Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-08-11
HOME FROM CRUISE
Rock Island Naval Reserves
Complete Weeks Round
of Sea Life.
RETURN WITH GOOD APPETITEs
Visit to South Haven, Mich, Bright
Spot in the Expert
ence.

OF this city, returned from It's week
stay aboard the u. s. s. Dorothea at
$3.50 last evening. The boys assert
that they are all glad to get back
home where they can get three solid
meals a day once more. While all
agree that they did not get what was
coming to them in the way of eata-
bles and accommodations generally,
and some declare they will never go
for another cruise on the inland sea,
there is little doubt that, after the
effects of the sea sickness with
which all suffered wears off. with a
return to regular eating and sleeping
and after time for reflection, all will
agree that things might have been
worse and the Rock Island reserves
Will continue TO be one of the best
and strongest organizations of the
naval militia in the state. Concern
ing the latter part of the cruise The
Argus correspondent writes:
Thursday a firing party of six men
and bugler, under the command of
Ensign Ramser. were detailed TO at
tend the funeral of an old naval Of
ficer, at La Grange, suburb about
20 miles out of the city. The party
was gone from IL a. IN. until p. m.
They were entertained by the q. \.
IL. They acquitted themselves of the
sorrowful task in manner which
made good impression with the
townspeople.
Cruise to south Haven
Friday the anchor was weighed at
$50 in the morning and the boat got
under way for cruise across the
lake to South Haven, Mich. At 1880
the boat was brought TO and tar
get thrown overheard, after which
hours. Four hundred rounds of
small calibre cartridges and one
hundred of the one-pound ammuni-
ton was used.
The records made were exception
ally fine. The anchor was dropped
opposite the Avery hotel, South Ha-
ven. at $3.50 p. IN. AT o'clock all the
tars, with the exception of a few
boatkeepers, were given shore lib
erty and told to enjoy themselves.
We'll. they certainly obeyed instruc-
tions. Nobody could be treated nicer
than the boys were in the town. The
whole place was thrown wide open
to them. There was no charge on the
ferry or on the dance floors in the
summer resorts for anyone who had
on a uniform. The privilege extend
ed until 1880. and it can De said,
much to the credit of the crew, that
not one was late in reporting. The
boys are very enthusiastic over their
reception and think that there is no
place quite like South Haven for
genuine good time.
Anchor was weighed for the re-
turn trip at 1880 a. IN. and at s;30 a.
m. we arrived at our moorings in
Chicago harbor.
1t was here that we first heard of
our having been accused of coward
ice in lowering boats during our
cruise to Fort Logan. The sailors
were justly indignant, as at any
time if volunteers even had been ask
ed for. enough men would have re-
sponded to man four boats. The re-
port that the naval reserves from
Rock Island were too timid," printed
in the Chicago Chronicle, was plain
ly the work of members of one of
the Chicago crews. as they seem dis
posed to give the outside crews the
worst of il whenever possible. No
such order was given. and the plans
were not to have Adit. Gen. Smith
come aboard that day. The men feel
as though the public ought to know
that towards are not permitted to
belong to the End division, End ships
crew
Leaving the Ship
Sunday morning divine services
were conducted by the chaplain of
the 2nd division. The crew left the
boat at ? p. IN. amid many cheers for
the old, regular navy Bo's'n Mate
Gardner. Mr.. Gardner has served 40
years in the u. S. navy and is now
head ship keeper of the Dorothea.
He is endeared to the hearts of all
the militia crews that cruise on the
boat for the kindness and help
which he extends to all.
The feelings toward the steward,
however, were entirely different.
Nothing but groans were heard
whenever his name was mentioned.
The tars take the brighter view of
the things now that they are home
again. But without doubt the food
and sleeping accpmmodations were
very. very bad. the result of poor
management by some of the heads
of the departments.