
of course cannot be adhered to while the
Charleston is coaling. as she win be doing here
this week. During yesterday Sunday the drills
ard much Of the work was omitted.
In the morning ut O'Clock PosT-IHTELLI-
eEECER reporter went out In one OF the small
rowboats which even at that early hour mad
begun TO swarm about the huge vessel People
were hocking down to the wharf il crowds
to zee the pride Of our navy, and as the day wore
on the piers became almost packed. Upon
reaching the Charleston 1t was found that the
men were just preparing for their daily inspec-
ton. The sight from the after bridge, where
Secretary Blow with untiring courtesy ex-
planned the manenvres, was very striking The
sunlight, dimmed by thin clouds, touched the
Aiming brass and the polished surfaces OF the
black guns. Against the white background of
the vessels fittings. the dark uniforms of the
men stood sharply defined, as they were drawn
~ 90 tt@nn
sailors wore their navy blue, with wide collars
trimmed with white braid; the Officers were in
full uniforms, blue frock coats with gold braid
and buttons; the marines. armed with rifles,
had on deep-blue coats braided with red, and
trousers Of lighter blue with vice red stripe
ct the sides; while the band. which was in the
stern playing "Larboard Watch Ahoyr' APP
peared In jackets Of blue with red frogs, seams
and binding, and trousers to match.
Each squad or division was drawn up to the
gun to which 1t was detailed. Lieutenant
George NJ. Stouey had command of squad by
one Of the big guns behind the bridge, Lieuten-
ant Field looking SO severe that those who had
seen him only in social moments would hardly
recognize the jovial officer, was on the star
board. Captain William s. Morse and his marines
ON the port, and each In the same way was with
his command. Captain Remey stood just under
the after bridge, and Lieutenant Commander
Todd, the executive officer. was near him.
Each officer inspected his line of men in
front, seeing that every detail Of the clothes was
properly arranged; and then the men made
right about face for inspection in the rear.
Alter the officers had looked to their squads,
they reported to the executive officer, who in
turn reported to Captain Remey. The latter
then walked up one side of the vessel and down
the other, receiving salutes as he passed each
division. Then he went below TO inspect
the engine squad and engines, as well as every
other part of the cruiser.
- Al the close of the inspection the delinquents
who had failed In one duty or another were
brought to q court held near the big, yellow
smokestack, and the penalties for the offences
were imposed.
Preparations for the morning service were
next In order. A sailor hoisted white ensign
with dark blue cross as signal that church
was about to begin, and in q few moments q bell
was struck. little after 10 o'clock the officers
went below to the forward part of the berth
deck, where benches had been placed for the
men and chairs for the officers. There was
loctern behind which Chaplain Thompson
stood, while Captain Remey sat directly back of
him. Most Of the officers and about fifty of the
crew we're present. for attendance is not COM
pulsory.
Moody and Hankey hymn books were furnished
aud the service opened with the familiar
"Crown Him Lord OF ALL" which all sang
heartily TO the accompaniment furnished by the
band. After the singing, which the sailors APP
pearea to enjoy, the chaplain read . short
prayer from the Episcopal prayer book. follow
ing with the prayer giving thanks for the safe
return from q voyage When another hymn
had been sung, Mr.. Thompson read q short
Scriptural lesson from the sixteenth chapter OF
Matthew, ending with those words of Jesus:
s.For what is a man proited II he shall gain
the whole world and lose his own soul? Or
what shall a man give in exchange for bis soui?
With this saying as a text Mr. Thompson gave
very plain practical talk. He began by stat
Ina that the question as TO the worth OF man
wos An old one, and has been asked in every
age and answered in many ways. There is the
estimate put upon men by men, and that put
upon them by God Himself. Men have sold
their fellows as slaves at prices ranging from
$500 TO 81, 500, and II man is KILLED by accident
the courts set the value OF his life at the sum of
5000. Then. too, we judge of a man according
to his worldly possessions; we say be is worth
$4,000 or 100000 OF even 8, 0o0.0 00 But these
judgments are not concerning the real man, the
soul: for God sets opposite the value OF soul
the whole world, and declares the latter 10 be
~ nothing in comparison. II 10 not necessary
10 undervalue the world, which is q good thing.
but no man can afferd to barter his
soul for it. The vessel has just returned safely
from voyage over the painless sea, and for
this safe coming to harbor We can thank the
compass, the chart and the chronometer Every
man is in . way ON the sea of life full of danger
aud we ha We chart compass, and q chro-
nometer in the words and the example of
Christ II we use and follow these we may keep
our course through all peril, guarding our most
precious treasure. the soul, whose loss is Death
SO the question comes home TO every one of us
Each 10 the keeper of his own soul. We must be
steadfast to duty, and firm in our integrity, and
at the last we may all come 10 the heaven where
we would be-
The sermon which was short was listened TO
with profound attention. At its close the con-
Rregation gathered in the narrow space between
the decks. sang final hymn, Chaplain Thomp-
SON pronounced the benediciion, and the service
wss ct an end
BY this time the water about the cruiser was
filed with rowboats, canoes, and skiffs, loaded
with people VINO had come TO see the Charles
ton. A soon a. the benches from the service
were taken away Captain Remey gave orders To
allow visitors to- come on board. The food gates
were then open. and from IL till late in the aft.
ernoon a steady stream Of people passed over
the stsirways leading to the waters edge from
each aide OF the gun deck. The first visitors on
board were admitted to Admiral Browns cabin.
ana introduced TO him. He received them cor
daily. but soon the throng became so large
that TO perform his necessary duties, he was
obliged 70 shut his doors. by o'clock in the
afternoon the deck was packed with sightseers,
who swarmed over every accessible par, OF the
boat from the bridges down into the engine
rooms In aud out of the slater oms they
went, examining everything with the keenest
interest. Everyone received the most courte-
Gus treatmen; and saw the Charleston at her
best; for the light clouds of the morning had
disappeared and the suns rays beat down from
clear blue sky, making the white paint and
the polisbed metal yet more dazzling. The men
on the Charleston say the ship looks grfmy after
the fourteen days OF continuous steaming aud
smoke; but 70 a landsman's eye she is immaeu-
late Officers and orderlies at every turn stood