New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
LEAVE OCEAN WAVE FOR
DULL, UNCHANC|NC
Naval Militia Saw Flying Fish,
Man.Eatinu Sharks and
a Whale.
BERMUDA MULE W0RSTED
On Way Home Battle Is Fought
with Flower of Dahomeyan
Navy-Sea Strewn
with Ghosts.
am The cook md the captain bold
And the mate Of the Nancy brig.

am the cook md the captain bold
And the mate Of the Nancy brig.
And the bo'sn light, and the midshifmte
Ard the crew OF the captains gig.
So sang the bold mariners OF the naval
militia as they hove into port Yesterday
afternoon on the good ship Alabama after
a weeks cruise on the surging deep
yo-ho Many a wondrous sight had they
seen: real flying fish and man-eating
sharks and a whale. They had battled
with phantom crew and dashed EN- to
the mast Hands long accustomed TO
play over the keys OF an adding machine
were blstered with heavy toll. Eyes that
were wont TO gaze unfiinchingly into the
face Of an irate office manager had
peeped into the stokehold at 200 degrees
Fahrenheit. Ears that only one short
week ago listened calmly TO the rattle
OF a hundred typewrlters had heard the
narrowing command: Man the ash whip
one, two, three. four"
But though burned by the sun and
blistered by cruel labor they were a
merry crew. and full of tall tales OF their
voyasing.
~ great trip" they said. Wouldn't
have missed II for the world" Yet when
mere landutber ventured an opinion
that one week was rather a short cruise,
startled look spread over their faces
and they hastily declared that one week
was quite enough-oh, quite.
The United States ship Alabama left
her moorings at the foot of West 96th
street a week ago Yesterday with about
2o) OF her own officers and men on board
and 30 officers and i5j men of the naval
militia Adjutant General Hamilton, Of
the New York National Guard, accom-
panied them. The militia were composed
Of the ist Battalion. OF New York. and
S officers and So men from the Sd Bat
TALON. of Rochester.
The Alabama sailed direct 70 Bermuda,
arriving there Monday night Tuesday
and Wednesday she lay at anchor off the
island. while the men practsed small
boat work and explored Bermuda. Dur
ing the cruise the militia. under the COM
mand Of Lieutenant Commander 5. Tain
tor. had almost complete charge OF the
ship. the regulars acting largely in an
advisory capacity. The men were called
from their beds at o'clock In the morn
ing and whiled away the day In drills,
eunnery practice. stocking coal. swabbins
decks ard polishing brass.
In Bermuda they had a twelve-hour
shore leave. As n automobiles are per-
mitted on the island the men had to eX-
plore the country on bicycles. There was
nothing strange about that, OF course,
only in Bermuda vehicles always pass on
the left Therefore. when a native and a
miltlaman met on the same road there
was generally a misunderstanding. a
crash then considerable hard feeling.
The men said they had spent their last
cent I'm damages for broken bicycles
\ story also leaked out. in spite OF an
attempt 10 keep II quiet. that a couple
Of hardy militameu got into an argument
with Bermuda mule. and. contrary 10
all muish ethics. got the best ~ him.
As a penalty for thus SCATTERING tradi-
ton they were hauled before a Bermuda
court and fined four shillngs each. But
when they told the Judge they had spent
all their money for bicycle damages and
had only four shlllngs between them his
honor showed them how merciful English
law. a. practised I'm Bermuda could be.
and accepted their eight bits.
Captain Preston Of the Alabama gave
luncheon Tor Governor General Bull
lock Of Bermuda Wednesday afternoon.
The same evening tho English officers
we're entertained at dance on board the
American ship.
While IN bermuda the list Battalion
proved that they were not only sailors
but baseball artists by trimming a team
~ the Alabama regulars 10 the tune OF
to g. on the Yankees training ground.
ON the way home tho commander re-
ccivcd wireless message that war had
been declared against Dahomey and that
the flower Of the Dahomeyan navy was
bearing down upon the American. Yes
terday morning the enemys ship was
sighted" The Alabama cleared for ac-
ton and greeted the African monster
with such terrific vollcv of shots and
Yankee Nells that the sea was strewn
with black ghosts In no time. Then. with
only a few more listers on the hands OF
her crew. she sailed merrily on her way.
Most OF the men remained on board
last night FOR their annual smoker and
parade stunts. As an appreciation OF the
work OF the eusigns during the cruise
Captain Poser. OF the naval militia gun
boat, the Wasp gave a dinner in their
honor I'm the evening