The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-01-21
1.-THE KHAKI UOHESA MADE PORTA SPIRIT CONTRACT THE NAVAL RECRUITS MORE SUGAR DIRECT
THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY
EMBRYO SAILORS.
Mohican Arrives Here From San Fran
cisco by Way Of La Paz-Guards
Against Deserters.

Between three and four hundred
boys, most of whom are from the mid
die states of Illinois, Iowa and neigh
boring divisions and many who never
saw a big city until they saw San
Francisco are aboard the y. S. Train
ing Ship Mohican, Captain COwden,
which arrived in port early yesterday
morning for a stay of two weeks.
The boys are all embryo "men behind
the gun" A, BIS and possibly petty Off
GERS. They have now had thirty days
of blue water, have got their sea legs
and are reconciled to their lot.
The MOhican, a wooden ship, through
whose port holes, cut for heavy breach
leaders of the Civil War type, the mo-
dern armament of 4-inCh rapid fire guns,
pounders 4 Founders and 1 FOUNDER
Colts, seem incongruOus and look far
less grim though more deadly than the
frowning muzzles which first peered
through them, is a thirty year old ves-
sci and is stated by her officers to be
a rough nursing mother for sucking
Schleys and Deweys. With an indicat-
ed 1000 horse power and a speed of
1906 knots, the sails are used when
winds are favorable, which proved the
case during the late trip from La Paz,
Mexico
Neither does the navy diet, whole
some and muscle building as it is, ap-
peal to stomachs that have lost their
balance and still long for the flesh pots
OF home, as exemplifed by the 'pum-
kin" pies and "crullers' of the farm.
Biscuit was unpalatable to the lands
mems tastes for awhile and the deni-
zens of the cooks galley reaped har-
vest by selling hunk OF soft bread as a
solace to some homesick lad. Last
night the boys who had their turn of
shore leave, went to the best restaur-
ants, took in the Orpheum and, many
of them, slept ashore between sheets
in a bunk that kept still, sleeping ac-
commodations being none too rOOmy
aboard the ship being designed for
full complement of 1856 men and p Off
GERS.
Last time the Mohican came to Ha-
wall, the sea weary yOungster slipped
over the sides both here and in Hilo,
twenty or so being left behind. To
guard against a reptitiOn, the MOhican
lies this trip in Naval Row and a long
swim and the chances of shark lie
between any weary sailor boy and
liberty.
Precautions were taken similarly on
the way here where the MOhican stop
ped at NlstsdalHns hay and later aC
Pichlinque Bay on tie Gulf of Califor-
MIA, near the city of La Paz, in Mexico
where she filled her bunkers with 159
tons of coal. Here there was small
temptation for deserters Sandy desert
and a foreign tongue made the ship
hOmelilSe by comparison. The boys are
exceptionally clean, we'll set up, young
sters, with signs of evident good train
ing and education. They seem to be
picked from the very backbone of the
nation and present material for navy
to be proud of. Most of the boys are
already well read and well bred,
healthy, if not, wealthy, and willing to
be wise
Today was apparently washing day
and long strings of duck jumpers and
trousers pended from the fore stays
and sheets The boys on ship were
waiting for an appetizing lunch and
looking longingly towards the city Ac-
cOrding to their officers, there are few
"toughes" among them and all are
amenable to discipline. Comparatively
4 few have forfeited their shore leave by
misbehaViOr.
! There is always more or less cutting
| up" going on among "a crew of $50
/ youngsters full of animal spirits, but
| the fun aboard the Mohican has been
of a clean order with little or no bully
ing. The boys behaved eXcellently
when ashore yesterday.
The Mohican is bark rugged and was
built at Mare Island. Her gross ton
mage Is 6912O, mean draft l6 it. ms
and displacement 1900 tons Her bat
terry consists of six 4-inch rapid fire
guns with a secondary battery of g.
Founders rapid fire. / 3-pounder l.
Founders and 2 Colts automatics. The
boys get a course in gunnery as we'll as
practical seamanship and the peculiar
fitness Of the youngsters for the separ'
ate stations helps to shape them fol
gun crews or loblollymen after they
get their rating. The length of the yes
sci is PIG IT. with a beam of 81 IT, She
leaves for Christmas Island in about q
fortnight Her cruise win include Yo-
kohama and a return to Honolulu to be
here on the Fourth Of July