ON THE CHALLENGER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 727, 28 January 1910, Page 5

ON THE CHALLENGER.

/:/;//// i :^/;'//;';'/ i /' : /»" ,; /"'/ //;'/?//; ' LIFE IN THE NAVY. A .BLUEJACKET'S DIARY. '■ A . representative of Tue ■ Dominion has been favoured .with . the loan of a •diaiy- kept, by: a bluejacket. W.-. board H.M.S. Challenger. The writer, in a pleasant, free-and-easy style, lias set down,/ from day- to day, his impressions of people and events afloat- and ashore. The :.two weighty Volumes', of the diary l are . illustrated with nicely-executed water-colour- sketches by the author, and some./well-chosen photographs, which lie has surrounded 'with illuminated borders. Tho: penmanship is extremely good, and the .whole production is the more, remarkable in- that" the .writer—a ' young : Englishman—claims to havo had no schooling that cost more than a penny a week —when he was hot "playing the wag." This very interesting "log .was' evidently undertaken as a "labour of love," for the amusement and instruction,of the diarisfs : personal friends, but permission has' been obtained for the reproduction of one or two extracts in. these columns. ■ It -is .easy to gather .that whatbailor-. men liko ..better than; almost anything is a . .holiday: with friends ashore, but .readers"will be more interested, in leamr ing what Jack does in-his leisure hours afloat. Hhere is the ;diarisfs description of doings on the "Chally" during an evening in the port-of Wellington "The Lily-Whito Firm."- . "This is. the; upper . deck. ■' WeH commence right forr d. You-see that chap over .there^the' one with an apology for a, set/ of whiskers.: Well, he and -another; form .what is called' in , the , R.N. a -'dobeying, ■ firm.':-Whafs ' that? Well, you - are ignorant! ; A rongh-and-ready laundry. That's what a dolieyin'g firm professes to be. There are three kinds, some, good, some bad, and some worse: sTVhat, are these?'- - Well, they say - they are'.allright:'' Just-listen to. their warcry 'Chuck.out.yer dirties!/ Chuck,.'em. out.: The:lily-white.firm!- No. connection with the firm next door! Chuck 'em out!. Another two pieces to make a quid!' These'.'meii '.do. washing';for' their'less energetic' shipmates,. and are, paid/ at a ■pretty." fair rate.,,' Chuck.''em out! Thisain't the hang-'em-up-and-lose-'em firm.. This is the lily-white company. ; Chuck ;'em out!'./ And so the cry'goes oh, until they're/ both tired after doing 30 or more large pieces. • 'Come along;.please.. 'Here's-a group, squat .down round a gun/ deep in a game ;of cards./What'is it? Euchre,, of'course. Come' away. -, Ifs.not good:for' such -ears as yours-to hear the naughty nautical forcible-remarks-which are uttered as the dealer: distributes,: the. - cards.. Gambling, :did;.ybu ,ask? Well; a little, but nbt' much : in- this ship; and 'what ythere is is kept low. ; No; not; up. here. Scotland Yard is too' much in. evidence : to permit of open gambling. • ■■ "Tho Jewing Firm." . ' ."They say. Jack's; a handy man.' Well, here.'lie', is shown as such. Sitting,, in the glare of 'two ICO power/lamps,'' suspended .on a 'wandering .lead,'.are; two.men' who: comprise .what .is f called a 'jewing. firm.' This, means that they make now material; ;such as-serge, dnck,. or .