The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1905-07-20

sailor men that all good is compared
to Helen Gould by sailors. Pass on
you hear discussions of all sorts; one
crowd discussing Lawson and his
motives, another bunch arraigning
Congress, others listening TO fell
low run down preachers, here a
group holding forth on the merits
of salt horse over canned beef, others
listening to a youngster explaining
methods of telling real diamonds
from paste, ETC., etc, all good ma
tured and noisy. What's that ?
Suddenly, above the din, you hear a
shrill, unearthly shrek, high and
penetrating. Instantly all is quiet,
one could hear a pin fall, and this
shrill noise (the boatswain's whis-
tle) gradually dies out, with long
drawn, wailing blast, followed by a
deep, hoarse, mumbling cry music
that can only come from the vocal
cords of boatswain' s-mate, tuned
by sou-westers. and pitched to the
tune of the typhoon, sprayed by ma
lures normal salt solution and IN
telligible only to the sea-faring man.
He said: "All hands turn to, clamp
down decks both fore and aft" In
stantly everyone Is busy, confusion
again, but now there Is method in
their madness. What change; no
hammock in sight, quarter-gunners
working like mad, each trying to
make his piece the neatest, deck
hands scrubbing decks and shining
bright-work. The black gang below
busy on engines and fires; everyone
doing something. This continues
until the bugle sounds first call for
mess, then the men knock off and
have breakfast, after which jimmy
legs lights the smoking lamp and
pipes and cigarettes are started,
more yarns, changing clothes Tor
uniform of the day, ETC., until eight
bells and the bugle sounds colors;
all hands stand attention and salute
as the stars and stripes are run up
and unfold themselves to another
day. Now the day IN reality has be-
gun aboard ship; no more smoking
or loud talking, but busy hum as
Jack goes about boat drills, signal
practice, ETC. About one bell $500
whispering goes around the ship,
whats the word?" "Why the old
man (captain) just joined the navi-
gator on the bridge; something do
ing. A string of flags are run up on
the flagship, wondering eyes are
turned towards the bridge; they are
not In suspense long; the word is
sung loud and clear, "All hands
stand by to up anchor" followed by
the whirr of winches, hurried
orders, answered by a brisk "aye,
aye, SIR" below shovels clank, black
smoke issues from the tunnels, ven
tilators are trimmed on the wind,
the man in the bow sings out
anchors aweigh, sir,' and an
American war ship is under way,
steaming ma jestically into line, and
forming on the flagship.
So 1t was with us on the morning
of the Bird as our ships steamed out
of Manila Bay. would like TO tell
you something of life aboard ship at
sea, but fear 1 have already too
severely tried your patience and will
risk bat little more to the blue pen
cir The watches were changed and
things went their usual course until
we were we'll out to sea, when sud-
denly everyone about the decks were
brought to their feet by cry from
the lookout, i'm the crows nest
4Smoke, ho, SIR" and after a bit
three strangers were made out on
our starboard bow. They proved to
be the Russian cruisers Oleg, Zem-
tchug, and flagship Aurora with Ad-
miral Enquist aboard. They were
all in a bad condition, fresh from
the fights ia the northern straits.
Permission was granted them to
enter Manila Bay and medical aid
was offered which was gladly ac-
cepted. No one other than regular
offic were allowed aboard, with
the medical party, of which was a
member. We decided to take all
the worst wounded ashore with us,
and had boats for that purpose. AS
our launch went alongside l could
see the condition of the ships which
certainly spoke well for the Jap
gunners. The ships were simply
riddled in places, sponsors battered,
and smoke-stacks full of holes, and
the anxious faces that met our gaze,
powder burnt begrimmed, and with
relieved feelings, they thanked us
for our offer. The officers met us
and led us below to the berth deck,
and there / saw spectacle of suffer-
ing that time will never efface from