Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-05-09
TOLD OF TIE MARINES.
AN IMPORTANT THOUGH MUCH
ABUSED FACTOR IN A NAVY.
The T&r's PrsJadles Against Ihe Navy.
Peiicsman-The Admirais ana Captalna
Hewsser. Praise the Mmrines-Can TO
General Qnsrsers.~

4 @fNS@1N% 8&NAhnt tng NMNt-N
roiiesman-The Admirais sna Captains,
Hewsser. Praise the Marlaes--Cail 10
General Quarter"
There Is. perhaps, no body OF men In
the service OF the United States govern.
ment who have come in for a greater
share OF eontumely and received less
praise for actual service rendered than
have the marines OF the United States
navy From time inlmemoriAl il has
been Jacks saying in response to all
doubtful stories. 'Tell that To the ma.
rines, for the tars as "a set are the most
increduious fellows, and the hearty con.
temp, In which they hold the marines
10 sufficient TO incite the firing OF a volley
OF epithets at the latter on the slightest
provocation
Ii Is amusing. too. to see with what
svidity the young apprentices seize hold
OF the prejudices OF the able seamen. and
person only need go aboard one Of the
cruising training ships 10 hear the young.
sters bawi out with all the rest Of an old
shell back, "ohi you Iottentot mariner
| The duty of a marine aboard ship Is
essentially that of policeman, and by
reason OF this very duty no fraternizing
can be safely permitted between the
guard and the men forward. As TO the
tar. any one acquainted with his. devil.
me-care spirit and wild. fun loving nat
ure must know how he looks upon any
one put over him IA a check. The tar
looks up to and respects his officers, for
he fears them. but the marine he hates
Tor II 10 the marine who gets him in
trouble But IL marines were not a feat
ure of a man-of. war ii is doubtful wheth.
er the discipline required OF a crew OF
500 men would be OF that efficient nature
now in force Our navy is peculiarly
distinctive in its method OF mobilization
when compared with similar institutions
abroad. In the first place, our service
offers better pay. better duty and greater
emoluments than does any other service
in the world
AL United States war vessels carry
marine guard. ranging in size, however,
from captains command OF fifty to
sixty men on flagship TO corporars
! squad on monitor When a ship is
about TO go in commission her marine
guard. which has been previously de-
tailed, is marched aboard and stands in
readiness to salute the ensign as IL floats
out from the peak From this moment
until the expiration Of the three years
cruise the guard watches that "element
forward with constancy that allows
OF no relaxation. When the three years
cruise IL at an end. when the seamen who
have been shipmates through every trial
and hardship are about to march ashore
and sever their associations. that stern
and implacable marine guard may be
seen In line on deck and under arms
the last TO leave the vessel-and as the
flag Is hauled down they give the last
salute TO the colors they have defended.
SHOOTING FROM THE RIooISa
The marines have warm admirers in
those persons who are acquainted with
their sterling worth and necessity SAYS
Admiral Wilkes; the marines consti-
tute the great had almost said the
only difference between a man of war
and privateer. ''They are" adds AN.
other writer, 1.-The bulwark between the
cabin and the forecastle." while Rear
Admiral Stewart remarked, "the sup
port afforded by a steady column Of
bayonets has rendered mutinies scarce"
The marine Ia peculiarly a soldier He
ID dressed. equipped and handled as q
soldier. and his whole life is the very op.
posite 10 that of sailor
In time Of action aboard ship the una
rines are either stationed at one Of the
heavy pivot guns. or else disposed about
decks and in the tops to act as sharp
shooters Ii was a marine who from the
top of the Frenchman alongside the Vic
tory al Trafalgar, shot down the brave
Nelson as he stood on the deck Of the
latter ship The guard messes. eats and
sleeps in body. always apart and dis.
tinct from the crew
Let the reader imagine himself at mid.
night on the gun deck OF a large vessel
Of war lying quietly al anchor A dim
light is burning forward. throwing a
heavy glare among the crowded ham.
mocks where 800 men are sleeping. Not
q sound is TO be heard save the steady
tread Of the marine sentry overhead,
while the swish OF the black water
against the sides breaks the oulinous
silence As the bell strikes eight" the
hour OF midnight, a solitary figure in
full uniform, with sword and pistols
steps noiselessly from the cabin door.
He stops and listens for moment, as the
turning Of some restless sleeper in his
hammock attracts his attention. He is
the commanding officer Walking for.
ward. he bends over the hammock OF a !
drummer boy and whispers a word in
his ear. the only reply is bound To the /.
deck. and the next instant the long roll
10 sounding through the ship
As by magic 500 men leap from their
hammocks, hastily pass three lashings, |
and throwing them against the sides OF .
the ship. rush half naked TO the guns I
In three minutes after the first sounding
OF that call to general quarters" the
guns are cast loose and the glsTe of the .
battle lanterns along the deck reveals
the crouching forms OF the tars as clus.
tered about their pieces they wait the
word 10 open fire. And again all Is
silent along that deck. the same as when
n few minutes previous every man was
wrapt in slumber Not a word Of warn.
ing had been given. and the sudden
alarm aptly proved the excellence of the
ships discipline. New York Times.
Took Himself Away. Likely.
There was young photographer who
liyed-l use the term advisedly-at our