The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-07

Usually coal lighters filled with coal
| come alongside, one or two To starbos ri
and the same number to port; the star
board watch looks out for those on the
right. the port watch for those on the
leIt. the men OF each watch are d.
baskets TO the port. where others carry
them on, dump the coal into the bunker
holes and carry the empty baskets
back. The baskets hold about q hun
dred pounds; two men handle each
basket. a string OF them going and
coming from port to bunker. In the
lighter the couples stand close together
and swing the baskets full from one to
Another way. the one practised by
our ships at sea and sometimes on
shore. Is to shovel the coal into bags
made OF the heaviest canvas, quilted
ana roped, holding about quarter OF n
ton. When full tackle is hooked on,
signal made and the winches whip
up the bag. Then II Is swung over the
match, lowered away to the deck to a
small truck. run off with by a couple of
jackies to the bunker hole and dumped.
The empty bag Is sent back for another
load.
DISAGREEABLE WORK.
To take in 500 tons of coal is truly an
awful job, simply because OF the drift
tire ship. Officers and men get as be-
grimed as the coal passers slowing the
coal In the bunkers. Clothes. complex-
ions, food, lockers, everything. every
where. from truck to keel, from stem
TO stern, is black. Into the innermost
recesses OF the ship this dust finds It's
way; IL cannot be excluded; despite
awnings, curtains. coverings and the
most diligent care, all hands are made
thoroughly uncomfortable and all
hands and all the ship become appa-
rently hopelessly dirty. 1t takes an en-
tire day OF scrubbing and cleaning to
get things back shipshape, and perhaps
within a week or so the same horrid
operation will have to be done over
again.
So 1t goes, week i'm and week out
One does get wearied of IL tired of it.
almost sick Of IL, but that is no reason
for kicking any more than one should
rebel against the weather. And, fur
ther, ii is no meaner work, no harder
task than Is done every day by the
men I'm the army.
The army fellows have to clean their |
camps, chop wood, draw water, make
avatories and dig latrines, and il
man be cavalryman or artilleryman
he has to take care also OF his horse
We do not hear that army volunteers |
object to doing this sort OF work why |
heir works? The one is every bit as /
,ard as the other. and the sailors work |
s rather the cleaner
Besides. when his ship Is clean the |
sailor has a respite; ne can enjoy cool
Freezes and clean clothes. Dust is not |
illing his mouth and nostrils every day
md seasoning his food. neither does he
ave to go half a mile or more to take
lis bath, nor, as often happens with
oldiers, have to go without a wash.
AS clean. bright work is as much a
art of the legitimate duty of a mod
rn man -of-war's man as to pull the
ockstrins OF gun pointed at the enc
ny, so, too, to coal ship is as impera-
i've necessity as to clear ship for
ction. That man serves his country
est, be he tough or tenderfoot, who
oes what his hand findeth to do with |
ii his might. So, whether he be the
of his ship or the berth |
eek sweeper, let him stand by ready
} jump when called, to clean his gun,
, coal his ship and TO fight to his death
Or his flag.
There is no longer any poetry in sea
fe. All that sort of thing went out
ith the sails and spars and smooth
ore guns, just as a good deal of II hae
one out Of shore life. Business is the
ord now, and drilling, cleaningNt Ntoai-
Ig in the fastest and most approved
odern way is the order OF to-day, to-
orrow and Of the future. As your
,ldier goes forth knowing he must
ork as never before at things he hates
I'd abominates, so, too. must you, my
ave young naval reserve man, and
e sooner you stow this cargo the
lsier will you be able to lay a proper
urse.