The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-06-01
QUEER TERMS USED.
CURIOUS LINGO OF SAILORS on
BOARD DATTLEsHIPs.
Names Of Animals Applied to Various
Articles Of Utiiity - Very
Hystifying to Lands

The timew0rn growl OF the dis
gruntled bluejacket, why did ever
sell my farm and go to sea?" shows
the trend Of the sailors mind toward
the peaceful occupation Of his rustic
brother, and may account for applying
terms agricultural to things nautical,
says the Detroit Tribune.
The casual visitor to the warship is
always mystified by seeing what ap-
pears to be a bale of hay in the fore
hold, and his curiosity is not abated
when told that It goes to feed the
"jackasses," kept appropriately in the
"manger." His shrunken credulity re-
sumes normal dimensions when 1t is
explained that "jackasses" are canvas
bags filled with oakum, which are
forced into the hawse pipes to prevent
water from entering at sea.
Neither is a Flemish horse rare
breed Of equine, nor "bridle port" a
place for hitching him; the former Is a
foot rope for men to stand upon when
furling sail, and the latter Is an air
port In the bows through which tow
ing hawsers used to be led. The Sad.
die" Of the bowsprit completes the
riding outfit of the ship.
The menagerie Of q man-o'-war con.
tains "cat" and fish" both Of which
are used to weigh" the anchor; "cat.
heads" where the lookout Of sailing
ships stands his watch; Wildcats
which, with "whelps" hold the chain
on the capstan, and the best Of the
bowsprit." On some days 1t is posi-
BILE to find "catspaw''-a sudden pun
Of wind--and q landlubber can easily
"catch a crab" in pulling boat; In
| deed, II Is hard to let one go without
unshipping the oar.
DOG watches" are of nightly occur
renee between 4 and 8 o'clock. when
the usual four-hour watch is split into
two parts. The dog watches are sup
posed to get their name from the fact
that they are "cur-tailed." and moi
because the dog star. Sirius, keps
those hours.
When the gunner orders his mates
to "clean the dashpot," he is not usins
polite profanity, but directing the
cleaning Of that part of the gun recoi
cylinder. The "plow" Of gatling CUR
may assist in turning the sod" fol
the enemy, but not in literal sense
Nor do the tell-tales" Of the engine
room give It away; instead, the,
peacefully record the revolutions o.
the screws.
The propellers are usually on ,
"strut," but It Is not the vulgar par
lance for saying they are angry; th'
strut is the steel arm that holds then
in position. Ships masts, like men
have partners which, though wood
en-, strengthen them and make then
firm. These are "payed" with pitch
Awnings have "backbones," shark
mouth" dogs ears" and earrings.
The trimming tanks" are huge com
partments for holding sea water whicl
may be let in to change the trim or in
clination Of the ship. due to the fac
that the coal may have been used from
only one side. giving the ship 'list
A queer commodity in the engineers
storeroom IL "loofa," kind Of japan
ese sea cucumber, used for filter Il
the boilers. Ground glass is also car
ried to grind valve seats and bearings
The wardroom Country" Is the spac
around officers quarters. The ham
mock nettings" are no more an affai
of thread mesh than is the mai
sheet" a part Of the sail; the forme
being stowage space for the crew.
hammocks when not in use. and tn
latter a rope made fast to the clew. o
corner Of the sail. Even anchors hav
"shanks," rings" "crowns,% farms
and "fiukes."