New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-03
AMATEUR TARS AT HOME
NEW-JERSEY NAVAL RESERVES RETURN
FROM THEIR CRUISE.

BARKs AT HoBoKEN-THE EXCELLENT SHOW
ING MADE BY THE MEN WINS CON-
MENDATIoN FROM CAPTAIN IRVING.
The Battalion of the East. Naval Reserve Of
New-Jerscy, arrived in Hoboken yesterday noon
after their eight-day voyage up the Sound in their
ship. the Portsmouth The embryo seamen looked
tanned and tired after their trip but all were In
high spirits and could talk OF nothing else but
their cruise.
The Portsmouth left Glen Cove at o'clock. and
passed through Hell Gate lowed by two tugs. Dur
ing the homeward Journey the men unlashed their
hammocks and stored away the ships equip
ment. Upon arriving Hoboken the men were
all prepared land. Before disembarking they
called the quarterback where captain
Irving addressed them He thanked them for the
work they had done TO make the cruise success,
and urged them to continue their efforts. The
speech was greeted with cheers for the captain,
Lieutenant Craven and Navigator Peters. with
a final tiger for the gallant old Portsmouth the
men left the ship, which was anchored of Eigh-
feminist, and departed for their homes.
The cruise Of the Portsmouth was a new de-
parture in Naval Militia customs The Reserves
sister States have been obliged to take their an
nual outing in the modern cruisers, which gave
them opportunity to master the details Of prac-
teal navigation and seamanship The success or
the trip places New-Jersey in the first rank SO
far as its Naval Militia is concerned, and its cti-
zens may well feel proud Of its achievements.
Killing time perhaps the hardest work for
the young seamen. True. they worked from twelve
to fourteen hours a day. But their lively habits
would not permit sleep until their strength was
completely exhausted The first night out the crew
divided into three parts. The first, COM
posed of jolly young fellows. organized the cat
head Bureighs." They adopted the motto, Never
sleep and let sleep" and carried out it's pur-
h. full Overturned hammOckS.
blackened faces and other harmless jokes served
keep the fun rolling Possibly the widest night
last Thursday. when the ratons were at
tackled and a dozen loaves Of bread and over
hundred eggs disappeared. What became OF
them could only be guessed at by the quantity Of
shells that lay scattered beneath the mems ham,
mocks Having satisfied their imagined hunger. an
Unsuitable appetite for pie took possession Of them
person Of steward Jackson. who had suspicion
that the "Cathead Burleiehs' had designs on the
locked the pie chest and slept on it.
The 'Cathead Burleighs' finally got screw
erately raised Jackson from the box. but only sue
ceeded in getting two pies before the steward
to await another night. When the pipe down
had sounded the next evening. several OF the Cat
sing song on the spar deck Meanwhile. they
exchanged the pie chest for a similar one. and
OF the trick. That night the crew lived on pie
The next morning there were numerous visits 70
haIstcd.
The evenings were usually spent in singing and
listening 10 the mandolin quartet. Old Jack
Mountain. regular old salt. spun yarns and I'M
parted useful information TO the boys. Gunner's
Mate Dolan and his assistant Gus Harmon both
old man-of-warsmen. Joined in with Mountain In
his yarns. and aided the crew with Instructions
Aside from all these pleasant occasions, there
was lots Of hard work TO do. The obstacles of fire
fog and head winds were all overcome, as have
already been told In The Tribune. Early yester-
day morning another fire broke out under the
boiler, but II was soon eXtinguished. The founda-
ton Of the boiler will be repaired this week
While at Fishers Island landing force was
sent out, and after the drill the given
shore leave. BY some mscalculatlon. some OF the
party were left behind. and when they scaled the
landing place they could the ship about two
miles away preparing 10 hoist sail. One OF the
party was CHIEF ouartermaster Davenport. He
hastily pulled out huge red banGana handker-
chief, and. attaching II TO a stick he signaled
the ship: The complicated "wigwag" system
soon explained matters and ships cutter was
sent TO bring the modern Robinson Crusoes back to
the ship
Taken all in all, the cruise one that will
AFFORD the young searnen yarns for months 10
come II improved them both physically and
mentally, and the experience they have acquired
makes them ready for any duty they may be called
perform