Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-05-02
"POWER OF THE NAVY IN ME-"
That Is What Big Jack Dempsey,
Fireman Recruit, Says Of Work.
'"The power of the navy is in me-"


Big Jack Dempsey, fireman re-
cruit, thus unburdened himself as
he sat with legs dangling on the tur-
ret Of the Virginia. Around him
seethed the preparation for war.
From the huge navy yard shops arose
the din and clamor Of mighty force
rushing the final work to place in
readiness the big steel fighting ma
chimes which are to play an import
ant part in upholding the honor Of
our nation. On the parade ground
adjacent a couple of hundred blue
jackets 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 semi-circle before him to
emphasize the might Of which he
was master. Huge of frame, horny
Of hand is Dempsey. 1t was only a
few days ago that he drifted into the
navy recruiting office to offer himself
to his country.
whether its sailorin' Or soldierin', !,
/ told thin at the recruiting office,
it's the same to me, so long as | can
serve me country. Anyways that a
man can serve and do his duty in a
tonne loike this Is the best way" was
the gravely enunciated philosophy.
80 l enlist as fireman, the great
est branch of the service Of the u. s.
Navy. Whin a man has put in few
years on the job, there is somethin'
about the firebox Of a engin that
pulls you to it, vance we have fed the
big, hungry mouths that are always
open and roarin'. And after a little
hustle ov feedin the big babies, the
job is done and We can take yer
ease while the byes above are dhrill-
in and the ship is rollin', easy-like,
in the cradle ov the sea.
EVERY man in his task, says |. and
I'm a fireman by inclination and force
of habit. And it's me duty to play
fireman for Uncle Sam whin he needs
me above all others.
'Wance stocked on tramp
steamer, and it was there ] learned
the power ov me calm We wuz
down where the heathens and the
fever wuZ thick as mud, and vance
the sickness took hold ov the officers
and crew until they wuz only hand
full ov us lift to navigate the craft.
What with the fever raging we had
powerful time. Wan afther anither
the byes below fell down with sick
ness, and it wuz thin the real trouble
began
1T wuz the capatin himself who
came down to talk to us. 'Byes,' he
said, L kin get along widout me Off
GERS, but for the love Of hivin, me
ship will perish if me firemen deset
me in this me hour ov need
'That Is why l 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 Vir-
ginia and the next dock the sailor
drill had spread out into an open
order exercise. They were the "men
behind the guns"--an integral part
Of the gerat fighting mechanism
which is soon to spread it's influence
worldwide in the mighty conflict
facing this nation. looked sideways
. at the man beside me, who represent
ed the silent working force of the
American battleships, but his gaze
was lifted above the immediate ami
nation of moving units. 1t rested in
the smOkeclouds coming from the
huge stack of an adjoining vessel.
'rhe byes hev started work fer
Uncle SAM" he observed. with
touch Of pride. And | knew that,
down in the cavernous recess Of that
gray hull, other representatives Of
the power ov the navy" were bend
Ing their backs to the end that the
traditions Of the American navy
..light be upheld and the honor Of the
Flag maintained upon the seas.
The navy needs more nremen as
well as men in other branches of the
service. 1t needs thousands more
patriots like Jack Dempsey.