The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-18


Small piece of ice ........................ 25c
These are all United States stores and are
supposed to be used as designated by the
commissory officer, but are sold by the
stewards to the boys at these exOrbitant
prices. the stewards pocketing the money.
The common sailors gladly share their
meals with their soldier friends, not taking
a penny for what they give; in fact, they
consider it an insult to be offered pay.
Harry Murbarger, just recovering from
spell of sea sickness, asked of the
stewards for cup of tea, but was told
that it was impossible to give it to him. but
when a dollar was brought into sight. show
ing that Harry was willing to pay for it,
the tea was forthcoming at once at the
very low price of so cents a cup. The boys
are beginning to look hollow-eyed and
hungry, as shipwrecked sailors might be
ported as coming from one or two men, but
Is general throughout the whole Ship the
officers excepted, of course.
me following conversation was heard on
deck this afternoon between Privates Cath
erWood and Pearce:
''Bill, if you knew that every one on this
steamer were to be lost except one, who by
his ability or good luck was going to be
saved, what message would you send by
him."
Pearce answered that he hardly knew
what message he would send and Gather
wood replied that he would order a piece of
pie to await him on the other shore.
CHANCE TO FEED.
Owing to the fact that the ship is short
the vessel up to it's average speed, the call
was made for four volunteers to assist in
the stoker hole, offering them $40 for the
trip and their food. There were many more
than the number, who promptly volunteered
they said: Not for the money, but for
the chance to get something to eat" The
lucky four selected were from the st. Louis
and Pittsburg batteries. Later volunteers
were asked for the cooking department, the
stewards department and the baking de-
partment.. All chances were gladly accept
ed, and the Twenty seventh Indiana Bat
terry now has PriVateS MetZger and Burke
in the cooking department, Private Moore
in the baking department, while Privates
Beaver and Sellers are assisting the stew
ards.
In looking over the ship It was found
that not only small crew had been
laws have been disregarded. The vessel
is short four lifeboats, and the ones that
are on board are leaky and on the top near
the funnel. where it would take at least
an hour to lower one if a should fall
overheard. 1t is also noticed that there are
only three life belts aboard, and they are
in the forward part of the boat, not one
being on the stern of the vessel where
several should always be on hand to throw
to any one unfortunate enough to fall over
board. This negligence is thought to be
due to the English captains. that are sail
ing under the American flag for the money
that is in it. 1t is certain that the same
captain would not dare leave an English
port with an English vessel under these
same conditions.
Many of the men seem to be worried
about the ships not being escorted by a
strong convoy of cruisers. fearing that the
squadron. Joe Haspel says that if he had
known we were to be lett alone this way,
without any protection, he would have
brought a club and a pocket full of rocks.
The report has gone through the ship that
tomorrow being Sunday good dinner is
to be served, and we understand all the
iS
commanding officer that if a warm dinner
was not furnished his men he would pay for
their dinner out of his own pocket. If all
the officers aboard this ship were like Capt
Curtis it is certain there would not be the
discomfort on board that has been shown
Sunday. July 3l.-Another beautiful day;
the sailors say they have never seen the
ocean so smooth and so many fine days in
covered from their attack of seasickness
and most of them spent the day writing let
upper deck. Everybody seems to be in the
best of humor to-day, especially so since
dinner, which was the first warm meal the
boys have had since leaving Chickamauga
Park. The menu was:
Plenty of good soup.
Warm potato for each man.
Small piece of meat slightly tainted.
Boiled cabbage.
The boys made their meal out of the soup,
which was surely a luxury. After the other
batteries found out that the Twenty-sev-
entE Indiana had had warm dinner they
raised terrible howl, which was only sub
dued by an order being issued that each
battery should have one warm meal on
alternate days. Many of the members of
the artillery brigade are afraid that this
grand concession VIII greatly embarrass the
commissary department of the United
States.
Sergeants Dave Boswell and Fred Swan
and Corporal Cooper and Prvates Hutton
and Fulmer inaugurated a new plan for
washing clothes. All the dirty clothes are
tied together in bundle at the end of a
rope about fifty feet long and thrown over
the stern of the vessel. After allowing
them to drag about two hours they haul
them in beautifully cleaned, and after half
an hour exposure to the tropical sun they
are taken down and pronounced dried,
ironed and ready for use. Private Ira K.
Thayer tried the experiment this morning,
better the decd failed in Ira's case, for
after carefully preparing his clothes as he
had seen the others do he tied one end of
the line to the rail and dropped them over
board, the rope Immediately parted and
amid roars of laughter from his comrades
poor Ira sorrowfully wended his way back
to his quarters. He says that he will look
for them on the way back from Porto Rico
and he is certain they will be clean if he
finds them.
Monday. Aug. Another weekday rolled
around and with it came another weekday
round of rations, as follows:
Canned corned beef
Sour canned beans. g. 49,.
Hardtack. - -
Black coffee.
original way manages to astonish the MEM
bers of the battery often, again came to the
front with new one. He informed the
boys that he had tried everything in the
way of exercise or work except shoveling
coal and announced that he intended taking
four hours Che regular time) in the stoke
hole just for the experience. Sam stripped
for the fray and boldly plunged into the
dark, hot hole. where he relieved the reg
ular stoker AT the end of the four hours,
judging from what he says himself, Sam
was nearly dead, and after having taken
bath and dressed, remarked while idly
lounging about the deck that he ShOveIed
enough coal ito hold him for awhile"
1t is expected that by tomorrow evening
land will be sighted, and many of the boys
say they never will go back until d bridge
is built across.
Tuesday, Aug 2.-The men are all in high
spirits to-day, as it is expected the battery
though it is known that an immense amount
of neavy work will fall to every man on
board, every one seems more than willing
and anxious to reach their destination and
get on land once more. The boys are be-
coming quite nautical in all their express
always ask how may bells is it?" Instead
of speaking of stairways it is the com
panionway." Lee Reid says that from the
size of the companionwayS the companion
would have 10 be very small.
Orders have been issued that all mail
must be in at once, as it is expected to pass
a mail steamer going north tonight. The
coast of Porto Rico and it is expected
landing will be made tomorrow on this side
OF the island. j. V. V.
CITY NEWS NOTES.