The morning call., 1893-09-23
TOO MANY ORDERS
GrOWlS From the Bering
Sea Fleet.
MANY DESERTIONS PROBABLE
Orders for Jack to Keep His Hands
Out of His Pockets Breeds
Trouble.

On April IL last the United States
steamer Ranger left this harbor for Port
Townsend in command of Captain Mich
OILS and manned by a complement of men.
On October II next the Ranger will prob
ably return to San Francisco minus a
number of her crew and bearing the repu-
tation of having lost most of her men be-
cause of too rigid discipline.
From private source of information it
is learned that one of the principal COM
plants made by the men of the Ranger is
that orders have been given by the vessels
commander that no seaman should be al
lowed to put his hands in his pockets
while on duty. 1t is not presumed that
poor Jack Is prohibited from reaching
after his knife or prevented from diving
into his pockets for chew of tobacco
but it is stated that under no circum-
stances is a Ranger seaman allowed TO
pose medtatiyely with his fists covered by
trouser cloth and not ready for immediate
action.
Again doth Jack complain and say that
on board the Ranger the men are forced
to do double duty. Watches have been
changed so as TO force every seaman,
marine and apprentice TO sleep with one
eye on dreamland and the other on the
ships officers. No man is allowed to close
both ewes at once, nor 70 lose conscious
ness altogether.
MesS-table rules are still more offensive
declare these victims of the Ranger. Sea-
biscuits have to be eaten in seven bites in
stead of three, and ''Sait horse" cnewed
thoroughly before being swallowed. All
able seamen are expected 10 shave three
times week, and no man with an over
growth of capillary substance is permitted
to be on deck without comb handy for
constant use.
These are some of the minor complaints
which the Ranger sailors hint of, but more
seriously speaking there appears TO be
grounds for assertions that the ships crew
Is only awaiting an opportunity TO leave
her at the first port touched at.
AT present the Ranger is supposed to be
In Alaskan waters aud nc news of def
mite or wholly trustworthy character can
be gained concerning her. Neverthel ess
there has been trouble with this ship con-
corning desertion before. While at Port
Townsend. some months ago. a mum Der of
her crew lett her; the complaint being
that too severe discipline was enforced.
At naval headquarters the story of a
probable general deSertiOn from the ship
is not credited. 1t is thought that the
larger part of the vessels crex will leave
her when she arrives at this port, but this,
It IS claimed, is always the case with vessels
returning from Berlng Sea duty.
THE origin of the story is the desertion
of number of men while the Ranger was
al Port Townsend" said an officer.
Trouble Is always experienced with crews
shipping on the Boring Sea patrol feet.
The men seem to have an aversion 10
shipping to the north. They get as far as
Port Townsend. get full Of liquor and are
then sorry that they signed. l don't think
that the rules and regulations of the Naval
Department are any more strict on board
OF the Ranger than on any other Govern
ment ship"
The following letter was received yester-
day from one OF the crew of the Ranger by
local shipping agent. 1t gives fair idea
OF the dissatisfaction among the men:
We aie not satisfied here at all. This is one
oil the hardest ships | ever was ia. We have all
been doing double time and getting no thanks Tor
IT, The grub is poor. and the officers seem TO
be suffering with the swel-head. They act
like Iney thought they were gods. Every man
IN my watch intends leaving the ship when we
reach Frisco and you eau bet We Will not sign
in her again.
The crew of the Mohcan, it is also
learned, are anxious to get back. They
say that an overdose of discipline is their
trouble, and declare that, like the Rangers
men, they will leave the Government serv-
ice never 10 return.