The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-05-11
Clearing the Ship for Action.
The Process lSet Forth So That Landlub-
bers Can Understand 1t.

The Process lSet Forth So That Landlub-
bers Can Understand 1t.
The average citizen knows little
about the magnitude of our modern
ships of war, or of the processes by
which they are operated. Very illu-
minating, therefore, is the following
bit of description by correspondent
Of LeSlie's Weekly, writing from Old
Point Comfort:
Retiring time on board man-of-war
is early, because of the early rising
hour and the arduous labor of the day,
and at nine o'clock very nearly all the
men, except the few on watch, have
retired. 1t was shortly after nine
o'clock on the flagship Brooklyn.
Forward, the hammocks were swing
lug, rocked gently by the roll of the
ship. In the ward-room five or six
officers sat reading, chatting and smok-
ing. On the quarterback Lieutenant
DOYLE paced to anu fro in silence,
while in their respective cabins Com
modore Schley and Capt. Cook and ex-
ecutive officer Lieut. Comdr. Mason sat
awaiting call that they alone knew
would be made. The ship, sleeping on
the bosom of the ocean, is in port dress
and not stripped for action.
"a steamers smoke on the port
bowl" reports the man at lookout on
the bridge.
CAN right. Can you make her out?"
answers the officer of the deck.
"a man of-war, sir" answers the
lookout.
messenger, tell the captain and Mr..
Mason" quietly responds Mr.. Doyle.
Mr.. Mason comes on deck, and, with
Mr.. Doyle, watches the boat through
glasses.
"Call the musicians" says Mr. Ma
son, sharply, to the messenger, and the
musicians come. Still the big ship and
its inmates sleep, still the officers in
the wardroom chat and amoke, while
others have already retired. Still Mr..
Mason and Mr.. ID yle keep The glasses
up.
"Sound the call to general quartersl"
says Mr.. Mason, and the drum rolls a
diapason to the trumpet's shrill treble.
Then comes a transformation that
knows no equal for its suddenness of
action and shifting of scene. From
the quarters pour forth men dressing
themselves as they come, never wait
ing for shoes or stockings. The siren
shrieks forth its weird steam blast, the
big gong clangs, the drum rolls, and
before their clamor has ceased its echo
every part of the ship, from the depths
of the hold to the top of the military
mast, is filed with active, bustling
men. From both forward and aft
bridges the bright sesrch-lights have
begun to work, and the rest of the feet
have, quicker, almost, than thought,
been notified of the approach of an
enemy, and their search-lights are aid
ing in making brighter than daylight
the darkness in which torpedo boat
might approach.
But of the transformation Three
minutes and half of what appears to
be the direst confusion, but which is
really the acme of discipline and order,
have elapsed, and the commanders of
the various divisions report. Mr.. Rush,
In command of the second division, in
Guiding the after eight.inch turret and
the port eighth turret, reports CAL
ready, second division, sir" and fol.
lowing him comes the report of each
division.
The great ironclad is ready to fight
and the bugler blows "Silencel" while
the men, at fearful tension, the mos
, difficult, nerve testing period of thu
! whole situation, await orders.
What has occurred during the three
minutes consumed in putting this bis
engine of war in shape to hurl deatf
? and destruction is marvellous in it's i'm
Q mensity, and a great tribute to the abil
Q ity of Captain Cook and his corps of of
6 ficers. 1t is hardly possible to recii'
it's details, but here are some OF its feat
Q ures as noticed by me as an eye-wit
i ness: AT the note of warning 500 mel
= have, in perfect order, taken their va
i. rious stations and begun the work o
y "clearing ship for action" In thu
g three and one-half minutes consumed
they have closed over 200 water-tigh
doors, thus making compartments tina
will keep the chip afioat, although som
. compartments may be injured. The
have coupled all the hose to the fire
plugs, covered the small boats with we
!. canvas to keep them from flying spin
tiers il hit; put up splinter nets of rop
about the pilot house, gun-sponsons, an