The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-11-21
LIFE ON TORPEDO BOATS.
Much Distress In Hot. Cranaped
Quarters In q Heavy sea.

SfatFFsa ssest tfe.sk'&
Quarters In . Heavy ses.
Each Of the torpedo craft carries n
crew OF from sixty 10 seventy men.
aud when one considers the size Of tho
space In which II In necessary for these
men 10 move about In operating the
powerful yet intricate machinery and
lind sleeping space also one must mar
vel at the life aboard vessel Of this
class.
To live In quarters the size OF an OF.
dinary dry goods box Ii not the life
that the everyday American cares TO
essay. To endure such life for hours
at a stretch. without sleep or food. and
10 stand exposed IN all cllmatcs-such
Is life aboard torpedo craft for Of.
iiccrs and men alike.
There IL no discrimination. That Is
why one secs bcardlcss faces and slen.
der ngurcs behind the coming towers
when these long. three and four stacked
Tiers run into port for coal and water
at frequent Intervals. which In neccs.
sary ON account or their limited space
for carrying these necessities. In the
comparatively smooth waters OF Nor
folk hnrLor the torpedo boats look very
much like the motor racers In disguise,
but they are far from being the pleas.
kat a. lasa A. nI
they go where tho helmsman Of mo.
tor boat would not dare 10 venture.
The ocenn is the place TO see the tor.
pedo boat under way. and then life on
bonrd the craft ran be seen IN its true
light. Sticking their bows into the
long. green swells. the spray flying
above the signal stats forward and the
solid green water washing the low
decks continually. Ia but one picture OF
life on the rolling deep In a mere shell
Of n boat.
In the hnrbor and when at sea In
fair weather the torpedo boats run
with the matches open. the commanding
officer stands on watch clear Of the for.
ward coming tower and the crew
lounge on deck, but when the little
craft begins 10 roll and plunge In the
seaway the hntches are closed. and.
barring the stunpy smokestacks. the
vessels resemble baby whales at play
II In then that the crew suffers most
while at sea. All must remain below
decks or place themselves In jeopardy.
To venture above while the vessel ls
plunging about the sen with decks
awash would DO extremely hazardous.
Sometimes the steward will essay TO
climb along the deck from the stern to
the forward hatch with q smoking nsh
clasped tightly In his hands. He IL In
a race with the seas. II he reaches his
destination forward he is lucky. II
the seas get there frst the fishes get
the food.
In the event Of the seas overtaking
him. then he has 20 scramble back TO
the galley and await another chance.
This is an amusing incident Of life
aboard. 10 watch the steward essay
the trip in rough weather.
Intense heat prevails below decks
when the craft Is under way with
matches closed. and the humidity is one
OF the inconvenicnces to which the crew
Of torpedo boat Ia subjected and
IL one OF the most Objectionable fea.
lures OF life aboard the torpedo craft.
a. the heat Is oppressive and fearful
at times. with all four boilers under
full draft and ponderous engines throb.
blng and pulsating at full speed Of per
haps twenty five TO thirty knots.-Nor.
folk Landmark.