The Jersey City news., 1898-06-14
LIFE ON THE BADGER.
Mysterious Craft Sighted
Last Wednesday Makes
a Stir.
BOYS EAGER FOR FIGHT
Naval Reserves Man the
Guns in Dead Earnest
Exciting Times.

INCETOWN, Mass, June >, 1S9S.-Ihose
of the Badgers crew that wished to at
tend divine service last Sunday We're CIV
en- that opportunity, but the rest of the
day was spent in hard. unremitting toll.
Ammunition and coal had been stoWeG
Saturday, the crew being kept at work
until II o'clock at night, when the boys
resembled tribe of Africans rather tnaii
white sailor men, Sunday night liber-
ty party visited the Columbia, which Is
being repaired in the dry dock at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard. The Columbia,
boys gave the visitors hearty welcome,
and every nook and corner of the splendid
cruiser was explored.
Monday followed with the same order OF
business, coal. ammunition and supplies
being taken aboard in large quantities.
Visitors who called stood back in aston
ishment as they beheld their young sailor
friends whom they had been accus-
toned to seeing In spotless linen and
high collars, appear with working suits
and faces as black as chimney sweeps.
Tuesday morning, everything being
aboard. preparations were made for get.
ting away AT 1920 the lines We're cast
off and the Badger proceeded down the
East River under full head of steam.
her five inch guns pointing out of her six
forward ports, her little three Founders
poking their noses over the spar deck rait
and "old Glory waving magnificently
over the stern. On the bridge stood
Captain Snow, Lieutenant Mahan and a
pilot. while below, from the spar
deck down to the magazine, were the
busy crew securing everything movable,
tn n
every one busy.
While off Sandy Hook the pilot boat
New York took off the pilot and the Bad
ger was headed out to sea. The weather
was beautiful and the sea tolerably calm,
nsequenfly cases of seasickness were
few and far between
Night came on clear and calm. Mess
had been finished, but before the mess
cooks had an opportunity to clear away
the tables the bugle sounded quarters,
and to their stations scurried the crew.
The powder division hustled down into the
magazine, and at the hoists; the guns
crews to their guns. The crews were
mustered and as retreat was sounded
the crew boys thought that the next call
to quarters would be in dead earnest
At eight o'clock the starboard watch
was piped below, the port watch on deck,
and everything passed quietly. The
watches changed at midnight and the
lookouts reported lights off and on, until
two O'Clock. when two white lights We're
sighted off the port bow.
Lieutenant Mahan had just taken the
bridge with Lieutenant Goldingay as
watch officer. The former ordered the
helm hard aport, but scarcely had the
shin answered her tiller when the two
white lights flashed across our bows with
wonderful rapidity. This was followed by
the order Hard a-starboardr and as the
Badger swung around the two white
lights came head on, no side lights being
visible.
Lieutenant Mahan ordered General
uuarters.'' and in less than a minute ham
mocks were emptied and unswung, While
at each gun stood its crew, apparently not
feeling in the least the cold wind which
was blowing across the spar deck and
through the open ports.
The 3-pounders were ordered loaded at
once. as the ammunition had been placed
beside the guns before .'pipe down" The
5-inch shells were rapidly hoisted to the
gun deck, sights were adjusted and the
crews stood in silence The order to fire
the starboard after gun followed. sharp
crack. and 3-pound shell sped in the di-
rection of the stranger, who had by this
time put out all his lights Another shot,
and then the Badgers searchlight was
turned on. showing her to be very low in
the water, with two masts and single
funnel Two more shots followed from
the Badgers guns. when the stranger
showed three red flare-up lights and then,