The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-05-04

mocks, rolling them in a cylindrical
bundle secured with seven round taut
turns of manila lashing and then neat
ly slowing them away in the netting
on deck.
The mess cooks then appear, bring
ing tin buckets two feet high filled
with hot, strong coffee, sweetened and
diluted with milk. Each man drinks
his bowl of coffee, then comforts him.
self with pipe or with cigarettes
from his ''ditty box; I regret to say
that the cigarette habit has invaded
the ranks of our fnes stalwart body of
bluejackets. Jack with a pipe sounds
historic and as. he should be, but with
a cigarette he is inconsistent. The
ditty box is about foot across and
in this Jack keeps safely locked his
private letters, photographs, writing
materials, perhaps a cake of soap and
other treasures. For half an hour the
a letter or do as he pleases.
The bell strikes the half-hour. The
boatswain's mates pipe and then sing
out Turn tot" the pipe or whistle
blast coming first and the order fol-
lowing. This means that the men
must tumble out on deck and in obedi-
ence to the orders as given must
wash clothes,'' scrub down the decks
with sand" wipe off paintwork," or
do whatever the programme for the
mornings work may be for that day.
Hose is brought out, pumps are started
and sand is sprink]ed on the decks.
The men scrub the decks with long
handled brushes, wiping them down
afterwards with "squilgees''-a fat
piece of wood with rubber edge and
a 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 stimulant 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 are 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 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 the captain: Eight O'Clock, sir,
and the chronometers 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. !. X
At nine o'clock the sick call=is sound
ID by the buglers and the men who
are not well or wish. to be so consid-
cred descend Ito see the doctor in the
S"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 ma alter. 3 q. .=s ss
~ BY 9: 80 the decks are. cleared and
everything made: shi shape for guar;
ters. The men assemble in the di-
visions IS which th hey are assigned il
battle and then ofc GERS see hat they