Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-25
VERNON COUNTY BoY ON A CRUISE
Mr.. C. II. Campbell Starts on Trial Trip
TO Pacific Waters.

I
To THE CENSOR: This being my last
chance to write to the good old home
paper, from this side of the world, for
an indefinite lenght of time, will now
take the opportunity of writing a few
things in regard TO our coming cruise
to the other side and Frisco. Tomorrow
IS the day we sail, and leave behind all
those whom we love, to make what the
president deems best TO call tia prae-
tice cruise, but there are grave fears
In the fleet that the practice may be
only too much of the real thing after
we arrive at San Francisco. Hampton
loads is grand sight to see now, as
the whole north Atlantis fleet is as
| sembled here in readiness to sa:, wnen
commander-in-c.ief Rear Admiral r.
=. Evans, gives the word at 1890 to-
morrow morning. The president is COM
ing here to review the feet, and is. |
suppose, on his way now. We will ar
rive at Trinidad on the oath il all goes
well, and three days out of here we will
be enjoying nice warm summer weather
while the folks at home will be shiver-
ing in the raw winds and chilly blasts
OF stormy January. Of course we will all
be wearing white clothes then, and per-
splre IN the bargain. We have a fully
equipped laundry on board now, which
is gong to be great improvement, as
scrubblng ones own clothes is anything
but pleasant, a'.h 0ugh when one gets
accustomed to it, it doesn' I seem so bad
lit is all in knowing how to do it.
have still better job now, for am in
the executive office, that is the first
heutenants Office, where all have to do
is to sit and wait for orders from tie
executive, and when he gives me any,
1 have to deliver them to some of his
interiors in command. am going to
try for yeoman but do not know as vet
Just how | shall make out at it. There
IS a great deal to learn, and MANY
things to know about handling a large
number of men, and now we have eight
hundred men on board. | heard that
the commander-in-chiefs flagship, the
Connecticut, has eleven hundred men,
bLs am not sure of the authority or
truth of the statement. We are all ex-
pecting rough treatment when we cross
the equator, for there the captain gives
over his command of the ship to Captain
Rex and fellow is selected from the
crew to represent him, and he with the
other members of the crew see that
every man all the way up TO the cap
tain himself get initiated into Neptune 5
lodge. ! am going to take it the way
| 1t comes, fG- the more kicks you make
the worse treatment is meted out to
you, so It is best to take il easy. |,
having never as yet, crossed the line.
cannot describe in detail Just what
treatment one receives, but it is plency
rough from what fellows say who have
been through the experience. When
one IS initiated he receives a certificate
of initiation, which is a souvenir to re-
member the event by. Well 1 am look
ing forward to the Christmas dinner
now the most of anything. A fine feast
| Is generally given the crews of all the
ships then. Last year / was at the
naval training station at Newport,
Rhode Island, and know we mad fine
dlaner that day. We will get to eat it in
lrunidad this year, amidst coal dust and
other dlscomforts which generally at
te'ad the c9ali1g of the ship. We win
have to put on about fourteen hundred
tons OF coal there, for we burn about
one hundred and fifty tons per twenty
| four hours on an average. OF course
the consumption of coal depends great
deal upon the state of the weather and
the direction Of the wind We will need
no steam for heat after leaving here,
so that will of course save fuel. While
at the naval hospital at Newport last
winter | saw where W. w. Dunlap had
carved his initials in bold relief upon
the door casing on the starboard side
OF the door, going out of the pest house.
think he will remember the place and
time he placed it there, If reminded of
it. Ii made me think of the poem
Twenty Years Ago" as looked at it.,
for it reminded me of home, and knew
the name was placed there by a Yer
non county lad. They feed good at the
pest house, don't they Warren? He
probably placed the name there after
having eaten hearty meal and could
find nothing else in particular to do.
Well tomorrow ! suppose that will be
many miles from land and out of sight,
as it were. A Portuguese merchant ship
is just passing. She is bound for New
York with cargo of fine Old Port, |
suppose. | will close with best Christ
mas wishes to the editor and my friends.
Very truly,
G.. H. CAMPBELL.