Evening journal., 1898-08-13
GOING INTO COMMISSION.

ttrm is some thing OF which few have
any adequate conception. To put
modern warship into commission IN
wolves an enormous amount of work,
which can be fully appreciated only by
one who has observed the process
from beginning to end.
When vessel Of the navy Is laid up
In reserve, in ordinary" as IT is CALI
ed, 1t is far from an attractive OBJ
joct, and could hardly be recognized ss
the came ship when In thorough trim
with crew aboard. The ship Is anchor
cd at a convenient navy yard; the
stores are sent ashore, her engines and
guns covered with oil and an anti
rust paint her decks become dirty,
her sides dull and stained from rusty
chcins. Thus she lies perhaps FOR
months and then an order comes from
the slcretary CT the navy, through the
chief OF the Bureau Of Navigation, di-
rectirg the commanding officer OF the
yard to get her ready for sea.
The first thing to he done is TO bring
as many men as possible from the re-
ceiving ship which lies hard by and
these, with the force OF the yand un-
der the direction OF whatever officers
are available begin at once to put
things TO rights and remove the ac-
cumu.ated dust and dirt from the dif-
ferent parts OF the equipment. the en-
gineer's force goes at once to the en-
gines and boiler rooms; the antitrust
paint rs removed from the engines;
new packing Is put in the waves ana
JOINTS the pumps are tested; the rust
and dirt knocked from interior OF fire.
boxes and Boiler tub,s, and crate bars
renewed
Outwsrdly, everything is now in tair
condition. but this Is only the begin
ming. IL remains to get up steam in
scme CT the boilers, turn over the en-
snes d see n they are In proper
rim, start the dynamos test the el-c.
re light and the pilot house signa,si
ltn on tie searChhghts, atart the fans
work the steering gear and steering en-
glnes. set tho hoisting machinery n
motion, and put the boat cranes n
operation Every engine. boiler, pipe
wire, tube, rlvet, bolt, nut and pate :.
carefully inspected, and N found un
serviceable from any cause, repaired
Next the equipment storehouse is Wis
tied, and a full allowance OF beef, pork
beans, potatoes, coffee, sugar, eat
-four, meal, clothing, shoes, hammocks
blankets, paint, tobacco-in short, th
whole miscellaneous assortment Of th
ccmmissary department is placed ol
board The paymaster OF the ship q
responsible for every article received
and strict account is kept Of each.
Then the galley or cooking stove he
to DE examined to see whether II d
complete in az It's findings. The outh
Of a galley usually consists Of two cop
PER kettles Of thirty gallons tooh,
ffy-gallon kettle with castiron JACKIE
and copperhinged covers. two steamer
for vegetables each with capacity @
thirty-two gallons, two Gets OF sauee
pans. "a fine set OF tools for lifting an'
firing and the ordinary cooking imple
ments.
The line officers lcOk after the con
dlticn Of the guns, the rigging, tn
boats, the cables, the anchors, th
Gags and signals. the charts, the nauti
cal instruments, and other parts Of tn
t ships equipment what this near
can only be appreciated by one VIII
I has actually undertaken the task. ]
= volume might he written in regard Z
the signals alone.
, When all this work has been don
, the ship is ready 10 go into commits
, sion, and up to this time eyerythia
has been under control Of the con
S mandant Of the yard so that when th
{ captain Of the ship arrives, and report
S himself to the yard commander, hit
!, remains for him to attend 10. In IN
= meantime men have been brought Z
eether to constitute the crew.
# Sometimes they are enlisted paruct
4 larly for the ship which is about to
e into eervic.. at other times they al
y Withdrawn from other ships whic
I have just been put out Of commission
" The crew ana marines report aboar
IS with bags and hammocks; the cap,ai
If orders the crew to be drawn up on u
y spar deck promptly at noon upon Il
! day on which the ship is to be p'
"a formally In commission. reads to the
g his orders from the secretary OF tl
navy detailing him TO the c5mman
hoists the commission pennant to q
main truck and the stars and Strip
TO the gan or staff at the stern, and
n all ready.
8 The ship is now in commission.
\. / San Francisco Call
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