The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-02

ward part Of the ship. where the sailors
who are not well make known their all
ments and receive prescriptions Tor tnem
At $50 a sailor enters the wardrocm and
informs the officers that II is ten minutes
TO quarters. II Is not until $50 o'clock
that the real day begins for the officers
aboard ship.
At $50 the bugie sounds ITO quartervg"
The sailors take their places at the guns.
The executive officer. in fun uniform,
wearing his sword. mounts the bridge. The
division officers, also wearing swords.
take their places on the poop. in the waist
and or the forecastle. The gun crews
face away from the water. For the work
ing of the six-inch guns there is crew
OF twelve TO each These men are known
by their numbers. and each has the duties
belonging to the particular number assign
ed TO him. Each crew has charge OF two
guns, one on the starboari and the other
on the port side. Nos. ] and are known
as the first captain and the second cap
tain OF the gun.
Active Work.
At the word '.Siiencer' all the men face
the guns and stand at attention. Cast
locser' Is the next order. AT this the
men make ready the guns according TO
their respective stations. One prepares
the lock for use and screws IL into the
nFeecA DOCK. ne puts III the rear Si%AtSs
takes the cover of the forward sights,
sees that the breech-loading mechanism
IS ia order. eqlips himself with primers.
closes the breech when the bore has been
sponged and reports to the division officer
when all is ready. Another performs the
same duties for the gun opposite. Another
sees that the mechanism for raising and
lowering the breech is clear. casts of the
lashings and puts them out OF the way.
be e~s.r Go -1nnrfe1
portfolio. takes tho tompion. or stopper.
from the bore and sees that the loading
tray is laid near the breech of the gun. TIE
fourth man does the same on the other
side. The NTH man puts IN place the
hammer and sponge and sponges out me
bore of the gun. The sixth man does
tire same for the other gun. The seventh
man sees that the training gear Is In or
der and brings n sponge and bucket OF
water Thus each has his separate duty.
and thus In almost less time than have
taken 10 tell IL the gun IL ready for
action.
When the guns on both sides are ready
for use. the executive officer gives the
order 20 man. either the port or the star
board guns or sometimes both. He then
gives the order SPONGE and names the
kind OF shell 20 he used. Word Is passed
down 10 the men IN the magazines and
shcllrooal who hoist the ammunition
from below The first she'll for the gun
Is kent on deck under cover. These shells
ara 81 solid steel. made as hard as II Is
possible 70 make them, and year AFTER
year ths contest between the makers OF
shells and the makers Of arrnor plate for
vessels goes on 20 see which shall gain
the advantage In penetrating power or re-
ststance The powder for the charge Is
IN hsxagonai blocks packed in canvas
bag.
AS the order 10 sponge is given, each
nan az the gun performs the special duty
assigned 20 him. one putting the buckle,
az water and sponge under the breech. one
snonvfnr out the chamber and taking M
me rsu,nlsf ore going down for shell
ana another for powder. At tae order
"a TOAD the loading tray Is raised 70 Tire
tavef If the hrcech- The shell Is placed on
the tray BY two men and pushed IN place
With The ra-nrssr by another. The powder
charge is taken from the covered tin
case in which Il was brought on deck
ana pushed into the bresch. The load
fnr frav is unshippsa. the hreech Is closed.
he rrsruer - put IN position. and the gun
IS soekes At she word Point" Tho
-ner elevate o. deuress the Eun or swing
e - this ste or thai as directed ~ the
eantaln - she gun crew. When me sights
cover the object AZ which the gun = 10
~ iired. the captain nres-
At Close Quarters
Throngh this drill ire gun crews SO
srafa ana axala. n lasts I'll To- ~ O'Clock.
Sometimes the men are sent 20 fhe side
~ the vessel for boarding. and they arm
themselves with the eutlssses and Tsvol-
yrs which have been brought out fer
she 3sfW saa run 90 TIRE side % the sssp.
Te1,a order 20 cover IRE nosrfsrs - an
sseres by Others AZ the crew. who arm
themselves with rifles. The sailor On
r1An-ef-Sar must knew rot only how 70 10
seaman's duties. bat hoe 20 ffsat- For.
though en- each ship shers r. ccrps 81
MARINES. o. 'ssa soldiers" these are not
Seliei or - "a al the fighting.
Sometimes me sriil s. nNt ~ the guns.
hRt - The boats Sometimes the u'ss are
p0t shros1ga xhs setting sp' drill. Tasch
- a SPECIES - Exrarastic sxsrrise INTENDED
% hFlnS al tAe3~ muscles into nlay. Tia
men hass seis setting ~" ara many g1
officer has -sts 4 reputation az \ ua-ti-
met ey rs Devotion 20 thu "sett.ng-up'
srSsi
af1sr re morning s-5I each - the o.
assrS proceeds ah0as his sDec5ai duties.
When ne vessels are IN Eor'. an officer
no hss 20 special assignment Is very
&skeiy - ger peFaaAkssea ffcra tAe captain
10 50 ashore. aaa shat a WAT TnskFS x
so sa.sye nzrx scr &axrs,rt Or Ezr Hx<c7~