The herald., 1898-05-22


up within their very narrow decks
there Is not much chance for man 10
stretch far without raising bumps ana
bruises ON his anatomy. The service has its
redeeming features, however as the follow
ting personal narrative will reveal)
KEY WEST. May 17-(Special Corre-
spondence to The Herald.) l have tested
the advantages and the hardshps of trip
aboard a torpedo boat, that terror of the
sea, for which 1t is said Great Britain has
to call for volunteers when crew is re-
quired, so full of discomforts is the life
aboard these little craft While sympa-
thize to some extent with these complain
ing Jackies and agree with them that life
aboard torpedo boat is not an unalloyed
dream Of happiness, still it has Its pleas
ant side. For instance, any dyspeptic mil
lionaire who has begun to despair Of ever
having an appetite for anything eatable,
could not do better than purchase tor
pedo boat and put to sea in her at top speed.
taking the good with the bad in the way OF
weather. It will be sure cure for loss Of
appetite and inability to digest wholesome
food.
/ have been envying ever since I came
ashore the men who can develop such glo-
rious apeptites as the crew of torpedo
boat. Who would ont be willing to be
pitched around narrow little boat during
stormy weather in order to feel as ravenous
as a wolf at all kinds of hours. and as
light-hearted and clear-headed as gym
mast.
When 1 first stepped aboard the busy lit
tie boat the crew were getting ready to
make a speedy departure on one of the nu-
merous expeditions in connection with their
scout duty here. The officers and men
were too busy at the moment to give any
attention to me, and SO was left alone to
take In the surroundings. Climbing gin
gerly down hatchway found myself In
q very cosy square room about four yards
long by six wide, with just enough room to
stand up in. This was the ward room.
Facing the door was a stove and a small
sideboard, with a bookcase above, filled
with books on service matters, paper rack
and wine locker, pipe rack, block, chro-
nometer box and one or two little nick
racks filed up the table.
On either side of me were the hunks,
of which altogether there were three.
These hunks, though narrow, seemed very
comfortable; they were fitted with draw
ers underneath and a small wardrobe was
fixed at the head of each bunk. On one
side, also, was chart box and looking
glass, whilst behind me were lying pile
of sea boots, and on the bulkheads were
hung coats, mackintoshes, oilskins and
souwesters. CHANGING up overhead, saw
camp stools, swords. golf clubs, sticks, ten
MS rackets, fiddles for the tables in rough
weather, etc. My friends on board knew
how to pack evidently, for not an inch of
pace was lost.
Having thus completed my inspection of
khe ward room looked outside; on my left
was very diminutive pantry. on my right
q bathroom in like proportions.
1 went on deck again, and, to my sur
prise, found that all the men were for
ward, and that we were quietly steaming
out of the harbor.
l was standing on the quarterback with
q six-pounder gun on a platform in front
OF me, which gun was rejecting the sun S
rays in my eyes and dazzling me, so beau
xfF,,IIxy cIoop nd briCttJxy y,plichod ;