COURSE TWELVEAGAIN THE PRAIRIE
Space has been economized for the chronicling of the next cruise, a trip on our old friend the Prairie to Hampton Roads. For several seasons the naval militiamen had prospered with running mates from the regulars, but for a reason to be made evident in the next sentence the pair-off system was not pursued this time. The Prairie had a skeleton crew of 145 and the battalion numbered about fifty above those figures. The start for the run down the coast was made by way of Montauk Point, rounding which the Prairie put her helm over for the first long leg on a course of S. 58 degrees W. Early in the evening the wind began rising and old hands watched the rookies for symptoms of internal disturbance. The journey down was a welcome innovation and the passing of Five-Fathom Bank Lightship and of Winter Quarter Lightship were events. When the Cape Charles Lightship came abeam the Prairie went on various courses until she dropped anchor off the Chamberlin Hotel at Old Point Comfort. During a part of the run soundings were made by the Thompson sounding machine, a method that had been studied in former cruises, but with less interest than on this. The Jamestown ter-centenary was in progress that summer and liberty to an unusual extent was allowed to the battalion. One afternoon about fifty members of the division visited the Connecticut building at the exposition. Most of them signed their names in the register, Boatswain’s Mate Perkins at first directing the writing class and, when he tired, another petty officer relieving him. It was with joy nearly equal to signingthe pay roll that the sailors affixed their signatures. Manager Curtis greeted the men with a graceful courtesy rivalled only by Commissioner Barber’s graceful urbanity. Maps of the exposition grounds were served out. By using these and keeping the lead going and working their jaw tackle, the men made shift to reach proper destinations.
LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE) CHARLES L. HOGAN
LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE) CHARLES L. HOGAN
LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE) CHARLES L. HOGAN
The same afternoon the men gravitated to a military carnival on the parade. An impression prevailed in the division that the division’s tug-of-war team could have outpulled the team which won in the carnival.
In years gone by cruise clubs had been launched, for instance the Ham-Bone Club at Fort Wright and the Fore-Top on the Hartford. In Jamestown the Kimona Club was organized with Lieutenant Hinckley at its head.It consisted of a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a chancellor of the exchequer, with an understudy for each.
On another afternoon Commissioner Barber made his return call. He witnessed hammock and dunnage bag inspection, a “ceremony” which our men loved as cordially as the devil loves holy water. He saw, also, Underwood typewriters in the paymaster’s office and rejoiced at the use of a Hartford product.
In the fall information came that the Elfrida was to leave Connecticut waters and that the unarmored gunboat Machias was to take her place as the battalion’s practice ship. The new ship was built in Bath, Me., in 1892. She is of steel, has two masts. Her length is 204 feet, her beam 32 feet, her mean draft 12 feet, her displacement 1,777 tons, her net tonnage 398, her speed 15½ knots and her horse power 1,484. She has accommodations for nine officers and about 132 men, or about six times as many men as the Elfrida could sleep.
A Christmas tree in the division parlor brought joy to all hands and astonishment to not a few. It was accompanied by an innocuous punch of pink tea caliber, followed by Mother Carey sandwiches, saltpeter and frozen rating badges (Neapolitan ice cream). Skylights were closed, all glims were doused and current was turned on for small electric lamps in a hemlock, which had been decorated with marlinspikes, rope yarns, and cornucopias. Lieutenant (Junior Grade) James A. Evans, rigged gaily as Santa Claus, served out gifts from the break of the quarter deck, assisted by Boatswain’s Mates Perkins and Wyllie and Gunner’s Mate Dickerman. Mr. Hinckley received a miniature Tillie Hadley. Mr. Hogan was presented with a milk wagon. To Seaman Barnes was given a rake. Gunner’s Mate Dickerman, who held the championship of the fleet at the deck game of bowling, was helped to a children’s set of tenpins. Quartermaster Palmer, impressario of the Banzai orchestra, drewan accordion. A village character in the company received an allowance of jaw tackle. A certain apprentice seaman was the recipient of a “hammock ladder,” which dates back to the berth deck of Father Noah’s Ark.
March 17, 1908, an order was issued from the adjutant-general’s office marking the passing of the “battalion.” The official title of the force was changed to Naval Militia, Connecticut National Guard. Ratings were officially prescribed, those of the first class in the division being the following: Master-at-arms, boatswain’s mate, gunner’s mate, machinist’s mate and water-tender.
May 21 the Tillie Hadley was taken to Saybrook and exchanged for the First Division’s steam cutter. Later the Tillie went to the New York Navy Yard. The departure of the old steam whaleboat marked the passing of one of the company’s time-honored institutions. The boat’s successor is variously known as the Hallie Tidley and the Merry Widow.
The observance of a division memorial day began this year, actives and veterans assembling at noon, May 30th, for a service, and parading in the afternoon as part of the escort to the Grand Army of the Republic.
In midsummer a movement came to reorganize the Veteran Association. A meeting was held July 24th and the project advanced at a second meeting held a week later, when the matter of participating in the approaching dedication of Hartford Bridge was discussed. Former Ensign Fred E. Bosworth was chief oiler of the machinery.