The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-27
NO SPLICING The MAIN BRACE.
How Grog Began and How II Wa Aboi-
ished In the United states Navy.


They didn't splice the main brace"
the other day on the Nashville when
that gallant gunboat had raced through
the sea, with every human pulse a-beat,
and captured the first prize of the war.
They won't splice the main brace on
the Oregon, even If all hands should
have the strain of that seemingly Inn
possible thing, an all-day's running
fight with a fleet of Spanish cruisers.
Splicing the main brace Is. or rather
used TO be, serving In extra allowance
of grog TO all hands on a naval vessel
after an engagement. This explanation
II so old that il will be news to many
in these days. IL things were as they
used TO be, how naturally IL would have
happened that when the Nashville had
captured her prize and when every
heart aboard was asiow with the sue
cess the boatswsin and his mates should
have piped through the ship the order.
'All hands for grog." At the beginning
OF any other war in our history "Grog
D." would have ~resounded through the
ship. But
They've raised his psy.fve cents q day
And stopped his grog forever.
A notable even was the invention of
grog in 1740. According to a learned
article on the subject published in the
United States service by Admiral Meade
in 1884, the honor is due TO Admiral
Vernon of the royal navy. In bad
weather il was his fashion to wear on
deck a ogrom cloak from which he
acquired among the men the sobriquet
of 'Old Grog." About the year mem
toned. while in command Of the West
India station, he originated a new and
satisfactory official beverage composed
of rum and water, the serving of which
began on his flagship. the Burford, and
thence spread. The beverage was
dubbed "grog." and the word has lived.
When our navy began its illustrious
career amid the revolution liquor was,
of course, as necessary a part of the
supplies as sea biscuits and powder,
and we find Paul Jones, on sailing from
Portsmouth in 1777. bewailing. among
other shortages, only 30 gallons OF
rum"
In 1881 congress took an advanced step
by providing that all in the navy who
voluntarily re~linquished the spirit ra-
tion woul be paid 6 cents a day. In
1912 the ration was cut down to one gill,
but the lternative of half a pint OF
wine was added. and the commutstion
price was fixed at 3 cents.
The first year of the civil war brought
a greatly increased naval force and in
creased trouble from strong drink.
Moral sentiment had progressed. too. In
July, 1862. congress revolutioniZed the
American navy by passing the historic
law providing:
THAT from and after the LIST day of
September. 1862. the spirit ration in the
navy of the United States shall forever
cease, and thereafter no distilled spir-
ituOus liquors nal be admitted on
board Of vessels OF war except as medi-
cal stores. and upon the order and un-
der the control OF the medical officers
OF such vessels. to be used only for
medical purposes. From and after the
LIST day Of September next there shall
be allowed and paid to each person in
the navy now entitled TO the spirit
ration 5 cents per day in Communication
and lieu thereof. which hall be in ad
dition 10 the present pay"
And that day there has been no
grog in the United States nsvy-Ssu
] Francisco Call.