The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-05-22
SEA HOUSEKEEPING.
When Jack Tar Isn't Drilling
Hes Cleaning Ship
He Washes Clothes, Polishes
Brass and Holystones Decks

The cleaning and scrubbing neces-
sary to keep our men-oi-war in the
beautiful condition one always finds
them is done according 10 regular
routine, only broken into by freezing
weather or when coal is being taken
aboard.
Five o'clock is the usual hour at
which Jacky is aroused from his sum-
bers, though 1t is sometimes half an
hour earlier and sometimes half an
hour later. At the stroke Of the hour
for "reveille" the CHEEKY notes Of the
bugle may be heard, and the stento-
rian voices Of the masters-at-arms yell
ing in melodious eadance, turn out
here, sleepers," ''rise aud shine"
clash and carry" or some other pet
phrase calculated to pierce the dull
ear of the sleeping blueiacket
The men turn out Of their ham
mocks, lash them up and stow them
in the MEETINGS where they belong.
Twelve minutes are allowed for this.
Eighteen minutes more are allowed
for hot coffee and a smoke, and then
the pipe and voice Of the boatswain's
mate arc heard in "Turn to, at which
smoking is stopped, and all hands
proceed to carry out the morning or
ders, which are given by the officer Of
the deck.
Monday morning the men scrub
clothes and "stop" or tie them on the
clothes lines, running them from mast
head obliquely to the deck. Blue
clothes are put on one line and white
on another. All must scrub and all
must stop their clothes on the lines
provided. After clothes are scrubbed
the decks are scrubbed down, ladders
and gratings scrubbed and the dirty
spots on the paint work washed of.
This carries Jacky without much spare
time up to Z15, when "mess gear"
is piped and the breakfast tables are
set. At 7.30 Jacky is piped to break
fast, and at 8.15 that everlasting
''turn to" is heard again and more
cleaning is Immediately started. The
brass work about the decks and form
ing part of the gun mounts is all
shined up until you could see your
face, and then the decks finally swept
and cleared up for quarters at $50.
This finishes the general cleaning,
though the decks are swept about
every two hours throughout the day.
Where the dust and dirt comes from
no one ever discovered, even on the
old vessels which had no steam, but
there it is and it must be swept away.
Tuesday the decks are washed and
the same general routine gone through,
except that on the first and third Tues.
days, the hammocks are scrubbed.
Hammocks are pieces of canvas about
six feet by three. in which Jacky puts
his mattress, pillow and blanket, and
hangs himself up to sleep.
Wednesday clothes are scrubbed
again, and on the first and third We'd
nesdnys mattress covers are scrubbed
also the white bags in which the clothes
are kept
Thursday the boats are scrubbed in
side and out, and all the oars, graf
ings, boat hooks, ETC., are taken on
and thoroughly scrubbed.
Friday clothes are again scrubbed
and then wind sails, sail covers and al
odds and ends of canvas used abou
the ship are scrubbed.
, A wind sail is wide-mouthed can
vas funnel used for throwing fresh al
down onto the lower deck. 1t is on
of the few blessings of life aboard shir
Saturday is the grand cleaning da
of the week. Every day the decks al
: scrubbed, sometimes with sand an
sometimes without, after the reguln
routine of scrubbing clothes, etc. br
! on Saturday previous efforts at clear
ing are outdone. The decks al
sprinkled with sand after being W,
! down, and then "holystoned."
/ Each man takes a fat-bottomc
a stone, with hole in the top, monot
! nously pushes the stone back and for
/. over the deck. This produces
Il smooth, white surface.