-.drill, into suits, for 'their, less accomplished -shipmates,and 'incidentally;;make a; Tive bob—five /bob—five bob,' 6ays the, clang-: 'ing ;.of.;the sewing:, machine—generally a Singer's. hand-/ variety, though some have' a small: treadle machine—five shillings being - the, 'recognised ■ customary price for making.'up;"a serge suit, from ra,w material.;'. . .; Caps,' in addition , to many other. things, ; are:.: made up, : some very well, others • unwell. • "The/ origination of this nickname of 'jewing' firm'. is uncertain:''-.' Some say it is a Corruption' of 'sewing,' but:most favr our;this, explanation: Most'jeiving:firms' are: reputed .wealthy, as a fine" method, of making', njoney; is this. ".Some' firms, al- : ways. having ready money, lend their, less fortunate' shipmates money at the 'a . quid for; twenty : five,'- as': it's, •termed." If one. go"e^'to ,a ! recognised (on the',Q.Tovmoheylender on.board, it's the usual : iate';of intoest' per month—a;'sov'ereign": for the : repayment of '255.; on the 'first 'of''the 'month. Well,: this savours very-much of/ the Jew; '/' Consequently they, -are known r -'as 'jewing.' firms.'' Of course,: you /'understand'.'all;.are , not ,'this, class,.' but/ that, ',r ; thihk,Vis tlie /most feasible'origination, of their , nickname. Budding Musicians. , :• : • " 'What a fearful din.-- ', Oh!-. .Thafs only -.our budding -musicians . practising. 'Oh! where is My Wandering -. Boy- Tonight", .on: mouth, organs:, -.You'll,notice they've got right up in : the . corner,.'out of harm's :way,: fbr : a bluejacket, as a rule, isn't : particular : what he -uses as a' missile, when, a row,-liko this'is in progress, and . he / can / generally aim, straight.' .--;/ ?,'"A -little ''farther; along is "Willie i/with his mandoline.,- He's , a, decent player, and has an appreciative, audience. . . Music./'in the shape of, an.accordeou, is being: gjround forth a little further along the dcck,. and to the strains ■ of V the 'Merry Widow,' '.Valetta,' and other dance 'tunes; a ..dozen pairs,' of baro, . big/I and /dirty-footed devotees' of , Terpsichore are' •stepping'it out in' grand.stylo, the 'ladies'blowing clouds' of *bacca' smoke,in;their partners', eyes, 'causing very uncomplimentary, comments, which were the;r real members', of tho fair sex they'. would .be very much shocked to' hear. ; " 'The' Holy. City! is being given by. our. Teddy's gramaphone, .which is very' popular - indeed, and a continual source 5 of • worry to ;Ted,-: who lives and. sleeps■ ■ in deadly -.fear that someone will -.break a record. ' He was talking in .his sleep last night, 1 beseeching .. someone to .'be i; more careful. . , . '-' '.'■' Tubby' represents onr i bootmaker. Yes, thafs him over there,, on that bench. . ..: ./; Three bob ,for 'sole and heel.'-: Training: for>a:Fißht. .' 'Clubs,' the gymnastic , instructor, is in training for a big fight-next month, and ;is practising up with- 'Old Sambo, with' six-ounce, gloves, . surrounded with all the'budding Tommy, Burnscs to/the sbip, and also by , a few who arc going to Wk him at his fight. He's wonderfully agile, and look "at , his 'fine build! Will ho win?'/ Well, -there's about .£2OO on hini.in this ship, so it's pretty well,a sure thing.' Hope; so, anyway. . ■ t.'y'We •■'continue ' our • walk.",-. Some are_ reading,- eomo'-. mending, and .darning. Various kinds of/games are in full swing —'tippit,' tho 'priest. ,of : Paris,', chess, draughts/ and dominoes, tournaments.for the' last three being occasionally -.'.organ-, •ised.- -'- '.: i "Now; come below. Here are all the love-sick - ones, letters-writing,' most likely to the '■ 'squarie.'-: 'Flapper' is. cook of'.the 'ranch' to-morrow, so; ne's just' spoiling some' flour and water, and swears_ it wiU be ol pie when; he's finished with it. 'Bobby H.' is energetically plying; a needle /full of scarlet silk thread," making fancy-work silk... neckerchiefs. ■' Woodcarving, . fretwork, .water-colour, painting, ' and., inany.