Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1908-06-13

Tacoma, June
To the Editor:

the bay last Wednesday morning,
as though there was a hauser line
stretched between each one, could
be nothing but imposing and the
remarks of this fact could be num-
bered in thousands, yet few realize
how it is all done when at sea the
ships maintain a distance of 400
yards apart, and if they fall out of
line, or lag behind the flagship
wants to know why. The officer
on the flagship stands on the bridge,
he has dial which he times that
regulates the speed. This dial is
an electrical machine, and COM
municates the change to each ship,
and the transferance of these sig
nails are mere matter of seconds.
We boarded the Georgia and
Virginia" on each were $50 men.
The greater portion of these men
are from II to 20 years of age, per-
feet in department, kind, and cour-
teous, never addressing you, with
out being spoken to, always ready
to answer all questions and show
one around.
On board for amusement they
had 6 mascots, 3 pianos,2 libraries,
athletics, which include running,
jumping, boxing and wrestling.
There are but few men aboard the
Georgia who are not athletes. Row.
ing contests every day with 16-
cared boats. The baseball rivalry
between ship teams are very keen.
The mascots on the Georgia con-
sists of bear, 2 dogs, 2 parrots
and goat. At present the bear
named Fighting Bob" is most
popular. One of the Georgia boys
told us that at one time on the trip
around the Horn, there were 16
dogs on board the ship. Any sailor
who went a shore brought back a
dog, but the result was watery
grave. The 2 libraries contains
over 1000 volumes, books are
drawn every Wednesday and Sun
day, and may be kept for 2 weeks.
During recreation hours the auto
matte piano has little peace.
The galley, Cor kitchen as we
would call it) is located on the
main battery deck, mess mate is
selected from each 20 men, who
waits on the table. in fact, serves
the meal. The tables are all hung
from overhead, and mess is ready
at II AS a. M, and consists of pot
roast, boiled ham, fried fish, roast
pork or beef. They use 40 gallons
of beans, so pounds of coffee at one
meal. 1000 loaves of bread each
day. They use dehyrated vegeta-
bles, consisting of cabbage. onions,
turnips, celery and spinach cut
ana dried. One pound is equal to
% pounds of green vegetables. 1t
takes 10 gallons of soup for din
ner. The officers have separate
mess and negro cooks.
The Georgia has a very heavy
battery, eight men are required to
fire a Pinch gun every 80
seconds. Last year, an explosion
occurred in main battery and killed
16 men. The next day the Geor-
gia made the best record of the
Navy. The gunners have the fir
ing down to fine point, but are
always working to clip off another
second. An officer says the Geor
gia made End place for the prize,
loosing by one shot; from 12-incf
gun out of IL shots fired, II hiti
were scored. In the 8 inch gum
out of q shots, 26 hits was scored
I Our boys are ready to knock tn
t chip off of the Japs' shoulder a
). any opportunity.
: A broadside of metal from tn
: Georgia cost $3.50. The Georgi
a in three days practice at Mag
r dalene bay cost Uncle Sam $39, 30
: for ammunition alone, but Uncl
Sam believes the better the gunne
t the less use he will have to us