Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-07
NAVAL. PUNIsHMENTs.
Baling Tub Of Water With Spoon
One Of the Most Remarkable.

"
One Of the Most Remarkable.
From Tit-Bits
Naval officers do not always mete out to
the men the punishments laid down in the
kings regulations. They frequently adopt
punishments of their own invention which
prove most effective In preventing the re-
currence of offenses These punishments
are often of very curious and even ludi-
crous nature.
1t Is an everyday occurrence to see half
a dozen sailors lined up deck facing the
paint work. their hammocks on their shout
full picture. For this punishment Is not 80
trivial as 1t appears. The hammock is not
very heavy, 1t is true, but after an hour or
SO 1t drags on ones shoulder like lead. Be-
sides, 1t Is FAR from pleasant to stare dxedly
at square foot of gray-painted woodwork
for sixty minutes at stretch. Jack would
much prefer to do a few days "Ten AZ or
to have his leave 'jambed.''
Splitting upon the deck of a man-o'- war Is
strictly prohibited. AS soon as the bugler
has sounded the Stand Easy" spittoons are
placed at intervals along the deck for the
use of the sailors, and woe betide the tar
who ignores the presence of these tubs and
expectorates about the spotless deck. On
many vessels a wide belt Is kept, and this
the man who departs from the regulations
is compelled to wear upon his person. and Is
thus subjected to the ridicule Of his ship
mates. He is given an opportunity of re-
trieving his character, however. He is per
mitted to walk the deck with the other men,
and should he spot a sailor committing a
like offense he at once presents him with the
hated belt and the new victim has to un-
dergo similar ordeal.
Some officers adopt more drastic meas
ures If Jack is detected expectorating any
where but In the receptacles provided, a
spit kid is strapped to his chest, and any
man who cares to do so may make use OF
lit Sollo In
supposed, this humliating punishment eff
fectively prevents the men from violating
the regulations.
Were a civilian given two large wooden
buckets, one empty and the other full OF
water and told to bale the liquid from the
full tub into the empty vessel with small
spoon, he would consider the order to be
that OF mailman a revival of ancient
fairy lore Yet this punishment has on sew
eral occasions been melted out to refractory
''sea dogs" Nothing is more amusing than
to see a weather-beaten sailor carefully
baling out spoonful after spoonful of water
and as carefully depositing the fluid In a
large bucket at his side
A punishment frequently employed Is that
of setting the defauiter to walk slowly
backward and forward along the deck.
nursing In his arms stx-nch projectiie
weighing little over one hundred pounds).
After a quarter of an hour or so or THIS
beneficial exercise the unhappy, victim Is
glad to drop the load and rub his aching
limbs At the same time he probably makes
a solemn mental resolve never to repeat the
offense for which he has been AWARDED
this dire penance. -
An old naval captain-one of the old, old
school-was at one time sadly addicted TO
stammering He could not utter simple
sentence without great amount of splut-
tering and hesitation. This was one day
too much for an intrepid sailor who was
receiving an order from the captain In that
officials usual hating manner, and he un.
fortunately burst into uncomfortable mt
OF laughter. This rash laugh he bitterly re.
pented Capt. was disciple or the
homeopathic system. Making Jack STAND
upon the fore bridge in full view OF the en-
tire ships crew, the officer commanded nus
victim to laugh continuously for An hour
and a half. This he was compelled to oo'
though the pitiful expression OF his weatnsr
beaten. sunburnt visage denoted anytninS
hnt a happy and contented frame OF mind
whstlng in forbidden parts s OF sns m snlp
nar The offender has been obliged 70
whistle his loudest under the , eagle eye Oh
hcooma 20 marched and cracked that he
could not produce another not,-