The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-11-26
BLUEJACKETS AT PLAY
AMPLE TIME FOR SAILORS TO
AMUSE THEMSELVES.

the United States Navy-Flrcmcn and
Sailors I'm boxing Bouts Field Days
on a WHrship's Deck.
"All work and no play makes Jack
n duh boy" is an adagc that is duly
regarded in the treatment of Uncle
Sans men in the Navy writes &. A.
McAllister. OF the United States Rev
enuc Cutter Service. Though The
numerous and varied drills which go
TO make an efficient ships company.
and the work necessary TO keep every
thing "shipshape." are Onerous, am
pie time is given the sailors to amuse
themselves.
Naturally, beat racing is very
popular sport. and one To- which the
officers give every encouragement.
Each ship generally has racing crew
of from four to ten men who are
ready ut all prOpitious times to accept
challenges from other vessels of our
own and other nations. The naval
method of issuing Il challenge is for
the challenging crew TO row under
the stern of the vessel from which
competing crew is desired and toss
oars'-that Is, hold them vertically
with the blades uppermost.
An international race is. OF course.
more interesting and exciting than
one between The crews of American
vessels only. Such races usually oc-
cur on national holiday of one of
the competing parties. Sufficient funds
are raised by popular subscription to
insure substantial prizes for the vic
tors.
Should there be no other vessel lying
in the hurbor when the racing spirit
runs high, rival crews are formed from
the sailors and the hremcn. These
arouse fully as much interest among
their supporters as do the races be
tween different vessels. The sailors,
rs may be supposed, are more famil-
lar with the handling of oars, but the
iremen make up for their deficiency
in skill in their superior strength. EN-
citing contests usually occur between
such competitors. and the sailors do
not always win.
Occasionally Il race is arranged be-
tween firemen and sailors in balsas.
or hatbOatS which are used rs floats
while painting ship. Ten or twelve
persons man each boat, and, instead
of oars, ShovelS used as paddles furn-
ish the propclling power The length
of the course is usually half Il mile,
and the attempts ut speed are very lu-
dicrOus. Seen from distance the
spiaShing contestants resemble two
perambulating fountains. As no rud-
dcrs or steering oars are used, the
course pursued is very similar TO the
trail of Il garden worm. The rrcmen
usually win in these contests on ac-
count of their greater familiarity with
the shovel.
The manly art of self-dcfensc" is
also much in vogue as an amusement
in the Navy. When the weather is
warm this pastimc is INDUCED in
nearly every evening after supper has
been served. "Jackys" profession is
obviously pugnacious one. and he
usually takes to boxing rs Il duck does
to water. Many OF the sailors develop
into excellent boxers, ana there is
generally keen rivalry among the
different sets Of men comprising Tie
crew Of Il War-vessel The fYemcn
usually have a champion who is pitted
against the leading fistic light OF the
deck force, and the marine guard are
not at all behind in backing their
champion against either of the others.
While these contests are entered into
with great spirit and the blows ex-
changed are not of the fcather-Diilow
sort, the utmost good feeling prevails.
ana 1T Is seldom necessary to separate
the contestants on account of smuggling.
Japanese and Chinese cooks or ser
wants are found on nearly all war
vessels, ana the schcming "Jacliy"
takes advantage of their natural an
tiDathy for one another After con
siderable cujOling they arc often per
suadcd TO put on the gloves Spurred
on by the encouraging shouts C the
sailors, thcy pummcl one another
about with as much grace as might be-
expected OF pair OF cart-hors,s I'm "a
waltz. The sponging down and fau-
ming of the principals between The
rounds is as cOmical SIGHT rs can
well DE imagined. These Nuugolian
contests usually result I'm tine stimuli
taneous giving UP OF bo,h parties ON
account Of lack OF breath. rather than
from any punishment received
In addition to the healthful exercise
gained in boxing the training hus oh.
tanned IS q, great value 90 the enlisted
men i'm shore engagements. and as
teaching them means cr defending
themselves from ATTACKS uapn they
are unarmCd