The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-27
Represents n Slip ON Shore ana Manned
by q Crew I'm Uniform


by o Crew In Uniform.
There's saloon located in the down
town district where you can splice the
main brace i'll the most correct nautical
language. Here the thirsty are served
by ships officer dressed in full naval
uniform. The bartender and his crew of
assistants appear in naval dress, which
includes swords and other side arms
and any amount of gold lace. The novel
crew comes on duty every evening. The
daylight crew are CARRIED like the ordi-
nary "beer singers" of that part of
town. Inside this quaint saloon so close
ly resembles an old time packet ships
cabin that one can stretch his imagina-
ton to the verge of seasickness andOnot
half try. Tho entrance is from one Of
the city's busiest arteries, near Vesey
and Greenwich streets. Old brass nau-
tlcal lamps, that have seen lots Of serv-
ice III all sorts of weather, hang from
the ceiling by chains. Several ancient
and dilapidated figureheads, which have
faced the storms of many years at sea,
stare at the scenes Of revelry from cor
ners.
The walls arc hung with relics of
many voyages. Pieces of rope, old ma
rine prints. portraits of famous skip
pers of the long ago, models carved by
sailor men, old flags, many of which
foated from historic battleships, and
other brica-brac of the brine, decorate
this nautical taproom, whose proprietor
is attired in the full uniform of q COM
modore of the United States navy. Her
"crew" consists of representative Off
GERS usually found aboard q man of war,
properly uniformed, as we'll as an occa-
sional sailor who appears in the triple
blue "togs" Of Uncle Sans men who
swing their hammocks in the forecastle.
These ore no imitation sailors, for every
man Jack of them is veteran of the
ocean and rolls about as if on ship
board. The marine delusion extends to
the old ships clock which hangs over
the bar. It reels off bells instead Of
hours, for here the time is passed in
the choicest sea gibberish. If you should
ever steer your craft through the low
doorway of this nautical saloon, the
chances are that you'll clutch at some
thing before you are anyway near half
seas over.
OF course the old salts ashore hero are
the chief patrons Of this old refreshment
room. The custom of using only nau-
tical terms III carrying on the ordinary
business of the place fascinates Jack.
and he'll walk a long way for the sake
of being served i'll his own language.
The commodore stands at one end of the
bar and shouts his orders TO his crew,
as if he were stationed OH the bridge of
some man-ofwar. One hears such orders
as "Avast there!'' "Stand by to let gol"
Hard lee!' keep her off half
pointr' and similar expressions that the
sailor knows so well. Drinks are ordered
in names which are absolutely unintel-
hgible to landlubbers. Tho evening is
never n success unless q great many of
these orders are first given and obeyed.
The favOrite nautical term is, Stand by
to let go!" This is given when the
glasses have all been filled aud are being
held in the hands of crowd Of sailors.
After Jack feels mellow, then the yarn
spinning begins. New York Letter in
Pittsburg Dispatch.