The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-01
MECHANICS IN THE NAVY

Perhaps Fighting Bob is the naval
nickname best known to the public. 1t
was early bestowed upon its possessor be
cause of his hardness with his isis, and
it is not many years since there were &C.
casional adventures in the career of Cap
tain Evans that justified the name. The
title may now be accepted as merely exs
pressive of an aggressive and energetic
character. for a com handing officer In
the United States navy has few tempta-
tions to the use of his fists. Whether or
not a war shall come to give u new sig
likely to wear it to the end OF his days.
Most of the naval nicknames have sur
vived from the academic days OF the
wearers, though a few were of later be-.
stowal. One was earned by an officer of
ish rank ~ reason OF his unpnpularity
with the younger officers and cadets. 1t
allIterative, picturesque, lmost pro-
fame and altogether uncom pllmentary.
A man with a very long name is likely
to lose one or more syllables at the acad-
envy and to be known ever after by the
res infant Authorization. Nicsnames,
however, have their currency limited IN
actual practice BY the tremendous and
ever-present fact OF rank. 1t is a bold
ensign who addresses the executive off,
er by , nickname, even In the com para
i've ease of after-dinner talk. A COM
handing off Ger would hardly be spoken
Of by his nickname aboar! ship. though
the phrase "the old man" is not uncom-
only 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 callen WA OF D" which,
in mathematical parlance is: ''W. fourth
power. q square, y"
ComInoner in the navy than personal
nicknames are familiar Authorizations OF
titIpa The stPr Oftnn fam Ii a rlv
Pay" The chief engineer is simply
"Chlef" The landsman who should use
either of these titles or any other than
Mr." for staff officer would commit a
great breach OF war room etiquette,
though there is disposition 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 is a famil
lar one in tine navy to express the rank
OF man who has passed beyond Lieu
tenant, junior grade He i, still lieu
tenant, and MS title is MI" The officer
who commands ship is by courtesy ad-
dressed as Captain" no matter what
his actual rank. Lieutenant Buckingham
in command of the Dolphin, is CAPTAIN
on the quarterback of his ship. Evan
the greatest sticKler among naval officers
for the privilege of the navy would ad-
dress the commander OF q revenue cutter
as captain when on board the craft of the
latter. 1t is the courtesy OF the ward
room to call the commanding officer OF
the marines major, even though he be
1t II Lieutenant. This is sort of &C
KIN wed ment that tire chief in com and
should be decorated by some tther form
OF address than MI" The surgeon of
whatever rank is "Loctor," though per-
haps "Mr." would be more nearly the
proper thing. 1.-The young Doctor" that
IS, the junior surgeon on considerable
shir, is som times iamiliarly nicknamed
''Doc' bv the youngsters, and, as I'M
nautical and non-m llilary, is liable to
have good deal OF c. aft thrust at him
until he makes his personal force appar-
ent.