Turned out at 5 this morning and scrubbed decks until a little after six. It was good exercise and it felt good, besides, to putter around the wet deck in my bare feet so I rather enjoyed it - once I was awake. The worst part about scrubbing decks is turning out in the morning.
Spuds drill was as near to hazing as I care to see it. I hope they don't have Davidson lead again soon.
Fitted the sights on the gun this morning but we have to bore-sight it before we can hold dotter drill. At seamanship drills we had to learn the signal flags and all about anchors and ground tackle - but as I know most of that I had a little 'fruit' and spent the time reading and bulling with a couple of 'gobbies'.
After drill we had collision drill, which, for our division was nothing at all but to stand on the quarter deck until "Secure."
There are still no indications that we leave soon - and the papers say we may be here a week or ten days. I wish they would hurry - I'm anxious to get out and get sick.
Sunset tonight was beautiful - the sun threw a broad golden ribbon on the quiet water extending from Annapolis half way to the ships. The golden lined, rose tinted, slate colored clouds warned us of the setting sun by slowly gathering in its brilliant rays until it settled to rest behind them. The Star Spangled banner played at colors just as the sun sank was a fitting close to the bright, clear, sun-crowned day which promised and foretold a star-spangled heaven for tonight.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Monday, June 7, 1915
We're not gone yet - and what is worse there aren't any indications that we will go until after tomorrow. We had a good "movie" show and band concert last night - followed by a good nights' sleep. At quarters we had 'spuds' drill and some double timing - the first exercise since we've come aboard. After that we were assigned to our guns. As luck would have it I hit a three inch gun. I would rather have had a 6" gun like last year - but this is another case of not getting what you want and making the best of what you get. I am pointer and have a good crew I believe - at least I believe we can make a good crew out of them.
This business of loafing around gets me nervous. There's hardly a thing to do yet - and every day we stay here is a day off the cruise.
Have listened to two hours of very instructive but also very dry gunnery safety precautions and elementary navigation. If the officer hadn't been where he could see me I would have been asleep. We're supposed to be honing Bowditch's 48 useful tables - but...
Went in swimming this afternoon for half an hour. The water was fine - just salty enuf to make me feel sticky. There are no signs yet of getting under way - this suspense is awful. We're to have more movies tonight, but as we have to turn out at 5 tomorrow morning I guess I'll turn in early. Had a good cork this afternoon for a couple of hours - until the deck got too hard to be comfortable.
This business of loafing around gets me nervous. There's hardly a thing to do yet - and every day we stay here is a day off the cruise.
Have listened to two hours of very instructive but also very dry gunnery safety precautions and elementary navigation. If the officer hadn't been where he could see me I would have been asleep. We're supposed to be honing Bowditch's 48 useful tables - but...
Went in swimming this afternoon for half an hour. The water was fine - just salty enuf to make me feel sticky. There are no signs yet of getting under way - this suspense is awful. We're to have more movies tonight, but as we have to turn out at 5 tomorrow morning I guess I'll turn in early. Had a good cork this afternoon for a couple of hours - until the deck got too hard to be comfortable.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Sunday, June 6, 1915
The pleasant sound of "up all hammocks" and reveille badly blown roused me out of a deep sleep in my new hammock. I didn't stir at first - habit again - and in a little word was passed that the 2nd division was to turn out. That of course didn't include the third so I rolled over, happily once more. We had to turn out about 15 minutes later to scrub decks, but there weren't enuf tools and the 2nd class went back in again.
Breakfast was pretty good - Navy beans, catsup, coffee, and canned cherries. We were supposed to leave this morning, but it is 5 o'clock (P.M.) and we haven't gone yet. The investigation isn't finished yet and I guess we can't go until it is. I wish they would hurry. We've been standing by all day under arms to receive the Admiral when he comes aboard - he doesn't seem to realize the inconvenience it's causing us, because he hasn't showed up yet.
The Filipino mess boys are a great improvement over the "mokes." The surprised us by being anxious to get things - something that had to be preceded by the jingle of a few jitneys before a moke would have moved. I wish I could remember our boy's name - but so far I can't even pronounce it.
The band gave us a pretty good concert this afternoon. I recognized nearly all of the pieces they played.
Breakfast was pretty good - Navy beans, catsup, coffee, and canned cherries. We were supposed to leave this morning, but it is 5 o'clock (P.M.) and we haven't gone yet. The investigation isn't finished yet and I guess we can't go until it is. I wish they would hurry. We've been standing by all day under arms to receive the Admiral when he comes aboard - he doesn't seem to realize the inconvenience it's causing us, because he hasn't showed up yet.
The Filipino mess boys are a great improvement over the "mokes." The surprised us by being anxious to get things - something that had to be preceded by the jingle of a few jitneys before a moke would have moved. I wish I could remember our boy's name - but so far I can't even pronounce it.
