The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-13
LOCAL TARS BREAK
COALING RECORD
Ninety-seven Tons Loaded
IN Ninety Minutes.
WORK HARD ON THE PURITAN
Regular Officers Drive Them and Get
Lots Of Fun at Their
Expense.

Not the -bombardrnent OF Port Arthur
was that laundering volume Of noise
heard al over Washington late yester-
day afternoon.
It was the crew of the good ship Pur-
itan. which arrived at her new home,
foot OF Water Street southwest. booming
a salute of thirteen guns, from 4-pOund-
ers, in honor Of Brig. Gen. George II. i
Harries.
Lieutenant Commander r. b. Brum-
NETT steamed his vessel into port short
~ after 4 o'clock. and reported all
hands well after a successful voyage
lasting one week. Sun kissed and weary
from riding the billowy seas, the mem
bers OF the crew lost no time in drop
ping anchor making the craft fast to
the dock and then falling in line 10 be
excused from further actual service on
the sea for some moons.
Harries Is Pleased.
Shortly after the arrival OF the Puri-
tan at her dock, General Harries went
aboard and inspected the ship and the
men. He. as well as all Of the officers Of
the battalion. agreed that the ship was
the best that had ever been loaned to
the District militia.
General Harries was pleased with the
appearance OF the men. and the fat
der Brummett about them
Although the members Of the battalion
left Washington on September for the
summers cruise, they did not get afioat
until Monday, September 3.
on board the doubie-turreted monitor,
which was painted snowy white, We're
several officers and about thirty-five
men from the United States Navy. there
TO instruct the citizen-sailors. It came
hard at first for the local jacldes TO get
accustomed to the "bossing,' but they
soon fell into line. and knuckled down
to "a case OF have to-
Name Must Come Of.
The local naval militiamen have long
since won the sobriouet of "dry-land
sailors" When they disembarked from
the Puritan they were ready TO take
strenuc'is and shirt-sleeve exception TO
this na-1e-
successfully manned the large and
formidable looking monitor through the
Delaware eakWater. and from VIII
mington to Washington. They worked
hard. broke a record for coaling. 9nd
were laughed at by the regular navy
men.
The beads of perspriation standing on
the bTOWs Of the WashingtOnians anus
ed the regulars. who softly hummed.
I've Got a White Man Working for
Me-
The sailors muscles are hardened by
the toll, and they were yesterday pro-
mount cd seaworthy. They will doubtless
profit by the trip. and will know better
than to work SO hard next time.
On Monday. September .. the anchor
OF the Puritan. which had been lying
in midstream of League Island Navy
Yard. was raised by the Washington
jackies. The Delaware Breakwater was
made before sunset and the heavy an
Choir was again dropped OF Whining
ton
Put to Sea.
To season the crew with preliminary
rnaneuvering and TO test the compass,
Lieut.. Commander COlwell. L. s. ".
who had command OF the ship. set out
TO sea on Tuesday morning. The day s
work was most successful.
Despite the fact that the local jackies'
ardor was somewhat dampened by hard
work. they were there with the clever
article when the next drill call sounded.
drills were given then
On Wednesday night under cover OF
darkness the men started from VII
mingtOn for Newport News.
Lieut.. Commander Gill. L. 5. y, was
the executive officer: Lieutenant Price.
L. s. n, navigator; Ensign Renshaw,
was assigned TO other duties aboard
ship.
The crew OF the District Naval Militia
was divided into divisions. Lieutenant
Dempf commanded the powder division
Lieutenant Clephane, assisted by En-
sign Butt, had charge Of the first d.
\
Ensign Kelly, commanded the second
division; Ensigns Jones and SisOurney
were in charge Of the third division
Lieutenants LautS. assisted by Lieuten-
ant Chase and Ensign Hill. were in
command Of the engineer division.
When the sailors awoke on Thursday
morning there was no land to be seen
The heavy swells and choppy waves OF
the ever changing and rolling deep blue
did not tend 20 Increase their appetite
and many were on the sick list
tsInnu'f rive chin - u1fd
tenant Commander Brummet as he peer
ed into one lads bunk to see how hi
was getting along.
III I don't, Il viii be because / didn't
eat IT, Oh. wish i had stayed on tn,
stiI land, replied the lad, who rnay
be an admiral in the navy some time
and get $4,000 for destroying the enc
my's ships.
All Records Broken.
Much fun was afforded the regular. o.
sure nuff'' sailors They almost spill
their sides at Newport News when the!
watched the amateurs coal the boat an,
smash a record. In ninety minutes
say the men who have been 10 sea-th
washington sailors put on board IN
Puritan ninety-seven tons Of fuel.
II the trip has served to do nOtninl
else. il has doubtless increased the elias
ticitv Of the conscience Of those respOn
sible for this story.
"A
local sailors looked like bituminous Goa
miners and were srneared from bead I
foot with black dust. Showing coal has
kets is an art in itself. Regular sailor
can do II without wasting half the Goa
on themselves. but the local jackie
have not yet reached that stage Of de
velOpEI-nt
on Friday evening the sailors ief
Newport News for the last stage o
the cruise They managed 10 drO
anchor of Kettle Bottom on Sunda,
night.
While cruising about Chesapeake Ba,
the sailors dropped one of the If
buoys A crew was selected TO ''go 81
IL a" This afforded another practice drill
throughout the voyage little accident
like this occurred. and the men received
experience In manning the life boat
and other things.
The Puritan will not be formally as
signed TO the local Naval Militia 10
about week, but the local sailors vii
use 70 for practice drills and meetings
The historic Fern. used by the lOcs
Naval Militiamen for several years. Wi
probably be turned in as soon as tn
Puritan is formally turned over Z
Lieutenant Commander Brummett.
The Fern IS not seawoTthy, and vii
probably be sold 20 dealers in old iro
and brass
The Maine Investigating Commission
held its sessions aboard the Fern Il
An