The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1892-09-17
BuRlALs OUT AT SEA.
Description Of the Ceremony as Per-
formed on a man-of-war.

DC not III some ptACtlul OOu > dCtc
at home, but in distant lands, or,
worst of all, in the turbulent deeps
OF the great ocean. Tnis is a com-
mon fate, and cruel one, tor sure
II it is hard that the struggle for
existence which denies the shore
to the seaman in life should often
in death he so pitiless. AT the best
the marlipr's days are bitter with
dCnials, sacrifices, hardships; and
everywhere, in most unexpected
forms, and from the action of a
thousand causes which would be
imperative ashore, misery, sick
ness and death are about him. The
ordinary demands OF ship routine,
his duties allow and aloit, i'll har-
Dor, upon theoeean, all are hazard
Gus, so dependent upon quick eyes,
strong hands, clear heads and
alert intelligence, that the least
mischance OF judgment on of grip,
the slightest physical mistake, may
be fatal. Be assured the sall0
feels this. 1t is br, d in his bone /;
it is the earliest and latest lesson
he learns, aud Harprr's Weekly
says this perpetual menacs enters
his soul so deeply and so early
that even in strongest aud blithest
manhoo bis face is flied with the
pathos born of this cruelty of the
sea.
When the maritime Jack dies be
is buried without much undue
ceremony. A bri f prayer, a
shotted hammock, the lee IL, and
all is over. But ON hoard ship OF
war y sailors funeral is path, tic IN
its dignified simplicity. No mus
ter of the ships company is,
naturally, so sad as this, aud you
can see il on the f,ces of all wheu
the subdued shrilling of tn
bo'sw'n's whistle is followed bs
the loug-drawn-out and modnlat-d
call of s'AlI hands bury the read p
The men come aft quietly and take
their allotted stations. To Reward,
if at sea, or upon the port side Of
the quarterback. if in port, the
seamen are ranged in che from.
rank: behind them are the ordi-
nary seamen, and in rear of botn
the apprentices and the laudsmen.
In the gangway forward of the
mainmast ou such ships as still
have sail power the senior petty
officers stand at attention. Around
the coffin, folded in the jack OF
national eusigu, are grouped th'
pall-bearers, selected usually from
the dead mans mess or gun divIs-
ion, and close at hand, resting Oh
arms, the marine guard is paraded
Nearest the coffin are the chaplain
and the captain, and then, in the
order Of their rank, stretch aft the
other officers Of the ship.
The ensign at the peak, or st 'h'
flutters tremblingly at half.mast
and from overhe ID the yard and
stay tackles swing ltzily, ready
to lift the coffin 0ntbcard. Whet
the weather permits the way o
the ship is stopped, and. it may be
little flickers OF idling steam cur
upward aud to Ieeward like in
cense. and the wind ia the backe'
and fretting topsails murmurs
dirge. The order to ''unco, eI" i
passed gently, and while the beau
iifuI words OF tue burial servicl
are being read, the hush of th'
living is accentuatrd by the low
Accomplishments of sea sounds
by the rumple of eager water
etldying sternward and by th'
snrging of the brpeze i'll the hollow
of the canyas aud through thu
rigging and gear.
When the closing prayer is said
the last blrssing given, the tack
les are man Ell, the coffin j
stripped of itS flags and slung il
straps, and slowly, reveren ~, i
hoisted above The rail and clear o
the ship until it is poised over h
bi.Iows. Tue marines load, aim
fire--in all three volleys, ha
awaken rafting echoes in the hid
den sp .ces of The ship; the hug
sounds sstaps" tenuerly aud sweel
ly, with a u, wrr meaning of slerI
and rest; the eOffin swings fur he
out, and is lowered gently unti
the f,iAn aud spomldrift molSte
it; the tackl are deta, he'd VIII
suddtn jerk, aud in al instant llf
weighted box sho is downward
bedded In foam aud uuDbies, an
all is over until the sea gives u
its dead.
In little while the CHEEKY whls
tie, triI out a call TO duty, th
half-masled ensign climbs to tn
dasher block, the snip is br"ugn
to her course, and dazedly b
men lak- up The wearying routil
Of the lives so badly broken, A
unusual quiet rests upJn The Nes~'
and around the mess tables bu
in the groups gathered TO snok
during tie sapper honr, aud aft'
the hamlnucks ar piped down, ID
yirtues-.hos heroic and hoars
sea virtues-of the deal sailor al
called. aud with a teRderhss
boln Of comradesnip closer tha
aay olher men except soldiers ma