The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1907-04-06
GUN BOAT WASP
ARRIVED IN PORT THURSDAY
on DOWN TRIP
Win Remain Here Until Next Tues
For the Purpose of Getting Re-
cruits for the United States Navy
Little Boat is Wonder.


from Memphis about II: oc o'clock
Thursday morning and will remain
here until next Tuesday when it will
proceed on its trip 10 New Orleans.
WHEN il has reached there it will
have completed one OF the most uni
que trips ever made by any Of Uncle
Sans water fighters Navy boats
have made trips UP the Mississippi
before. but this IS the first trip ever
made for the purpose OF getting re-
crtits for the navy, and besides being
successful in getting sailors for Our
navy the trip has been a successful
one from the point of getting the peo-
pie Of the interior acquainted with
abe workings and methods used IN
she handling Of these water fighters
H. every town wher the Wasp has
stopped hundreds. and altogether
thousands, have visited this little
boat merely oft Of curiosity and
have learned great deal from their
visit All up and down the river the
Wasp IS eagerly awaited, and the
people have been much impressed
with the lighting qualities OF the boat.
Mr.. 2. ]. Cheever, master-at-arms,
arrived in Greenville two days ahead
OF the Wasp as advance agent Mr..
Cheever IS jolly sailor, makes
friends with everyone he meets and
does good work for the navy in his
capacity. From him we learn the
following about the Wasp and its gal
sant crew OF officers and men:
The Wasp is commanded by Chief
Boatswain ]. S Croghau, who is also
Che recruiting officer. Boatswain
Clancy. along with Surgeon Rennie
and Capt. Croghan, compose the Off
GERS mess. The Wasp also has on
board Pilot ] Gibbons, of New Or
beans, who has been with her since
she left New Orleans on March 8.
Pilot Gibbons says the Wasp is the
abe Mississippi river.
The Wasp Is $50 feet long, has a
2.3-foot beam. draws IS feet of water,
and makes a speed of 10 knots an
hour She was foremrly the property
of Mr.. Ladrew, of New York, who
sold her to the government for
$o4, 900. Immediately after the gov
eminent purchased her she was re-
built at the navy yard at Norfolk,
Ma, and then. with the gunboat
Gloucester she participated in the en-
gagements off Santiago, Cuba. She
also has great name for the
work She did in Nippon Bay, Cuba.
She conveyed several transports dur
eng the war, and every time at great
risk But leaving ii to a great many
Spaniards today they will tell yo,:
how they were stung by the Wasp.
Her name before the government
purchased her was the Columbia, and
she was buih at the Cramps yards at
Philadelphia. The Wasp is equipped
with wireless biography. put in by
Electrician Schneider, who is on
board the Wasp She has a crew OF
40 men, among whom is Boatswain's
Mate Johnson, first class, who has
been in the navy for % years and
who was with Admiral Dewey at the
battle of Manila Bay. Johnson also
aece1ved several medals for braveIs
during the war with Spain. Boat
swain Clancy also received several
medals for bravery during the Boxer
sroub1es in China and during the war
with Spain.
The Wasp will be open to all visi-
sors, and men wishing to enlist
znay come aboard between the hours
OF Q a m and 5 p. m. Since the
Wasp started out on her recruiting
expedition she has broken all records
for enlisting men for the naval serv-
ace Posters aud circular matter have
been distributed throughout the city
and Advance Agent Cheever will
Furnish persons with all the infor-
snation they desire about entering
che naval service. Men, after enlist
eng on board the Wasp, are not kept
con board, but sent direct to Norfolk,
Va, by railroad. where they receive
"a S4s outfit of clothing free, and also
where they receive their training. AT
ter the men have been at Norfolk
Sour months as apprentice seamen,
going through training, they are pro-
snoted to ordinary seamen and are
allowed to come home on furlough
sof ten days and travelling time. There
are great opportunities IN the navy
NOW For Instance Capt. Croghan,
xxho II years ago enlisted in the navy |
as an apprentice third class, at So per |
month, now has command of the gun |
boat Wasp, and is also in the line for |
Boatswain Clancy has al |
so done the same identical thing.