Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1910-05-26
From a Sailor Boy.
Editor News:

Editor News:
Was pleased TO see the few line.
about the U. s Navy in your paper
and will furthermore try to interest
the readers of the News by another
letter, relating to life ON board man
o'-war.
1t is stated by great many critics
that years in the Navy is as bad as
the same length of time in a prison.
Without doubt the people who make
these remarks are those who have never
been in any of the United States mill
tary organizations. Perhaps a 4-year
cruise in the U. S. Navy, visiting the
different countries of the world and
living. as we say, ION the fat of the
land, " would be more convincing to
them than reading the different &C
counts of the Navy as they see them in
print. l have taken quite a little
pains to keep an exact account of the
number of men each state furnishes for
the Navy, and am very much pleased
to note that Tennessee is nearly hold
ing her own with any state in the un-
ion.
A shipmate, J. A. Coppinger, has
returned aboard ship after having
spent 3O-day furlough in your vii
lage, and reports an excellent time.
Notwithstanding the pleasant time he
had on his furlough, he was very glad
to get back to what we call our home.
And why should we not feel happy to
return when we have home that cost
81, 900, 900? Now, l think 'Uncle
Tom must admit that there is not
farm in Tennessee that cost this sum
of money. We would be very glad to
hear what "Uncle Tom" has to say
about this subject
The vermont the ship am serv-
ing on, is undergoing great many re-
pairs, so as to be able to take her place
with the fleet when they steam for the
Southern backgrounds to compete for
the battle trophy for 1911. The "Ver-
mont has held this trophy for two
years and it is considered one of the
greatest honors that ship can attain.
The rapidity in which our large guns
are fired is amazing. One of our large |
12-inch guns can be loaded and fired in
Is seconds. The projectiles of one of
these guns weighs $50 pounds and with
extreme elevation, travels over space
of 10 miles.
We carry battery of four 12-inch |
guns; eight S-inch guns, twelve finch |
guns and twenty 3-inch guns.
While shooting for the battle trophy
all these guns are in action at the |
same time.
Mr.. Coppinger gave me the name of
Mr.. Bennett, living in your village
who has some intention Of enlisting in
the Navy. Come on, Mr.. Bennett, we
would like to greet you as shipmate.
This does not include Mr.. Bennett
alone, but any and all of ''Uncle
Tom s. farmer boys. We realize that
farming and foxhunting are very in
teresting occupations, but we believe
thata trip around the Horn is more in
teresting than both. At least Mr.. Cop
pinger thinks so, and we consider him
an excellent judge of this matter, as
he has been in both occupations.
By the way, I understand that in
the near future we may have femin-
inc nurses in the Navy. 1t is nearly
too good to be true, but if this should
happen we hope to see Tennessee still
holding her own with any State in the
Union. Many the wandering boy
who would need no second call to en-
list in the Navy if this should prove
true. l will express my feelings on
this matter by the following words:
''If such thing should come to pass,
Every sailor would have a lass;
We would go to the sick bay, our head
in a whirl
To get our medicine from Tennessee
girl. !"
Hoping to hear from "Uncle Tom
l remain,
MOOSE, THE DEEP SEA SAILOR.