The morning call., 1890-10-26

.nu the monl o.her articles about deck
liable to incumber the movements of the
crew, or hinder the expeditions killing of
somebody in the mimic fray. were tumbled
pellmell down the matches. Finally, when
all was snug alOft and the decks clear Of
everything but the paraphernalia of battle,
another order was given and the sharp
rattle of the drum sounded to general
quarters. At the first tap the gun crews
swarmed like bees around their respective
guns. QuOins were Knocked away, flashing
cast adrlft, and the guns, when released from
their confinement, run in, loaded ard run
out.
Presently an incautiOus enemy on the
starboard beam got byOadside. Simultane-
ously another appeared on the port hand,
and the order " Man both sdes-every
other gun with a full crew." was heard
Across the deck two gun divisions went,
tumbllng over TamrOds, SpOnges and each
other, only to find the elusive foe dead ahead
Prepare for rakinS fire from forward" was
the next order, and, in obedience to it, the
men crouched behind gun carriages, matches,
anything that offered protection from the
deadly eLd-on fire. Presently the enemy
gained the fOTecastie, evidently with blood
in his eye, and the order, Rally on the
quarter deck" was given, supplemented by
the command, Retreat firing" The crew
streamed aft, firing as they went A howit-
ger loaded with canister blocked one side
OF the deck-a Gatling griuned threateningly
down the other. The bOarders with bare
cutlass in one hand and revolver that
wouldn't revOlve in the other. crouched be-
hind the pieces. The marines and rifle
men fixed bayonets and fell in rear.
Clear and sharp came the next command
Fire, charge and clear the decks" The
primers snapped in the hOwitZer, the locks
OF the Calling clicked like policeman's
rattle, and hundred crouching forms
bounded forward ON the trail of the dis
tod ott,hl linz
pivot gun carriage they swarmed up The
fOTecastle ladders, and as the order, Board
with ascheer" reached them, rushed to the
rail with flourish of cutlasses and a deaf
ening cheer.
The drill has great deal of swagger about
it, is very SNOWY and very useful for divert
ing visitors, but beyond that it is as useless
and obsolete forfighting purposes as The bow
aDd-arrow drill of the aneients.
IN STRIKING CONTRAST
Is,.he exercise for action, as conducted on
the Philadelphia. But little preparation is
needed, as the vessel is always ready. That
little consists in hosting ammunition for the
rapid-fire guns in the tops, getting grapnels
over the stern to clear propeller in case of
foulng, rigging torpedo gear, opening maya
zine, and all is ready. At quarters" the gun
crews cluster behind the steel shields of their
respective guns. The order Load with
battering SHELF is given, and the breech
blocks are thrown open. Six thousand
yards, abeam." comes the order. as an officer
with a sextant gives the range, and " First
Division train ahead" The sunlight slips
along the blue-steel tubes as they are rapidly
revolved in obedience to the command
There is no noise, no talk. As the long guns
come to rest in direction parallel to the keel,
the officer of the division raises his right
hand, signifyiDg that the order has been
executed. The eye of the alert executive
catches the movement and the signal is ac-
knowledged by nod. In place of the hand
to-hand encounter with bOaIderS, With its
satisfactory and improbable result, the gun
Captains, after the sighting and training
exercises are completed, are given an order
equivalent to whenever you see head hit
it," The idea in this Is to train the eye and
judgment of the men who pull the lock
strings. Instructions with torpedo appli-
ances and manipulati0ns and care of the
many other innovations OF modern naval
warfare displace the old-time exercises.
One thing that Jack finds it hard to get
used to on the new vessels is the unassum-
ing manner in which the anchor is gotten
up. Ac; ustomed to considering this quite
an event, and quite job as well, the steam
capstan has robbed it of both attributes.
No more whirling around on the bars to
some merry tune of the fife. 1t is not even
necessary to call all hands. The officer on
the bridge presses an electric button, the
steam capstan Is put in motion, and in a
few moments the massive anchor is dangling
from the cathead.
The mariner accustomed to gun decks
whose long, wide sweep was wholly clear,
save for the row of Dahlgreen guns gaping
through the portfolios, is Disconnected to
find on the Philadelphia his vision limited to
a few square feet. Cofferdams and coal
scuttles restrict him in one direction. water
tight compartments and steam drum rooms
shut him in in another. Among other
things Jack here fiuds something new in
his sleeping arrangements. The bedroom
of his experience was a berth deck unob-
structed from the after bulkhead to the for
ward part of the ship. On the Philadelphia
he finds himself cloistered in various hooks,