The Portland daily press., 1900-09-07

anu az given signal the entire shiD's
company, officers and men, regulars and
militia took up the run about the decks.
Three times around the Prairie makes
nearly half mile and this exercise has
been given since at both morning and
evening quarters. The rapid run sets the
lungs to expanding and drawing In the
pure salt air while the heart thumps as
though 1t would leap out OF it's bony cav
ity for very joy. 1t is glorious exercise
ana brings color to the cheeks and gives |
the men fine appetite for their meals.
On the first night following evening
quarters the division were given time to
familiarize themselves with their new
surroundings but took part In all the
work which was done by the ships COM
pany. At eight o'clock the port watch
went on duty. Look outs were posted,
lights reported by them, the life boats
crew mustered and organized and the
whole routine carried out. Along tow
ards dark on the first night it began to
breeze up little and soon the ship was
rolling and pitching in fine style. The
hammocks had been swung on the berth
deck and there it was somewhat close and
not very well ventilated. There were one
interest to spend the night on deck.
There was. however, very little seasick-
ness and there was not a man who Kcould
not do duty at all times. The midwatch
was not stood by the Naval Reserves but
at four O'Clock the starboard watch
J turned out and took the deck. The way
Boatswain's Mate Burrowes shook his
men out and set them to work was good
to witness. The men from Portland got
Into the game with both feet'' as the
! boys say and to see them handling
! squigees and brushes one would believe
: they had always done this kind of work
Then at bright work the men did their
share of the work about the ship and there
r wasn't a response to sick call nor has
there been up to this time
On Tuesday the second day the work
: was commenced in earnest. With officers
and gunners mates at every gun the men
;, were drilled for three hours in the morn
u ing and for the same length of time in
=. the afternoon. This drill consisted in
loading and firing ana in learning the
l. names of the parts OF the guns and their
mechanism. Each man was required tC
- learn every station at the gun, to take the
. breech mechanism apart and assemble the
n parts again. In addition to this a great
p deal of time was devoted to the armory
10 drill. This is the system by which the
p the men behind the guns are trained.
~ Lee rife is placed in a bracket on
: stanchion perfectly unmovabIe and point
r. ed at another stanchion on which il
ba placed white piece of paper. A disl
"A with target marked on it is held IN
= front of this paper The man who ii
"a aiming stands behind the fixed rifle but
RI does not touch it. He sights the gun and
a orders the disk moved right or left or VI
b or down until it's center is in line of the
NJ rifle sights according to his Judgment
,ok The spot on the paper finally decided up
nd on is marked with a lead pencil dot
o.. Then the disk is shifted and the gu,
ba sighted again. If the second position
vol marked comedies with the nrst one tn
~ man is a good shot. If it does not hi
nd eye is not we'll ira ined and he can see hi
aa error. This was tried again and again b
orc the same man and as each trial Shove
,rt- improvement it was continued.
sch Tuesday passed IN this way, the shi
bav meanwhile bowling along towards til
south with pleasant weather and smoot
+bo seas. Nantucket Shoals Iightship ws
md reached Tuesday forenoon and the shi
orc swung OF towards the east. Wednesda
in morning the ship ran in towards Ian
irs+ again and picked up Block island abOU
Of daylight. Then she was headed up Bloc
IN island sound and at ten O'Clock droppe
led anchor off Greenport, L. 1. The drill
2a- were continued again on Wednesde
Tho morning AMI Wednesday afternoon. III
,,1v ship will remain at anchor at this sp
ID until Friday, Thursday and Friday beir
# put in at sub-calibre practice and at sil
IF naIs boat drills and general naval drill
ha+ Not a moment OF time is wasted on Il
ol~s Prairie and the Portland men, althoue
,rs they are working hard, are making exec
oh lent progress and are enjoying Il
Of work very much. The time of the nav
~ militia officers is fully occupied vii
,ar ships routine, drill and navigation wor
D0 So far there has not been a man in tt
,- Portland division reported punish'
on for any Infringement Of the many regul
title tions.
gu, Autumn VACATION TOURS.