The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-22
CONNECTICUT NATAL REsERrEs
Glimpse at Their Life on the Minne-
 sOtn. Correspondence of the Journal and Cour-

U, S, $. Minnesota, Boston, MaSs., | July 13, 1S9S.--At the Charlestown navy yard, almost in the shadow of Bunker | Hill monument, the boys of the Con- necticut Naval battalion, now full Hedged tars of the United States navy, | are awaiting their Uncle Samuel's l pleasure. It is nearly month since, | at Mantle they took oath one and all to serve for one year in the United States navy. As was to be expected, the months lesson in patience was not 80 aSreeable as more active service would have been, but neither this nor the malarial chills, of which some of the men have been stricken, has availed to shake their cheerful readiness to do whatever may be required of them. The engineer division is completely dis integrated, members of it having been detailed for service on the Cotshall, Governor Russell and East Boston, while others have been ordered to the Brooklyn navy yard for further orders Only four of the division are left on the Minnesota. The first and second line down are nearly intact. only one detail of seventeen men having been made for the East Boston, and the detail has not left the ship. The East Bos- ton has been ordered to the block nding fleet on the Cuban coast, and the volunteers to fill the detail of seven teen were eager and far in excess of the number required, Envy for the seven teen Cuban voyagers is somewhat mod flied by the hope that there may be 'others"
 Life on the Minnesota, like most oth- er life, has its sunshine and shadow, more shadow than is usual on most ships, however, as like all receiving ships, the Minnesota wears roof over her spar deck through the four seasons. The sailors of Sampson, Watson and Schley do not monopolize the active service" of the navy by considerable. On the Minnesota daily at 5:30 a. m. With remarkable regularity, prompt ness and energy the ships bugler sounds the reveille, and the silent tiers of hammocks on the gun deck become suddenly animated With one eye awake and the other asleep, Jack Tar drops or sprawls down upon the deck, invests himself in whatever small DOT t1on of his clothing he thought proper to remove on the evening before; the shr1ll whistle of the boatswains mate IS heard on the spar deck, followed by the stentorian cry, up all hammocks, D or Jargon which might be interpreted to mean that. Then comes a hustle to get hammocks lashed and up in the netting in five minutes. The dread of special duties hastens the movements of those by nature inclined to weari- ness.
 Hammocks in the nettings, the fastid- 1ous take their morning ablution. and the ultra-fastidous comb their hair and otherwise brink. Usually, however, the time between up all hammocks and the call for sweepers is very brief indeed Hereafter those morning calls fo, sWeepers will ever live in memory as the most disagreeable of all re- collections on board the Mime sota. Like the quarry slave ir the morning each man seeks the petty officer of the squad 10 which he belongs wonder ing what the fates have in store for him for an appetizer for his breakfast There are always decks to sweep bright work that is never bright to polish, paint that is never quite clean to wash, besides other things about the ship to do which viii occupy his atten- ton for good hour before. As a re- suit, however, all turn to breakfa st somewhat tired perhaps, but with ar appetite that is o K,
 Of course mess call is the most pop. ular of all calls and was the first cal 1n1 good and wholesome, not fancy. Unlike Niantic messes, china, silverware tables benches and a limited amount of table etiquette grace the three meals of the day. All remain standing and quickly respond to the master-at earns ordel of silence uncover" but at hi: order all sit down on their seats ant 1t is go-as-you- please race till tn, finish. After morning mess there ar, drills and perhaps more ship cleaning The men are given infantry, artiler, and boats drills, proceeded by stunt in the way of setting up exercise Al find the men in good shape, give then appetites and the boat drill in addi t1on produces blisters on the hands O novices The drills are two hours respec lively of the morning and afternoon with breathing spells between then and mess The watches are so com posed that each man. not excused b, reason of some special duties stands ol guard two out of every B hours. Afte evening mess at o'clock the men usu ally have the time to themselves Music, boxing, singlestick, reading an letter writing serve to pass and mak these hours enjoyable. Hammocks ar piped down at 3:30 and taps sound a 10 o'clock. From taps to reveille tn Minnesota is silent as grave yard, ex cept perchance one hears the tread 0 moving guard or the bumpity-bu bang as the early ice man brings O. board the ships supply of ice.
 The fire in the Atlas stores whic burned and threatened to destroy tn Minnesota added largely to the dutie of ship cleaning. Tuesday morning tn Minnesota was lowed from the dock the navy yard for the purpose of re pairing the burnt part of the shiI The change was enjoyed by all as tn light and air here is much better tha at the old dock where since the fir back bay breeZes and the smoke f