The National tribune., 1895-12-12
NICK MES IN THE NAVY.
Titles by Which Officers Are Known Among
Their Comrades on Shipboard.
Ne,p yoyL oun


Perhaps "Fighting Bob is the naval
nickname best known to the public. 1t was
early bestowed upon IFS possessor because of
his hardness with his fists, and it is not
many years since there were occasional adven-
lures in the career of Capt Evans that
justified the name. The title may now be
accepted as merely expressive of an aggressive
and energetic character, for commanding
officer in the United. States navy has few
temptations to the use Of his fists Whether
or not war shall come TO give new signifi-
canoe to the title, Capt Evans is likely to
wear it to the end of his days.
Most of the naval nicknames have survived
from the academic days of the wearers,
though few were of later bestowa One
was earned by an officer of high rank by
reason of his unpopuarity with the younger
officers and cadets. 1T is alliterative, pic
turesque, almost profane, and altogether un-
complimentary. imam with very long
name is likely to lose one or more syllables at
the academy and 90 be known ever after by
the resultant abbreyiation Nicknames how
ever, have their currency limited in actual
practice by the tremendous and ever-present
fact Of rank. 1t is a bold Ensign who adj
dresses the Executive Officer by nickname,
even In the comparative ease of after-dinner
talk. A commanding officer would hardly
be spoken OF by his nickname aboard ship,
though the phrase, "the old man. is not un-
commonly heard in the wardroom.
The wittiest nickname that survived in
the navy from academic days was that of the
bold Chief Engineer W. w. W Wood, who
was called "W4 OF D." which, in mathe-
NAUTICAL parlance, is: "W fourth power, o
square, d."
Commoner IN the navy than personal nick
names are familiar Authorizations of titles.
The Paymaster is often Familiarity PAY"
The Chief Engineer is simply Chief"
The landsman who should use either of
these titles or any other than Mr." for
staff officer would commit great breach of
wardroom etiquet though there is a dis
position ashore to address a Paymaster by the
title of his Office and to couple military titles
with the names of other staff officers.
The term bull lieutenant u is q familiar
one in the navy to express the rank of man
who has passed beyond Lieutenant, junior
grade" He is still Lieutenant, and his
title is Mr." This officer who commands q
ship is by courtesy addressed as Captain"
no matter what his actual rank. Lieut..
buckingham, in command of the Dolphin, is
Captain on the quarterback of his ship
Even the greatest stickier among naval
officers for the privileges of the navy would
address the commander of a revenue cutter
as Captain when OH board the craft of the
latter. 1t is the courtesy of the wardroom to
call the commanding officer of the marines
Major, even though he be still Lieutenant.
This is q sort of acknowledgment that the
chief in command should he decorated by
some other form of address than "Mr." The
Surgeon of whatever rank is Doctor"
though perhaps Mr." would be more nearly
the proper thing 1.-THE young Doctor
that is the Junior Surgeon, on considerable
ship, is sometimes Familiarity nicknamed
" Doc " by the youngsters and, as unnautical
and non-miltary is liable to have good
deal of chaff thrust mt him until he makes
his personal force apparent.