Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-22


popular with naval men. Cooped up with
,n the narrow decks OF a boat like the
Porter. with its l76-foot length and IL
foot beam; the Cushing, with its 1S9 feet
by IA of thin metal. or tho Ericsson. with
its 1ls feet by Is IL OF tossing restless
ness. there Is not much chance for man
20 stretch far without raising bumps
nnd bruises on his anatomy The service
has its redeeming features, however, rs
the following personal narrative VIII re-
veal.
KEY WEST, May 2o-I have tested the
advantages and the hardships of a trip
aboard a torpedo-boat, the terror OF the
sea. for which it is said Great Britain
has TO call for volunteers when a crew is
required. so fun of discomforts is the
life aboard these little craft. While /
sympathize TO some extenet with these
complaining Jackies, and agree with them
that life aboard-a torpedo~boat Is not
an unalloyed dream OF happiness. stSll
A. has its pleasant side. For instance,
any dyspeptic millionaire who has begun
10 despair Of ever having an appetite for
ANYTHING eatable, could not do better
than purchase torpedo-boat and put
10 sea in her at top speed. taking tho
good with the bad in the way of weather.
IL will be a sure cure for loss OF appe-
tite and inability to digest wholesome
food.
| have been envying ever since came
ashore the men who can develop such
n "a
torpedo boat. Who would not be will
ing 10 be pitched around narrow little
boat during stormy weather in order to
feel as ravenous as a wolf at all kinds
of hours, and as light-hearted and clear
headed as a gymnast
VERY BUSY PEOPLE.
When I first stepped aboard the busy
,ittle boat the crew were getting ready
20 make a speedy departure on one Of
the numerous expeditions in connection
with their scout duty here. The officers
and men were too busy at the moment TO
give any attention to me, and so was
LETT alone to take in the surroundings.
Climbing gingerly down a hatchway, L
found myself in n very cosey, square
room. about four yards long by six wide,
with Just enough room to stand UP in,
This was the ward-room. Facing the
door was a stove and small sideboard,
with a bookcase above, filed with books
on service matters; a paper rack and
wine-locker: a pipe-rack, block, chro-
aometer-box, and one or two little knick-
knacl1s filled up that side.
COMFORTABLE BUNKS.
On either side of me were the hunks. or
which altogether there were three. These
hunks. though narrow, seemed very COM
Portable; they were fitted with drawers
underneath, and a small wardrobe was
fixed at the head of each bunk. On one
side. also, was a chart-box and look
ing-glass. whilst behind me were lying
pile OF sea-boots, and on the bulkheads
were hung coats, mackintoshes, oisl1ins,
and SOU -westers. CHANGING up over
head, / saw campstools. swords, golf
clubs, sticks, tennis-rackets, fiddles for
the tables in rough weather, &c. My
friends on board knew how TO pack, evil
IDENTIFY, for not an inch Of space vas
lost
Having thus completed my inspection
of tbD wardroom, L looked outside. On
my left was very diminutive pantry;
on my right bathroom in like proper
tions.
] went on deck again. and, to my sur
prise. found that all the men were for
sSeAKu, ana lndl we were quietly
ing out of the harbor.
BRIGHTLY-POLISHE GUNS.
1 was standing on the quarterback.
with 6-pounder gun on a platform in
'front.' of me, which gun was rejecting
the suns rays in my eyes and dazzling
me, SO beautifully clean and brightly
polished was it. Behind me was screen,
sheltering the 'after-steering position"
fitted up, / found out later. exactly as
he one forward was. There was also
4 hatch which led down TO the captains
cabin, outside of which were store-rooms
and racks for rifles and cutlasses. The
cabin was a comfortable little place, and
had a bunk, wardrobe, writing-table, and
bookcase and also a little bathroom
outside, but no stove. The captain in
these ships messes in the ward-room, and
only uses his cabin for sleeping in and
for correspondence work.
Walking over the platform, / found
torpedo-tube and alongside it a hatch,
which, on inquiry, l waa told led to the
chief petty officers mess. 1t was quite
a little place. about half the size OF the
ward-room. The engine-room artiticers
have a similar mess on the other side
of the deck. Everything was beautifully
clean. and the table was white from hard
scrubbing.
Going further forward, found that
here was the galley, and beside 1t stood
the ships cook, hard at work getting the
dinners ready. There was also here
a dynamo for supplying electricity TO the
search-light. which latter was placed be-
tween the engine-room matches on deck.
THE BLUEJACkETS.
Passing the big after funnel. came on
an open space, and couple of blue-jack~
cts. who were splicing wire rope, vol
unteered the information that this was
where the foremost torpedo tube would
be placed when the ship was used, solely
as a torpedo-boat. Here was Joined by
one OF the junior officers. who offered to
show me round the rest OF the ship, as the
captain could not yet leave the bridge for
any time.
/ rather liked the rig he was ina thick
pilot coat, ditto trousers, a football
sweater. with a white-silk scarf In lieu
81 "a collar, a fairly old cap, heavy sea
boots. thick gloves, and q pair Of bino-
eulars slung round his neck formed his
attire-which, as he went forward, could
not help thinking was. for this sort of
rought-and-ready life. absolutely the best
he could wear.
Between the two foremost tunnels is
the standard compass, with the flag
locker underneath il. and chart table.
How many men are there on board"
said /.
oh, our complement Is flfty-two all
told; but about thirty Of these are stokers.
This is their mess-deok"
NARROW QUARTERS.
you see the deck Is covered with a kind
OF linoleum; IL is found to answer much
better than wood in this class of ships
Here are two G-pounder guns; these and
the l2-pounder up there constitute our