The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-11-21
THANKSGIVING ON
BOARD "A MAN-0F WAR

H"L..- L.E.#AN tMH
Thanksgiving and Fourth Of July are in
the same class on United States battle
ships. Both are holidays for the jackies.
Both are celebrated with games and
sports. Turkey and cranberry sauce are
the only things which d~ifferenttate the
last Thursday in November from the
United States seaman's Fourth of July,
when all the men IN the LAY put on their
Sunday clothes, have a big feast and are
mot compelled TO work.
With the dawn OF Thanksgiving day on
a United States battleship, regardless OF
whether she ia In Manchurian waters or
skirting the coast OF the isthmus OF Fan
ANA, all colors are thrown TO the vino.
Great American flags are raised 10 each
OF the mastheads and lines OF brtliant SIG
nal flags extend from the PROV ana stern
to the m~astheads. The decks are washed
down n made sh.pshape, flags are drap-
| ed all over the mess rooms and In every
part of the officers quarters, tand at noon
the privilege to all parts OF the snip 10
extended to the crew, and the real cele-
brat!on begins. .#
The government makes no special allow
ance for a Thanksgiving dinner, put tne
men took after that themselves. Each
mess provides a spread which Is usually
served on tables which are decorated with
flowers and plants, which give 1t the ap-
| pearance OF a New England dinner cable
as near as Is possible in the out OK ths
way corners OF the earth where the boys
happen TO have their Thanksgiving cele-
bration. Plum duff, turkey and mince pie
are called upon TO supply a ThanksgiVing
atmosphere TO the greatest feast OF 'he
year In the navy. r
Even on Thanksgiving day the men on
board b~attleships are not supposed TO nave
any liquor, but skillful smuggling IRE
| 1uently adds the necessary brandy to the
sailors spread. Twenty years one OF
the United States ba~ttleshlps lay III
Naples bay on Thanksgiving day. strict
brders had been issued against liquor, ana
ell the men had been warned not TO at
tempt TO get any grog aboard. the messes
cent representatives ashore to PROVIDE tne
provisions for the dinner and brought
oack baskets filled with food which passed
inspection. Roasted turkeys done to a
tempting brown and stuffed with oysters
had a prominent place in the baskets.
Before the dinner was ended hilarity
Sreater thar turkey IL capable OF produc-
ing attracted the attention or Officers ana
Jimmy Legs, master at arms, was called
upon to stop the noise. HIS efforts were In
vain, and officers began a search In the
hope OF finding the cause OF the unusual
mirth. A raid was made on the pantries,
and an examination OF several OF the well
browned turkeys showed that a thin layer
OF oyster dressing concealed skins filled
with enough liquor TO give several ships
crews a rousing celebration.
After dinner the men have the freedOm
OF the vessel. Smoking is permitted every
where, and for a few hours the ordinary
seaman is allowed to lounge in the best
seats the ship affords and 20 smoke cigars
which would do credit to the officers
quarters. II the vessel IL near the shore
the afternoon is usually devoted to base
ball games, foot races and football. II the
battleship happens to be where shore priv
ileges cannot be granted the ships deck
becomes the recreation ground, and three
legged races, potatoe races, obstacle races,
rope climbing contests, boxing and other
athletic events are engaged In.
Boat races are also a popular diversion
on Thanksgiving day. Prizes are onered
by the officers for the successful crews
and individual performers, n the men
overcome the stupor OF a heavy dinner
in their effort to show superior oarsman-
ship.
In the days when Tom sharkey was
Jimmy Legs on the Philadelphia boxing
was one OF the chief sports with the men
in the navy, but now the youngsters who
aspire to prize ring honors are discouraged
by older men who are given TO saying. 81
used to be Sharkey's sparrin' ~pardner.'-
Washington Times.