Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-07

and there are other incentives to careful
duty, such as the desire for self-preservation
and a regard for professional honor.
1t Is on stormy nights off the Horn or in
a blithering gale in time of war that the
man on the flying bridge feels that his
| salary is totally inadequate. Then 1t is that
rain coats and listers and oilskins are both
a delusion and a snare. The wind howls
with demoniac force, the sleet or snowy
spray has the sting of Mauser bullets, and
the ship plunges and leaps like a cork at
the mercy of a wind-swept mountain lane.
Cases have been known in the service of men
frozen to the very rail, and 1t was only a few
months ago that a promising young ensign
was carried to his death from the deck of a
torpedo boat by a gigantic wave. He was IN
charge of the watch at the time.
A Remarkable Experience.
Several years ago one OF the old-time
wooden corvettes, while making a cruise
from the Pacific around South America, en-
countered a terrific gale just after leaving
the Straits of Magellan. Before preparations
| for meeting the storm could be made q
black squall swept from the southwark and
| struck the vessel. There was an almost
instant change from daylight to intense
darkness. The wind howled and ragged with
terrible fury and a succession of monster
waves, forming with incredible rapidity,
Numbered against the trembling hull. On
the bridge forward at the time were two
officers, the navigator and the officer OF the
deck. The former seized a rope and hastily
dashed himself to the railing as the first
fierce blast swept upon them, at the same
moment shouting: Look out! Hold fast
there!' A few seconds later a deluge of
water struck the bridge, wrenching the graf
ings from their fastenings and throwing one
of the cutters from its davits to the deck.
Amid the roaring Of the squall and the
splintering crash Of the wrecked boat q
shrill cry for help came from the sea to lee
ward.
1T Is the officer of the deck!' shouted the
navigator. "He has been carried overheard.
Away lifeboat!"
The order was not obeyed at once, as no
small craft could live in such a sea. A
minute after the first wave the war ship
was boarded by a second. which came from
the opposite direction. Shortly after that o
volunteer crew manned the whaleboat, but
it was dashed against the side of the ship
and the men were rescued with the greatest
difficulty. 1t was now concluded that Moth
ing could be done to save the unfortunate
officer, and he was given up for lost. Three
hours later, when the gale finally broke, an
order was issued to clear up decks. While
several members or the forward division
were overhauling the wreckage of the cutter
they came across an object wedged in the
mass of debris. 1t looked like a large buns
die of clothing. but on dragging IL out they
found that IL was a man, warm and still
breathing. 1t was the missing officer of tho
deck. Subsequent investigation brought
forth the astounding fact that he had been
caught on the recurring waves after BEING
carried from the bridge and swept back on
board. He is now one of Admiral Dewey'a
most trusted captains.
The officer of the deck who comes of
| watch at midnight or at 4 In the morning
cannot Tecuperate from the labors of thu
night by sleeping until noon. He has other
duties as pressing and important as those
OF standing watch. When he was ordered Ia
his ship 1t was as a watch and division
officer" The latter term means that he ia
on board.
A Division Officers Work.
Each ship Is divided into a certain mum.
and fighting OF the crew, There are gem
orally FIVE, including the powder division
(the latter having charge OF magazines and
the distribution Of powder and ammunitlon)
and II is to one of these that the deck ofRcer
Is assigned Immediately after Joining tina
ship. He is required to take full command
Of his division, see that the men are drilled
thoroughly and that they are In proper order
at morning quarters and other ceremonies.
He superintends the drawing OF clothing ana
has general control Of each individual mem.
Der.