Milford chronicle., 1893-08-25
IN TIE QUEENS NAVY.
Routine Life ON Board Of One Of Her
8Iajesty's BIen-of-war.


Routine Life ON Board of One Of Her
AIajesty's DIen-of-war.
The Victoria disaster impressed upon the
public the tragic possibilities Of naval life
syen in times of peace. Certain prizes are
annually competed for by the various gun
crews of a man-Of-war. The target is merely
a large canvas. screen stretched upon spars
and set upright on sort Of raft. A line is
marked off by two buoys at a certain dis
tance and parallel to the target All being
ready, the ship steams along this line, the
Sire" being sounded after she passes the
first buoy and the ease fire" as shs passes
the second. Afterward she steams back,
and so on, backward and forward, oaeh gun
crew firing as many shots as it can in one
course. The prize is decided by the highest
humber Of hits.
Except in those few,men-of-war in which
space allows OF cabin being set apart for
g smoking room, votaries of the fragrant
weed are restricted both as to the time and
place Of its consumption. In corvettes and
smaller ships the officers smoking place is
usually under the break Of the poop. In
the large class, having a main or battery
deck, 1t Is, as a rule, in the afterpart Of the
battery The men either smoke in the fore
castle or in the forward part Of the battery
The time set apart for smoking are general
ly from noon till about a quarter past one,
when the marine drummer beats a long
roll on his drum as a signal to "Out pipes,n
and again from after evening quarters till
'lights out"
One night, or in some ships two, week
Is usually fixed at the commencement Of
commission for the entertainment Of guests
at a dinner. Generally Thursday or Friday
is chosen. Then the wardroom or com 4
missioned officers mess on board of her
majesty's battleships presents such a scene
as this: The serious part Of dinner is over,
the wine has just been passed round and
the president rises in his place and offers
toast. All drink the toast, while the band
stationed outside strikes up the national |
anthem.
Whether expected or not, the shrill pipe, !
followed by a stentorian Clear lower 1
deck" roared down the hatchway at once /
produces a sudden turmoil, which to an 1
outsider would certainly appear to be "con- I
fusion worse confounded." But this is far
from being the case. Every man knows
his station and makes for it instantly;
hence the rush and clatter Of hundreds Of /
feet along the decks and up the ladders as
officers and men, seamen and marines, in
obedience to the summons hasten to their
posts are the most orderly business possible.
All fall in in readiness for the evolution,
whether sail drill, ''Out boats' or the now
just dying cut "up" or down topgallant
nasts," once considered one Of the most
Important evolutions on board man-Ofe
war.
A very different scene follows. One aft
srnoon a week, usually Thursday, is marked
Dy the cessation Of all drills, etc. that Jack
may have a chance to keep his wardrobe in
ierviceable condition. Jack Tar gets more
Jay than Joe Marine, his shipmate, and
las to keep himself in uniform clothing
for which he can take up" or
purchase on advantageous terms from the
hips stores. There is ships tailor, but
great number of blue jackets are most
xcellent tailors themselves Both smart
nd well fitting are the suits of blue and
White which they turn out.
Once month comes pay day, and Jack
5 as ready for it as any man. 'lables are
ct up on the main deck, and here sits the
aymaster Before him APPEARS a fat
rawer in which lie the coins BY his side
re note an assistant clerk WI fth the pay list.
Is each mans name and the amount due
D him are called he stepy up to the table,
nd the precise amounYis placed in front
him. If a blue iackeE he usually sweeps
off into his cap. As each man receives
is pay he walks oHby the opposite side Of =
ie deck, and if j5f a thrifty disposition he
rs an opportunity Of at once making de :
Dsit in the savings bank table established
D the starboard side.-Black and White :