The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-07
OUR JACK
TARS AFLOAT
Their Routine of Duties
on ShipbOard.
POLISHING BRIGHT WORK
POLISHING BRIGHT WORK
Coaling Of a warship is the Most
Dissgreeable Work.
NO POETRY NOW in SEA LIFE.

There is difference between the or
dinary humdrum life Of a sailor an
that OF a soldier though each life ha
to be levied through in order to produc
the same result-a man willing, with
out cavil or question, to die for hi
country. The sailor lives in a ship
cribbed. cabined and confined; the sol
der lives In tent. in a barracks, o.
within the walls OF a fertilization; tn,
one Is a habitant of the water, tn,
other OF the land. Yet men who go te
sea learn to love the green water ol
the deep. mighty. heaving ocean as
dearly as soldiers love the green grass
growing on the campus and the wav.
ing OF the trees about the barracks.
There is something exhilarating Ia
an old shellback in the sight of the
spoondrift, the rolling of the waves, the
roaring or the gale. He watches with
evident delight the rushing OF the
waters, he is thrilled by the tossing of
the vessel. and he enjoys the taste of
the salt spray blown into his face.
Above all does he love the good ship in
which he sails. and her captain, her
officers and crew. He takes a great
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satisfaction in doing his duty.
This duty is one OF details subordi-
nate, 1t Is true, but not In any sense
menial. There Is nothing unworthy a
nigh spirited man, nothing to be
ashamed OF. nothing disgusting about
the labor required of men who serve
the United States Government as sail
ors.
ROUTINE WORK.
There have been reports, exaggerat-
ed, perhaps, says the New York Her
enlisted as American sailors in the
United States navy. are complaining
because they have to clean bright work
and to coal ship.
They fancy, so IL is said, that this
work is not the kind they enlisted to
do, and that a distinction should be
made between the routine they should
De compelled to observe and that which
ordinary-plain, ordinary, common sail
ors-men like those who went in the
Merrimac with Hobson, who were in
the cable-cutting boats with Winslow,
who were shot down on the deck of
the torpedo boat under Bernadou, who
fought under Dewey, who coaled the
Oregon and brought her into the fight
that distinction should be made be-
tween. what naval militiamen should
be compelled to do and what these or
dinary sailors should do
Manifestly such a distinction would
be discreditable alike to both parties
concerned. One seaman cannot be per-
mitted to sit in chair and enjoy the
sea breezes while another of the same
rank, rate and pay is doing all the
work polishing the bright work and
coaling the ship.
BRIGHT WORK.
Polishing bright work is part of the
daily routine on board every ship in |
the navy, and must be carried out for |
the good of all concerned. Usually, |
after the decks are scrubbed down in /
The morning, bugle call is sounded, |
The meaning Of which is ''clean bright |
work" AS the sound dies away old |
rags, discarded sailor clothes, bottles |
,f oil and boxes of polishing paste are |
brought out in small bags. known as /
iitty bags, from odd corners and stow
roles, where they have been carefully |
concealed from sight, large tarpaulin
$ spread on the deck beside the gun or
'anopy to be cleaned and the men get
o work.
There is not so very much brass on
'oard ship to be cleaned when the num-
,er of cleaners is considered. The
lights. breech plugs, elevating and
raining gears are about all that there
|
little determination and s'elbow
rease' can in 15 minutes complete the
ob so that you can see yourself in the
hine. Apart from the bright work of
he guns there are brass rails about
ridges and matches. a few footplates
bout gangways and doors. and some
ther small bits here and there to be
olished. A half hour does the whole
)b, though usually three quarters are
lowed. Then the rags and tarpaulin
re stored away until the following |
iorning, when the same thing has to
G done over again.
There surely can be nothing objec-
enable In work of this nature In the
rst place, IL Is necessary work per-
,rmed to keep the battery and shin
ways ready for inspection. In the
scond. II adds TO the beauty and clean
ness of the ship. Men in the army
ave TO clean accoutrements, polish
uttons and have their tents in order.
he work Is quite as laborious, quite as
significant, quite as dirty, IL you
ease, yet withal quite as necessary
, that demanded of the sailor. who
'er heard of soldiers growing and
,tecting to camp life or complaining
unfair treatment because he had To
'lish up his belongings and surround
gs?
CoALING SHIP.
There Is no doubt that coaling shin Is
mean job, hard one and a dirty one.
Id therefore one that men naturally
slike. But these are not good reasons
r kicking" and, what is more, every |
an who ships In the navy knows per-
city well that he will have to carry
al. There are no sails now. The tar
II has vanished, the marlinspike is
sting for want OF use: even the crack
block Is rarely heard. What has
anged all this? Steam: and steam
cans coal. and plenty OF IT,. Hence
e operation of coaling ship is as fire.
emily performed. almost, as the oper-
ion OF general quarters or any other ,
ercise. Indeed, coaling shin In n drill |