Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-22
WARSHIP BUNTING.
THE DRESS ANDLANGUAGE
OF AeNANAL VESSEL.
Flag of Honor, Storm Flag,
TOach-Wbip-UscS of Ensign
and Pcnant-Cost of Flag.

| ana t'eildnf-N OSt oI idSs
Flutterirg bunting is the language oil
the United States Navy, and there IS
scarce any idea too elusive to be con-
veved bv Uncle Sam S sailor-men through
the medium of ensign or pennant, says
n writer in the New York Sun. Not
only are the signal codes, national and
international, expressed by means OF
bunting. but world Of "a ,tcal emo
tons as well.
Sorrow, Joy, respect, pride, warnings
Of danger, slgnals of distress, defiance
submission, and whatever else may
move body OF men harbored within
the iron sides OF an American man-of-
war. all find u,terance by means OF the
banners with which she is amply pro
vidcd. All ships look alike 10 the ordi-
nary landsman. as do all horses 10 the
man MT trained to observe or acquainted
with equine pecnlisrites.
But to the nautical eye, not only Is
there vast difference among ships but
the same ship has vastly dinerentaspects
under different conditions and nothing
about a ship il more significant than the
arrangement OF her bunting.
When a ship OF the United States Navy
, il placed in commission the command
ant Of the navy-yarl whore she may he
living formally jntrusts her to the
Gr,N,t man dor
/ The latter. in his turn, reads bis orders,
being the written certificate from the
government Of his authority and rcspon-
sibiIity.
THE COACH-WHTp.
/ This done. the new commander says
10 his executive officer: Hoist the en-
sign and break the pennant This com
mand descends by proper gradations to
| the ssiler-me1 that carry it out, and
presently the flag Of the United states
/ is unfurlcd mt it's proper place, and the
coach-whip Of the commander floats
aloft at tho masthead.
/ All this happens with everybody, men
and officers, on deck. and with the merry
marine music sounding. the appear
anco Of ensign and pennant proclaim
the fact that the ship is upon active
duty, and the latter never comes down
until the commander is dead or super
seeded or the ship is declared out Of com
mission.
SO long as the pennant flies the regu-
lar routine Of naval life goes on within
her sides and upon her docbs-a routine
that has been continued since the first
year Of the republic, and will continue
SO long ns we are n maritime power with
Il flag to cheer and a national honor to
maintain.
Bunting is to a ship Of the navy not
only language, but dress as well. With
II she roioices. in il she mourns. 1t
stands to her for jewels, ribbons, and
furbelows II she wear train 1t IL OF
bunting 4; if she put on a gay scarf IN
honor Of new friend or ancient foe,
again IT is Of bunting.
Her holiday attire is Of the same ma
tcrial, and she lays aside her last stitch
Of bunting only when temporarily or
permanently retired from duty. That n
ship may he provided at once with dress
and speech she carries a vast quantity Of
bunting. The number OF flags. ensigns,
pannants. and the like that an American
man-of-war carries IL not dozens or
scores, but more nearly hundreds.
DRESSING Snip.
She must be supplied with all tho
bunting necessary for everyday duty,
for dressing ship, for special displays,
for domestic and international signalling,
and for every emergency that IS likely
to arise.
She must carry not only her own
colors, but the flag OF every maritime
nation whose ports she is likely to enter,
or whose ships she may encounter, for
she displays foreign ensigns by courtesy
when in n foreign port upon the holidays
of the nation to which such port be-
longs, and she shows like courtesy when
foreign officers Of rank come on board.
Not Albert Edward Of Wales himself
keeps aud wears a greater variety Of
military clothes than does an American
man-of-war IN foreign waters.
The largest American flag used by the
navy Is IS feet long by 10 feet " hoist"
as the width Of flag is called in naval
parlance. In such flag the starry blue
field, or union, measures l4.4XlO.2 feet.
This is the banner OF honor 1t flies in
fine weather, and especially upon muster
Sunday if there is no rain or high wind,
and upon all occasions, weather per
uniting, when the ship is in her best
trim.
With the coming on OF rain or an in
crease Of wind smaller flag goes up.
Ensign No. . is u. 19Xi.35 feet, and the
union is 10. SSx7.73 feet. Nos. 3, 4, and
3 are smaller in varying degrees The
last OF these is the storm flag. 1t mea-
mres 9.75x5.4 feet and the union IS
3. 9x2.7 feet.
1t flies in wind or rain and bears the
brunt of service. No, 6, which is the
smallest ensign commonly used, is the
boat flag. 1t measures 5.jX2. 9 feet and
its union is 2.2xlG feet.
IT is the boat-hag that one sees fire.
quently in New York harbor displayed
at the stern of a ships gig, manned by
stout salor-men in the uniform of the
navy. Each boat on United States
ship has its own flag.
THE NATIONALITY.
The ensign proclaims the nationality
OF the ship and is displayed in harbor,
but not when the ship is on the open
sea, save at the approach of another yes
sci. 1t flies either from the peak or the
gait on the sftermast or from flagstaff
astorn.
The ensign is hoisted Mt S o'clock in