Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-06-10
ON BOARD A WARSHIP
LIFE ON THE CRUISER BROOKLYN
OFF FORTRESS MONROE.


AS soon as the news that war had
been declared reached us, the Admiral
Immediately called all hands to muster
on the quarter deck. He briefly stat
ed the situation and expressed the
greatest confidence in our giving
good account of ourselves to our coun-
try when the emergency arose, and
concluded his address by warning us
to give no information as to the quail
fly or quantity of our guns, provisions,
coal, ammunition, or, in fact, any part
of our equipment. But, without dis
Obeying this order l can tell you that
the Brooklyn's battery is unequaled in
power and in the way we can handle
it by anything that Spain has afloat
The general feeling of the whole crew
is one of impotence, and you can hear
them say, when asked what they would
like to do: well, just give us a
chance!"
Everyone has great confidence in
Commodore Schley, and we all look
for warm times when the flying squad
ron gets down to work. Since the mo-
ment when the news of the declaration
of war reached us the marines on post
all carry loaded rifles and twenty
rounds of ammunition in their belts.
At night there is a guns crew sta
toned at every six FOUNDER. Each
man carries a rifle and sixty rounds of
ammunition in his belt, while standing
at each gun is box of rapid fire pro-
iectiles ready for instant use. We can
fire the siX-pounders about twelve
times a minute and take good aim.
Our rapid fire five inch guns can fire
about six shots a minute, such is the
deXterity in handling the guns which
constant drill has given TO the crew.
Our eight-inch gun crews have their
business down to so fine point that
their record is about two shots every
three minutes. So you can imagine
We're looking anXiOusly for the Span
iards just to show that this is not a
record on paper, but one we can live up
to when we meet the Dons. At least
we can promise them a good warm
time.
You would scarcely recognize the
Brooklyn. Like all the other ships of
our squadron she is cleared for action,
and thoroughly cleared Everything
movable not absolutely necessary to
the fighting equipment has been sent
below or ashore. Awning stanchions,
deck houses, everything superfuous
that you can imagine is out Of
10 IN OF n1o nd
clear range for our guns and to prevent
splinters from working havoc among
our crew when the Spanish shells come
whistling aboard-that is, if they can
shoot straight enough to land them on
our decks, which l don't believe. So
cleared, the Brooklyn has a totally diff
ferent appearance to what she has
when you visited me on board when
she lay in the Navy Yard. Then she
looked like a big pleasure yacht more
than anything else-barring the guns
and this impression was borne out by
the lazy life we then led, playing cards,
reading and enjoying our afternoon
nap. But now that is all changed.
She is stripped of almost everything
and mighty ugly appearance she pre-
sents. Our crew is nearly always
drilling at something or other until,
at this writing, we are as perfect as
machines The spare time, such as
we have, is not spent in reading or
doing anything but discussing the
chances of a brush with the Spanish
feet. After hammocks are piped at
night we all of us gather together in
our own little coteries and sit around
talking war
OF course, the old man-of-wars-
who have smelled powder are listened
to with great Difference They, some
of them, tell some pretty stiff yarns,
some of which send a little chill up
and down the backs of the younger fell
lows like myself. But the more we
hear, the more anxious we are to test
our courage face to face with the Span
iards. You remember how noisy the
berth deck of the United States steam
er N. used to be after supper, with the
arguments of the "sea lawyers" the
banjo playing and singing. Well
there is none of that on board here
Not because we're not allowed, but no
one seems to want to do anything but
talk of the war, and so we sit around
in groups down on the gundeck con-
versing almost in whispers. 1t seems
so strange, this quiet, after the jolly
times we used to have before pipe
down" at night. The altered demeanor
of most of us is cause, l guess, by this
eternal expectancy, the suppressed ex-
element of never knowing what's 60
ing to happen next or how soon a Span
ish fleet will heave in sight to take
their medicine like little men. What
a glorious moment it will be for all
Of us when we hear the bugles call
ing and the drums beating to general
quarters. If the Spaniards mean bust
ness, can assure you We'll offer them
hn oh