New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25
UNCLE SANS SEAMEN.
HOW THE AMERICAN MAN OF-WARS-MAN
Is CARED FOR.
GOOD CONDUCT MARKS AND MONEY ALLOWANCES
GUARDING THE SAILORS HEALTH
SETTLING QUARRELs "AGIS
THE REGULATIONS"

THE REGULATIONS"
| Tho addition OF new ships 10 the United states
/ Navy makes imperative the enlistment OF large
number OF new men for the service. The rate at
which the White Squadron has been and Is peing
strengthened OF late has brought this fact into espe
cial prominence 0nd the enrolment or seameh ana
| marines for the vessels IL ask OF the highest
| Importance. 1t has been stated from time TO time
that good men were difficult secure for the nun
dreds Of places thus created and that the class WHO
would be desirable recruits did not show an over
wheming eagerness to become men-o.-war s-men'
1t is certainly true that Just the recruiting Of
cers of the Army accept only small percentage oil
the applicants who present themselves so those OF
! the Navy also Obliged to be critical. The re-
suit OF this practice ls that the crew, when many
| obtained. is composed mainly OF men or capacity
| and intelligence. There is question that the
| standard OF the enlisted men Of the Navy II
great deal higher to-day than II has ever been be-
| fore in the coIntry's history.
II has become rather the fashion Of late years.
| rs a sort of reaction probably, against any ro-
| mantle notions which may have existed regarding
sailors ilfe to go 700 far over TO the other side
| and represent his lot as one OF almost unailoyed
| misery Tho latter picture is far from the truth,
particularly regards the life on board modern
vessel. Any member Of a ships company VINO
| does his work properly. behaves himself well gen
orally. and makes up his mind to take all the en-
| joyment he can of the plenty OF spare time
| allowed to him. has anything but bad time. That
| he often has remarkably good time. ard Is not
| anxious 10 exchange for any Other mode OF lfe IS
! proved by the devotion of many o. the naval Jack
| Tars to their ship and their calling
The writer has never had occasion to meet Win
| a man who appeared more thoroughly contented
| than did an old gunners mate seen not long ago
| on board the New York His affection for the snip
| and his pride IN her good qualities were delghtu
| things to see. He had spent his life In the Navy
| had served through and peace. and had noth-
ing but good words for his officers and his treat
ment. Yet the place of gunners mate "ouId nor
| be regarded by many men as the pick OF the "o'h
| aboard ship. His duties involve general care Oh
| the gun and It's ammunition. ard during an en-
gagement he is imprisoned below in the pacSneSS
| of the hold passing up powder ard shot TO inc
| gunner on deck. Seeing nothing or what i GUMS
on he simply knows that If the magazine blows up
| or the ship sinks he will go TO his long account
| with considerably more swiftness ana suiene''
| than his comrades above
THE RATING OF THE MEN.
When the crew Of a man-of-war is enlisted each
individual has his rating" or definition Of the ca
| nacitv in which he Is to serve. If he Is marine
his daily drill and work will he different from those
of the others but he will be subject TO the same as
| cpline and enjoy the same privileges as the cte"
| Among the special ratings under which men are en-
| listed thoss Of ships apothecary' carpenter
cook barber tailor, shoemaker etc. The last three
are permitted 10 charge moderate fees TO the men
for whom they perform work, although they also
| regular from the GONernfHcHt. iHr
| class of men known petty officers. Including
| ,ho cade, engineers the captain OF the top, the
rcaptaiu of the after guard and the "csptsin OF
the forecastle," whose titles suffcientIy indicate
their duties. rank between the ordinary members OF
tho crew and the regular officers. These petty Of
hcers are themselves divided into classes tnose Oh
the higher grade messing separately ana 'hose OF
he lower with the That there may be no queS-
ton on any point to his daily duties eacn enlisted
man has his billet" assigning to him MS rating
watch number. part Of ship. mess boat ana MS s'a
ito, at quarters and al hre-quarters.
The first incident OF importance in the daily rou-
fine e the call TO quarters" AZ $3.50 for the regular
morning inspection and drill AT Inspection eacA
mans clothing comes under the officers scrutiny
and his general appearance Is criticised II heces-
sarv Ample opportunities and facilities are given
TO the crew for the making. mendlng and washing
Of their clothes that man who does not Keep
himself neat has no excuse for II but his own lazi-
ness.
WASH DAY on BOARD SHIP
The washing by-the-way, is a most Impressive
function which takes place every MONDAY morning
No one Is excused from answering the ooats"ahs
whistle which summons to this task except the men
IN the engineroom. who naturally cannot drop tneir
work N rush 10 the call They mus: arrange. how
ever with obligng conn AIDES, so that the cleansing
OF their garments may take place just the same. IL
IA 4 turn and turn about system by whl-h the
man who IS or duty below wee$. and so exempt
frierA md then do double scrubbing himself the
nov, Monday when the former laundryman is at
tho engines The manner of performing the WASH
ing would no doubt be regarded b. ordinary mousse
keepers with dstrust. The garments. with the eH-
ception of the 1annels are laid upon the deck ana
scrubbed with q "coya" brush, after which they are
r,nsed IN the buckets or suiced with water as they
lie tho deck. ~,
The drill which follows inspection may De with
o,y or all Of the various weapons OF war. There is
nd
arms and the sword exercise. at which the men are
taught the seven different styles OF cuts when may
most effectively disable or KILL
nh. arrangement of me watches throughout the
dav four hours on and four hours off, allows the
| men more time to themselves than they would re-
celye II engaged in almost any other Occupation lot
which they would be fitted. BY means OF the dog
watches OF two hours each. between ana p III,
| the time for each mans watch on deck is shi'eo
| dailv Otherwise the day and night watches "ouu
| always fall 10 the same sets OF men, fesu'.
| which would be dstrcssingly monotonous ana
| rather unfair When piped TO mess the men ma
their table" e.. the deck, ali spread Tor then D!
that useful functonary the cook, and sitting ao"h
cross-legged about the CLOTH they iai 70 Win sea
snpeti.cs II is strongly recommended IN the Navai
Negotiations that the men be not df h az TIM, in.s
are usually drawn by one man appointed TO the
ASK JACKS HOLIDAYS.
Saturday afternoons and Sundays holiday
limos on board ship. To be sure, certain amount
Of cleaning up Is required on those days the extent
of which depends largely upon the captains strict
, nos. in this regard and his desire for 'spick-and-
a M vessel IL was doubtless service under some
- Tho severer martnets which rave rise to the Ola
9a,iors saving that Sunday is devoted 20 holy
J ss,on,ng the deck and scraping the cable
lacks chief amusements in his on hours. AFTER ne
has finished up any necessary needework when ne
may have on hand. are reading. writing letters
home. paying cards or checkers and above al;
amnkinr The regulations governing his beloved
En-. ne1nit him TO enjoy II Saturday and sun
day afternoons. on holidays from an hands TO to
| neriods I'm the night watches. No smoking by the
rrrew is ever allowed below the gun deck Or In
singIa lacked ships below the spar deck. and they
1a..s. Lcnn 10 their part OF the ship. IN the