- other..hobbies aiv in progress, and —^ , '"What's that? Baud call!'- There's a .stampede, 'various things being:' hastily stowed awav, and now, tor - an hour or more, the, majorifr.'ari);going ,pn deck^to burn baaa. and . hav.e/a /section; of music,' : and,-:-when' the . music ; is appropriate,' to dance to their heart's content. That's a poor 'picture of 'Jack's' leisure hour." , Nautical Slang. ' The diarist -is particularly. . good ■ on 1 nautical slang.. Ho puts on .record that recruits;, from Queensland are called "Kanakas"; from .Victoria,' "Gum-suck-ors";.:. West- Australia,: "Sand-gropers"; South . Australia, ' "Crows',';, New. South Wales, "Cornstalks"; Tasmania,"Shac-kio-islanders^'; /New Zealand, "Kiwis.", "Bosker," or "bonsor," means /splendid, or; first-class; "crook", means ill, out of sorts; "shikkered," ' drunk;. "squarie," the girl'in,every-port! ' - "Nearly everyone, and; 'everything in. daily 'use on board, has -a nickname. The captain is 'the ole manS tho commander is 'the blolte'; . the first lieutenant; rejoices" in the name of ,'Jimmy the one'; the chaplain is 'the sky-pilot'; the doctor, ."Sawbones'; paymaster, 'Old Golddust';, the gunner is 'Bluelights'; the/car-; penteiy/Chips,' .... .' .- The: seamen have, a ■ variety of; names,: as 'Mat}o,', ,'Flatfoot,' llucko,' and ,'Jahbee.' A signalman. is' called 'Bunt,' or 'Bunting-tosser.' * Stokers are called -Shovel-engineers,' 'Dustmen,' or 'Clinker-' ; knbtters'j 'those: employed •'.■ in the 'engineroom; : 'Greasy : sack.'- , In ships that carry marines, : the terras, 'leather-neck' : and 'turkey', are frequently■- made use of ,'to refer to a 'red : marine' (11, M.L.), while those of ; the. .R>M.A. •"••; ('blue, marines') answer. / to " 'bacon-bolters,',: or „ Trallocks.', The '8.8. means that a time ago' when a member of ..the. had got 'fed]

up,with Andrew,' he'd go ashore :and steal ..something, so. being, brought under: civil punishment/and this/ undergone,- his release : from ; civil prison would be followed by his dismissal from the corps. So many ran of? with, a side of bacon, knowing ,;that because.' of, its, size and: nature -he-would soon, be' caught, that the name 'bacon-bolters' 7 was applied,. and this survived till now. ; "The sergeant in charge of marines has: .the-pet name of 'Skipy,'.while:;his mess, or living quarters, is., the. 'horse-box.' Also : the living quarters of the ship's police is/so called, while th«v themselves are 'Crushers,' or 'Scotland Yard.' Their chief is. the 'Joss' or 'Jonty.'- :/:. ; . "Putty," "Sparks," and Others. "The. painte; is called Tutty,'. and 'would doubtless stare at you in bewilderment if addressed otherwise. The cooper is 'Jimmy, Bungs.'.: ' "Torpedo men and telegraphists are addressed as 'Sparks,' or more frequently ,'Sparko.'' Engine-room artificers have an abbreviated: corruption of their rating, for a name, and that is 'Tiffy,' but being more or less self-styled 'gentlemen sailors,' they'. object/to . being addressed as 'TifSes.'■ Even' as tho doctor'is "Saw-, bones,'- so his assistants, ; the 'sick' berth attendants, are known as 'Poultice -Wallopers,' and, this- they:do,'/with//a ven-geance!-"Ships' stewards, areViknown as 'Grocers/-' and their: underlings / are addressed familiarly as 'Jack Dusty,' without: regard-to .their name, which -their godfathers and godmothers gave - .them; all are 'Jacks.' "Cooks, cooks' mates, and even officers' chefs are all included in the term 'Slushy,' not very- tasteful,- I must say! .Domestics and officers' servants rejoice, in the civilian vword 'Flunkey.'