New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-13
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
BOARDS WARSHIP;;
1901 SURRENDER
Chief BO'sn of New York
Would Feed All Poor
Children in City.
SCOUTS GO ASHORE
TO GATHER WAITS
Chimney Ready for Santa to
Bring Ransom of Yule-
tide Hostages.

There is a Job for Charles Dicken'
at the navy yard. To him, as tn
greatest press agent Of Christmas be
longs by right the story of the dread
nought New York's Yuletide, a Christ
mas salyo from five turrets.
First in the story, picture Chic
Boatswain's Mate II. Pcrcival, blue
Jacket since 1882, with keen eyes tina
arc kind and a stern mouth that smiles
TO whom has recently come the new
title of Santa Claus in chief Of th'
dreadnought. To him add a THOUSAND
other enlisted men of the New York
all potential Kris kringles, whether II
the brass buttons of warrant officers o
the sailor collars and flowing trouser
of able seamcn. And then tind tn
hundred dinnerless and Tresentlcs
children whom these men Of the nav.
insist are going to be fed by them oI
Christmas Day. Or help the sailor
find them. All yesterday afternoon ant
evening bluejackets were spending tn
first sweet hours OF shore liberty II
searching the slums for boys and girl
to whom Christmas meant nothing thi
year.
Grim, gray, forbidding, sulking be
hind her great guns, the New forl
crept into her berth at the navy ysrC
Yesterday morning. Brutal strength
spoke in her every line; power anC
might and cruelty in her heavy tur
rets, her big smoking tunnels, her high
walls Of steel. Yet far down in he
vitals a chimney Of painted cloth stood
st one end of he enlisted mems
library. Through its gaping hearth
stained with the paint that sleeks the
breeches Of the big guns, st. Nicholas
who in real or unreal life is Second
Glass Boatswains Mate Luddy, vii
tumble on Christmas afternoon, bear
ing gifts for a hundred babies whom
Santa Claus had almost forgotten.
Six Aids TO Santa Claus.
While on the decks, far above men
tramped to and fro in the biting cold
six Of their mates stood about the
brilliant chimney whispering with the
air of dark conspirators and the glee-
ful faces Of naughty boys. BY the
time the first hawser was ashore they
slipped on deck, dropped oversize and
disappeared.
Somewhere week ago the Christmas
spirit came walking over the storm!
waters to the great battleship. No guarC
saw it fash over the dreadnought's
side, but Chief Boatswain's Mate Per-
cival grinned and slapped his knee and
called his crones into conference
And the Christmas spirit sat among
them.
Chief Boatswain's Mate Gowan, Sec
ord Glass Master at Arms Gales, Sec
ond Class Boatswain's Mate Luddy
First Class Boatswain's Mate Bishop
and Boiler Maker Toomey forgot for a
little while their parts in the mighty
war machine that walled them in while
they talked of hungry children and biz
plates Of turkey, OF giftless children Oh
Christmas Day and the bulgng stock
ings that would hang about the library
There the plot began and spread 10
Al ~. L,rJrads of MON yyhose bue
ness was battle. One of the world s
greatest fighting ships brought to New
York Yesterday a promise Of happiness
for children on the dsy of the Christ
Child's birth.
From beginning 10 end it is the blue
Jackets party. What permission they
needed for the furtherance OF the plans
their officers gave freely. The Six arcn
conspirators who sneaked away from
the dreadnought yesterday morning
have had indefinite shore leave be-
slowed upon them. They may come
and 90 as they please in their search
for hungry, joyless children, and the
bulky parcels they bring aboard are
whisked away TO their hiding place
without a question.
At first II was planned 20 give tHe
marty for orphans. but Percivsl at last
sound a better idea. Orphans are fed
and clothed and cared for" he pro-
younced "Orphans get bi" dinners on
CHRISTMAS. It is the cold, hungry chIl'
6ren who haven't any Santa Claus that
ye'd better get" and so it was ordered
Contributions for Christmas.
Outside the storeroom. where tho
sailor buys his candy and tobacco. a
contribution box has been placed. 10
bacco costs four cents. Into the boz
,,oos tho other penny. Cigarettes cost