The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-01-27
A Bit Of !. S. Navy History
Told as a Story.
FIRST TRIP OF THE OMAHA
Casks Filled with Light Liquor.
More Than Half the Grew
Laid Out" In the Wet.

did you ever hear of the drink OF
the L. S. S. Omaha, or rather the spree
of the Omaha's crew? Well, it's
stock naval yarn, but good one, and
with the extra rare merit of being
true"
The speaker was a gentleman who
as an officer had paced the decks OF
many American warships in many
waters. He continued:
at was one of the earlier trips Of the
cruiser. The orders were for Rio, after
putting into Madeira for supplies. The
season was pleasant and the 800 oh-
GERS and men were enjoying the voyage
! immensely. AS the Omaha scudded
along, her machinery working beautl-
fully and sea easy as bay, al felt
satisfied with the service. There would
he a number of warships with acquain-
tances aboard at Rio, and we knew
their officers and crews would welcome
us and admire the Omaha. We had
her neat as a lady dressed for re-
ception.
'EWhile we were taking on meat and
vegetables in Madeira our captain con-
ceived the idea of saving coal by filling
I'M the water tanks from shore. From
the Island we could stand into trade
wind and would with half luck be able
to make a fine run into Rio.
BY doing no condensing and taking
e advantage of all sailing chance it was
calculated to make fuel showing that
4 would gain a few effective credit marks
at Washington.
ga watering party of about fifty, IN
, charge of petty officers, handled the
casks They filled themselves with Ma
u deira wine then made common purse
and bought enough of it to load about
half the casks The scheme was to
have Madeira on tap till we reached
Rio. AS usual, though, Jacky over
, reached himself.
l. con a. nan-of-war, you know, the
halvards are so laid that all the can
vass can be spread at once. well, Il
was done this time in fashion ina
nearly drove the captain crazy. HI
was on the bridge and cursed blu'
streak that poisoned the air and pol
~ luted the sea- He cursed officers an'
= men. the service and the ship, all coun
y tries and the earth and the universe
"First the men talked as they tan
gled the ha1yards about For this the
we're mildly and then sharply reproveC
Next they sang. Then the officers Wer
compelled to swear drown the vote
of the captain. The men staggere
around and did all sorts OF maudll
things. They fell and rose and re
again. They tried to tight amongS
ed themselves. They talked back 10 ID
officers. cursed the non-coms an
shouted badinage to the captain.
L was pronounced case OF general ce
I'LL tain lag, and no remedy to be sugges
ed. At least $50 Of the men were para
mr. wed drunk and those able to stan
"a still drinking till the supply was Ct
off.
1T is blessing there was no WeaIl
err. Not a thing in the way OF nanuAl
ship was done after she was on
v headed 1t did rain. 1t was qulle
II down pore, but the helpless drums
v living on the decks, slept right tnrous
~ If From them during the night the
were groans and growls and an occ
sional attempt at a rally. Sever
times bo's'ns blew their pipes IN
confused, hating way, without kho
q ing what was wanted
Ss cat daybreak all hands able ASSIST
in driving the carousers PACK 10 uu
The spree left them stupid, plear-ey'
,.,. with aching heads and sore bodies
q wondering on what the punlsnme
oii was going to be. They had mgr
best 49,, dov of If after the remainder
the +bo wine was run over the sides.
'"There was no court martial'
coed one was cited or charged or placeu
the brig. The task OF lnhlctlhg pun!
ous- ment was too great and the captain
tn wink at the Omaha's big orunR
land "Rrineing liquor aboard snip is
chief of minor offenses, yet the JacR
are at If constantly. I was saw SIN
with ger caught in the act in such pc
name liar and striking way that even
Both dominic sympathized with MIN.
'uary was assisting with supplies. EV
ecre- article was inspected as usual )"
Iono- handed up. The corporal OF MARI
stuck his nose into a can, of milk,
these lowed it up with his myers
les. brought out a whiskey bottle Il
. that was floating in plain view.
frewater container was ancnoreu
the bottom of the can. L can III
nretty good hard luck story mys'
S and p'''