Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-12-04
JACKS DUTIES.
LIFE OF A SAILOR ON UNCLE
SANS CRUISERS.
The Routinc Day Always Begins ut .
O'clock in the Morning aud
Lasts Until o O'clock in
the Evening.


pleasure. It does not consist in merely
stealning from harbor to harbor, and as
soon as the anchor is dropped of dress
ing up and going ashore on pleasure
bent. Take the routine observed for
one day on board a cruiser and see
what Jack has in the way Of duties and
what pleasure he finds on shipboard.
The day begins at 5 o'clock, when
"revcille" is sounded, and the boats
waiu's mate passes the word, "Up all
hammocks." The bedding is lashed up
and slowed in the netting, and carly coffee
is served. Those who have been on
watch during the night can now go be-
low and sleep until I o'clock, when
every one must turn out. After coffee
a short time is allowed for smoking.
At three bells-5:30-"turn to" is
announced in the same gruff voice OF
the boatswain's mate, and the morning
work begins. Water from the steam
pumps is turned on and, armed with
hickory broom and hOly-stone, Jack
bends his back and scrubs the deck
until it it is as white as can be. Then
with sand he tackles the ladders and graf
ings and removes from them every par
ticlo of dirt. No matter whether they
were clean before, they must be scrubbed
again. 1t is part of the routine.
After an hour of hard work the order
is given to wash down and the decks
are flooded with water from the pumps
and every particle of sand washed of.
Then with "squilgees' the decks are
dried. During the morning the quarter
gunners are cleaning up their guus and
washing off the paint work Of the shields.
Those working below are cleaning their
stations. When this is all finished to
the satisfaction of the officers, the men
can wash and clean up for breakfast.
This meal usually comes at 7;30
(seveu bells) and is light oae. JACK
then hurries to &c. a smoke before "turn
to" is again called. At S:l5 "bright
work" is sounded aud all brass work or
unpainted steel must be polished until
it shines like mirror. Sick call IS
sounded at $50 and the surgeon and
his helpers are ready to serve out medi-
cine or to prescribe for those who are ill.
Many clever dodges are worked on the
doctors by some of the men in order
to cet on the sick list and be cxcu:el
from all work.
By nine o'clock, when word is passed
to clear up deck for quarters, the ship is
clean and everything polished aud in
its place. The men have shifted into
the regular uniform Of the day. Morn
ing quarters is the great event Of the
forenoon and every man not excused
must be present with his division, look
ing neat and clean, with clothes brushed,
boots blacked aud all arms and accoutre-
ments in satisfactory condition. Each
division is inspected by its senior officer
who then reports to the executive officer
on the quarter deck. The men arc mus
tered to see whether all are present, and
if any abseutees are reported they are
placed on the "report" and will be
obliged to explain to the satisfaction Of
the commanding officer.
After quarters comes drill, one division
at infantry tactics with belts and rides,
another at single sticks or cutlass drill
and Others as companies of artillery.
The work continues for abont an hour,
then "retreatr is sounded and the men
are marched tc their stations and dis
missed.
"Mess gear" precedes the call for din.
ner by ten minutes, and the cooks on
the berth deck lower their swinging
tables, set the benches in position and
put their dishes aud yictuals in readi'
ness for the men who, at the first sound
of the boatswain's whistle, come troop
ing down the ladders as hungry as ouly
sailors can be after a morning Of hard
work and drill.
More smoking follows the dinner, and
until / o'clock beer is served out by the
master-at-arms. BumbOat women are
also on board to sell their wares, which
consist OF pies, tobacco, thread, writing
paper and envelopes, combs ard nearly
everything else that sailorman needs.
At 1 o'clock smoking is stopped ans
what work there is to be done begins.
Afternoon duties are not usually very
hard, there being little besides hauling
up boats or overhauling the anchor
chains or some such work, during which
there are many breathing spells. Some
times there are drills in the afternoon OF
boats are called away.
On Saturday and Sunday smoking is
allowed from dinner time until quarters
in the evening and again after that until
bedtime, and nothing but absolutely
necessary work is done. During Jacks
leisure moments he manages to mend all
his clothes. and he finds time for many
games Of checkers or "doocey-acy."
Supper is served at about $3.50, and
after it, except during quarters, smok-
ing is allowed. Quarters last only
few minutes, the men being mustered