The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-11-08
NAVAL SUPERSTITION
Some Strange Beliefs Entertained
by Seamen.
over Certain ships Hang Hoodeos
That Cannot BE Shaken Oh, No
Matter what Means Are
Tried.

The crews of modern men-of-war.
principally mechanics, men trained in
the unromantic din of shops, men who
can work iron and steel TO the thou
sandth part of an inch, should be free
from the senseIess superstitiuns which
possessed the square-rigged shell-backs
who sailed with Preble and Paul Jones,
bnt they are not. a-
4 certain gun, warped and twisted
during 8 boring process, requiring
double the usual amount of work -
complete il, and costing man his job,
Is regarded with disfavor.
The gun is watched and its faiifnes
noted. Predictions are rife that it VIII
vet be heard from to IFS digcredit. It's
crew, under the ban Of thoodco, are
consp icuous in the blacklist gang; some.
Of them being always up for. punish
ment They are the unfortunates who
-get Iicked' in alteration with cespised
landiubbers ashore-and are iroasd for
overstaying their leave on their return,
Transfer the entire crew. and the hoo
doc leaves them, attacking itseifto their
unfortunate successors.
The man in charge OF certain don
key engine is warned TO look out for il;
tits hoodooed-" He inspects il
thoroughly; tries every nut and bolts
ii is in perfect order.
Ten minutes later, while varying the
ship 10 her berth, the hoodoo breaks
down and she rams the pier-with tie
admiral looking on.
i crank pin on the main engine re-
spends 10 the minutest tests for me-
ehanieal truth and accuracy; but IL is a
weIi-known hOodco. Although flooded
with lubricant, i. gets hot, causing a
shutdown-while the honorable seere-
tary is on tour of inspection
1t was turned by a scab during a
strike.
These mishaps DO not al occur on one
ship; no ship could withstand such a
load; she could not keep crew.
There are instances of ships that are
pursued by relentless series of mis-
adventures from the laying of their
keels. They become exceedingly I'M
popular. TIE ramming of tugs and
ferryboats, ccI.iding with wharves- and
discovering-wi their keel=not only
charted rocks but heretofore unknown
submarine obstrnctioas by these IN
fortunates. can be attributed 10 no rea-
sonable cause. Our naval officers are
the equals Of any afloat; they are not
10 blame; beside, II is 10 the ship that
the hoodco attaches The batt.eShip
Texas is case in point \ fine ship,
well manned and cfhcered, her name Is
continually aPpearing in print asso-
ciated with accidents 50 apparently
ridiculous that. were they penetrable,
scme one should have been cashicred.
The torpedo boat Somers, recently
purchased abroad. viii hardly arrive
here, except as freight. Is any man 50
skeptical Of superstition that he would
willingly serve in her when she does ar
rive?
The levei-headed man, who has never
been cooped within the narrow confines
of a ship for months, who has not lain
awake night after night, yainly cud-
ceiling q brain crammed to bursting
with technical knowledge fer a remedy
for these things, viii snesr at the silly
superstition, and hint al rascaIIy con
How about the Slaine2
She was built by the government.
The naval board were on their mettle
in competition with these same willy
contractors. But this splendid ship, the
pride OF our navy, was-unluckv.
In August, 1896, she fouled her anchor
in Key West, and bent the plates OF
her port keel. Was that preventabIe
accident? Evidently not. or it would
not have occurred.
The following February, while at tar.
/ get practice, a one-pound shell explod-
ed, injuring three of her crew; vet there
is no one thing which receives more at
/ tention On board 4 man-of-war than the
I care of the ammunition.
It is not customary 10 explode shell:
among the crew.
/ In July, 81, to avoid ramming {
J crowded excursion boat, Capt. SigSbes
( ran her into an East river pier, cutting
I barge loaded with railroad cars near
I ~ in two.
/ She was known as an unlucky ship
and this very knowledge contributed t.
the uneasiness Of her crew in Havana
She was on a delicate mission; and
though another ship m gbt have beer
ali right, the unexpected was liable t.
happen 10 the unlueky Maine at any mo
INIT.
She capped the climax of her unlucky
career by furnishing an object lesson Il
the world of the facility with which
these great steel fighting machines cal
Y be DESTROYED H q Hamhlsp II, Phila
delphia Press.
a New Mineral Pitch.
..AIanial.,. Is q r,n,-cr.aI fo.,-,i -. r.