The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-15

briskiy 10 the business Of leaving After
thoroughly scrubblng and rinsing-io put
IL nauticaliy-my upper works. | observed
waiting behind me with q next expres-
sion on his countenance a tall. raw-boned
Iriwh-American sailor 20 whom ] politely
handed tho bucket after I had emptied
out into tho deck ecuppera the water
which regarded as having already peer
largely spoiled. AIy shipmaie CARED az me
nrst 10 CONSERVATION and then IN inalg-
nation. after which he exclaimed with a
sheer:
You're too blanked proud. you arc
After ne had procured another two
thirds OF a bucket from the water TANK
he gave himself vigorous wash. Then
another sailor plunged his head into the
same water. One by one the other mem
beers Of the watch cleanssd themselves IN
the same dark and soapy nuid. In the
afternoon / saw members % the other
watch bathing with the oft-used water
In fact. by nightfall. with the notable
exception Of myself. every member OF the
crew residing before the mast had wash
"a himself IN the contents Of that set-
same butket Nor was the mission OF this
water yet fulhIed During the next few
days sailors were constantly In the on
watches washing shirts ana jumpers In
o. In fact. my shipmates continued 20
81 little in the bucket beside suds ana
sediment
There has long been sold 20 sailors
patent soap which Is represented as OF
service IN washing with salt water. The
sailor however. thinks little Of salt wa
ter for washlngs OF any description. IN
hess ii Is to TOW an old paiF Of trousers
erboard by the help Of a stout line Tor
a few DAYS. The drawback Of this method
A. No. line a fTF q
only moving slowly the risky shark IL
apt 70 nlhble too strongly upon the trous-
ers Rather than resort 10 the imperfect
cleansing which the sea water affords.
the men OF the forecastle prefer 20 re-
main soiled indefinitely II engaged In
tarring down the rigging when the sum
mons 20 dinner comes. to carefully wipe
the fingers with oakum or with yarns pull
ed from fragments Of old rope. is deemed a
sufficient toilet.
The daily portion OF fresh water alsSssess
10 each sailor under tho shipping laws Is
one gallon. This includes whot y used In
his tea and coffee (where a considerable
portion boils away in the preparing and
in the other cookinng The water for his
occasional washes depends upon the gen
erosity OF the captain. unless he has the
good fortune 10 catch something from the
Tainfalls The meat puddings, or dun,
OF the latter. are boiled IN sea water, dip
ped from over the ships side The cabin
dishes are washed IN salt water. well
heated The sailor uses a service OF tin
almost entirely. and this he sometimes
cleans by simply rubbing Il with old rope
"shakinEs"
The greater portion OF the supply of
fresh water is usually placed In a large
circular tank IN the hold where. how
ever u crowds out comparatively but
small cargo space The remainder Is kept
on deck tn small tanks and casks. Sc
curely dashed for safety Whenever there
e. a rainfall. whatever water drains from
the after deckhouse is caught This Is
usually stored IN the deck tanks and
casks Sometimes the water thus secured
IL placed In the large tank. and IL then
imparts its tarry taste 20 the rest Of tho
supply stored there In case a dangerous
leak springs In the large tank It may be
necessary for the ship to put into the
nearest port for more water But usually
the captain starts upon his long voyage
without any intention Of stopping at any
intermediate port.