The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-04-02
THE BIGGEST NAVAL SPREE.
Half the omaha's Water Casks riiie"
with Wine and $50 Men Drums


with Wine and $50 Men Drunk
.sDid YOU ever hear of the drunk oil
the United States steamship Omaha, or
rather the spree of the omaha's crew
Well. it's a 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 war ships in many "aters'
lie continued:
at was one of the earlier trips OF the
cruiser The orders were for Rio, after
putting into Madeira for supplies. As
tbe Omaha scudded along, her ma
cbinerv working beautifully and sea
easy as a bay, all felt satisfied with the
service. There would be number Oh
war ships with acquaintanees aboard
at Rio, and we knew their officers ana
crews would welcome us and admire
the Omaha. We had her neat as lady
dressed for reception.
while we were taking on meat and
vegetables in Madeira our captain CON
ceived the idea of saving coal by filing
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 advantage
of all sailing chance it was calculated
to make fule showing that would gain
n few effective credit marks at Wash
ington.
~ watering party of about 80, in
charge of petty officers, handled the
casks. They filled themselves with Ma
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, Jaeby overreached him
self.
ION a man-of-war, you know, the
halliards are so laid that all the canvas
can be spread at once. Well, it was done
this time in fashion that nearly drove
the captain crazy. He was on the bridge
and cursed blue streak that poisoned
the air and polluted the sea. He cursed
officers and men, the service, the ship,
all countries, the earth, and the uni
verGe.
First the men talked as they tangled
the halliards about. For this they were
mildly and then sharply reproved. Next
they sang Then the officers were COM
PEELED to swear to drown the voice of
the captain. The men staggered around
and did all sorts of maudlin things.
They fell and rose and fell again They
tried to fight among themselves. They
talked back to the officers, cursed the
noncoms. and shouted badinage to the
captain. 1t was pronounced case OF
general certain jag and no remedy to
be suggested. At least $50 of the men
were paralyzed drunk and those able
to stand still drinking till the supply
was cut off.
at is blessing there was no weather
Not a thing in the way of handling shiE
was done after she was once headed
1t did rain. 1t was quite a downpour
but the helpless DRINKS, lying on tn,
decks, slept right through it. From
them during the night there wer,
groans and growls and an occasional at
tempt at a rally Several times bo's'n!
blew their pipes in confused, haltini
way, without knowing what was want
ed.
AT daybreall all hands able assisted
in driving the earousers back to duty
The spree left them stupid, blear-eyed
with aching heads and sore bodies anC
a-wondering what the punishment was
going to be. They had mighty Ions
day of it after the remainder of the
wine was run over the sides.
"There was no court-martial. No ONT
was cited or charged or placed in The
brig. The task of inhicting punishment
was too great and the captain had tC
wink at the Omaha's big drunk
bringing liquor aboardship is thu
chief of minor otfenscs, yet the Jackies
are at it constantly. | once saw {
smuggler caught in the act in such a pc
culiar and striking way that even tn,
dominic sympathized with him. II,
was assisting with supplies. Every ar
ticle was inspected as usual when hand
ed up. The corporal of marines stucl
his nose into a can of milk, followed i
up with his fingers and brought oct /;
whisky bottle label that was floating II
plain view. The frewater containei
was anchored at the bottom of the can
I call this a good hard luck story, my
self."-Pacific Commercial Advertiser