The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-22
LIFE ON A MAN-O'-WAR

LIFE ON A MAN-o'-wAR !
Sailor Boy Tells of the Busy Ocean Life Quaint
t--S7 - Equatorial Court -
IN HE first sabbath at was the occasion of gem
eral muster. At breakfast that morning the word
was given out by the master alarms. At o'elock
the colored bugler called together quarters At
10 definite lay aft on the quarter deck
There manifest disposition on the part of the
eldest to keep in the background ten
every soul on the Iowa gathered deck. The Of
OF the quarter deck When all quiet the executive
officer read the articles of Then the roll called
AS each commissioned man called he an
sWered promptly Here Sir, " and cap in hand, walked
down the long lne forward scrutinized by everyone
as he passed Some there who always late at
this ceremony, and indeed almost every other Such
lead miserable life board man-o war. They
perpeuay members of the blacklist that is deprived
of the privilege liberty and of several days. pay
Each individual board Ship from the captain to
the fireman coaheaver is allowed ration per day,
valued at about SO per month In this matter differ
is made for rank the only distinction being that the
oHicers-whether commissioned warrant petty-are
allowed to stop their ration of food and take it's value
instead with which and with funds contributed
from their private purses, they supply their larder
~= -.:. Where the Cooks Reign.
The berth deck of warship is the chief Of
the abors of the cooks each of which cooks the
meals of twenty-five On this deck the chests
ranged between the guns, two dining tables occupy
ing the space between every two guns These have
their rations served out in and is for the
pose receiving the provisions the eommssary
yeoman or assistant storekeeper of the ship, that
caterer found He is also required to have
every article under his charge ready for daily inspec-
ton.
On board the Iowa, neatness is the great desid-
eratum From 5 to Z every morning the holystone
the decks from to clean brghtwork, and both morn
ing and afternoon sweepers sweep down. There are
chain cables to be cleaned and all day long for week
more, all hands sit these cables, pounding an clink
ing away then securing and busting each link and daub
ing it with mixture of coal and lacquer. The
guncarrages stained the rapidre guns blackened
the stanchons acquered the masts scraped and SO
Tn northp titu0eS The weath
settled and rains and light breezes frequently give
casion for much extra work on ships Of course the
itself differs but little in these ATTITUDES from any
where else is the same vast expanse OF unduia1ng
blue heavng in long rollers far reach out
ing, returning again in golden splendor at night In
the southeast trades the wind soft and devoid of all
harshnes Even in strong breezes it fans ones cheek
like soft zephyr The glorious consultations OF the
hemisphere intense and vivid bright
ness The of snowwhte clouds add grandeur
the The waters at night sparkle marking the
ships wake in long band of gstening gold day after
day this view continues the same.
When the Wind Blows.
warshp is uncomfortable place in a gale of
wind On going below the blue jacket frequently finds
wet deck. Hammocks not allowed below during
the day. to sit lie down the damp deck is the only
resort Many of the appurtenances of war slide about
And usually threatens to suspend operations in
Each day, in proceeding southwark, the
perence different climate, graduating from most un-
comfortable raw damp and cold atmosphere thru all the
shades of spring weather. until few weeks they are
sweltering under the burning sun OF the equator -
Neptune, with his sea-cad retnue, stopped the Iowa
she crossed the equator off the Brazilian coast on her
long trip Francisco and held court board ac-
cordng the honored nautical custom His majesty
certainly did that honor and most royal time we had
The day given up holiday.
At the Court Of Neptune.
Promptly at clock, Neptune and Amphitrte came
board, accompanied by the members of the Royal
Equatorial Court and after consultation of some length
with the commanding officer paraded round the deck and
shortly after began the shaving The ESQ
initiated put thru in hearty and thoro manner,
each will remember the experience all his life, am
sure. At the close the entire court themselves
pitched headong into the tank This tank made Of
big awning spread from the supestructure deck to the
ridge rope held up athwars ship by boom and tackle
This strange ceremony, performed upon all who have
crossed the equator oldestabshed custom,
costumes of the most absurd and ouandish
patterns, and of course vary according to the mems
ideas Of the several characters. Neptune, this
cason was attred in light blue suit and long flowing
manila hair heard and nrsfaehe A tin crown orna-