Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-11-28

great dreadnoushts WIN include:
Tomato Soup
Olives Gherkins Celery
Stuffing
Roast Virginia Ham
Cranberry Sauce Giblet Gravy
Dreamed Mashed Potatoes
Creamed Onions French Peas
Asparagus Tips with Mayonnaise
Mince Pie Pumpkin Pie
Crackers Small Cakes
Ice Cream
Oranges Nuts Raisins Assorted
Chocolates
Black Coffee
Cigars Cigarets
From the foregoing 1t will be seen
that the enlisted men OF the navy are
furnished with Thanksgiving dinner
as elaborate as that served in many
hotels. During the morning while pre-
partitions for the meal are in progress
| the quartermaster and his assistants
have been busy decorating the crew,
space with signal flags and vari-col
ored bunting. so that by the time tn
meal Is ptped the whole gun deck pre-
sents festive appearance. To prepar
the meal hundreds of cooks will roas
S3.125 pounds of turkey and chicken
and convert more than $4,000 pounds
OF cranberries into appetizing sauce.
Meanwhile the bakers have been pre-
pairing some 1900 or 10000 pumpkin
and nince pies for the hungry crews.
and far below. near the refrigerating
spaces, to the merry tune Of the ice
cream freezer, 5000 gallons OF delicious
Ice cream OF assorted fayors have been
made.
After dinner the crews assemble on
the forecastle to witness boxing matches
between wouldbe champions Of their
vision or fleet, and the enthusiasm, at
high pitch. Is trebled when ships
champion brings home the bacon"
Later in the afternoon rowing and
swimming races are held, and, as Is
customary with the sailorman, he bets
senting his own ship. Thousands Of
dollars change hands as the result OF
single race. During the same time,
perhaps, the ships football team Is
struggling for supremacy with the stall
Wart warriors Of a rival Ship but from
the hundreds in the crew partisans Of
both sports may enjoy them without
unduly depicting the number required
to, do the routine work, for only the
most necessary work Is done on holi-
days.
In spite OF this sumptuous dinner,
6 o'clock finds the sailor ready for sup
per, after which the ships minstrel
troupe prepares to give gala perform
ance. A moving picture machine sup
piled with weekly deliveries Of the
newest and most thrilling films is used
as an important adjunct to all enter
tatnments, and as frequently happens,
the ship will have several vaudeville
artists OF no mean order included in its
complement. For Thanksgiving special
sketches are prepared, and the rapid
nre criticisms and comments Of their
shipmates are frequently as amusing
as the efforts Of the actors themselves.
Tired, Happy Crew.
When taps are sounded at late
hour 1t is a tired but satisfied crew
who seek their hammocks swung be-
meath the beams of the berth deck.
The sports, the special dinners, the
gayety and entertainments of Thanks
giving are all repeated on the other
holidays Of the year. but In addition to
this there must be furnished each day
to this big family the nourishing food
which makes the vessel the "home" as
Jack fondly calls it.
The bureau OF supplies and accounts
under the paymaster general, United
States navy, makes the contracts COW
ering many hundreds Of items ranging
in quantities from a few thousand to
many millions of pounds each year, and
upon the members of the pay corps Of
the navy falls the responsibility for
the preparation and issue Of the ar
ticles of food supply. How successful
they are can be Judged from the many
commendatory remarks made by visit
ors from other navies, both at home
and abroad. During the visit Of the
New Hampshire to the celebration at
Quebec that vessel was crowded with
English officers and men during the
hours set aside for visiting, and a party
Of officers who were inspecting the
galley OF that ship while the regular
dinner was being prepared and served,
asked permission to have luncheon
served from the enlisted mems dinner
rather than return to their own ship,
where they said they would not re-
ceive as good a meal in their officers
mess. This one incident is typical Of
many coming under the notice Of the
officers Of the navy.