Evening journal., 1891-07-22
THE NAVAL MILITIAMEN
Cutting Out a Cruiser at New
York.
INTERESTING DRILL ON THE RIVER

INTERESTING DRILL ON THE RIVER. |
The sight Was an Unusually Pretty One
and Many OF the Novices Did ns Well
as the Veteran Jack Tars OF the White
Squadron.
NEW York July % The First battalion
Of naval reserve artillery of the state Of
New York had its first taste Of actual
naval work last evening The men had
been ordered to report aboard the old
frigate Minnesota for what is called the
cutting OUT drill, and promptly at
o'clock all hands made their appearance
Cutting OUT is man-of-war for cap
turing a vessel at anchor or in convoy
by means Of boat expedition. The
theory is that the boats, manned as fully
as they possibly can be, shall drop down
on their victim under cover OF darkness.
boarding the vessel attacked, hold her
men under matches, take them prisoners
and fire the ship.
II successful in getting alongside with
out being discovered the crews board the
ship and carry out the plan. II discovered
before getting alongside, they open fire
with their machine guns aud rifles and at
tempt to dash in and board.
Attacked by Two Hundred.
Last nights drill consisted Of arming
and occupying the boats and then
maneuvering them by signals from the
flagship, the Chicago. There were about
200 of the members OF the naval reserve on
hand at o'clock.
At $3.50 o'clock the four batteries Of the
battalion were mustered on the pier, clad
in their picturesque sailor togs, consisting
Of white canvas jumpers and trousers,
white canvas hat, black silk neckerchief,
laniard and knife The only way TO tell a
naval reserve man from genuine jack tar
was by the letters n r. A. s. n. " The
batteries were formed in two ranks on the
pier, and the gun captains mustered their
crews. Then the batteries wheeled into
columns Of fouTe and marched TO the land
ing float.
on for the Scene.
Here a number OF navy yard cutters and
the Minnesota's steam launch were in
readiness. The men were put aboard the
cutters, the remaining officers went aboard
the launch. The launch took the cutters in
tow and steamed out into the river to dis
tribute the men according TO their assign
ments. The first battery was put aboard
the Chicago, the second aboard the New
ark, the third aboard the Boston, the
fourth aboard the Atlanta and the officers
were divided between the Concord and
Yorktown.
Ready for Business.
shortly after o'clock the signal for the
drin was given from the flagship. Imme-
/ diately there was lively seurrying aboard
all the ships Of the squadron. The naval
reserve men had been detailed to i'll Ger
tain parts OF each ships boats replacing
parts Of the regular crews, but the blue
jackets Of the squadron, who were all in
| white, had to arm and equip the boats
The Gatling or Hotchkiss gun with which
each boat was to be armed was quickly
taken from its tripod on the ships rail on
deck, and the tripod itself was unshipped.
A rope sling was put around the gun and
its tripod and both were soon ia the boat.
In the meantime other members Of the
crew were bringing to the gangway stands
Of rides, cases Of ammunition, cooking
utensils lanterns, compasses and the other
articles with which boat must be
equipped. In very quick time each boat
was manned Every boat carried detail
of marines and bluejackets armed as rife
men. The larger boats had extra ritiemen
sitting on the thwarts between the oars
men. The bowmen in such boats as had
Gatlings or Hotchkiss guns acted as the
crews Of those guns.
II was noticed that the boats were grad
ually drifting astern. In few moments
they had cleared the Chicago and were
heading obliquely for the New York side
Every column kept its distance from the
other in splendid style No prettier sight
has been seen in the harbor for years than
this maneuver, so well was it executed
I Steadily the columns took up the same
relative position on the port side as they
had occupied on the starboard This
movement brought all the boats in sight
Of the patient walters on the New York
piers and docks. Their cheers could be
heard on the flagship.
The Drill in the WateB.
As quickly as possible each ships steam
launch took Ia tow her pulling boats, one
behind the other, and assisted by the oars
they began to fight the swift North river
tide in their struggle to reach the flagship
( When the line of boats from the various
ships reached the Chicago they took up
I their positions on her starboard bow It
was a beautiful sight for those who were
near at hand.
Each boat had its colors flying as 1t
7 danced on the waves filed with white clad
seamen, and when signals were given
from the flagship and answered from the
boats the red, white, and red answering
pennants added to the color OF the scene
| The signals were hoisted at the Chieago's
maintopsail yard and were interpreted by
officers in the boats provided with signal
books.
Every Blade obeyed.
Three flags flew to the maintopsail yard
Of the Chicago. II was signal No. 2GO and
it gave the command Guide right" to the
] boat squadron. Up went a little red and
I white pennant in every boat. All answered,
1--WE understand" Three more flags
sought the yard arm. Toss oars" was
the order, and every blade obeyed at the
same second.
The Admiral saiuted.
More signal flags went up to get the
boat squadron steady in line. The crews
were told to "Guide right" They did it
with their oars, and they saluted the ad-
miral, too, when they passed his bridge.
'Toss oars" was ordered. A forest of
blades sprang up like magic. This was
capitally done. Then suddenly the flags
said mo. 49," II meant Cast off tow
line, commencing with each rear boat "
Down went the oars, the boats fell of and
the boys" went to rowing against the
tide.
"Three twenty-six" signaled the flags in
short order. That was Boats return to
I