Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-07

! 90 Bee BluS.
light on the "forecastle' singing, dancing,
and frolcking to our hearts content
Away for a Practice Cruise.
After a few months under shore training
we boarded the United States ship Mohican,
with three rousng cheers for those who
were unfortunate enough to remain on the
old Pensacola. Only $50 could go aboard
! for the eleven months cruise, and l was
! one of the chosen ones In fact, all the
, Omaha draft was taken, as it was their
| turn TO go for further instructions and
training before boarding a battleship of the
line, as real. true, man-o'- warsmen.
How lofty the ship looked; how prettly
1t rode the waves; like a swan on pleasure
bent.
one evening in November we glided
smoothly out of the Golden Gate" into the
I Pacific, just as the sun was setting in the
fullness of gold beyond the distant Fara-
tones islands, On board this ship our lives
| broadened again. Here we were doing the
real sailors work, in making spices, knot
ting, setting SAIL etc. On each side of us
we saw the towering hills, bristling with
guns and mortors. We saw the Cliff House,
Seal Rocks and Mile Rock, on which the
Inflated Rio Janeiro struck and sank one
foggy morning.
AS evening closed and the curtains of the
night came softly stealing downward on
the purple sea- and the little stars were
twinkling, peeping with flood of silvery
light, and the moon came stealthiy creep
ing over the Californian hills, we knocked
off steaming and set our sails and changed
the course to the southwark toward Old
Mexico. Old Father Neptune (the keeper
of all good sailors) did not favor us with
good winds as we rolled slowly along on
the bosom of the sleepy Pacific. Many of
us got sea sick, but, thank goodness, 1t Is
not permanent ailment, so all of us re-
covered, and with sharpened appetites we
relished the bareback, biscuits and coarse
food for which we had so longed and pinned
for. Soon our evenings were spent as nicely
singing and playing, they had been on
the old Pensacola, and we liked this free
healthful life. Our drills continued and the
ship rolled lazily along.
| Passing to Higher Grade.
When out seventy days at sea a notice
was posted telling us that all who wished
to could hand in their names and be ex-
amlned for ordinary seaman. Many OF us
were a little afraid that we didn't know
enough to become an ordinary seaman, but
the boldest of us put in our names and were
examined by board of officers appointed
for that purpose. How we studied and
crammed spices and knots, tackles and
blocks into our brains. Good thing I'm a
chip of the old block" as wooden things
came easier Many Of us passed with high
percentages and had an additional stripe
put on the sleeves of our blouses, besides
an increase in pay of SO per month
How proud we were as we realized that
Personal Endeavor" was really being ap-
preciated and was the real road to success.
In fourteen quickly passed DAYS we an
chored In Magdelena bay, Mexico. Here
we stayed for three weeks, drilled ashore
and on board, had sailing and swimming
races, hunted turtles. went bathing in the
surf in Dead Mans cove" and on Sundays
would take boats and lines and go trawling
for the speedy snappy, fashy yellowtail
and mackerel.
|, Sights I'm the Pacific.
Fresh fish of all kinds were our main
food item, but we received beef from
ranchero who had herd of steers We re-
luctantly cast off our moorings and were
soon on our way for Honolulu. Thirty days
of sailing brought us to the Garden of the
Pacific" the most beautiful pace we had
ever seen. Orange and banana trees COW
cred the slopes of the old Punch Bowl"
on whose peaceful crater sugar cane was
growing.
Shore leave was given each day, SO the
boys" might have chance to go up to old
Mauna Loa, the active volcano of the
Hawiian group, and to Wiki Beach, where
the native girls and boys ride on boards
over the rolling surf.
We finally left the Pacific paradise and
sailed for Christmas islands Ia small group
of coral formaton) TO supply the natives
I viii
gun practice
Meanwhile, We were steadily learning the
seamans craft and gaining knowledge of
his art. Doing all the practical seamans
work with some degree OF tidiness and neat
ness.
Samoa was visited next also Bonim and
J Yokohoma, Japan, Dutch Harbor, Alaska
and Honolulu again, thence up to British
Columbia, Port Townsend Wash, Seattle,
and back to San Francisco
Advance Earned by Industry,
In the eight months interval great
events transpired. We were urged by the
officers to take the examination for seamen
and many Of us passed with honors A
few of the boys would not study at
all, some developed bad traits of character
and these We're discharged as "undesirabl e''
by our captain.
liked 10 steer the ship, take soundings,
make signals, keep the weather report and
, have charge OF the man at the wheel, so
, put my best endeavors forward and studied
so that might be able when the time came
, to hold a quartermaster's position. At
Bremerton, Wash, one of our quartermast-
ers was paid on, so l was examined for and
, given an actual appointment as a third
class quartermaster and received $50 a
| month.
Six of we boys decided to remain on the
old Mohican, and we stayed were all put
in petty officers positions OF trust inside
of ten months after coming on the ship.
This was the third epoch OF my seafaring
career, and the fourth came after 1 had
served as quartermaster third-class one
year when l received an appointment as
| quartermaster, secOnd-class
Shortly after this I was placed in the
position OF the chief quartermaster, who
received an honorable discharge, and which
position / held until the ship sailed for the
Philippines.
After serving six months more I was
given an appointment as a hrst-cIass