Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-02-11
DRILL ON A WARSHIP.
A VIGOROUS ROUTINE VARIED
WITH SPECIAL EXERCISE.
HOW the Men Fight Fire, Abandon
Ship, and. Clear the Deck for
Action, .

snip, ana clear tne Deck Tor
Action.
"Fife quarters" is usually one of the
tirst drills at which the crew on man-ot-
war is exercised. The ringing of the big
bell, which hangs forward, is the signal
OF fire, and at the first sound the men are
taught to move quickly to their allotted
stations. Those detailed for the pumps
spring to their places, and while they
are shipping the handles others unreel
the hose and carry the nozzles to the
part of the ship where the fire is supposed
to be. A dozen or so seize hammocks
and follow the executive officer. They
ore known as smotherers," and, if he
so orders, they unlush the hammocks and
take out blankets. These, when wet and
thrown on fire, serve excellently we'll to
smother the blaze.
Down below the gunner and his as
sistants stand at magazine and she'll
room flood cocks, ready to flood the
explosives should the fire approach too
near. Hatohes are battened down to
exclude any draught, and if the ship is
at sea the officer in charge of the deck
Immediately alters her course, to bring
the wind on n quarter least favorable to
spread of the fire. The topmen scurry
aloft and, taking the leather fire-buckets
which are suspended under the tops, pre-
pare to extingush any sparks which may
endanger the top hamper of sails.
A dozen men from the crew of
each boat are meanwhile busy getting up
provisions and water for their respective
boats. They place their burdens on
deck alongside the cutters, but do not
attempt to get into them. AT each boat
davit stands marine with q fixed bayonet
who sternly warns away any one who at
tempts to climb into the boat. Various
stratagems are ted to by the Captain
and First Lieutenant to ascertain If the
marines know their daty ut this drill.
One of them is to order sailor into Il
boat to SEQ if the gear for lowering it is
in shape or for any other purpose that
tends to put the sentry off his guard. If
the latter is well trained the seaman will
find a leveled rifle confronting him when
he attempts to get into the boat, even
though the marine has heard the Cap
tains order. If the unwary sentry allows
the man to pass, the negligence is re-
ported to the marine officer, and several
days extra duty serve to impress upon
the sea soldier the necessity of strict
compliance with the order that prohibits
any one from going into boat until the
call to abandon ship is sounded.
This exercise naturally follows that of
fire quarters. AT every drill the fire is
supposed togain such headway as to make
it necessary to abandon the ship. AZ
ter the executive officer has made COM
plete round of the ship and seen that ev-
cry one is at his proper station, he comes
on deck and makes a report to the Cap
tain. Then is heard lively air played
by the bugler, and accompanied by the
noise of scampering feet can be distin-
guished the notes of "The Girl | Left
Behind Me- which is the signal to aban-
don ship. The boats are rapidly low
cred, and as soon,as they touch the water,
boxes of canned meat and casks of water
are passed from hand to hand and placed
between the thwarts. After the men are
in theirplaces the boat officer springs in
to the stern sheets, and the order to
''shove off, is given. Almost in less
time than it takes to tell it the ship is
abandoned.
Both of these exercises have no other
object than the preservation of the ship
and the safety of the crew. Some of the
other drills have far different purpose.
That of general quarters is to make the
mon efficient in fighting. Once n week
tits gone through with, and the exercise
is lively while it lasts.
At the call "Clear ship for action"
nvarxytkinsr ,,,f 6
about the deck is bundled below into the
hold. AS elaborate preparations are
made for tho mimic fray as though nm
actual encounter was impending. Light
yards are sent down from aloft, and the
hoadbooms rugged in so as to give the
ram II chance to do its work. A big
hawscr is got up from the hold and
coilcd upon the poop, to be used as q
spring in case tho ruddor screw is dis
ablod, and it becomes necessary to
spring tho ship broadside to the enemy
Grapncls arc got over the stern in readi-
ness to clear the propeller in event of
its becoming foulod by floating decks.
Extra lnshings are put on the yards, and
| preventer braces are put in place in case
the others are shot away. If at anchor,
tho boats aro lowered and dropped
astern; at sea, sails are passed under
them to prevent splinters from flying
should thoy be struck by an enemy IS
shot Sandis sprinkled upon the gun
deck to prevent it getting slippery with
blood, and down in the sick bay the sur
gcon makes equally unpleasant preparu-
tions.
When all the preparations are COM
pleated tho drums beat to quarters. The
executive officer has charge of the drill,
and gives his orders from the bridge
The operation of firing at an enemy
ahead is gone through with, and the one
on tho extreme quarter engages atten-
tion. AS the ucton becomes warm, foes
bob up at ali points of the compass.
The orders, "Man the starboard battery"
"Man tho port battery" "hIan all the
guns!" are given in quick succession.
The rapid-tre and machine guns keep
up spiteful rattle, and in real action
would be hurting storm of missiles to
the foe.
"No. 4 at No. 2 gun is wounded"
calls the officer from the bridge.
The words are hardly uttered before q
sailor is seen to fall to the deck. The
officer of his division looks quickly
around, but before he has time to utter
a command two seamen have their wound
ed comrade in their arms and support
him until the third unrols n stretchcr.
"Shot through the arm!' says tho officer