The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-27

dried on deck they attended to that, and in
long VOYAGES they essayed to wash the I'M
derciothing, which would have hardly
passed muster If coming from a laundry.
TIL hammock-boy was always amply re-
warded for his services, and in bad weather
had an additional glass of grog, which then
formed a part of their ration.
The storage was at that time the apart
msnt of the midshipmen and the assistant
surgeon. 1t was qnite small and often
overcrowdsd; in a frigate or line of battle
ship a ray of sunlight rarely penetrated the
apartment. When at sea tho rude airports
were closed by a heavy oak piece which was
on hinges and consequently almost invaria-
bly, leaked when the vessel rolled heavily in
a seaway. Subjected to common discom-
forts and dangers, having common pastlmes
and pursuits. and visiting the shore IS COM
p%anions, it is not strange that these navy
youths grew up with an affection for each
other that never left them during life. !
have never seen a fist fight between them;
any indignity shown was followed by a
challenge, II a duel with ships pistols
followed. The weapons were SO hard on
the triggers and SO rude on the sights that
to ''hit q barn door" with a ball at a dis
lance of twenty yards was abouS all that
could be counted on in accuracy of aim.
Tue voyages were for three years. Our
principal force was kept in the Mediter-
ranean sea; some part of it visiting at
times the west coast of Africa, the Ca
nary Islands, and the Island of Madeira.
The squadron wintered at Port Mahon.
A cruise ''up the straits" was above all
others the one most desired. The West
India station. although near home, with a
rendezvous at Pensacola, was stunned if
possible. There was much cruising on the
coast of Mexico, as disagreeable a locality
as could be found, with a considerable
chance of dying of yellow fever. as did
Commodore o. FL. Perry, u hero Of
Lake Erie in 1873. He died at the island
of Trinidad in 1919, and was then quite
young.
The Brazil station was pleasant, extend
ing as it did, to the waters of La Plata, a
large estuary receiving the waters of the
Paraguay river.
The Pacific station was also . favorits,
distant as 1t WAS and approached by stormy
seas and westerly winds off Cape Horn.
which made the passage long and tedious.
After nearly three years in distant seas
every one on board was delighted when the
anchor was weighed and the vessel home
ward bound. The little middle had often
developed almost to manhood should he
have made an earlier cruise. After n long
voyage, from the masthead the cry OF
Land ho!" would at length come, after
the usual delays from gales, Gains and
head-winds; then as the vessel approached
the port Il pilot-boat would heave in sight
and the pilot would be hailed as a long
lost brother; he would hand q bun
die of newspapers to the officer
who received him at the Rangway
to be presented to the captain, and ere long
a distribution would be made to those who
felt the greatest interest in home news. On
arriving III port after fifty days Mt sea a
dinner on fresh meats, vegetables and
fruits may be- regarded as among the solid
enioyments of life. Letters of a recent
date from home were received
with feyerish anxiety, telling too often
to those who read them that they
had come too late to see some of those
held most dear on earth. A week or more
was usually required to receive orders, then
in a day the ship would be stripped to a
gaunt-line,'' the ships hold and store
rooms would be emptied of their contents.
and the officers and sailors would be
paid off to their great delight. The
sailor who had taken care of his
clothing would frequently have several
hundred dollars in his pockets, which, I'M
happily. lie did not know how to invest,
and the iaunty man-of-war's man of the
bay would usually a week later be glad to
escape from the pleasures of the shore''
to the quiet and order of a receiving ship,
where he knew he would be we'll cared for
and, perhaps, when sent to sea again, 20
mp the straits" instead of TO n less at
~tractiye station. Officers of rank would re
celve their three-months' leave, and mid
shiprnen also, unless those who were
nearly eligible for examination would be
permitted to go to any of our navy-yards
to be instructed by the professor of math-
ematics, who, with a sextant in his hand
and a Bowditch's Navigator at his side,
was supposed to be an ample source of