The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-06-12
CAY SCENES ON
VERA CRUZ SHIPS
Moving Pictures and Boxing
Bouts Chief Diversions.
OFFICERS AT THE RIMGSlDE


Crowding Cage Masts, Form tn.
Court of Last Decision In All Con.
tests-Sailors on Shore Leave Return
With All Sorts of Curiosities.
To all external appearances the
American fleet at Vera Cruz has put
aside thoughts of it's vitalizing yet
deadly experience ashore and gives no
sign OF its recent human sacrifices as
result of the peaceful occupation"
or Vera Cruz, says Dudley Harmon In
recent dispatch from Vera Cruz to
the New York Sun.
That is the beauty about the navy
in a situation like the present, he con-
tnues. The new navy has the faculty
OF making for itself more business than
any other institution could conceive Of;
a faculty which is at times annoying,
but under conditions at Vera Cruz a
most happy circumstance.
On some evenings and on some ships
the feet Is really as gay as it looks.
The bluejacket dearly loves party,
and with the relaxations Of peace about
Vera Cruz opportunities for satisfying
the desire for recreation have gradual
-ly increased. Every battleship Is now
a moving picture theater, and the pres
ence of the majority Of the vessels Of
the feet at Vera Cruz affords opportu-
nifty for an almost unlimited exchange
OF movie films between ships.
Boxing and Vaudeville.
To the landsman, however, the audi
ence at these shows is the most inter
esting feature Of the spectacle. On
the Arkansas, for example, Admiral
Badgers flagship, and one Of the giants
OF the feet, second only to the New
York. it is a scene long to be remem-
bered when the after deck Is trans
formed into theater. Atop the ex-
treme after turret the screen is rugged,
with the band just in front Of It, and
then a boxing ring. also used as
vaudeville stage.
Officers are honored with chairs eat
the ringside." but above their heads
are hundreds Of bluejackets with much
finer seats. The upper works Of the
ship are completely hidden, bluejackets
covering the turret tops, sitting astride
the twelve inch guns and crOwding
the great cage masts. They are the
real gallery gods. the court Of last de-
cision from whose verdicts the per-
former has no appeal.
But II is not all play for the blue
Jacket at Vera Cruz by good DEAL
The boat crews running to shore and
to other ships are on duty day and
night All sorts of repairs are under
way. while ships are being freshly
painted within and without. Every
afternoon all the sailing boats are put
over the side and the crews drilled In
elementary seamanship, but also every
afternoon a swimming party goes
ashore from each ship for the instruc-
ton of those who have not qualified
as swimmers, while those who have
qualified are permitted to splash over
the ships side at every evening and
at 7 In the morning.
Shore leave has been given the last
few days, at first only twenty-five men
from each ship every afternoon, but
gradually increasing as the first par
ties returned with promptness. AS a
result the ships are rapidly becoming
floating menageries and junk shops.
Parrots have come aboard by the
score, with a few canaries and dogs
and goats. Strange and sticky Mex
lean connections Of sugar and cocoa
nut have been brought alongside al
most by the ton, to be distributed
among those not so fortunate as to
win out in the drawings for shore
leave. Mexican baskets, red pottery.
blankets and even the gaudy pictures
of which the Mexican peon Is 80 fond
are now decorating secluded spots
about the ships.
Good Spendsrs.
Ashore in his captured city the blue
Jacket is king. In his neat white
dress Uniform and black neckerchief,
well set up, with fresh complexion and
clear eye. he Is a sight good to behold
in contrast with the slouching, dirty
and understood Mexicans. There is not
corner of the city so remote but
what he is to be found there, usual
" bargaining for something to eat.
drink or take home.
The money changers are doing
thriving business, while for the small
storekeepers and street vendors 1t Is
a real harvest. The bluejacket has
nothing cheap about him. Every att
ernoon strings Of coaches go to the
wharf where the liberty parties land
sure of getting plenty of fares as soon
as the sailors have provided them
selves with Mexican cigars, for accord
ing to the Mexican's opinion one does
not attain real dignity and aff1uence by
riding in a coach unless smoking Dig
black cigar
vera Cruzans have been quick to
learn the bIuejackets' tastes, and II
sometimes seems as If at least half the
- H. N H-1rn