The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-23
WILL PLOW THE DEEP
First Annual Cruise of the
Naval Reserve on the
Portsmouth.
PLENTY OF HARD WORKrIN SIGHT
For Eight Days the Amateur
Sailors Will Man the Big
Sloop of War.


The Battalion of the East, New Jersey
naval Reserve, Will start on its first an
nual cruise Saturday morning in its
good ship, the United States sloop OF war
portsmouth. The navy Of New Jersey
consists OF two vessels, the Portsmonth
and the cid single turret monitor Afax.
pofh In first-class condition and abIe 10
put 70 sea at q moments notice. The
Ajax is manned by the Battalion Of the
west, commanded by Commander Charles
Dahigreea and composed Of the sailors
who live south Of Trenton. She lies AZ
one Of the West Jersey Railroad Com
panys wharyes, near the Market street
wharT, Camden, and Is part Of the de-
tense OF the port of Philadelphia.
The Portsmouth lies al the foot af Fsf-
teenth street. Hoboken and Is command
ed by Commander Washington Irvine.
Her crew is composed of the Jersey city
and the Newark divisions and the en-
gineer's division of Hoboken. which are
designated as the Battalion of the East.
The Portsmouth has just been overhauled
from keeison to main truck. A new fore-
mast has been stepped the sails bent and
the vessel entirely rigged, so that she IS
IN condition to put to sea.
New Jersey is signally fortunate in hag-
ing in her navy vessels on which her SAIL
ors may be trained The Reserves Of other
States when they go on their annual
cruise have 10 go on a Government man
of-war, or like the New Yorks, 90 cruis-
ing on dry land in camp somewhere
among the sand dunes of Long Island.
When, however, New Jersey wishes her
sailors to get some practical instruction
in sea duties she does net have to take
Of her hat and humbly ask her UEcle
Sam to loan her one OF his gunboats for
a week or ten days. She just merely tells
Captain William Jaques, the ruler Of her
navee to take the boys to sea. And he IS
sues his orders, runs the proud flag Of
New Jersey up to the mainmast, weighs
anchor and away the young tars go skim
ming over the waves.
The Portsmouth, in her day. was the
Queen of the Navy. and when away back
in the ffties she carried the stars and
Stripes around the world she was an OBJ
ject Of admiration in every port she touch-
ed at. Her lines are graceful. and when
she bowls along under full sail she IS
thing Of beauty. if not a JOY forever.
to the stout lads who have to polish up
her bright work, sweep deWH her decks
and ttlg on the thousand a3d more ROPES
which TO one looking aloft appear Nlxa
net spread to keep the un1ucky man
who slips from falling to the deck The
more the members OF the Battalion Of
the East learn of their ship and her gia-
rious record, for she has scars on ner
sides that tell of wounds inflicted by the
enemies broadsides, the more they be-
come attached to the old ship and proud
Of the distinction of being one of her
crew.
The young tars are ordered to report
on board the vessel by Z o'clock Satrr-
day morning. Those who wish may go
aboard Friday night and get acquainted
actually begins. AS soon as he comes
over the side and lifts his hat to the
national ensign at the stern he loses mis-
individuality and becomes mere wheel
in a huge piece of complicated machine
cry. He is given a number, and during
the work of the cruise is known by that
number The first thing he does is to
shift from his citizens dress into his
sea togs Then he slows away his kit
IN his locker and IS ready for the cruise.
At eight O'clock the lines will be cast of.
and the tug viii tow the Portsmouth out
into the stream around the Battery up
the East River through Hell Gate. Then
the tug VIII part from the vessel and the
Acthal work OF the cruise VIII bes1n-
The sails will be unfurled and IL there
IS any wind the Portsmouth viii spread
her wings and go sailing up the Sound.
There viii not be much fun on this
cruise, not half as smuch as there is at
Sea Girt. From o'clock in the morning
until o'clock at night there is work
10 do, with very little time for recrea-
ticn-
On Monday the skipper expects to make
Glen Cove: on Tuesday he hopes to be
at Fishers Island. New York, and two
days later to sail into Vineyard Haven.
Mass, in all his glory. From Vineyard
Haven a run will be made for home. with
a brief stop at Glen Cove on Saturday for
any letters. kilograms and such as may
be awaiting the officers and crew there,
On Sunday it is expected that the Ports
mouth viii be safely IN her berth at Ho-