The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1907-03-21

piece of wood with rubber edge and
stick handle.
A boat is usually called away about
this time. In it the captains and off,
GERS stewards go ashore for the mar.
keting. The boats are cleaned, also
the outside of the ship. Think of it,
all good housekeepers! If our houses
could be cleaned inside and outside
before breakfast!
But Jack is getting hungry. The
early coffee was only a stimulapt and
the hard work gives him a good appe.
tite.
At seven or eight bells-7:30 or
eight O'Clock. according to the routine
the men arc piped to breakfast. A
pipe from the boatswain's mate few
minutes before means Spread the
mess gear" appetite makes the best
sauce" and the menu is q substantial
one, satisfying to hungry sailor
corn.beef hash or beef stew, coffee,
bread and butter. There Is an abun.
dant supply and three-quarters of an
hour is allowed for breakfast: so there
is no haste.
The officers of the deck then reports
to tho captain: "Eight o'clock, sir,
and the thermometers are wound"
Make it so" says the autocrat, and
eight bells becomes an accomplished
fact
After breakfast they turn to again
with renewed energy, let us hope, and
go to work cleaning brass, gun-bright
work--in fact, all the bright work
about the guns and decks. Jack must
shine her up" every morning and the
result is seen in the fine appearance of
our ships.
At nine o'clock the sick call is sound.
ed by the buglers and the men who
are not we'll or wish to he so consid-
cred descend to see the doctor in the
sick bay" Strong medicine is some.
times given. but bread pills have been
known to form a frequent mild treat
ment and to- work a cure, showing the
influence of mind over matter"
BY $3.50 the decks arc cleared and
everything made ship-shape for quar-
tiers. The men assemble in the d.
visions to which they are assigned In
battle and then officers see that they
are clean, uniformly dressed and tidy
[ will mention here that bathing and
keeping clean generally are greatly
facilitated now by modern improve
ments. Formerly the men washed III
buckets; now they have shower baths
and other conveniences, 40 that the
tiremen coming up begrimed from his
work can avail himself of all these i'm
proved means to make himself clean
and comfortable.
Following this routine are various
exercises-grcaL guns, secondary bat
terry. small arms, sword or bayonet
arm and away boats for distant serv-
ice. fire drill, collision drill or aban-
don ship.
One would suppose that the ship was
by this time ''as clean as Il whistle"
but it appears not, for after drill until
dinner time Jack is occupied In paint
ing, scraping, securing, knotting, splic-
ing and doing necessary work to keep
the ship in neat and efficient condition.
The work is done 1T last and ten
minutes before IL o'clock the well
come pipe is heard. At IL the men
are merrily piped to dinner.
BY the way. wouldn't it be Il happy
idea to have ourselves piped to our
meals? Instead of the butler or maid
saying: Dinner is served, madam"
or the English gong sounding. why
not cheerful piping from a whistle?
I think it would be enlivening and tend
to good humor and appetite.
The meal pennant flies while the
men are at meals. Therefore when
one sees this pennant flying-a long.
narrow red fag-it means that a visit
to the ship is inopportune. One Is per-
soma non grata on board ut that time
The officers are careful not to call of
the men for any purpose. If possible.
during meals and to have all boats
back to the ship by the meal hour.
After 1:3O the afternoon drill period
begins. The men have instruction in
signals, aiming and sighting guns and
handling boats. under sail and oars.
Wednesday afternoon is mending
day. Men can bring out their bags and
mend and mark their clothes. The
sailors thimble for light work is the
time.honored finger hat" as the Ger
mans say-the common thimble used
by shore people; but for sewing can
vas he uses a three-cornered needle
and the palm" The latter is leath-
er or rawhide strap fitting around the
hand and having on the inner side
roughened metallic disk to bear
against the needle. Sewing machines,
with hand attachments, are used and
some of the men are paid by the others
to make their suits. The dude sailor
likes his clothes tailor-made quite as
we'll as his land lubber brother, al
though the paymaster issues ready
made clothing to those who desire it.
The work about the decks is easy in
the afternoon. The men loaf OH the
fo'castle or on the superstructure OF