The Opelousas courier., 1894-01-13
UNITED STATES MARINES.
A CORPS ESTABLISHED IN THE
EARLY DAYS OF THE NAVY.
1t Costs Nearly a Million Dollars a
Year-Daily Routine at the Brook
Ign Navy Yard.

ties IN the sailor that led to the
formation, in the first days of the
6 navy, Of the United States Ma
rine Corps. The passing of a hun
ored years has not changed the char
acter of Jack Tar. While formidable
in i%mpetuous assaults with cutlasses or
sabres, he has not the stendiness and
discipline necessary In sustained con-
hicts and in the effective use OF the
rifle, and 80 with the recent growth OF
the navy the mt lines have come to
constitute one Of its most important
branches.
The corps is maintained by an an
nual appropriation from Congress.
This appropriation last year was$90o,-
600. which covers the wages, clothing
and living expenses of the $500 men
who compose the body. The marines
are useful in times of peace for police
duty in the navy. yards and on ship
board, but it is when the country is
engaged in war that they are expected
to justify their exister re in Uncle
Sans navy. They are sea soldiers. If
the time comes when the white battle
ships of the United States will engage
with the m~en-of-war of a hostile power
it will be the duty of the marines to
man the rapid-tiring Gatling guns, fill
vacancies at the other guns, scour the
enemy's decks from the tops, thepoop
and forecastle with their rifles, cover
boarding parties with their fire, and
repel boarders with fixed havonets.
Should the enemy gain q foothold
they must gather at the mainmast, so as
to command the deck. They must
make the small arms effective and dis
able the enemy men, while the great
guns, with which the marines have
nothing to do, except in case of
emergency, play havoc with his ship.
But all naval fighting is not done on
the decks of men-of-war. The sur
prise of camps or posts, and the
escalade of forts, render shore opera
tions necessary. Picked men are sent
with the attacking sailors, known AS
pioneers, and the rest Of the marines
form a supporting column to cover
the retreat and embarkation of the
sailors in case the undertaking fails.
Every navy yard in the United
States has its detachment of marines.
The barracks in the Brooklyn yard,
however, are the most popular, and as
the marines have their choice of
stations when they return from a
cruise, the largest number are
quartered here. The full complement
of men is 800. The thing which first
attracts the attention of the visitor
entering the part of the yard set aside
for the marines is a very long and
narrow building of gray brick, with q
piazza running the whole length III
front, shaded by a line of trees. This
is the barracks, the living quarters of
the men in neat uniforms who pace
slowly to and fro on guard, or lounge
on the benches under the trees. The
parade ground, ordinarily green, but
now brown with drought, stretches
out in front. In a group of trees to
the left, with a garden behind. is the
house of the Commandant of Marines,
and at about the same distance to the
right are the quarters of the other
officers. Each of these is approached
by a stone walk %canopied and shaded
by row of pear trees.
There are men from all stations of
life in the Marine Corps. In tho
ranks may be found we'll educate
men, college graduates even, who have
become reduced by misfortune or bib
ulous habits. country boys who came
to New York to seek their fortunes
and found want instead. and men who
have lost their occupations. They all
find q place Of refuge in the Marine
Corps, provided they are physically
and mentally sound, at least five feet
six inches i'll height, between the ages
of eighteen and thirty-tive, unmarried
and of good habits.
With the frequent bugle calls and
the marines crossing and ~recrossing the
parade ground, there is always life
about the barracks during the hours
Of daylight, but at 10 80 in the morn
ing. the hour of dress parade, when
the marines are out in full force, their
uniforms lending brightness to the
sombre background, the yard takes
On a gala-day appearance. But it only
lasts for fifteen minutes. The marine,
even in these times of peace, does not
live in a perpetual holiday by any
means. At $50 in the morning the
men must be out of bed. and ready
fifteen minutes later for ''setting-up
drill" which is ~gymnastic exercise
without apparatus. Then the mess
call is sounded, and they file into the
long mess room, furnished with two
tables extending the whole length,
and partake of their breakfast OF nash,
pork and beans, or beef stew, accord
ing to the day in the week. and bread
and coffee. After breakfast the order
is given "'To the colors!" and the flag
is raised on the pole in front Of the
guard house. Then the guards take
their posts and the routine of the day
begins.
The work for the mel on duty is not
easy, but every marine with a clean
record has twenty hours out OF forty
eight to himself. There are various
ways in which he can spend this time.
There are Indian clubs and dumbbells
in the library and cards and chessmen,
which are in great demand in the win
ter, and an organ, too, at which the
musical marine may indulge his taste,
if the operation is not too painful to
his companions. In this event he is
"called down. very speedily and eff
fectually.
At IL o'clock at night al llights must
be on. in the barracks. and the marines
-.Lh - IL u1.,aInr 4bacn ,rh1.