New-York tribune., 1900-09-09
OLD CUSTOMS ON WARSHIPS
UsAGKS THAT HAVE NOT CHANGED
SINCE THE DAYS OF SAILING VESSELS.
THE AMERICAN NAVY LESS CONSERVATIVE THAN
TssR BfIsssH-PRACTTCES RETAINED ONLY
WHEN or INTRINSIC VALUE


A0cern naval architecture and the adoption of
neE methods for the regulation OF ships and
usn have not oblterated old usages and cus-
tons Il the British navy, and, according to the
sT1nion OF 3 writer in THE London Mail" there
El1 he a big shaking up OF dry bones in our
EsvE when tie next great sea war happens Not
CIsI there Is any ineficiency, lack of smartness
O. UnTeaciness TO be feared. But until you have
ETed in one OF Her Msjasty's ships you can form
idea Of what a conservative institution the
Brf1ish navy Is AS 1t ever was it ever shall
b seems 10 be the cardinal point of faith while
Nelson and precedent things to be sworn by
Though sail power and three deckers are
gone me Impress Of Nelson upon naval routine
= almost as distinct ever. The system of
lsI-Ts rataons TO the crews is much the same
noH as Il was at Trafalgar: imperfect wretch
edfE unsatisfactory in nearly every way TO mod
en- ideRs Yet according to precedent, and there
forE- he Admiralty have but just taken steps
L Improve It Capturing ships by means of
boarding parties has disappeared from the prob
stiA-es Ct naval warfare, yet in the British
naT< aoa7eing parties are still trained. Not
mind you because they expected to be of
much use, but because Nelson did it,
Evening quarters is another Nelson survival
h'1 no- mere absCrdity. Ike those above men
none- = vas Instituted by the great Admiral
IL order II assure himself each night that his
only muster II the men held to ascertain
V1.ethar the divisions, foretop, rnaintop, fore
castle lUavterdeok and marines are all correct
The names of divisions are another survival for
foreiuP and maintop disappeared when steam
replaced sail power.
\ curious fact not generally known is that
cne black SIX handkerchief which Jack knots
around his throat was first worn as mourning
for Nelson and has ever since been retained
The three white stripes around the broad blue
collar @ tbs sailors jumper commemorate the
victories OF Trafalgar Copenhagen and the Nile
Thus TIA Nelson legend affects not onIy Jacks
work IN. lis food and clothing as well The
broad blue collar itself is cider than the great
Admiral L E'as first adopted at that period
Thzn sailors plastered their hair into stiff
PiF'az1 w5th greaSe and powder
USELESS SURVIVAL
Al g o'clock each night the sentry in every
ship IN ha-bor fires of his rife For the origin
q this custom We have look back to the day
Of EinllDczG Then. in order to test the printing
ard So thai his weapon was in usable cond-
ton the sentry had TO fire it of each night
I-ere Is no necessity for such a test with
ncaarn rifles; bu1 the 8 O'Clock firing is re-
Iglously carried cut When our feet was com
posed entirely Of sailing ships a captain or an
admiral @ax always hoisted out of his boat
In1C his ship. and boatswain's mate stood by
correct time for pulling the rope. Admirals
and captains now walk up ladders when enter
hg their ships, but there is always a boat
EN ANS mate standing at the top to pipe them
aboard Every time officer climbs
70 the quarterback he saIutes. The origin Of
thIs usage dates back long way. When Eng
l2rd was a Roman Catholic country a crucifix
s1cod the quarterback of all ships Every
ting any Of the crew approached this holy
symbol they crossed themselves Out of that
has grown the custom Of saluting the quarter
deck
The cry Of 'Heave out heave out, show a
leg a purEers stocking," which the bosuns'
mates shout along the deck when rousing the
crew Of a morning. is a heritage from that
period Of our naval history when were
carried in men-of-war.
Nelson instituted what is known as muster
ing by the open list. II a necessary prac-
tee N his time; il is absolutely unnecessary
koW. jet 1t is carried out regularly Sunday
in every month The captain and officers s.
Ernble near a table with number of books
uI,on IL the men being ranged round. Suddenly
a CAL for John Jones' is heard. Jones at once
takes two steps, which brings him into the
centre of a little circle chalked the deck in
frunt Of the captain Raising his hand he
futes sailor fashion, then takes off his cap,
lDoks the captain straight in the eye and says