The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-08-14
UNCLE SANS SAILORS.
PROVISIONS FOR THE CARE AND CON-
FORT OF A MAN.OF.WAR'S MAN.

on Board Ship - Jacks Holidays ana
Amusements Various Duties of the
Seamen- Caring for Their Health.
When the crew of q man-of-war IS
enlisted, each individual has his "rat-
ing" or definition of the capacity IN
which he is to serve. If he is ma
rine, his daily drill and work will be
different from those of the others, but
he will be subject to the same dlsci-
pline, and enjoy the same privileges
as the crew. Among the special rat
ings under which men are enlisted are
those of ships apothecary, carpenter,
cook. barber, tailor, shoemaker, etc.
The last three are permitted to charge
moderate fees to the men for whom
they perform work, although they also
receive regular wages from the govern
ment. The class of men known as
"petty officers" including the cadet
engineers, the captain of the top"
the captain of the after-guard' and
the "captain of the forecastle'' whose
titles sufficiently indicate their duties,
rank between the ordinary members
of the crew and the regular officers.
These petty officers are themselves di-
vided into classes, those of the higher
grade messing separately, and those
of the lower with the crew. That
there may be no question on any point
as to his daily duties, each enlisted
man has his "billet," assigning to him
his rating, watch number, part OF ship,
mess, boat, and his station at quarters
and at fire-quarters.
The first incident Of Importance In
the daily routine is the call to "quar-
tiers" at 80 for the regular morning
inspection and drill. At inspection
each mans clothing comes under the
officers scrutiny, and his general ap-
pearance is scrutinized if necessary.
Ample opportunities and facilities are
given to the crew for the making,
mending and washing of their clothes,
so that a man who does not keep him
self neat, has no excuse for it but his
own laziness.
The washing, by-the-way, is most
impressive function which takes
place every Monday morning. No
one is excused from answering the
boatswain's whistle which summons to
this except the men in the engine-room,
who naturally cannot drop their work
to rush to the CALL They must ar
range, however, with obliging COM
rades, SO that the cleansing of their
garments may take place just the same.
The manner of performing the wash
ing would no doubt be regarded by
ordinary housekeepers with distrust.
The garments, with the exception OF
the fannels, 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 prac-
tice with the cannon and with the
small arms, and to sword exercise, at
which the men are taught the seven
different styles of cuts which may most
effectively disable or kill.
When piped to mess, the men find
their ''table," j. e., the deck, al
spread for them by that useful func.
tionary, the cook, and, sitting down
cross-legged about the cloth, they fall
to with sea appetites. 1t is strongly
recommended in the naval regulations
that the men be not disturbed a
this hour, and that visitors should no
choose this time to pay calls. to the
ship. The rations for each mess are
usually drawn by one man appointed
to the task.
Saturday afternoons and Sunday:
are holiday times on board ship. TX
be sure, a certain amount of cleaning
up is required on those days, the ex
tent of which depends largely upol
the captains strictness in this regard
and his desire for ''spick- and-span'
vessel.
Jacks chief amusements in his OF
hours, after he has finished up an,
necessary needlework which he ma,
have on hand, arereading, writing letter
home, playing cards or checkers, and
above all, smoking. The regulation
governing his beloved pipe permit hin
to enjoy it .on Saturday and Sunda
afternoons, on holidays, from "al
hands, to ''turn to-" during mes
hours, and for limited periods in tn
night watches. No smoking by tn
crew is ever allowed below the gu
deck, or, in single-decked ships, be
low the spar deck, and they must kee
|, to their own part of the ship, in th
neighborhood of the forecastle. Al
other period in which the men ma
smoke is from the time the hammock
are down, about 6 p. M, until tattoo
at p. M, but they must remain o
the upper deck with their pipes I
this hour.
The greatest care is taken of th
| health of the crew at sea, and the
| are not overworked or exposed unne'
essarily to the heat of the sun, to WI
weather, or to disease. When cruisin
, off unhealthy localities, such as til
, west coast of tropical Africa, the istl
mus of Panama, the West Indies an
/ parts of South America, shore leave
} frequently refused on account of til
} danger to health which it involves, an
, natives of those regions are employe
for boat duty between the ship an