The times., 1901-06-24
NAVAL RESERVES SAIL.
Phtiadelphia's Amateur Tars on
Their Annual Cruise.


PHILADELPHIA. June 2s.-Amid the
cheers of throng composed largely Of
members of the gentler sex Division A.
Pennsylvania Naval Reserves, sailed
away from Philadelphia yesterday after
noon for their annual cruise. 1t will be
just one week before the civilian sailor
boys get back home
Long before the time set for the depar-
ture OF the Shearwater which carried the
members of Division a away, the vicinity
of Pier 35. South Wharves, half a square
below Bainbridge Street, began TO indi-
cate that something unusual was about to
happen. Athletic looking young fellows
who might have occupied any position in
civilian life from successful lawyers to
high-priced bookkeepers or muscular
handlers of big squads of men in man.
moth manufacturing establishments.
began to put in an appearance with the
Shearwater as their evident objective
point. Close behind them came troops of
women. some young. some middle-aged.
and some past the meridian of life. By
way of lending variety to the scene
groups of youngsters of both sexes inter
jected themselves into the procession.
Among the first to gravitate toward the
Shearwater were Commander c. W.
Ruschenberger. the chief officer OF the
Shearwater. Lieut.. H. II. Smith: the sec
ond officer and Paymaster r. L. Taylor.
These officers Immediately started in to
see that the preparations for the cruise
were systematically gotten under way.
1t was the intention to have the steam
er leave early in the afternoon. but some
thing happened TO one of the pumps,
which necessitated Lying by for several
hours for repairs. Consequently. it was
much later when the Shearwater got
away. At the final roIIcall of the division
thirty men answered to their names. The
number included every member of Di-
vision A who had signified his intention
of taking part in the cruise.
According to the programme the Shear
water moved slowly out into the Della
ware River, and the tidy little vessel an
chored off Deepwater Point last night.
This morning she proceeded to Cape May
which will be the headquarters of the
Naval Reserves during the cruise. During
each day of the cruise the ShearWater
viii sail out into deep water of Cape
May, heading up and down the coast, as
her commander may eject, and at night
putting back for anchorage.
W hile the naval reserves are away they
will be put through all the evolutions, the
same number as regulation Jack Tars
would have to go through on a similar
cruise. Regulation fare will be dealt out
to them instead of the Bellevue or Walton
and each man will have to take his turn
At swabhing the decks, washing Dishes
cleaning the guns. and all the other du-
ties appertaining to the life of a man
drawing SIS per month from the Govern
ment as a component part of the United
States Navy.
There viii be gun practice for the boys.
two 1-pounders composing the armament
of the Shearwater. The practice viii be
Sub-calibre practice, but il will be GENT
ire for all that. Early next Saturday
morning the bow of the Shearwater will
be turned toward Philadelphia, and 1t is
calculated that by nightfall the then tired
and sun-brOwned amateur defenders of
the Stars and Stripes will disembark at
Pier %, South
Last years cruise Of the naval reser-es
was made on the United States gunb3at
Prairie. and all of the members Of the
Pennsylvsnia division went along. This
year. however. the Prairie is out of com
mission, and the Shearwater has been
placed at the permanent disposal of the
Pennsylyanians. 1t is because Of the lin
tied carrying capacity of the Shearwater
that only thirty members were taken
along on the present cruise. Division 3
will be taken on their cruise July 8 and
Division c .TutV 20