The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-04-12
THE POWER OF THE
NAVY Is IN ME"

= Big Jack Dempsey, fireman recrui
d thus unburdcned himself ms he 81
u with legs dangling on the turret ,
e the Virginia.
n Around him secthed the preparatio
l. for war. From the huge navy var
shops arose the din and clamor Of
mighty force rushing the final work {
place in readiness the big steel fight
ing machines which are to play sue
an important part in upholding tn
honor and dignity Of our Nation. o.
the parade ground adjacent, a coupl
of hundred bluejackets were runnin,
quarter mile oval, hardening up fo
their work ahead.
Something of the inspiration of thi,
vitality energetic scene glistened in hi,
eyes, us he swept his pipe stem in 6
short semi-circle before him TO empha.
size the might Of which he was mas.
ter.
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 coun-
! try.
Whether it's sailorin' or soldierin'
! told thin at the recruitin' office, it's
the same to me so long as | can serve
me country. Anyways that man can
serve and do his duty in tonne loike
this is the best way was his gravely
enunciated philosophy.
$50 enlist as fireman, the great
est branch of the service of the U. S.
Navy. Whin man has put in a few
years on the job, there is somethin'
about the firebox of a engin' that pulls
you to it, vance you have fed the big,
hungry mouths that are always open
and roarin'.
"An' after little hustle ov feedin'
the big babies, the job is done an you
can take yer ease while the byes above
are drillin' an the ship is rollin' easy
like in the cradle ov the sea.
Every man to his task, says !, and
Pm a fireman be inclination and force
" habit. An it is me duty to play
fireman for Uncle Sam whin he needs
ne above all others.
"Wance | stocked on a tramp steam
r. and it was there learned the pow '
n ov me callin.' {
"We wuz down where the heathens
n the fever wuz thick as mud, an !
van by wan the sickness took hold I
v officers and crew until they wuz 9
My handful ov us left to navigate I
he craft. What with the fever ragin' S
,e had powerful time. Wan after t
nither the byes below fell down with {
he sickness, an it wuz thin the real s
'ouble began. i
"It wuz the Captain himself who is
ome down to talk with us. Bycs,' he A
lid, 4 kin get along widout me Off /;
RS but fer the love of Hivin, me ship q
i'll perish if me firemen desert me in G
lis me hour ov need g
"That is why | say the power ov the m
avy is in me. Whin the coal stops, nj
e battleships stop, and the inimy al
n take yer at his own time" !?
Across the slip between the Virginia W
id the next dock, the sailor drill had al
read out into an open order exercise. ra
icy were the "men behind the guns" tn
integral part Of the great fighting an
,chanism which is soon to spread its ST.
luence worldwide in the mighty con- er
It facing this Nation. l looked he
eways at the men beside me, who on
presented the silent working force &c
the American battleships, but his wa
ze was lifted above the immediate rio
mation Of moving units. It rested ser
the smoke clouds coming from the the
&c stack Of an adjoining vessel. Tr'
The byes hav' started work fer
Gle Sam" he observed, with a
ch Of pride. Ond knew that down
The cavernous recesses Of that gray stu
Ell hull, other representatives of the bu
wer Of the Navy" we're bending iutl
ir backs TO the end that the tradi-
is of the American Navy might be al
eld, and the honor of the Flag gar
ntained upon the seas. nat
he Navy needs more fremen. 1t cWi
ds thousands more patriots like way
k Dempsey. ISM
II