Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1898-05-06
"cLEAn SHIP FOR ACTION
The Recent Magnificent Deinon.tra-
tIon OF Discipline I'm the United
States Navy.

States Navy.
On April 18th two thousand oilic-
ers and men OF the United States
Navy. on five ships nf war, left Hsmp-
ton Roads under sealed orders, and
presumably for the purpose OF engage
ing in deadly strife with the mel Of
another nation. says George Edward
Garham i'll Lcsiie's Weekly.
Retiring time on board II man.of-
war is early, because III the early ris-
ing hour and the arduous labor of
the day, and at Q o'clock very near all
the men except the few IN watch.
have retired. Ii was shortly after 9
o'clock OH the flagship Brooklyn.
Forward the hamm lckS were swing
ing, rocked gently 10y the roll of the
officers sat reading, chatting md
smoking. On the quarter deck Lieu
tenant Doyle paced to and fro i'll 81.
lencc. while in their respective cabins
Commodore Schley and Captain Cook
and executive officer. Lieutenant
Commander Mason, sat awaiting n
call that they alone knew would be
made. The ship. sleeping ON the DO.
som Of the ocean. is i'll port dress and
moi, stripped for action.
~ steamers smoke on the port
bow" reports the mar at look out ON
the bridge.
".All right. Can you make her
out?' : the officer on the
deck.
a man-of-war. SIR" the
look out.
Messenger. tell the Captain and
Mr.. Mason quietly responds Mr..
Doyle.
Mr.. Mason on deck and. with
Mr.. Doyle, watches the boat through
glasses.
Call the musicians" says Mr..
Mason sharply to the messenger, and
the musicians come. Still the big
ship and its inmates sleep. still the
officers i'll the ward-room chat and
smoke, while others have already re-
tired. Still Mr.. Mason and Mr.. Doyle
keep the glasses up.
Sound the call to general quar-
ters," says Mr.. Mason, and the drum
rolls a diapason to the trumpet's
shrill treble. Then comes 4 trans
formation that knows no equal fnI its
s~udderness OF action and shifting Of
From the quarters pour forth
men dress ng themselves as they come.
never waiting for shoes or stockings.
The siren shricks forth its weird
steam blast, the big gong clangs. the
drum rolls. and before their clamOr
has ceased its echo every part Of the
ship. from the depths Of the hold to
the top OF the military mast. Is filled
with active, busting men. From
both forward and aft bridges the
bright search lights have begun To
work, and the rest 81 the fleet have.
quicker, almost than thought, been
notified Of tie approach Of an enemy.
and their search lights are aiding in
making brighter than daylight the
darkness i'll winch Il torpedo boat
might approach.
But OF the transformation. Three
minutes and a half OF what appears
Ia be the direct confusion, but which
is really and acme Of discipline and
order, have elapsed. and the com.
manders OF the various divisions re.
port. Mr.. Rush. III command Of the
second division, including the after
eight-inch turrct aud the port eight.
inch turret. reports, "All ready, sec
ond division, sir AMI following him
come the report Of each division.
The great Iron. clad is ready to
fight, and the hugler blows, Silence"
while the men. Mt a fearful tension.
the most difficult. nervc-testing per.
iod Of the whole situation, awaits or.
ders.
What has occurred during the
three minutes Consumed in putting
tins big engine OF var i'll shape to
hurl death and destruction is marvel.
III its immcnsity and a great
tribute tn the ability Of Captain
Cook and ms corps OF officers. 1t il
hardly possible to rccitc its details.
but here are some OF its features rs
noticed 10y me IA IN eye witness: At
the note OF warning 800 met have. IL
perfect order. taken their various
stations and begun the work OF
Clearing the ship Tor action" In the
three and a halt minutes consumed
they have closed over 20 water-tight
doors. thus making compartments
that will keep the ship atl"at nj.
though some compartments may be
injU red. they have coupled all the
hose To the fire plugs, covered The
small boats with wet canvas to keep
them from flying splinters il hit; put
up splinter nets of rope about the
pilot house. gun.sponsons aud other
exposed r~laces: taken down davita
hand rails and anchor darts and laid
them on deck SO as to give the guns n
clear sweep; removed everything
movable or dcstructiblc from deck,
covered all matches with steel covers;
lowered all interfering ventilator