The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-08
is A SLATE TO DISCIPLINE.
SO Say the Complaining Starboard
Watchers.
CHRISTIlNS NOT MUCH BELOVED.
Mariner Members Who Are Bitterly
Denounced as a Captains
Spies.

The complaints of the seamen of the
cruiser Charleston against the commander
of the vessel, made when the Charleston
was lying at Mare Island preparatory to
proceeding t. China, are still fresh in the
memory of The public. Jack said that he
was being imposed upon; that he had not
been allowed any shore leave. and that
when visit to terra firma was permitted
the sailor man was not allowed any money
to spend
Leutenant-COmmande Reeder did what
be could to secure privileges for the men.
He failed to certain extent, and when
the Charleston finally sailed for the Orient
she did so with as disconnected set Of
tars as ever hitched a pair Of trousers.
All the way from Chemulpo comes the
story that the latest affection forced upon
the ChaHestOn's men is a Society of
Christian Endeavor," composed. so Jack
AYERS, of such sailors as the good little
cherub who sits up alOft is supposed TO be
especially detailed to watch over.
The Charleston's Society of Christian
Endeavor is composed of ''fourth-rate sea-
men who have joined the organization that
they may go ashore 10 see the mission
aries" The quotation is from letter re-
ceived by Well-known waterfront man,
which is signed by the starboard watch of
the Charleston. 1t lie alleged that these
marine Christians are not SO devout as
they would like TO be considered, but
have made professions Of everlasting
faith TO enable them 10 secure "shore
bo
ries are sadly neglected, and the society
members proceed to enjoy themselves in
the manner prescribed in the "Tars' own
hours ashore"
A cnmmIttee of Christians is known as
the ''Lookouts." They prowl around at
all hours OF the day and night, keep a
weather eye on the unrighteOus and re-
port daily to the commanding officer.
The religious movement is not the only
thing the unreGeemed among the Charles
tons crew have TO put up with. The
marines and :be able seamen have actually
been drilled so much that they have lost
weight. 1t was deemed necessary by the
Warship's chief that on entering the
waters where great squsdr0ns of foreign
ships were gathered the white cruisers
complement of men should make a good
showing. Rigid discipline was main
understanding akin in its nature TO
war iiscipline-from the time the Charles
ton left San Francisco until she reached
Chemulpo. The commun ieation from the
starboard watch sta ION the passage TO
Honolulu from San Francisco we were
actually drilled day and night, with
scarcely an hour in the day to ourselves.
On the passage from Honolulu to Yoke
hama we had to submit to the same impo-
stion.
"At Chemulpo. in bitter cold weather,
we were out in boats three and four hours
at time. After we had turned in at
night we would be called to general quar-
tiers.
at seems that Lieuten an t. Commander
Reeder has done all lie can for US, but bis
power is limited. Men are punished for
offe3ses that in other ships would be over
looked. Court-m ar ials and degradation
before all hands is the treatment melted
out to those who have offended the dignity
been treated like dogs.
'We are blessed with a Christian En-
deaVor Society, whose duty it Is to hear
everything and see everything that goes
on on the berthdeck. The members are
simply SPIES"
The writer then draws a quaint pen
picture OF Commander Coffin suddenly ap-
pearing on the berthdeck giving orders for
the men TO fall to. Jack is represented as
piling out of his bunk when the glass was
80 low that icicles were commencing to
form in the captains whiskers. Out in
the harbor the fleets of other nations were
quietly resting upon the placid waters of
the bay, with only an occasional lookout
pacing their decks. On the Charleston one
would have supposed that an enemy was
approaching. Able sesmen dressed in
night attire, petty officers with their
swords dangling from uGfastened waist
bands and middies rubbing their eyes and
swearing. rushed TO the guns.
Captain Coffin explained to several Of the
malconientS that they should in time of
peace prepare for war.
Remember" he admonished, "we are
in the thick of one of the greatest struggles
OF the nineteenth century. An American
seaman should always be at his country's
beck and call, even if he has to obey his
orders dressed in scant apparel"
The affair has created a great deal of
discussion among navy people. ''Didn't l
tell you" said an officer of the Phila-
delphia, turning to a comrade. "that some
of those fellows who shipped on American
warships would slump the minute they
were called on to do little bard work ?'
The American seaman, according to the
opinion Of another authority, is not so pa
triOtic as he used to be- There was once
time when he could be depended upon
both to starve and fight without a muir
muE Now he kicks when he is called
upon TO drill little.
But Jack declares be will not weaken or
complain when he has to do any fighting.
Those OF his ilK who had read of Com
n; ander Collins rules and of the Christian
Endeavor Society said that the Charleston
is poor shin to GO out in ANYWAY.
GuOrerne Court ChauraS