The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-11-28

| cific station, that some of his sailors have
! been murdered and that the lives and
property of American subjects are no
! longer safe in Chill; consequently the
| United States cruiser Boston, under the
command of Captain Gilbert @. Wiltse,
has been dispatched with a complement of
26 officers and 272 men to the scene Of the
trouble.
| Though in modern days a man-of-war is
nearly always kept in fighting trim, or can
at least prepare for action In very short
time, yet there is great difference between
/ the outfit she receives when going on
peaceable cruise and one for war.
Both the Yorktown and the Boston were
prepared for the latter purpose before leav-
ing the Brooklyn navy yard, and they have
sailed with full complement of men, and
with their ammunition magazine, provi-
sion store and coal bunkers stocked 20 the
utmost capacity. This is necessary to make
the vessel as independent as possible dur
ing the time of her commission. Ii Is not
always possible to obtain provisions, coal
or ammunition in foreign waters, espe-
cially when closely watched by the enemy.
Few people can have an idea what it means
for a vessel like the Boston to take stol eS
for a whole year. There are 800 jack tars
on board, and each of them has an appe-
tite almost equal to that of TWO ordinary
landsmen Here is list of the provisions
which the Boston needs for a twelve
month:
Ninety-four thousand FIVE hundred pounds
of biscuits 81 200 pounds of salt beef, 1890
pounds of salt pork, q. 400 pounds Of preserved
meats. Ii, 400 pounds of -four, 1860 pounds of
coffee and cocoa, $500 pounds of rice, 5000
pounds of butter, 3 800 pounds Of dried fruit,
$500 pounds of pickles. ., 400 pnts of beans and
peas q 500 pounds of sugar, Il2 pounds of tea.
1890 pints of molasses, 800 pints of vinegar.
The total cost of the above amounts to
about S34, 900. This, however, is only what
the crew eats, but to it not less than $7O,-
600 worth of coal, which the engines will
devour in a year, must be added, and an
other $50, 900 for ammunition, so there is a
nice total of $4,000 for the food of the
crew, the engines and guns. The pay roll
will be about S132, 900, and the wear and
tear of the vessel may well be estimated at
$4,000, or all in all S3O9, 900 for one years
commission. 4 q
Naturally no man -of-war can carry all
the coal that she needs for months, but
before going into action she takes on board
as much as she possibly can stow. Filled
Boston class afford fairly good side pro-
lection for the engine and boiler room,
while the deck protection over them gen.
orally consists of strong steel plates vary
ing from IL to 319 inches in thickness
During the long cruise of 1000 miles,
which is the distance from New York to
Valparaiso, the Boston will have to coal
at various places and ultimately at Sand
point, in the straits, where she will take
all the coal she can carry, namely. 500 tons.
Whenever in port the men are supplied
with fresh provisions from shore and moth
ing is taken from the stores, This is done
TO give a variety to the monotonous bill of
fare on a man-of-war.
1t is hardly possible to describe the pri-
vations men will endure when high aim,
such as the glory of their flag, is constant
" before them Jack may grumble at
home, but when abroad there is no man
prouder of his country than he. This is
even the case in peace, but much more SO
in war Then he is conscious that the
eyes of his country are constantly and
anxiously watching every movement OF
his vessel, and Jack and his ship are one.
During the Boston's voyage life on
board will chiefly consist of the regular
everyday man-of-war routine, namely,
eight hours work out of tYenty-four, be
sides a little gun and rifle practice, and
occasionally some extra duty when gales
blow hard and old Neptune, getting angry,
furiously beats the waters with his mythie
trident.