Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-09-21
ON A BIG STEAMSHIP IN PORT
How the Officers Pass the Time Not an
Easy Life for Them.

How the Officers Pass the Time Not an
Easy Life for Them.
An invitation to lunch or dine on
board big ocean steamer when
she Is in port is rarely refused
There is a novelty about the great
ships solitary decks, saloons and
lOunging and smoking rooms that is
mighty fetching, and the opportun-
ity to become a privileged guest
isn't to be had every day. In all sea
novels as soon as the ship ties up and
the captain has seen its owner he
strikes the bee Ii ne for his own snug
cottage and little wife, aud doesn't
appear till the vessel is ready to sail
again. In reality the captain and
officers Of an ocean racer are rarely
buster than during the week they
are forced tC remain in port
The ships doctor is the man with
the best chance to get away, and un-
less there is sickness among the crew
he picks up his hat and doesn't come
back until the next sailing day. The
rest OF the official staff has to put in
some hard work during the stay.
Every one rises about the same time
as usual The officers all mess to-
gether when In port. The mates
have to get out and emphatically
earn their wages. The unloading is
under the mates eyes, and two OF
them see to the checking Of every
piece OF freight that has been put
aboard on the other side. With such
a vessel as the Teutonic that is no
boys task, and no sooner is the hold
emptied than another gang of men,
under the direction Of mate, begins
to pile in other freight.
Then the mates have the logs to
write up, and to see that the ship
has thorough cleaning from crows
nest to steerage, and the seven or
six days Of what most people suppose
is liberty is slavery to duty.
The busiest man Of all is the pur-
ser. In the first forty-eight hours
out and the last twenty-four hours
before land is made purser has
more responsibility than work, but
at other times he is on the jump. He
and the steward have to victual the
ship. and to perform that operation
| for the Teutonic which often carries
over 1000 people, does not permit a
man to he lazy. Supplies for crew
and passengers, hundreds Of letters
concerning special accommodations
months ahead. as many more about
table seats, clearing the vessel, all
the details of the big ship come di-
rectly under the purser's eve. The
ships books have to be kept, and
when the purser gets a chance to run
uptown to dinner with some friend
he is in vein to enjoy it.
AS to invitations; we'll, even the
pets Of the $50 could hardly show
such stacks Of them as the captain
and purser of favorite greyhound
are showered with. Both here and
on the other side the most prominent
families consider them among their
most desired guests. To begin with,
at sea the captain is the host of the
entire vessel. and the wise passen-
gers know how much of their good
times depend on the man in COM
mand, and they are grateful for the
pains any sensible captain takes.
Then, too, most captains and officers
are good stOry-tellers, and cOnse.
Quently a great addition to any din.
ner list.
There is generally a stream of Wis.
itors from the moment the ship docks
until she hauls in her lines and steams
away, and try their BEST the officers
find their little spare time we'll taken
up in this way Then there is quite
club lite among officers and stew
ards on the ships There are athletic
clubs, football, and cricket clubs.
No plan has yet been devised where
by practice in either can be had on
shipboard, but when the season is
favorable the members manage to
make time to put on their toys and
bravely set forth to play on shore.
Dancers are rarely given on the big
liners because of the difficulty in
moving the furniture in the dining.
room, where it is carefully screwed
and bolted to the floor. Last winter
the presentation of the cup to the
champion athlete of the Britanic oc-
Cured in New York harbor, and was
followed by dance that was at.
tended by lot OF well known people.
A captain really has less to do than
his officers when in port. and has
more time to make himself agreeable
and pay visits, but he is the real host
of the vessel and dinner invitations
are seldom sent out until it has been
seen if it is agreeable to him. Many
captains have favorite friends who
have crossed SO continually that an
intimacy is established, and several
of the English captains have rooms
with New York families where they
spend their time, but the most Of
them live aboard ship and rarely take
vacation.
Cards are not such a.tavOrite amuse
ment as would be expected, although
sometimes a whist party is given
but the captain generally sees sc
much of card playing among his pas
sengers that he doesn't feel any very
alarming desire to revel.
Unlucky Edgar Poe.