The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-09
FOG HUNG OVER PEACE FLEET
LIFTED ONLY WHEN SHIPS
NEARED PORTSMOUTH HARBOR.

Landsman Finds Much OF Interest In the
Trip on the Gniveston-Pat Spike. the
Goat Mascot, Lands in the Sick Bay
Aftcr Eating q Can OF white Paint.
ON BOARD THE CRUISER GALVESTON. on
Portsmouth, Aug. S,-When the convoy
cruiser Galveston went to bed at Newport
Sunday night It was understood that the
feet bearing the Russian and Japanese
peace ENJOYS would not proceed Monday
morning unless the fog lifted. At sunset
Sunday bank OF white on the horizon
showed that there was fog out at sea- Tho
peep O. dawn showed the horizon clear and
at half-past the order came to weigh
anchor and pull out
The weighing OF that anchor added
new aneodote to the story Of the Galveston.
There is aboard a green Blacksmith just
enlisted. 1t was his duty on Monday morn
ing to report that the anchor was weighed.
He did II in these words:
-The anchor is done up, suh.'
That started an aneodotefest on deck.
First In order was the tale Of q green ap-
prentice who acted as orderly just after the
Galveston went into commission. One day
when they we're under sail the officer OF the
deck sent this orderly to tell the Captain that
the fore trysails were humping against the
smokestack and to ask permission to take
in the fore and aft sails. The orderly re-
ported thus:
. Lieutenant says that the foreoastle Is
humping against the chimney, and he wants
to take in four and half sails.
This led to a story about a commander
OF a battleship who, for the good OF the
service, may be called Smith In this place.
When Smith was an executive officer the
Admiral came aboard one day for an in
spection. Quizzing the men about their
duties. the Admiral put this question to
Smiths Japanese orderly:
What should you do after general
quarters''
Run like hell and get two bottles OF
beer for Mr.. Smiths room, said the or
derby In his artless Japanese way.
SHIPS RUN INTO A zoo.
1t was gray, morning, the squadron
fell into column formation, the Maydower
leading, as on the day before. At half
past g. when the Galveston passed over
Brenton's Reef and hit the first roll, It was
getting muggy. That first roll sent As
sistant Secretary Peirce below and he was
a stranger to the deck the rest Of the day.
Ten minutes later the fog had settled down
about us, at first light, but growing heavier
and heavier. As the Mayhower was lost
to sight she sent a wireless message order
ing the other vessels to make their own
way and proceed by the outer course.
That meant ninety miles more steaming,
but it avoided Vineyard Sound and Nan.
tucket Shoals. Commander Winslow gave
as his reason for anchoring at Newport
on Sunday night his reluctance to navi-
gate Vineyard Sound by night.
All the morning at five minute intervals
the vessels blew their signal letters to keep
in touch. foot, toot. loot. toot, toot, the
whistle Of the Galveston would 60, putting
a temporary stop to all conversation on
deck. That means g. which is the Gal
veeton's signal letter. Away of some
where in the fog the Mayhower would
answer M and the Dolphin 3D.
As the morning wore on the answers
came more and more family. Finally, the
Galveston footed a dozen frantic ,-Gs' In
succession. and got no answer at all. The
fog, which is an eccentric carrier Of sound,
had blanketed the answer and We had lost
our convoy.
The wireless got busy, but the fog played
strange capers with that also. 1t was a
pea soup fog, worthy Of the English Channel
or the Golden Gate. No one on shipboard
can fail to know when the wireless 10 work.
ing, a stream Of electric sparks r,ishes
through glass tube with a snap and crackle
which shouts the message all over the ship.
n reaches the receiving operator, however.
in whisper 80 faint that he has to wear
a telephone operators headgear in order
to hear it. The wireless snapped at in
tervals until, just before noon, the Dolphin
and Mayaower, which had trouble in keep
ing in touch with each other, sent their
exact bearings. After two hours the YES
sells got back in touch and the monotonous
footing Of code letters kept up all day.
Now and then a fisherman standing at
anchor with his dories out would rise up
out of the fog. One OF these had the pres
ence Of mind to recognize the Galveston
and to dip his flag. go.
The Monday morning routine was carried
out as usual. Quarters at O'Clock showed
the landsman how the sailorman keeps
in condition. Every man jack Of them,
except the senior officers, takes a brisk
run twice around the ship every morning.
Junior officers, warrant officers petty
OnlCeTS, SeaIneil ana IllhI tIotIcu dIOuIio
In solemn double rank, and pulled up breath
ing deep.
Later in the morning. in honor Of the
guests, fire drill was sprung. Far be 1t
from landsman to, try to tell in technical
terms what happened A bugle blew call.
the officer Of the deck jumped forward and
shouted an order. and jaolies and marines
In white be gan to tumble out Of every hatch
way and to run in all directions over the
decks In one minute by COL Bromwell's
watch the marine guard. with bayonets
fixed, was on guard at the boats against
a panic, squads OF jaolies were fastening
canvas coverings over the matches and the
deck was laced with the long lines Of fiat
hose.
Fire is aft" shouted the officer Of the
deck.
AYE, aye. sir!" yelled several voices for
ward. and tangled rush Of men swept
onto the quarterback. Another minute
and half a dozen nozles were pouring
streams OF water back into the sea.
PAT SPIKE LUNCHES ON WHITE PAINT.
Not every guest on the Galveston saw
the fire drill. The Atlantic was heaving a