The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-09-06
LIFE ON A WARSH|P

In Port a Single Ships Crew Eats 500
Pounds Of Fish, $50 Pounds Of Pork
or Barrel and Half Of Beans a
Dsy-Most Tars From Inland States
How many housewives would like
to have to cater for a family for 80
cents head a day? That's exactly
the sum II costs Uncle Sam. and he
has something like 10000 bluejackets
to feed at his man-of-war table.
Even on ordinary days a sailor sits
down to fare no civilian need snift
at, says the Home Magazine. Eggs,
boiled potatoes, bread and butter and
coffee form his breakfast one morn
ing. Perhaps the next he has sausages
and corn bread.
Roast veal with gravy, boiled po-
tatoes, succotash, bread and butter,
gingerbread and coffee is an ordinary
dinner menu, while fried pock chops,
bread and butter, apple sauce and
tea is the bill of fare submitted by
the steward to the paymaster for the
same days evening meal.
That the fare agrees with him is
attested by his hospital record. Sci.
dom more than FIVE to ten men are
sick at time from the ships crew
Of $50.
Not all the seamen are brought up
near the sea. Many of them are IN
land boys who run away from home
for the life on the brine. The books
of the Virginia, for instance, bear
this out with a record that of the $50
sailors 500 have enlisted from States
as far inland as Idaho and Wiscon-
sin.
Every minute OF the day aboard
ship is lived according to rule. At
$3.50 o'clock in the morning the sailor
is aroused by the call OF three bells.
Thirty minutes is allowed him for
lashing his hammock, etc. After that
he is allowed 10 take II down only by
special permission. There is no sneak.
ing.it off for seductive little maps in
the day.
His breakfast Is served at 6:3O
o'clock, five bells. Twelve seamen
mess at one table, one OF their own
number receiving an extra stipend of
50 monthly from Uncle Sam for wait
ing on his comrades.
This assignment is now generally
made in rotation. Jack tars have
been known to come to blows in their
zeal to secure II. Then again, when
stationed in warmer climes, II was not
always easy to find men willing to OF.
ficiate.
Uncle Sam sets seven tables, in ac-
cordance with his rules OF class dis
tinction, which are as fixed and un-
swerving as the laws of the Medes
and Persians. There is, first Admir-.
ais mess, at which the head officer is
served in solitary state. Second, Cap.
tain's mess. at which the presiding
officer enjoys the same lonely distinc-
tion. Third, wardroom officers, or jol-
liflcation mess, SO called for the good
times enjoyed by the tableful of com
missioned officers below the rank OF
Captain.
Fourth, the junior officers mess,
consisting OF midshipmen, the young
graduates Of Annapolis, who, having
been educated at Uncle Sans expense.
are now getting their first maritime
experience, Fifth, the chief petty
officers mess. 'for those in rank be-
low the midshipmen. Sixth, the war.
rant officers mess, who, by pull, spe-
cial ability or act OF prowess, have
raised themselves from the enlisted
ranks. Seventh and last but not least
Is the general or mess table where
The lusty appetites Of the rank and
die are assuaged.
Uncle Sans officers want the fat of |
he land, and supply It from, their own
purses. BY special clubbing arrange
nents among themselves an officers
ness Is provided at a cost TO each
'fiicer OF $50 month. Even a colored
,hef Is retained
His souffles and his salads are true
works OF art. The key of the wine
chest he guards with jealous care.
But all this is matter of reckoning
between him and the officers. I'm
lie Sam enters not at all.
Uncle Sans head housekeeper. the
Daymaster, indeed. has quite enough
IN his mind trying to keep nearly a
thousand lusty men satisfied with
heir grub and at the same time keen
lis bills down to the satisfaction OF
he Navy Department auditor at
Washington. 1t is no light undertake
ng.
The paymaster. in truth, must be n
nan OF rare parts, and is rightly es.
eemed one OF the ablest and most
onored officers in the service. Take
he qualities needed TO make a sue
essful hotel man. Add TO them those
o make the popular leader. Throw
Il Intense pride and loyalty 10 the
eryice, seasoned with untiring zeal
or the interests Of his men, and you
et the kind OF mixture Uncle Sam
as to find before he appoints his