The Portland daily press., 1898-05-14

X
token of her agility and Just TO show off
her capabilities Notwithstanding her age
when these things happened some of the
Jersey men were little sick. But they
showed their pluck and kept about their
work, now and then chewing bit of salt
horse to stay the stomach and more often
wishing they hadn't done SO.
At night when the ha,nmocks were
piped down and the tired tackles turned
In for a snooze they congratulated them
selves on the fact that they were doing
their duty and showing their usefulness
and with this to comfort them did not
md 1t great deal of trouble to fall
asleep even if they were swung in double
tiers, and the old vessel was waltzing
around to beat two of kind.
This was how things went aft, for con-
t'ary to all established rules and orders.
contrary to the usual construction and
custom the jackies were billetted aft on
the Montauk while the officers quarters
are far up in the bow. These officers were
having the hardest part of the work to
do by all odds.
Lieut.. Reamy is an officer of many
years experience and is not accustomed
to naval reserve crews. If one were to
hazard a guess on the subject, and it
would be most natural one to make
under the circumstances, Lieut.. Ream ey
could not help feeling a trifie nervous
about the kind of a crew he had with
him when he started out to bring the
Montauk to Portland. They were not
warmer of the old school, though
every one of them has the pluck and cour-
age necessary to make an A. B. of the first
class. and until crew has seen month
or two on board a ship, even be they
every one of them old men o'-warmen,
they cannot be said to be first class in
every respect. But Lieut.. Reamey found
that the Jersey boys were capital men,
enthusiastic. pluoky and quick TO learn
He, however, was responsible for their
safety.and we'll being and on him rested
to great extent the burden Of the work
Not once during the whole time the
Montauk was on her way to Portland did
Lieut.. Reamey find a chance to remove
his clothes to go to bed. He was not alb
sent from the deck for more than half an
hour at any one time and at all hours of
the night and day he was to be found
looking after the steering of the ship and
keeping her on her course. The New Jer-
sey officers grow enthusiastic when they
speak of Lieut.. Reamey's energy and
zeal. His watchfulness ana care taught
the Jersey naval militia officers lesson
they will not soon forget.
| The Montauk is most difficult vessel
to steer owing to her peculiar build. She
does not mind her helm as we'll as do
most vessels and has peculiar notions of
her own regarding the way in which she
| shall go when the rudder is twisted
around. She slides about under the waves
| first one way and then the other and it
requires great skill and watchfulness to
keep her headed right. This is especially
true when the Montauk is in tow and
during rough weather This kept Lieut.
Reamey and the other officers on the
watch night and day and hard time
they had of it, too.
Wednesday afternoon it was blowing
gale when the Montauk put into Vinal-
cling of the cape in such weather would
have been most unwise and so the craft
hung up at her anchor off Vinalhaven
until Thursday morning. Then she
started again and made about eight knots
until eight miles north of Boom island,
when she slowed down SO as not to arrive
off Portland before daybreak.
The Jersey sailors were glad to get into
Portland harbor. To them it seemed the
most delightful place they had ever seen
and when the mail orderly went ashore
and came off to the monitor with big
bag of letters and papers from home they
were happy lot.
All the forenoon the Jackies were kept
busy cleaning up the big craft and get
ing her into shape. Boats BY the dozen
circled around her and many persons
boarded her and found the crew and Off
GERS very agreeable people. Some of the
men got ashore during the afternoon to
stretch their legs aud more of them will
have a chance to do the same today.
| Among the officers of the Montauk are
two Naval Academy graduates. Lieuten-
ant Commander H. R. Cohen. N. r. N.
j., who is the executive officer of the
ship. graduated from Annapolis in 1881,
and has seen service in the navy. Being
| familiar with the duties of his position
he has been most valuable assistant to
| the commanding officer on the trip to
| Portland.
Lieut.. James Boyd Potter is another
Naval Academy graduate. He completed
his six years. course. including two years
at sea in 1894, and is now practising
| lawyer in Camden, N. j.
The two engineers, ". N. Howell and
F. M. Patterson, are thoroughly compe-
tent men, being connected with Cramps
big ship yards as constructing engineers,
and both OF these gentlemen have run the
enginesof every war ship which has been
built at Cramps in the last ten years.
The other officers are very competent men