IN THE KINGS "NAVEE"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 5

IN THE KINGS "NAVEE"

"DEAD" AND "RUN" SALES. By old custom, in tho Navy—file most powerful there of all unwritten laws— "dead" and "run" men's effects are sold by auction on a ship's deck. "Dear!" carries its own explanation; "run" means a deserter. The expression is derived from tho official practice of putting a big "II" in the sliip's books, against, the names of all men who abscond. As some compensation for the loss of these men their effects are confiscated and sold for tho boneh't of the Crown. What they bring does not help the National Debt very much. On the lower deck'deserters'are not regarded ■with approval, and besides "run" men seldom leave much of value behind them. Their bags may have a wellfilled appearance as they lie on the racks, but they do not contain the right kind of stuffing. Instead of clothing, old broom-heads, scraps of canvas—in fact, anything that will "camouflage" the eye of authority—shoot out of them when they are ,UR-ended for investigation. . I'.CC.T- ' A quite different-result is obtained by the sale of a "dead" man's pro. perty, especially if he were at all popular with his messmates. Prices out of all proportion to the value of the things are readily paid in such a case, and nobody thinks of seeking a bargain. Such purely personal belongings as letters and photographs are first weeded out of the kit; then, as soon as official sanction to that course has been received, the rest of the articles are taken to a convenient part of the ship and offered for sale. The master-at-arms acts as auctioneer, and officersrepresenting the executive and the ac-count-ant branches are present. * * * * • Knowing that much depends -upon his readiness of tongue, the master-at-arms "lets himself go," and to hear, a "Jonty" blarneying away in the good cause of the widow and orphan, for whom all sailors have a specially soft spot, in their hearts, makes a better entertainment than many music-hall patterers can provide. "Now, what shall I say for these?'. , ho cries, picking up a pair of well-worn socks. "Nearly brand new and will fit anybody, as you can see. Good to keep your soap and baccy in if you don'c want 'em for anything else. Come on. now. Give us a start. Say five bob! "Shilling!" shouts a tar. "Shilling! What, only a shilling for a pair of socks like these! You try again, my lad." And off goes tho "auctioneer" pattering away glibly until ho has knocked down the socks probably time after time to different purchasers and obtained many times their real value. The usual practice is lor buyers to ■throw back the lots for resale until as many as feel inclined io do so have had a chance of bidding for thorn. In rtllis way tho whole'_ ship's company'are given an opportunity of contributing somothing towards the assistanco of the deceased man's next-of-kin, for thoso kit sales aro really only the Lower Deck's way of taking lip a, charitable collection. Usually tho last bidder finds himself in possession of something ho does not want, although it has cost him a good sum of money. But that aspect of tho transaction troubles him not at .-ill. He has helped "Poor old So-and-So's missus and kids," which is usually his sole object in bidding. Quite largo amounts are realised in this way by the sale of dead men's effeots. But'tho kit of a deserter "rarely fetches moro than a ; few shillings, as thoro is nothing connected with ' its disposal that appeals to the sentimental side of the bluejacket's nature, although this is easily aroused in any deserving case.—"Jackstaff," in the i "Daily Mail."