The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-24
THE BROWNIES DAY.
An Army of Children Boards
the Big Flagship.
GREED OF THE BOAT OWNERS.
IL Prevents Many Children From See
ing h ship, but the FIreboat
Did Good Service.

Admiral Beardslee's flagship Philadelphia
was transformed into a floating kinder
garten yesterday afternoon for several
hours on the occasion Of the visit OF the
children OF the pubic schools. Tbs ship
was thrown open 10 them, and every de-
partment explained by the officers and crew
with As much attention 20 detail as If eacl
little tot was a fuIl-grown man or woman.
The firing pins were taken out OF the rapid
firing canno and Hotchkiss guns, q the
visitors given fun sway with the o
ern dogs OF war. Many times the guns
were ain on some ~well-known build
ing or land mark on shore, and such eX-
pressions as Wouldn't you like 10 PUNK
that old house. Bill" and Say, II those
people on shore over there were fnJuns
couldn't we wipe EN- of the earth"
Lieut.. Wilmer and Cade Johnston were
the officers on deck daty. and the easy
manner in which they handled the ire
pressible youth showed that they were
used TO petty a~nnoyanees.
a rough estimate Of the number OF chill
dren and grown people on board during
the afternoon, made by Cadet johnston.
was 1850. OF this number lao were prob
ably taken on the barge attached 20 the
freboat Snoqualm!e, and the balance ~
the SHIPS boats and hired small boats n
large number were unable 10 Visit the
ship, on account OF the action Of the pro
prietors Of several tugs, which have been
carrying people 10 and from the warshlp
since her arrival. After the departure OF
the first TWO barge loads these people en-
tered a protest against the ireboat being
used as a conveyor OF passengers, ana
compelled a barge load of children 10 dis
embark, thus spelling their mucn iongei-
for visit. AS soon as Chief Cook was ap-
prised Of the action OF the tugDOat men ne
- ~HFa - Fafd hHna
what had been done. The mayor was
very much incensed at this action. ana
with the chief and Comptroller Parry hur-
riedIy consulted with the tugboat owners,
with the nope Of effecting an arrangement
whereby they could take out tie many
little ones who were anXiously waiting an
opportunity 10 see the big white boat"
The boat owners claimed they did not nave
time tc prepare, so the children we're cheat
ed out of their visit.
The crowd began 10 gather as early as u
o'clock. and by the time the first barge
load was ready to go the slip was black
VIII children. uncles, aunts and teachers.
A Gordon OF police under command Of Capt
Hogle was on hand TO watch for the
safety Of the children. and maintained or
der with little difficulty. On the sides OF
the barge were constructed guard lines,
and the barge was bound tightly 10 the
hreboat with large hawsers. As the fire
boat started toward the cruiser the bot
tled-up enthusiasm of Young America
broke forth and the air ~resounded with
Joyous peais OF laughter and hilarity.
When the barge had been made fast and
the side ropes parted, "A grand rush was
made for the ships ladder, but the Off
GERS had provided for just such a move,
and an orderly allowed only one at a time
TO ascend. The first barge load consisted
of about 600 children and 100 adults. teach
- @1A..N CO. g@FnFHfn
there were children everywhere. on the
fore and aft bridges. pilot house. masts,
yardarms. engine and fire rooms, cabins,
and almost inside the 6-inch guns, and
when the second load came, as large IL
not larger. than the first, pandemonium
reigned. First an excited lad would give
one OF the elevation wheels OF the big
guns a turn and then rush 10 the revolving
cannon and try his hand at turning that
Can't. Cotton had given out the order TO
allow the Juvenile visitors every privilege,
and the gunners stood by biting their lips
and aching 10 get at the little urchins- AS
can be imagined, some queer expressions
we're heard in explanation OF how the
guns were worked and how far they could
shoot. \ red-haired youth. who told his
companions h knew more about guns
than any one. said the HotchkiSs rcvolV-
ing cannon was used for shooting sea
guIls when they became troublesome. This
is one OF many ridiculous remarks heard
during the afternoon.
f~avorite pastime for many OF the boys
was climbing up the rigging and sliding
down There would at times be a crowd
Of ten or twelve waiting for a chance 70
climb the ladder. Others wanted 70 climb
into the large venulators, that stick up
above deck like bass horns. Taking a
view from the bow reminded one strongly
~ tho nuhiished pictures OF Brownie land.
~. a----Fs, m-.-Frer1arF ~ the little E4FlS
v,as visiting the pretty cabins used by the
officers and listening TO the tales or ro-
mantle Jack tars. Lieut. Gorgas, nag sec
refarv on Admiral Beardslees stan, ana
one n the most popular men ABOARD look
great pleasure In plotting a number ot
children about the ship. Lieut. Wilmer
ami cadet Johnson were also very kind 70
.hn small visitors. The fine band belong
ing 20 the ship d~iscoursed sweet tunes FOR
,he e3ia-atton OF the children during the
entire time they were aboard
Nravop Phelps. who arranged Win Capt
Cotton for the visit. was very mucA p1I
emf IN, the action Of the tugboat men on
$50 rieht be e~udeavo~ed 70 hire q boat
=, haul the children 20 and from the snip.
t..4 g,,,h axorhftant prices were demanded
49, Ne hal u resort 70 something else
Yesterday morning he consulted Win =.
= Netraffe and Fred Sander and went
chr 90 Stlwson's mil. whore "A barge was
loaned them by Mr.. Stimson The three
~,-.fer,an went 70 work and cleared a
80 amount ~ sand OF the barge. built
side ratings n had her towed 20 this
80 Another effort was made - secure
t,,rf.,at. but too much was asked. and x
v-os eral'v decided 70 use the t-ehoa-
When the protest was made ana tne ooat
s+-r,ad from making any more trips the
,~ chief Cook and Capt Co0nor went
.t,~r the front and tried 20 h.-e a tug.
r,, an thcv got was suecrs. Fully 300
-~-t~tel children we're LETT ashore
a-s cNaat-3 oct If their trt0. An EFFORT
rtn ha made t. have another csI1rens
Fsv before the chip leaves.
The ship viii % open 10 visitors TO-DAY
,~,r, 10 a.. M. until ( ?. -.