Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-21
FRESH FROM THE SEA
District Sailor Lads Return to
the Chesapeake.
PURITAN cOALING TODAY
Stops at Old Point Before Beginning
Homeward Bound Trip.
TARGET PRACTICE PRAISED
Regular Sea Routine Followed Closely
Discipline Has Been Excellent
Throughout Cruise.

| Der 21-The District naval militia. on board
| the monitor Puritan. has returned from
| target practice at sea, and after coaling and
putting fresh supplies aboard will hoist
| the homeward-bound pennant
Capt. Andrew Parker, paymaster Of the
| District National Guard. accompanied by
| his assistant, Mr.. Boyd Taylor, who left
Washington Thursday morning. have ar
rived with funds sufficient to pay the OFF,
GERS and men for the service rendered
| on the cruise, as provided by the govern
ment. The men will be paid on the return
trip IN order that the money may be i'm
mediateiy available when they reach home.
The work Of the men at the targets Is
reported to have been most gratifying to
Commander 8. w. Stratton and the divi-
| the use Of the one and six Founders and
later with the four-inch rifles and the auto
matte rapid fire guns. The men proved
very efficient at all eaiioers. ana the ex-
proved the benefits derived from practice.
especially with the smaller guns. The
men will be given further Opportunity of
displaying their efficiency when the Puri-
tan arrives in the vicinity OF Point Look
out, where the conditions for target practice
are nearly perfect.
No Idle Hours
The jackies have also improved every
available moment in signaling. seamanship
and drills OF all kinds, and the results have
been most favorable The work of the
engineers division has been highly cornpli-
mented, and the cheerful loyalty OF the
crew was evidenced by the manner In which
every man. performed the duty allotted to
| him. The discipline. toe. has been excel
lent throughout the entire cruise. which
has added materially In making 1t sue
cess.
The regular sea routine, which was adopt
ed by Captain stratton, from the time of
the departure Of the Puritan from Wash
! ington, has been as follows: am, call
ships cook: $3.50 am. call the watch: re-
lieve the wheel and lookouts; am, relieve
| the watch; 4:30 am. turn to. out smoking
lamp pipe sweepers, clear up the decks.
wash clothes: 5:15 am. trtce up clothes
| lines. execute morning orders" at sun
| rise. take in running lights. station mast
head lookout; 6 am. call idiers and day
| men, hoist ashes; $50 am. trice up six
| bell hammock cloths; am. up all ham,
mocks. serve out washing waters: 7:O Am.
mess gear watch below. light smoking lamp;
7:3O am. breakfast watch below: 1850 am.
mess gear watch On deck; am. relieve the
| watch. breakfast: $50 an. turn to. out
| smoking lamp. gun and deck bright work:
8 am. sick call: 8:15 am. clear up the
decks, down towel lines. stow away ditty
| boxes and cleaning gear. sweepers: 9:2S
which drills and exercises as per routine:
| 10 am, relieve wheel and lookouts: 1880
a.m., retreat from drill, extra duty" call;
IL am, hoist ashes: 1l:s0 am sweepers.
II 80 am. mess gear watch below. smoking
lamp: II M, dinner watch below: 1920 2. m.
mess gear watch on deck; 1890 2. m. relieve
| the watch. dinner: l pm. turn to, out
start work about the decks; 1870 pm. serve
out provisions; pm. special drills. hoist
ashes. relieve the Wheel and iook ,o ;,,s
watch, knock of all work; $40 pm, mess
gear watch below. smoking lamp; $50 pnl,
supper watch below; $40 pm, mess gear
4 all. a fNh
per, hoist ashes, relieve wheel and 1ookouts,
at sunset get out running lights, down mast
| head lookout. couple fire hose: $50 pm.
| turn to, hammocks; p. m, relieve the
watch, wheel and lookoutS.
Messing Satisfactory.
The messing Of the men has proved very
| satisfactory. and no complaint has been
heard from this source. Paymaster Johns,
| with an assistant, is present and superfn-
| tends the serving Of the rations to the
| men in one end Of the ship, while Pay
Clerk William G. Neumeyer. with another
assistant. superintends the work at the
other end. thus eliminating any delay Ia
feeding the men and avoiding all confusion.
The navigating and signal officers have
/ men under the able guidance and tnstruc.
| ton OF Navigator william q. Bleo have
been able to add much to their knowledge
| Of seamanship and navigation. The di.
visional officers have worked efficiently and
have done much in perfecting the men in
the various drills. on shipboard. Surgeon
Charles A. Weaver has not spent many idle
| moments. for while out at sea a number OF
| the men contracted that inward feeling Of
uneasiness, when the Puritan commenced
| to ride the heavy swells and the deep blue
| sea broke over the low decks. Engineer
| Mittendorf has nothing but praise for the
men Of his division in handling tho ma
chinery and engines Of the big fighting
| vessel.
More Target Practice.
| The trip UP the Potomac river, after
| target practice at It's junction with Chesa-
peake bay, will be made slowly, allowing
ample time for the men to clean up ship.
preparatory to the inspection which will
be held on board the Puritan by General
George H. Harries, commanding the District
militia. upon her arrival at the foot of
| Tth street, Sunday. As the ''bluejackets''
from the District are anxious to make q
most presentabie appearance at the inspec-
ton, every spare moment win be devoted
l to polishing up the brass work Of the vessel
and cleaning their uniforms, before depart
ing to their homes.