The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-11-24
MAKING READY FOR SEA.
Scenes Of Busting Preparati0n Aboard q
War Ship Ordered to Ssu.


Scenes Of Busting Preparation Aboard the
War Ship Ordered to ssu.
There is no more trying season on
beard a United States man-of-war
than the time of pressing preparation
for some hurried mission. 1t is a
maxim with subalterns in the navy
that nobody knows to-day what viii
happen tomorrow. For days and
weeks before an expectant ship puts
to sea there are conflicting rumors
touching the day and hour of depart
ure. and even after everybody has been
ordered to be on board for sailing at a
definite time there is still skeptical
sentiment in the ward room.
When ship Is under orders to make
ready for sea as rapidly as possible
and to hold herself in readiness to sail
upon short notice there is scene of
haste and activity. Only the most
trustworthy sailors are then allowed
to go ashore, and even officers find
their going and coming more closely
watched than usual. The paymaster,
his clerk. his yeoman. and the Jack O.
the Dust are busy all day looking after
stores, paying such men as are to be
transferred to other ships, and caring
for this or that detail essential to the
proper preparation for the ship for sea-
The m ess caterer is busy getting his
stores on board, and every officer is
making his last purchase ashore
Meanwhile the ship is beseiged by the
host of persons who have dealings with
men and officers. There are tailors
with garments to try on. agents for
dealers in officers uniforms and ac-
coutrements anxiously inquiring as to
the final wants of this or that officer,
bumboat men of all descriptions offer
ing wares, expressmen receiving final
orders, laundresses with the very last
batch of fresh linen, seeming noun
tains of starched material that must
last the wardroom perhaps for months.
Finally, there are the wives, mothers.
sisters and sweethearts of the sailors
standing about on deck or seated
ashore. within sight of the marine
sentinels, in deep converse with the
men. There are all sorts of excuses
and devices for obtaining from one to
tventy-four hours leave in those last
days, and the women are especially
fertile IN these devises. There are
Geographic dispatches calling Jack to
the bedside of dying father, or
hysterical mother, stern demands for
his instant appearing in court upon
important legal business, and requests
for leave backed by guarantees from
clergymen and civil officers. The
knowing executive officer ignores all
these things and keeps Jack steadily
at work aboard ship until the time
comes to weigh anchor.
When Ellis island was still the DOW
der depot of this naval station the
agony of departure was sometimes
drawn out for days. 1t was always
difficult to reach New York from ship
lying at Ellis island, and officers often
lay for days within sight of the city.
but were compelled to remain aboard
ship, though there was nothing to oc-
cupy them. The order to take ammu-
milton was heard with apprehension
and followed by long grumb bling.
Every naval officer who values his
is careful that nothing shall
1etain him ashore beyond the hour of
the ships departure. Wilful delay on
MS part would be followed by court
martial and even when unavoida BILE ac-
;ident detains man he feels that he
las lost something by his failing to
'eport on board ship at the proper time.
Even officers on waiting orders take
care that they shall not at any time
'lace themselves twenty-four hours
beyond the reach of telegraphic orders.
The subaltern who serves under an
executive officer with whom he is not
IN the best terms is especially careful
20 avoid any accident that may bring
him aboard ship An hour beyond the
expiration of his leave or necessitate
MS joining the vessel at some port 9TH
r. than the original point of departure.
such misfortune, however innocent
y incurred, may handicap the sub
ltern throughout whole cruise in his
fforts to keep even with an executive
Hicer keen to catch him in fault.
Landsmen do well to pay very brief |
lists to ship under stress of prepare
ions for sea. The visitor may not be |
in the way, but as he has
o unerring sense by which he may /
istinguish busy officer from an idle
ne, he may unconsciously retard work
7hen there is not q moment to spare
here comes. in any case, a time when
IL civilians must leave the ship, and
isitor's departure is accomplished
lore gracefully if it be timed so as to
recede at least by an hour or so the
of that order NY. Sun.
Narrow Escape.
YES" said Mr.. Smawll to one of the
nests, looking at his watch and then
azing dreamily off into vacancy. "it
as exactly twenty-five years ago at
MS moment that / led-ah, my dear.
was just observing to Mr.. Spoona-
lore that exactly twenty-five years
m b--Y bo .oh y-o,, loI mn 70 h.