The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-09
UNCLE SANS sEAMEN.
How the American Man-Of-War's-
Man Is Cared For.

FROM Jne New Ofk tribune.
The addition of new ships to the United
States navy makes imperative the enlist
ment of a large number of new men for
the service. The rate at which the white
squdran has been and is being strengthen
ed of late has brought this fact into es-
pecial prominence, and the enrolment of
seamen and marines for the new vessels
is task of the highest Importance. 1t
has been stated from time to time that
good men were difficult to secure for the
hundreds of places thus created, and that
the class who would be desirable recruits
did not show an overwhelming eagerness
to become men-of-war s-men. 1t is cor
tainly true that, just as the recruiting Of
Ulcers of the army accept only a small
percentage of the applicants who present
themselves, so those of the navy are also
obliged to be critical The result of this
practice is that the crew, when finally OBJ
tanned, is composed mainly of men of ca
pacity and intelligence. There is no ques-
ton that the standard of the enlisted men
or the navy is a great deal higher to-day
than 1t has ever been before in the coun-
try's history
1t has become rather the fashion of late
years, as sort of reaction, probably
against any romantic notions which may
have existed regarding a sailors life, to
go TOO lar over to the other side, and rep
resent his lot as one of almost unalloyed
misery. The latter picture is far from
the truth, particularly as regards the life
on BOARD modern war vessel. ANY mem
Ger OF a ships company who does his work
properly, behave himself well generally.
ana makes up his mind to take AL the en-
Joyment he can out Of the plenty of spare
time allowed to him. has anything but a
PAD time. That he often has remarkably
good time, and is not anxious to exchange
LOT any other mode of life, is proved by the
devotion of many of the naval Jack Tars
20 their ship and their calling.
Inc writer has never had occasion to
meet Wlth man who appeared more
thoroughly contented than did an old gun
ner's mate seen not long ago on board the
New York! His affection for the ship and
ms pride in her good qualities were de-
lghttui things to see. He had sDent hrs
life IN the navy, had served through the
war ana peace, and had nothing but good
words for his of1icers and his treatment
ret the place of gunner's mate would not
be regarded by many men as the pick
or the work aboard ship. His duties in
Volve a general care of the gun and it's
ammunition and during an engagement
he is imprisoned below in the blackness Of
the hold, passing up powder and shot to
the gunner on deck. Seeing nothing of
what Is going on. he simply knows that If
the magazine blows up or the shin sinks
ne Will go to his long account with con-
siderable more swiftness and sureness
than his comrades above.
When the crew of man-of-war is en-
lsted, each individual has his rating"
or definition of the capacity in which he
is to serve. If he is a marine his daily
drill and work will be different from those
OF the others, but he will be subiect to
the same discipline and enjoy the same
privileges as the crew Among the special
ratings under which men are enlisted are
those of ships apothecary. CARPENTER
cook barber, tailor, shoemaker. etc. The
last three are permitted to charge moder-
ate lees to the men for whom they per
form work, although they also receive
regular wages from the government. The
class OF men known as petty officers "
lhcludlng the cadet engineers, the cap
tain of the top" the Captain of the after
guard and the captain Of the forecas-
tie, whose titles sufficiently indicate their
duties, rank between the ordinary MEM
bers Of the crew and the regular officers.
These petty officers are themselves divid-
ed INTO classes, those of the higher grade
messing separately and those of the lower
with the crew. That there NAV he no
question on any point as to his daily du
ues' each enlisted man has his billet"
assigning to him his rating watch num-
Der part OF snip, mess boat. and his sta
ton at quarters and at fre-auarters.
Inc ilrst incident of Importance in the
daily routine is the call to quarters at
9'SO Tor the regular morning inspection
and drill At inspection each mans cloth
ing comes under the officers scrutiny and
ms general appearance is criticised if nee
essary. Ample opportunities and facilities
are given TO the crew for the making
mending and washing of their clothes. so
that man who does not keen himself
neat has no excuse for it but his own lazi-
ness.
The washing, by the way, is a most i'm
pressive function which takes place every
Monday morning. No one is excused from
answering the boatswain's whistle which
summons to this task except the men in
the engine room, who naturally cannot
drop their work to rush to the call They
must arrange, however, with obliging
comrades, so that the cleansing of their
garments may take place just the same
1t is turn and turn about" system. by
which the man who is on duty below one
week, and SO exempted from the wash
ing, may have his work done by a friend
and then do double scrubbing himself the
next Monday when the former laundry
man Is at the engines. The manner of per-
forming the washing would no doubt be
regarded by ordinary housekeepers with
distrust. The garments, with the excep-
ton of the hannels. are laid upon the deck
and scrubbed with "coya" brush, after
which they are rinsed in the buckets or
sluiced with water as they lie on the deck.
The drill which follows inspection may
be with any or all Of the various weapons
Of war. There is target practice with the
cannon and with the small arms, and the
sword exercise, at which the men are
taught the seven different styles Of cuts
which may most effectively disable or kill
The arrangement of the watches
throughout the day, four hours on and
four hours off, allows the men more time
70 themselves than they would receive II
engaged in almost any other occupation
for which they would be fitted. BY means
OF the dog-watches OF two hours each, be-
tween and p. m, the time for each
mans watch on deck Is shifted daily. 9th
erwise, the day and night watches would
always fall to the same sets Of men, a re-
suit which would be distressingly monot-
onous and rather unfair. When plpod TO
mess, the men find their table" T. e., the
deck, all spread for them by that useful
functionary. the cook. and. sitting down
cross-legged about the cloth. they fall TO
with sea appetltes. IL Is strongly recon-
mended IN the naval regulations that the
men be not disturbed at this hour, and that
ViuitOrg gh0fIld NOT ghooao "a fHln ffr,. y,