Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1905-09-07
LIFE ON TORPEDO BOATS
"ueh Distress In Hot. Crnmoes
Quarters In N Ue,vx 80,

ouarters In n Heavy Sea.
Each of the torpedo craft carries a
crew Of from sixty to seventy mon
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
hnd sleeping space also one must mar.
vel at The life aboard a vessel of this
class.
10 i've in quarters the size of an or
binary dry goods box is not the life
mat the everyday American cares to
essay. To endure such life for hours
at stretch, without sleep or food, and
to stand exposed In all climates-such
Is life aboard a torpedo craft for of
ficers and men alike.
There is no discrimination. That is
why one sees beardless faces and slen-
der figures behind the coming towers
when these long three and four stacked
hiers run into port for coal and water
at frequent Intervals, which is neces-
sary on account Of their limited space
Tor carrying these necessities. In the
comparatively smooth waters Of Nor
folk harbor the torpedo boats look very
much Ike the motor racers In disguise
but they are far from being the pleas
ure craft that the auto boats are, and
they 90 where the helmsman of a mo
f, tor boat would pot dare to venture.
The ocean Is the place to see the tor
pedo boat under way, and then life on
board the craft can be seen in it's 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, is but one picture Of
nfe on the rolling deep ia a mere shell
OF boat
In the harbor and when al 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 ron and plunge IN the
seaway the matches are closed, and,
barring the stumpy smokestacks, the
vessels resemble baby whales al play.
Ii is then that the crew suffers most
while al sea. All must remain below
decks or place themselves In jeopardy.
To venture above while the vessel is
pluDging about the sea with decks
Rwash would be extremely hazardous.
Sometimes the steward viii essay to
climb along the deck from the stern to
rbR forward hatch with smoking fish
clRsped tightly IN his hands. He is In
q race with the seas. IL be reaches his
destination forward he is lucky II
the seas get there first the fishes get
the food
In the event Of the seas overtakipg
him, then he has 10 scramble back tc
the galley and await another chance
This is an amusing incident Of life
aboard, TO watch the steward essay
the trip in rough weather.
Intense heat prevails below decks
when the craft is under way with
hs1ches closed, and the humidity is one
of the inoonv sniences to which the crew
of torpedo bout is subjected and
IFS one OF the most objectionable fea.
lures Of life aboard the torpedo craft
as the heat is oppressive and fearful
at times, with all -four boilers under
full draft and pOnderous engines thrOb
bling and pulsating nj fun speed Of per
haps twenty five TO thirty kuots.--iNor
folk Landmark