The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-03
CoALING In A SEA 4
Ex<SPBRATING AND DIRTY work
Al ALI TIMES
PunchtnE Roles In n CoIier-Woo
Sob In the BtninE E~Iaid-Iaaundry Dinlcui-
ties or tho Observation-Disclosures Choice ne
tho Counters Ur tho supply ships.
From the Commercial Advertiser.

~ y HNthlNh AANlh-haANNNFN AftHNNuts
ties or tho Observation-Disclosures. Choice ne
tho Counters Ur tho supply ships.
From the Commercial Advertiser.
On BOARD L.. s. BATTLrsutP Iowa,
OFF SANTIAGO DE CUBA, June 4, 1893.
It took the gun crews a good part OF yesterday
afternoon to get things in shape. and then early
this morning, after every man had stood his
watch at the gun during tho night, the COLI
Justine oRme alongside and wa started in
ing. The Justine has not the carrying capA,
that the Merrimac had but she is II nne steamA-
very strongly built. In n sea way this Is =
great advantage. for though we gavo her sono
pretty hard knocks no holes were punched in
her side. Since she comes right alongside our
arinor belt she could be the only sufferer. She
Is also very convenient to coal from. Work.
ing three forward matches wo were able to taxa
aboard very easily go tons before supper time,
and this without pushing the crew at all.
Though IL is hot down In the hold of the collier
and the men are not hardened to such hard
work, ono hears OF growing; 1t is war work and
therefore In done Chcerfully.
June s.-Much to our disappointment wo found
that wo could not got the Justine again to-day,
as sho was ordered over to the Brooklyn. We
had to cnntcnt ourselves with the Stirling, TO
our sorrow. We had every fender possible out,
biz rope fellows, too, that will stand any amount
Of Knocking, but no sooner had tho Stirling
como alOngSluO tnun Sno came up heavily
against our ash chute and punched a hole in her
side. There was nothing TO do but send tho
carpenters gang aboard and shove her or for
repairs.
Tho opportunity was seized TO try the won
derful patent shoppers, but they didn't seem to
be of much service. The hole was too jagged
to ut them in. Query: would hot a shot hole DO
Every one is disgustcd with the Stirling for
having sides like paper. Our ship is alldirty, tho
crew arc all in coaling clothes. and 81 t,ev will
have to remain waiting for the sea to calm
alongside we smashed several heavy wooden
tenders, smashed them al up into splinters., but
her sides seemed none the worse for il, and here
tho Stirling comes and gets Il hole punched in
Wo have our mail brought by the Gloucester,
and 1t is the first we have received in some
have mail for YOU our balsa, which was then
doing duty as a ilcbOat, was quickly lowered and
two men padded her over for the precious bags.
Nearly the whole ship's company watched them
as they were lowered into tho boats, four big
bursting bags. There wasn't much news in
the whole cargo, however. In regard to tho
war there seemed to be little that we had not
already picked up. The most important was
be very glad to see the transports when they do
put in an appearance.
that 1t will smooth down. We had the usual
drills and quarters, however. The Maple ar
clothes. Some of-the uniforms that the officers
arc, reduced to use are very negligee. Collars
IL CulS "eT0 ulSCtIuSu- dS netulc5b luNuTleo
long ago. and many an officer has TO wear blue
in default OF clean white. Some of the COM
shocking to one 9 sense Of military propriety.
We can't expect to have a Chinese laundry with
Irons Irons ana LIST starch HSi on shiPo9ard, though believe
Juno 1O.-"Many new arrivals to-day az
they say at the summer hotels. The list In
cludes the Kingston and Yankee, bringing do
spatches and a small mail; the Dolphin, the Scor-
pion, tho America, and last. but not least, the
Supply. All arrived from Tho eastward, The
Pantherand some, other auxiliary appeared also,
but they kept on to tho eastward, full speed:
The Oregon, Yankee. and Dolphin soon followed
them, and when during the afternoon heavy
firing was heard to thu eastward a report was
ships rejoined the fleet later in the evening,
and so did the Suwanee.
About this time there was great conSterna-
ton aboard. The supply, which seemed TO
have visited every ship except this ono, was
seen apparently leaving the fleet: We had
stores 60 over to the Texas, and the Massachu-
s%etts's boat seemed to make almost tho same
number of trips, and here Hcro we seemingly
left in the lurch. 1t was the worst thing THAI
had happened since we had been on blockade.
steaks and fresh vegetables was too much. We
were desperate. and there is no knowing what
ships II some one had not suggested that shO
was merely taking her position with the Other
non-fighters, ten or fifteen miles outboard OF us.
Tonight some one managed 10 work tho ice
machine, cooling n few bottles OF beer. and no
sooner had they reached just the proper tom
numerous as the bottles gathered around the
mess table. The contrast, in the expressions be-
tween those drawing prizes and those who got
blanks could not have been sharper at Monte
Carlo. The fellows who were in II gloated over
their cold bottles with the broadcast smiles on
their faces. Just tho proper temperature"
$50 cold, you can't touch il" Never tasted any
thing better in my life" they said. Finally the
strain became too great tor the outsiders, and
they had TO dash out Of. the messroom in q body.
When the whole crowd assembled again on the
quarterback. we became friendly again, watch
ing our searchlights guard the entrance of tho
harbor. 1t was n beautiful sight. Our ship
wus.standingw elllin toward the entrance. throw
ing hCr powerful light right on the entrance
and keeping 1t fixed there so thet 1t just COW
cred the opening. 1t is quite difficult, to
swinging, but 1t was done SO s~kilfully that at
no time could even the smallest rowboat have
escaped from tho harbOr unseen. The rays Of
light showed the big bluff and rocks. with
Moro on one side and the west bank just
touching the other edge of he beam.
June 1l.-At last we have some fresh stores,
our boat having Just come back from tho supply.
We were all disappointed, however. at the pau.
city of the cargo. 1t seems thatswc had the last
chance, and, Hs usual in such cases. suffered
Trievously. Plenty OF fresh beef, but very little
OF the stores that were sent down for the officers
by our caterers. 1t seems thai they were all
gobbied up by the ships on the north coast. If
down here. 1t would have beer all gobbled'np in
a jify. The fresh beef, however, is appreciated
even though IT isn't OF the choicest cuts.
We tried. o'cOal again.frOmsth he Ju slime to-day,
made all preparations, and even started sending
the coal aboard, but before We got more than
badly that we had 10 cast the collier of and give
1t up again. 1t Is most aggrAyating, for now VIC
must clean up the ship. only to start in coaling
again Monday.