The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1917-05-11
1.-THE POWER OF THE
NAVY is IN ME-"

1.-The power of the Navy is in me-"
Big Jack Dempsy, fireman recruit thus
unburdened himself as he sat with
legs dangling on the turret Of the Vir-
ginia
! Around him seethed the preparation
for war. From the huge Navy Yard
shops arose the din and clamor of a
mighty force rushing the final work
to place in readiness the big steel fight
ing machines which are to play an i'm
portant part in UNFOLDING the honor of
our Nation. On the parade ground ad-
jacent, a couple Of hundred bluejack-
cts were running a quarter mile oval.
hardening up for their work ahead.
Something of the inspiration of this
vitality energetic scene glistened in his
eyes, as he swept his pipe stem in a
short semicircle before him to empha-
size the might of which he was master
Huge of frame, horny of hand is
Dempsey. 1t was only two days ago
that he drifted into the Navy recruit
ing office to offer himself to his
country.
Whether its salorin' or soldierin' |
told thin at the recruiting office, its
the same to me so long as l can serve
me country. Anyways that man can
serve and do his duty in tonne loike
this is the best way" was the gravelv
enunciated philosophy.
$50 I enlisted as a fireman, the
hrar Of tho CprUinn IF fhn
u. S. Navy.
"Whin a man has put in few years
on the job, there is somethin' about
the fireboX of a engine that pulls you
to it, vance you have fed the big,
hungry mouths that are always open
and roarin'.
"And after little hustle ov feedin'
the big babies, the job is done and We
can take yer ease while the byes above
are drilling and the ship is rollen'
easy-like in the cradle ov the sea-
Every man in his task, says /, and
I'm fireman by inclination and force
of habit And it is me duty to play
fireman for Uncle Sam whin he needs
me above all others.
"Wance l stocked on a tramp steamer
and it was there | learned the power
ov me calm.
3 I'VE wuz down where the heathens
and the fever wuz thick as mud, an
wan the sickness took hold ov the
officers and crew until they wuZ only
a hanful ov us lift to navigate the
craft. With the fever faginig We had
powerful time Wan afther anither the
byes below fell down with sickness,
and it wus thin the real trouble be-
gan.
1T wuz the Captain himself who
came down to talk to us. Dyes, he
said, kin get along without me Off
GERS, but for the love Of Hivin, me
ship will perish IL me firemen desert
me in this me hour ov need"
THAT is why | say the power ov the
Navy is in me. Whin the coal stops,
the battleships stops, and the inimy
can take yer at his own time"
Across the slip between the Virginia
and the next dock, the sailor drill had
spread out into an open order exer-
else. They were the men behind the
guns" integral part Of the great fight
ing mechanism which is soon to spreai
its influence worldwide in the mighty
conflict facing this Nation. | looked
sideways at the man beside me, who
represented the silent working force OF
the American battleships, but his gaze
was lifted above the immediate ami
nation of moving units. 1t rested i'll
the smokeclouds coming from the
huge stack of an adjoining vessel.
"The byes hev started work fer
Uncle SAM" he observed, with a touch !
of pride And ! knew that down in
the cavernous recesses Of that gray
steel hull, other representatives Of
the power ov the Navy" we're bending
their backs to the end that the ira |,
ditions of the American Navy might be
upheld and the honor Of the flag main !
tanned upon the seas.
The Navy needs more firemen as
we'll as men in other branches Of the
service. 1t needs thousands more
patriots like Jack Dempsey.