Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-06-02
thick" ! queried. How thick, then
is the ships sides?"

NOT EXACTLY REASSURING.
"Oh," said he, laughing. about an
eighth of an inch" and before ]
could quite grasp how much an eighth
Of an inch in steel really is in thick
ness, he had disappeared down lad
der at my feet.
This is the mess deck for the blue
iackets-under the turtle backed fore
castle, you see"
one long table in the center, ana
two rows of lockers ran along the
ships side. A few men were down
here. one stitching canvas. another
mending his clothes, one reading a
book, another writing letter, ana
one stretched out right forward asleep
utterly oblivious of every thing going
on beside him.
About 20 men live down here, sad
my guide. These are their nam
mocks. and that is the capstan engine
we have a steam capstan.
He pointed above his head as ne
spoke.
More store rooms under our feet,
too" he continued. We keep the cX-
plosive war-heads for the torpedocs
down below here. We have two IS
inch torpedoes, carried without the
heads, in the tubes themselves. Nov
let US go up on the fore-bridge.'
We had increased speed, and now we
were we'll out to sea and gliding along
through the water so smoothly that !
could hardly believe the statement that
our speed was over "a miles an hour.
Slipping through the water with no
vibration at all, the only indications of
speed were the ripples on the water
flying past us. and the fountain OF
spray rising at our sharp, straight
stem. sparkling with all the colors Of
the rainbow as the suns rays flashed
upon it.
4 beautiful blue sky above. with
hardly a cloud to be seen, except that
on one part of the horizon there is 4
little haze. The fountain at the bows
is playing beautifully now, and all
around is the pure, bright sea air blow
ing against ones face. and through
ones clothes, and into ones body:
rousing, stimulating and revivng one
and making one feel a new man, so re-
freshing and eXhilerating is it.
ON A COLD WET NIGHT.
"Starboard." sings out my friend
"Starboard." answers the quartermas-
ter. whose head |. being startled in my
reverie. nearly tread on it having come
up suddenly through hole in the
platform on which we are standing.
"Well. how do you like it," queries
my guide.
Il wish | were in your place" said ]
oh" replied ne. laughing. come out
on a cold. wet night in January, Whe:
a heavy sea IS running. and you have
to hang on to the rails to prevent your
self being carried off your feet; when
the seas rise dashing on the turtle
back. and washing all over the uppe,
deck; when You are soaked to the skin
and. clinging on to something, arr
shivering and thinking of the many
thousands ashore who are fast asleep
warm and snugly tucked between the
blankets: when the binding spray and
slect is lashing your face like WhipcorG
in an incessant shower. so that you
| can hardly open your eyes as you
vanly struggle to peer into the dark.
ness to discern the lights of the Vess"
| ahead, and when everything down be
| low in the Wardroom is sliding about
! on the deck. gloriously mixed up. st
| that if You wish to get piece of meat
| for supper You have to hold the join
| with one hand whilst you hack off Z
| piece With the knife. and when you
can't stand up by yourself-you' soot
| change your mind"
| Walking aft. we went down the On.
| gine room ladder.
I'm sorry wa are only going 2St
| revolutions a minute now" says he
| You should see them going at go
| That's the time
| But as it is. l wonder nightly to St.
these two engines with their many
| bright rods flashing up and down: tn.
| cranks Whirrng round at the rate a
| four revolutions per second are alou.
| enough to make one pause and wonder
! when human ingenuity will reach it.
| limit. and also speculate on what a ter
! ribe smash there would be if anything
| chanced to go wrong.
| "Lunch." yells the matter-of-fa
| steward.
| PLENTY OF GOOD FOOD.
Chatting and joking formed the con
versation whilst plates were hein.
emptied and refilled, for every on,
seems to be put in good temper by thi
| sort of work.
AS to the messing, | must say it VA
| far better than [ imagined could be oh
tanned on board a small boat like this
Plain, but good and substantial food
| eNcellenuy cooked, is the order of tn
| day. and cut and come again is tn,
order of the table; which last | carried
out in spirit ana in truth.
Sail" suddenly came from above :,
disturb our enjoyment, and there wa
at once general exodus from tn
lunch room. Then was treated to al
exhibition of the agility O
Yankee crew when there is rea
| earnest work to be done. The celerit,
| with which every man reached hi
station and stood waiting for the mex
order was marvellous. 1t proved to b.
friendly craft and there was mucl
disappointment in consequence. b,1
the quickness and eagerness of the me,
at the prospect of an engagement
augured well for the success of tn.
torpedo boat in an action with tn,
! Spaniards.
We returned to Key West after ;
snort run out to sea, and | Steppp.
ashore from the boat with a very salts
| factory recollection of nv first eynnri