The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-06-08
NAVAL RESERVES At SEA-
What the Eastern Battalion
Accomplished Last
Week.
BABE THE PORTSMOUTH GOOD BYE
Christian Ladies Send the
Boys Comforts Log
Book Leaves.

After weary days Of waiting, the MEM
bers of the Eastern Battalion, New Jer-
sey Naval Reserve. received their
clothesbags at quarters last Sunday
morning. and were ordered to empty their
lockers preparatory to being transferred
to the auxiliary cruiser Badger, from the
good ship Portsmouth, says a reporter of
the Newark Sunday Call" now on board
the Badger.
arrive, and the old Portsmouth's gang
plank groaned and reaked for several
hours after.
Shortly after quarters the crew was
mustered on the quarter deck. Captain
Irving stepped forward and called off a
list of a dozen or fifteen names, the pos
SCISSORS of which were ordered to line up
opposite the crew. A neat little speech
followed, in which the captain referred to
this gathering ON the Portsmouth's quar-
ter deck as being the last official act as
Naval, Reserves until they may be dis
charged from the United States service.
He cornplimented the men whose names
had been called. and then asked Lieuten-
ant Commander McLain to distribute the
hundred per cent. medals for drill at
tendance during the past year. The New
arkers receiving medals were:-Lieuten-
ant Goldingay, Boatswain Macmillan,
I Gunners Mate Thielemann, Coxswains
Bosch and Davenport and Seaman Lozier.
The berth deck was a busy place be-
fore noon, as the whole ships crew was
below packing clothesbags and ditty
boxes. Mess was served a half hour
earlier than usual. and the friends of the
young sailors looked on in amazement as
the big platters of food disappeared one
after the other. The mess tables clear
ed away, the clothesbags were brought
on the u deck and all hands were on
the lookout for the Government tug.
In the meantime, thousands of people,
! regardless of occasional showers, thronged
the park. piers and boat houses in the
vicinity of the Portsmouth, apparently as
anxious to give the boys a SEND off as the
boys were to get away. About one O'Clock
a shower of sparks might nave been seen
rising over the port bow. Those ashore
may nave suspected midday fireworks, err,
hat the Portsmouth was signalling Ad-
miral Sampson, bnt it was Only Seaman
Mats DIETER known as Captain Mats.
brevet rank of last cruise using a loaded
cigar, offered by a visiting friend, as a
roman candle
The starboard guns had been run in.
and at 2:SO everything was in shape for
the tug, which arrived shortly after.
Hammocks, clothes bags. and men were
/ put aboard in short order under the direc-
ton of Commander McLain, who, just as
the last man was going over the side,
shouted:-'All aboard for Havana" This
Brought a cheer from the tug which might
| easily have been heard in New York.
From this time on until the tug backed
off the cheering was continuous, both
from the tug and from the park and
piers which by this time was black with
people. In strong contrast were the evil
dences Of grief on the decks of the Ports
mouth as mothers, sisters and sweet
hearts saw the lines cast off and watched
those dear to them swing out into the
stream.
The flags on the boat house were dipped
! time and again. and the cheering of those
ashore could be distinctly heard long af-
ter waving hands and handkerchiefs had
became indistinct.
Throughout the trip the Narkeeta's
| captain had hold of the whistle cord an
swering the salutes of tugs, ferry boats
and excursion steamers. Passing close
under the stern of the auxiliary cruiser
ST. Louis, which had come in the day be-
fore, a 1usty cheer went UP from the tug,
which was promptly acknowledged. The
| captain of an old scow lying at a down
town pier ran out and dipped his colors,
which were flying from a makeshift pole,
while his better half waved a Bingham
apron. The boys caught the sentiment in
a minute and a throat-splitting cheer
went up. The saluting and cheering con-
tinued until the tug reached the Badg-
er's dock. where everything was rams
! ferred. AS the crew carried its stores
across the dock such comments as Give
'em hi, boys!'' Eat EN- up when We
| get down therer' Remember the Maine!'
ETC., came from the crowded dock.
outside of the engineers department
there was little work for the crew until
Wednesday morning, when everything
was made ready for the trip to the Navy
Yard. Two tugs arrived from the yard
about noon. Captain Snow and Exec
utive officer Mahan took the bridge, and
before long the Badger was made fast
to the cob dock. just astern of the old
Vermont. Coal barges, which had evil
IDENTIFY been held in readiness, were along
side Immediately, as were also wagons
with stores, guns, ammunition and other
equipments. Haversacks and rubber
blankets were taken aboard, which may
Indicate that shore ssty is anticipated
when the Badger reaches the enemy's
country.
Since the arrival of the Badgers crew