HARD LIFE ON TORPEDO-BOATS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10574, 27 January 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

HARD LIFE ON TORPEDO-BOATS.

Each of the torpedo craft carries a crew of from 60 to 70 men, and when one considers the size of the space m which it is necessary for these men to move about m operating the powerful yet intricate machinery, and find sleeping space also, one must marvel at the life aboard a vessel of this clans.

To live m quarters the size of an ordinary dry goods box is not the life that the everyday American cares to essay. To endure such life for hours at a stretch without sleep or food, and to.6tand exposed m all climates — such is life aboard a torpedo craft, for the dfficers and men alike. Tliere is no discrimination ; that is why. one s ees beardless faces and slender figures behind the conning towers when these long, three and four-stacked flyers run into port for coal and water at frequent intervals, which is necessary on account of their limited space for carrying these necessities. In the comparatively smooth waters of a harbor the torpedo-boats look very much like the motor racers m disguise, but they are far from being • the pleasure . craft that the auto-boats are, and .they' go where the helmsman of a motor-boat would not dare to venture. • .

. The ocean is the place to see the tor-pedo-boat under way, and then life on board the craft can be seen m its true light. Sticking their bows into the long, green swells, the spray flying above the signal staffs forward, and the solid green water washing the low decks continually, is but one picture of life on the rolling deep m a mere shell of a boat. In the harbor aud wheu at 6ea m fair weather the torpedo-boats run with the hatches open, tho commanding officer stands on watch clear of the forward conning tower, and the crew lounge oh deckj but when the little craft begins to roll and plunge m the seaway the hatches are closed, and barring the stumpy smokestacks, the vessels resemble baby whales at play. It is then that the crew suffer most while at sea. All must remain below decks or place themselves m jeopardy. To venture above while the .vessel is plunging about the sea with decks awash would be extremely hazardous. Sometimes the Japanese steward will essay to climb along the dock from, the stern to the forward hatch with a smoking dish clasped lightly m his hands. He is m v race with the seas. If he reaches hia destination" forward he is lucky. If the seas get there first the fishes get the food. In the event the seas overtake him, then he has to scramble back to the galley and await another chance. This is au amusing incident of life aboard to watch the steward essay the trip forward m rougn weather. Intense heat prevails below decks when the craft is under way, with hatches clos. Ed, and the humidity ie one of the inconveniences to wliich the crew of a torpe-do-boat is subjected, and is one of the most objectionable features of life aboard the torpedo craft, as the heat is oppressive and fearful at times, with all four boilers under full draught and ponderous engines throbbing and pulsating at full speed of perliaps 25 to 30 knots. — Norfolk (Va.) Landmark.