The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1898-09-22

The many little points of etiquette
observed on board an American man
of-war are distinctly worthy of public
interest. From the moment an off,
Ger or man steps aboard until after
he has left he must observe onven
tional ceremonies of many kinds.
In the first place in going aboard or
leaving the ship the starboard gang
was IL reserved for the use of the com-
missioned oficers and their visitors.
All others must use the port gangway.
Upon stepping aboard the first thing to
be done is to Salute the deck" by
touching or liftingth hat or cap. This is
meant as a mark Of respect to the col
ors, and is acknowledged by the oficer
OF the deck. The quarter deck is sa-
cred to the officers, and the side of it
occupied by the officer of the deck is
generally avoided even by them. No
enlisted men are permitted to go on
the quarter deck except on duty.
One of the prettiest Of naval cere-
monies takes place when the colors
are hoisted at 8 a. m. and again when
they are lowered at sunset. These two
functions are accompanied by appro-
pirate military music, all hands, off,
GERS as we'll as men, who happen to
be on deck at the time, standing I'D
at attention" facing aft and uncov-
cred, until the colors reach the flag
stan head or are lowered into the arms
Of the Quartermaster who receives
them. as the case may be.
1t Is customary for officers always
to salute the captain when passing
him, but not to salute each other on
board ship. when merely passing, ex-
cept when. on duty, an official COM
m~unfcation is to be made. The Jun
Tor always salutes first, the senior
returning the salute. The men al
ways salute an officer when address,
ing or being addressed by him.
On1cers below the grade of comman-
der are always addressed as plain
Mr." with the exception that the sur
geons are called doctor" In the ia
miliar unofficial intercourse the chief
engineer is addressed as "chief" and
the paymaster as pay. Usually the ma
rine oficer is jocularly spoken to as
major" or colonel"
Commanders and captains are al
ways called Captains" and commo-
dores and admirals are addressed by
their titles. But the commanding OIL
Ger OF a vessel, no matter what his
rank. is always addressed by those I'M
der him 90 900 ptoi IN - Mory avail u..
sells and torpedo boats are commanded
by lieutenants, and even by ensigns,
yet they are called captains" as long
as they retain command.
Unlike civil life, the navy regards
1t as a compliment to drop the "Mr."
In personal conversation between off,
GERS. The application Of that little
prefix implies wide disparity in rank,
and a junior thus feels lattered by
the elevation to equality made by a
senior in dropping 1t.
/ There are certain interesting for
malities in entering, leaving and sit
ting in the ships small boats. En-
trance goes according to rank, Junior
first. in conformity with the principle
that the captain is always last to aban-
don the ship. In sitting in the boat.
the senior sits furthest aft, the others
ranging themselves forward of him &C.
: cording to graduation of rank. In
leaving the boat the senior goes first,
which suggests the rule that in an at
tack on shore, or a boarding party,
the senior leads the way.
There are three principal ceremonies
attending the oficial arrival on board,
or the departure from a ship, of per
sons Of rank. One is the piping over
the side" consisting Of the attendance
at the gangway Of from two to eight
side boys. and the long. shrill piping
OF the boatswain as the person honored
comes or goes over the side. For a
commanding Officer, admiral or other
high f~unctionary. the marine guard is
: paraded on the quarterback, presenting
arms. with the field music giving the
appropriate number Of "ruffies" as the
functionary passes along the deck to
or from the gangway. This is the
second honor. The third Is the firing
OF gun ~salutes. the number of guns de-
pending upon the personal rank. The
1 president Of the United States and
members Of royal families receive q
guns, the national salute, which is the
highest number officially recognized.
Other Officers receive varying numbers
below this, tie following being exam
pies: Admiral. II guns; vice admiral,
10; rear admiral. IS; commodore, II.
Governors Of states, cabinet ministers,
diplomatic representatives, generals OF
the army and consulate officers are all
entitled to gun salutes.
The salute is not fired until the OBJ
ject of 1t is In his boat and pulls ahead
Of the ship, when the first gun is fred
and his flag is u~nfurled from the mast
head to be pulled down with the last
gun. While the salute is in progress
the visitors boat stops, proceeding at
ter the last gun.
1t Is a marked breach of courtesy to
fire either more or less guns than the
person saluted is entitled to, and when
such Is done his representative prompt
ly calls upon the saluting ship for an
explanation. and II this is not satisfac-
tory serious offense Is given.
There is ceremony even in marking
the passage Of time on board ship.
There Is a clock near the captains
cabin. which the captains orderly
! watches, and each half hour he goes on
dack oud ro1uttno r>Dort, - tho