The Jersey City news., 1898-06-21
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ed such a stage that one of the engineers
suggested that each man collect votes
from the crew as to his popularity and
ability. Both entered into the contest with
zeal, and needless to say all hands readily
signed both papers, receiving the thanks
of the candidates and the promise of
good time when ashore. Upon looking over
the papers the votes of such notabilities
as the Shah of Persia Tom Thumb, John
L. Sullivan etc.. were found Then some
wag told one that his opponent was about
to rob him of his petition and suggested
that he go to the paymaster and have it
locked up in his safe. Strange to relate
the paymaster was called upon, but there
was no room in the safe for the votes.
Now chevrons are being designed with
crossed shovels, a bucket and fourteen
stripes, and an examination is being pre-
pared for the one elected
Wednesday afternoon the ships COM
pany was ordered to assemble on the
quarter deck, where it was divided up into
crews for abandoning ship. A crew was
assigned to each boat and life raft and
when all had been completed 1t was dis
covered that the ward room cook had
been left out. This was not looked upon
in a joking manner by that dusky indivi-
dual, and no time was lost by him in be-
ing placed in one of the crews. Part of
each crew looks after the boat and it's
equipment, another part furnishes arms
and ammunition, while the third part
sees that hard tack and water are taken.
When Lieutenant Peters, who is now
navigator of the Badger, had assigned
each man in his crew to his position, both
in the case of abandoning ship and at
the order "arm and away he turned
upon one of the colored servants with the
question: SAT the order arm and away
what would you do?''"I bring de bread
sah,' was the ready response. mo, you
don't" 'Yes, sab! You done tole ME
to bring de bread, and Use gwine to bring
'nough to keep dis yer darkey from a.
starvin'." 1t was then explained to him
that his services would only be required
in abandoning ship and that he and his
bread would be left behind at the order
.'arm and away
AT seven o'clock Wednesday evening
anchor was weighed and the Badger
steamed out to sea, running in north
easterly direction, until sunrise. She then
put about, patroling the coast below
Portland and returned to Bar Harbor at
seven o'clock Thursday evening The
whale boat was sent ashore for the mail,
but no one was given shore leave
beautiful sunset was enjoyed by the boys
the golden. crimson and purple tints Of
the western sky forming background
for the sombre colors of the cedar grown
hills and islands, for which this pic
turesque harbor is famed, while in the op-
posite direction rolled the unfathomable
deep whose heaving breast was fast be-
ing enveioped in the gloom of the coming
night. 1t was noticeable fact to all Of
the crew that the sunset seemed to lin
ger much longer than at home for when
o'clock the rosy tints still fingered and
the western sky still clung to the light of
day.
1t is understood that the Badger will
leave here early tomorrow (Friday),
whittier bound no one but her commander
probably knows. Her crew would like to
see her go SOUTH both for comfort, as
it has been decidedly cool thus far, and
also to get nearer the seat of war. 1t is
the general opinion, however, that coast
patrol will be the Badgers work for some
time to come and as what Uncle Sam
says always goes, the crew will not grum-
BILE.
All the men are getting full uniforms
now and the grub is getting better, and
they are all getting tanned and sun
burned. Some of the boys are looking
fine. You would hardly believe a change
time They are now working watch and
4.1,. h. g.,
hours off, although up to Wednesday
they were working all day and watch and
watch all night. The routine is about as
follows:-
At $40 A. NJ. the watch turns to and
scrubs clothes and decks and cleans
up generally until 5 A. NJ, when it goes
below to breakfast, and is relieved by the
other watch, which had breakfast at 7.30.
The decks are swept down, and at $50
A. M. quarters are sounded and they get
about one and a half hours of aiming
drill with the main and secondary bat
teries. Then the watch does any neces-
sary work until II, when the other watch
comes on deck. At O'Clock decks are
swept down again and at 1.30 P. M. the
drill call is sounded, and all hands have
exercise in the manual and firing exer-
cises, with rifles, for an hour. Then the
watch does any necessary work. At P.
NJ. quarters are sounded again and some
setting up exercises are INDUCED in. The
guns are fixed for instant use and pro-
vided with ammunition, etc. For the rest
of the evening until 8 o'clock it is a sort
of general recreation. except the watch
on deck, which at 8 O'Clock commences
the duty of securing the horizon for Span
iards, etc., and as we are running at night
without a single light showing, in fish
ing district you may imagine that the
officer of the deck has very little time for
studying astronomy.