The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-03-26
MECHANICS IN THE NAVY.

An Expressive Title Coined for
Nearly Every Offcer.
Perhaps Fighting Bob" is the ma
val nickname best known to the pub
lie. 1t was early bestowed upon it's
possessor because Of his hardness
with his fists, and it is not many years
since there were occasional adventures
in the career of Capt. Evans that justi-
fed the name. The title may now be
accepted as merely expressive of an
aggressive and energetic character, for
a commanding officer In the United
States navy has few temptations to
use his fists. Whether or not a wal
shall come to give a new significance
to this title, Capt. Evans is likely to
year 1t to the end of his days.
Most of the naval nicknames have
survived from the academic days of
the wearers, though a few were of
later bestowal. One was earned by
an officer of high rank by reason of
his unpopularity with the younger
officers and cadets. 1t is Alternative,
picturesque, almost profane, and alto
gether uncomplimentary. A man with
a very long name Is likely to lose one
or more syllables at the academy, and
to be known ever after by the result
ant abbreviation.
Mechanics, however, have their cur
rency limited i'll actual practice by the
tremendous and ever-present fact of
rank. 1t is a bold ensign who address
es the executive officer by nickname,
even in the comparative ease of after
dinner talk. A commanding officer
would hardly be spoken of by his nick
name aboard ship, though the phrase,
"the old man." is not uncommonly
heard in the ward room.
The wittiest nickname that survived
in the navy from academic days was
that of the bold Chief Engineer w. w.
w. Wood, who was called "W4 OF D."
which in mathematical parlance is:
"W fourth power, o square D."
Commoner in the navy than person
al nicknames are familiar abbrevia-
lions of titles. The paymaster is often
called pay" The chief engineer is
simply "chief." The landsman would
use either of these titles, or any other
than Mr." for a staff officer would
commit a great breach of wardroom
etiquette, though there is a 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 ia
miliar one in the navy to express the
rank of a who has passed beyond
lieutenant, junior grade. He is still a
lieutenant, and his title is "Mr." The
officer who commands a ship is by
courtesy addressed as Captain" no
matter what his actual rank. Lieut..
Buckingham, in command of the Dol
phin, is captain on the quarter deck of
his ship.
Even the greatest stickler among
naval officers for the privileges of the
navy would address the commander of
a revenue cutter as captain" when on
board the craft of the latter. 1t is the
courtesy of the wardroom to call the
commanding officer of the marines
major, even though he is still a lieu
tenant. This is a sort Of acknowledge
ment that the chief in command
should be decorated by some other
form Of address than 'Mr." The sur
geon, of whatever rank, is Dr."
though perhaps "Mr." would be more
nearly the proper thing.
"The young DOCTOR" hat is, the jun
iOr surgeon on a considerable ship, is
sometimes Familiarity nicknamed
Doc" by the youngsters. and as un-
nautical and nOn-military, is liable to
have a good deal of chaff thrust at
him until he makes his personal force
apparent.-New York Sun.