Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-06
PRINCES ON sHIPBoARD.

PRINCES ON sHIPBOARD.
How the Sons of the Heir Apparent Con-
Quoted Themselves AS Middies.
A gentleman whose Office Is in Pine
street fire insurance company of this
city was shipmate of the late Duke
of Clarence and of his brother, Prince
George, on board her majesty's ship
Britannia. He has clear remembrance
of the day they joined the ship and of
their reception by their fellow middies.
In speaking of that event he said:
Sat 3:l5 on Jan. IS, 1877. on board her
majesty's ship Britannia. training ship
for gentlemen cadets, stationed at Dart
mouth, Devon. the bugler sounded
quarters and all hands, in full uniform,
were mustered to receive the two newly
appointed cadets, the royal princes
Captain Fairfax. commanding, was
standing at the head of the gangway
with the first lieutenant, in full dress
and as the steam pinnace came along
side, the ships band struck up God
Bless the Prince of Wales
Captain Fairfax, having introduced
each Of the wardroom officers and all
the instructors to their royal highnesses.
sang out: Attention. by your right,
dress; eyes 'front.' Gentlemen cadets of
her majesty's ship Britannia now col
lectiyely present to you your new ship
mates their Royal Highnesses Prince
Albert Victor and Prince George of
Wales, with whom will now leave you
Two PAGES. forward. right about, turn
dismissr
Then began all the usual boyish
chaff, or running, as believe it is
called at Annapolis followed by the
task of showing our new shipmates
over the ship AS soon as they reached
the upper deck the senior cadet captain
said to them: Mates, it is AN old Gus
tom that each new" on joining, shall go
aloft, over the futtocks. avoiding the
lubber's hole as he would the botto,nless
pit. Which Of you two will be over
firsty So over the futtocks and down
again went the two princes, finally
joining in game of swing the monkey
until the bugle sounded for cadets to
put on mess uniform for tea.
cat the sound Of the bugle call two
venerable family retainers advanced to
our new shipmates. with every outward
sign of civilian respect, but no nautical
tug of the forelock to inform them that
their mess uniform was prepared A
shril voice called out:
"'Who are your ancient chu1ns,
Walesy '-'sv-s.sA --rr-r. =
"'Why, don't you see,' some other wit
replied, 'one is the wet nurse and the
other the dry nurse
1.-The main difference between the
Wales and the other cadets was that in
stead Of sleeping in hammocks they had
large cabins Knocked up for them on the
main deck, sleeping, dining and working
rooms being provided. They also had
special tutor, who was appointed naval
instructor, the Rev. j. N. Dalton, who
afterward accompanied them in her
majesty's ship Bacchante on their voy-
age around the world.
"a favorite cadet joke was to get
Prince Eddie to stroke a pleasure boat,
and when the coxswain allowed an easy
ALL some one would say. Wales, when
you are indeed my ruler, would very
much like it if you would make ME
duke
"'Make you a duke, you swab? I'll
make you shoeblack'
"He would then be taken by the legs
and ducked till he agreed and gave his
royal word of honor that each member
of that boats crew should be duke
when he came to the throne.
Although without the high spirits of
his younger brother, sweeter tempered
and more unassuming cadet was never
entered in the books of her majesty's ship
Britannia, and those characteristics he
always retained. The last time saw him
was in 1888, when he was serving as
captain in the Tenth Hussars, at York,
and he gave me the same cordial greet
ing that he always had given ten years
before, when we were brother cadets.
"a time honored custom on board the
Britannia is that cadets in their first
term shall 'fag' for cadets in their third
and fourth terms, and that cadets in
their second term shall 'fag' for those in
the fourth or final term. This rule was
in no way abated with the Wales boys,
and have seen them on several occa-
sions hauling cadet of the necessary
seniority up the hill to the cricket
field on broiling day, with the perspira-
ton rolling down their royal brows It
was good discipline New York Times.