The band gave us a pretty good concert this afternoon. I recognized nearly all of the pieces they played.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Saturday, June 5, 1915
Looked in at the June Ball for a little to see what it was like. The armory was more beautiful than last year - and the crowd was larger. Turned in at about eleven after packing box.
When reveille busted at 7:30 I crawled out - as per habit - with not a little reluctance but with more pep than those who hadn't turned in until after two the same morning. I was pleasantly surprised by the receipt of two pounds chocolates from friends in Crabtown. Four of us were sitting on the windowsill with our feet hanging down when Rodger came in. Something like the following ensued:
"What in the world are you doing out there, smoking?"
"No, Sir!"
"Singing?"
"No, Sir, we were eating candy."
"Well bring the candy in and get to your rooms."
And Rodger never stuck us on [report? - sd]!
I had four big things to carry to the dock - two full laundry bags, a full suit case, and my mattress - besides my reefer, two boxes of white service and two caps. It wasn't the kind of sport that men take a vacation for - but it was the beginning of the cruise so I didn't worry - or swear.
We started from the crowded dock with a 4-N yell for our "Mothers, sweethearts, friends" were we leaving behind us. On the way out it began to rain, but we got out a big canvas and when it saw that its efforts to drown us that way were futile it stopped. We managed to get all our stuff aboard and then proceeded to lash our hammocks and stow our lockers - a tedious job, and like most jobs that are tedious, one that had to be done. As soon as that was done the firstclassmen started to break out their "makes" Fats and pipes. It must be great to be a 1st classman. Supper was a poor affair, with no excuse tacked to the bad cucumbers and bad coffee - which was the biggest part of the meal.
When reveille busted at 7:30 I crawled out - as per habit - with not a little reluctance but with more pep than those who hadn't turned in until after two the same morning. I was pleasantly surprised by the receipt of two pounds chocolates from friends in Crabtown. Four of us were sitting on the windowsill with our feet hanging down when Rodger came in. Something like the following ensued:
"What in the world are you doing out there, smoking?"
"No, Sir!"
"Singing?"
"No, Sir, we were eating candy."
"Well bring the candy in and get to your rooms."
And Rodger never stuck us on [report? - sd]!
I had four big things to carry to the dock - two full laundry bags, a full suit case, and my mattress - besides my reefer, two boxes of white service and two caps. It wasn't the kind of sport that men take a vacation for - but it was the beginning of the cruise so I didn't worry - or swear.
We started from the crowded dock with a 4-N yell for our "Mothers, sweethearts, friends" were we leaving behind us. On the way out it began to rain, but we got out a big canvas and when it saw that its efforts to drown us that way were futile it stopped. We managed to get all our stuff aboard and then proceeded to lash our hammocks and stow our lockers - a tedious job, and like most jobs that are tedious, one that had to be done. As soon as that was done the firstclassmen started to break out their "makes" Fats and pipes. It must be great to be a 1st classman. Supper was a poor affair, with no excuse tacked to the bad cucumbers and bad coffee - which was the biggest part of the meal.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Friday, June 4, 1915
Last night I turned in at 1:30 for five and a half hours of sleep. The German was a beautiful affair and the noise lasted until after one o'clock. For three hours before this the plebes received their final "attentions" in the form of cold showers, wet beds, and sore heads (not to mention other extremities).
I was on duty at the gate from eight to nine this morning - with nothing to do but salute with a "Very good, sir" and glance at the fair ones as they came by. I have another hour of the same tonight.
An hour before reveille the plebes were out putting the 1st classmen under the showers on their last morning as midshipmen. My plebe, Scheck, came into my room when they had finished, and such a wet, bedraggled cold and shivering human I haven't seen in a long time. He had evidently been in the shower as much as the firstclassmen - but I'll wager he enjoyed it more than they did.
In an hour and a quarter I'll be a full fledged second classman - half educated, and as green as a cucumber before the blossom has fallen off the end. But at any rate I'll take advantage of the prestige that the name endows me with, and try to grow into it.
I was on duty at the gate from eight to nine this morning - with nothing to do but salute with a "Very good, sir" and glance at the fair ones as they came by. I have another hour of the same tonight.
An hour before reveille the plebes were out putting the 1st classmen under the showers on their last morning as midshipmen. My plebe, Scheck, came into my room when they had finished, and such a wet, bedraggled cold and shivering human I haven't seen in a long time. He had evidently been in the shower as much as the firstclassmen - but I'll wager he enjoyed it more than they did.
In an hour and a quarter I'll be a full fledged second classman - half educated, and as green as a cucumber before the blossom has fallen off the end. But at any rate I'll take advantage of the prestige that the name endows me with, and try to grow into it.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
The Log starts on June 4
The Log starts on June 4, 1915, so look for the first Log posts beginning on June 4.
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