Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-09-22
LIFE ON TORPEDO BOATS.
Much Distress In Hot, Crnmped
2ufrfcrs In IL Heavy Sen

Much Distress In Hot, Crnmped
Qut,rfcrs In IL Heavy Sen.
Each Of the torpedo craft carries n
crew of from sixty to seventy mcn,
and when one considers the size of the
space in which it Is necessary for these
men to move about in operating the
powerful yet intricate machinery and
lind sleeping space also one must mar.
vel ut the life aboard vessel Of this
class
To live in quarters the size of an or
binary dry goods box is not the life
that the everyday American cares ~
ESSAY. TO endure such life for hours
nj stretch, without sleep or food, and
10 stand exposed in all climates sucl,
Is life aboard Il torpedo craft for Of
ilccrs and men alike.
There Is no discrimination That Ia
why one secs bc;lrtilrsS faces and slen.
der figures behind the coming towers
when these long three AMI four stacked
iiicrS run into port for coal and water
AT frequent intervals, which is neccs-
shry on account of their limited space
for carryin. these necessities. III the
comparatively smooth waters of Nor.
folk llarDOr the torpedo boats look very
much like the motor racers In disguise,
but they are far from bcing the pleas.
are craft that the auto boats are, anu
they 20 where the hcnsnlan Of Il mo-
tor boat would not dare to venture
The ocean is the place 10 .cc The tor
npiln ln1t nal W e.,
board the craft can be seen in its true
light. Sticking their bows into the
long, green swclls, the spray lying
above the signal stulls forward and the
solid green water washing The low
| decks continually, is but one picture Of
lifo on The rolling deep in mere shell
Of n boat,
In the harhOr and when at sea in
! fair weather the torpedo boats run
| with the matches open. the commanding
officer stands OH watch clear Of the for
ward coming tower and the crew
lounge Oh deck, but when the little
craft begins TO roll ana plunge In the
scaway the matches are closed, and,
harrlns the stulnpy smokcstacks, the
vessels resemble baby whales ut play.
1t Is then that the crew suffers most
| while ut sea. All must remain below
decks or place themselves In jeopardy.
TO venture above willie the vessel Is
| plunging about the sea with decks
aw;sh would be extremely hazardous.
Sometimes the steward will essay to
climb along the deck from the stern to
the forward hatch with Il smoking fish
claspcd tightly in his hands. lie is in
a race with The seas. If lie reaches his
destination forward he Is lucky If
the seas get there first the fishes get
the food
In the event OF the seas ovcrtaklng
, him, then he has to scramble back to
the galley ana await another chance.
This Is an amusing incident of life
aboard, to watch the steward essay
the trip IN rough weather. sa
| Intense heat prevails below decks
when the craft is under way with
hatchcs closed, and the humidity is one
OF the Inconvenience to which the crew
OF torpedo boat Is subjected and
Is one of the most objectionable fen-
/ lures OF life abOnrd the torpedo craft.
rs the heat is oppressive anil fearful
at times, with all four boilers under
! full draft and ponderous engines throb.
bling and pulsating ut full speed of per-
haps twenty-five TO thirty linots.-Nor.
folk Landmark.