. Should you hear any inquiries. for 'Clubs,'-, you will see the physical training instructor make •his;appearance,;doubtless more often than desirable, as the .average bluejacket is not keen/on physical .drill or gymnastics as administered in' Andrew.' "The boatswain, • or bo'sun, is 'Tommy Pipes,' ' while, : his: - A.D.C:, ' the chief' bo sun's mate, will come forward if he hears the words ,'Chief Buffer.' 'Old means the torpedo instructor,: a principal .part-,of -the. torpedo, being a secret, invention called, a 'gyroscope.' . '"Sweepers, or men that - do:-' nothing •but clean various-parts of- the decks piloted to .them, are, in naval parlance, ■ 'dodgers/ the name evidently . meaning that they dodge -work, and' from what I know-of the majority Che cap fits. ;; , - "In like manner, a great number - of surnames have in the Navy an adopted Christian name, _so that all Millers are 'Dusties/ all Wrights 'Shiners/ all Martins "Pinchers/ Wilsons are: 'Tugs/ Grays are "Dollys/ Bells are - 'Daisies/ and so on, world without end!. Terms of Flattery,. . - . , "A good-looking chap is referred to as 'Tiddly Smigget/ for what reason I've-yet to learn. He may sometimes answer' and look conceited if addressed , as 'Gear,' also apparently a meaningless 'word., A. man who - has the - misfortune to have a resembling 'a: fighting-man's fist is called . "Doggo/ . To be' drunk ' is. either ,'shikkered' (wallaby), or tinhats,' while a man.who is very wroth and cross is- 'up. the,, rigging/. Should, the lastnamed 1 personage give vent to. his feelings,' his messmates bes'eech' : him to'cease 'cheering, ship.' • . " 'Fed up ' with Andrew Miller' is an .expression heard / dsflly. . . The' first part means utterly; sick and: tired '.and ' disgusted. The second: is a very . popular •nickname for the' Royal Navy. How this name originated I now forget, but I believe Andrew' Miller was a notorious naval "character some years ' ago, in the so-called:-'good old "days/ ' " ; ■ "The defaulters'bugle, unlovely though it be,'has -a flattering .pair 'of.: nom-de-plumes. .These/are 'The Angels' Whisper' and 'The Commander's Guests.' Men attending these are generally 'doing 10A,' which is the most frequently: dealt out punishment, all of : these going under various numbers and letters, from lA to 12B: The victim informs his messmates that he is 'dining out,' or 'studying astronomy/', , -.. -'. . ■ . - "Sharks" and "Coffin-Nails." "Each, ship has a canteen.. Just stand by tho door with me and listen to the various orders.—r'TJnchain No. 8 and givo us;/,two-,penn'orth" :of . songbook.': This means ,that the speaker' would -: like a quarter of.,a pound-of oheese; providing it is 'not' too' gamey/ 'Aydrum, of' ..fish, 1 - two. tins of sharks, anda;' packet, of 'gospbrs.' .This somewhat-' startling, order ;'.s liothing. more .than/that the intend-; ' irig 'purchaser/requires a;tin .'of '..bloater paste bvo/'tihs .of sardines, and-a. packet of' cigarettes, ;', the. latter,' name . being occasionally altered to 'coffin-nails.' When around- the ' islands, /water melon , slices are; sold by•'.our, canteen'. man, 'and the. buyer.'asks for a'mouth organ/ ./: . /. "The different :ways of ; preparing a dinner also have their share. Meat baked has ', the * most,/ being a 'schooner on . the rocks/-' 'march past/ ''royal: salute/ ■'hurnt:-offering/: or a ''straight rush.'; A hash, is ,'a 'pie without" an' awiiihg/' or .'a tired man's.pie/.. Preserved mutton-is Tahny, Adams/ ..and corned beef is "jungle/; or '"potted horror.': '! "Well,, this'list is by a long way incomplete, "still' the' foregoing - may " enlighten readers."