The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-15
HIGHJINKS OF SAILORS.
Jack Tar Has Amusements Peculiar
to His Vocation.


Philadelphia, Aug. 15.-There is a
general impression that it is only when
Jack Tar gets shore leave that he has
any relaxation. Nothing is further from
the truth, for the jolly sailor lad can
always make fun, no matter where he
is. One of the chief pleasures of the
German Warships now at Manila with
Rear Admiral Dewey of the United
States navy is the ceremony of baptism.
One might suppose from this fact that
the German seaman is especially pious,
but it is only necessary to see the cere-
money to observe that there is more fun
than piety in it. After every long vOy-
age 1t is the custom to "baptize' the
sailor who has been the ''best" during
the trip; that is, who has saved the most
money and drunk the least grog. If this
honor was intended to promote decor
um and sobriety it is a most dismal
failure 1t has just the contrary effect,
for every sailor, to avoid the inevitable
ducking, spends his earnings and let's
no schnapps escape. One object of this
custom is to encourage liberality and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. spirit among the
crew.
The cermony of baptism is very inter
esting. Every officer of the American
fleet at Manila attended it who was
lucky enough to get an invitation. A
throne is rugged up for Father Nep-
tune, and an immense tub is imprOvised
out of a sail or tarpaulin on the deck.
This is filled with water, and around
the edges stand VariOusly dressed peO-
those worn by Calithumpian parades in
the United States. At a given signal
the monitor is ordered by Neptune to
read a list of the offenders crimes,
which usually consist of undue frugal
ity and sObriety. Neptune waves his
trident and issues a stern order, which
is executed by his grOtesque miniOns,
who catch the luckless wight, all dress
ed, by the neck and pitch him head fore
most into the big basin, where he is al
lowed to founder around until thor
Oughly soaked.
The most interesting athletic game
aboard ship is to get through life pre-
servers swung from a rope and OScil-
Iat1ng with every lurch of the ship. 1t
is exceedingly difficult for even train
ed athlete to get through one, if the
sea is at all nasty, without making most
ludicrOus failures.
Singing the monkey is a name Civ
en- to a performance that justifies it's
peculiar name The legs of the mon
key'-uSualy a careful, methOdical man
are first of all slung up by means of
ropes and pulleys. Then the victim is
given a piece of chalk and with this he
is expected to lean forward and write
dictated love letters on the ships deck,
or he may be called upon to show his
skill as an artist. At the same time you
can't expect fine technique and frmness
of outline, considering the .circumstan-
ceS; for one thing, the draughtSman
hasn't a free hand. The knowing mon
key Will probably wait until the ship
has 1urched one way, then he will at
tempt little lightning sketching before
she has time to right herself. Occasion
ally it IS not the chalk, but the artists
nose which scrapes the deck.
A delightful uncertainty always at
tends any function at sea-athletic or
otherwise-for the lurch of the ship will
give peculiar force to the adage that
the best laid schemes O. mice an men
gang aft agley." This gives a peculiar
zest to the egg-and-spOOn race. The
starters are placed in a row, and each
is provided with an egg, which is to be
carried in a spoon held at arms length.
The one reaching the winning post first
with egg intao4 is declared the winner.
Needless to say this race is not neces-
sarily to the swift; rather is it to the
adroit and strategic. It is very funny
to watch the competitors. One will hold
the spoon low down, so that if the egg
does fall out it won't get broken; an
other will make a frantic dash, trusting
to luck and to the ships steadiness;
while a third will perhaps deposit the
egg in some ones lap, greatly to his dis
gust.
The wheelbarrOw race on board ship
is ten times as amusing as it is at
country fair. The barrows are in this
instance seamen who do not fear a rush
of brains to the head" and do. not
mind getting down on their hands while
their legs are held high in the air and
used to propel the owner toward the
goal. The rolling of the vessel pitches
the WheelbarrOw and pusher together
in a heap, CONFUSING and onloOkers
with laughter.