JOINING THE NAVY - 1895 - TO THE HUMAN FAMILY, WHO, THOUGH WIDELY SCAT- TERED AND OF MANY BRANCHES, MAY BE TRACED TO THE SAME STEM, AND, WHETHER YELLOW OR RED, BLACK OR WHITE, WHETHER WARMED BY THE GENIAL RAYS OF A TROPIC SUN, OR CHILLED BY THE FROSTS OF COLDER CLIMES, STILL WEAR THE IMPRESS OF A HIGHER BE- ING AND, UNDER THE FAR-REACH- ING AGENCIES OF GODS PROVI- DENCE, ARE WORKING STEAD- ILY TOWARDS UNIVERSAL PEACE AND CIVILIZATION. - PREFACE. - It is with a degree of hesitation that I have at length decided to permit the publication of impressions formed while serving as cabin-boy on Americas armored vessels, Juniata and Ossz3ee. These facts and impressions, while recorded partly with a view to their usefulness in passing a leisure hour by the fireside in later years, were at the same time undertaken to form a needful diversion to the often dreary monotony of. shipboard life. The prominent authors of marine literature, Clark Russell, Fenimore Cooper, Dana, Melville, and others have so rounded out and beautified their creations, portraying adventures by sea, that they have beendaccepted and eagerly devoured by readers of every class, young and old alike it is not our purpose to enter the lists with these great writers, and we shall feel more than repaid if our work be instrumental in leading some of the youths of our race to cultivate a desire for that broad experience which depends so much on travel and by which one is enabled, through actual comparison, to measure the stride of different civilizations along the pathway of literature, art, and science so the author sends forth this little volume, basing his hope for a cordial reception upon the fact that it is an accurate recountingof experiences and observations in lands far distant and among peoples whose distinctly interesting and unique characteristics may only become generally known and appre- ciated through the medium of the writer and historian. It is eminently fitting and proper that. I do here, in these prefatory remarks, render just acknowledgments to the two commanding officers whom it was my good fortune to serve, for the kind and considerate treatment always extended, which, in many instances, reduced to a minimum unavoidable hardships, multi- plied the meagre pleasures of shipboard life, and made possi- ble the somewhat comprehensive notes from which this book is written. - CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Personal Notes - Enlistment - College Days - Forced to Abandon a Prospected Profession, I Again Enter the Service - First View of the Ossz2ee -A Visit to the Captain - A Farewell to College Mates, . - 13 CHAPTER 11. Roughing It - The Work of Fitting Out - Preparing to Receive the Captain - Naval Recruits - My Friend H-, . .,28 CHAPTER 111. Leaving League Island - Our First Night at Sea -1n- spection and Trial Trip -An Unforeseen Occurrence - Getting Ready for Sea - All Hands Up Anchor - Farewell to America, 45 CHAPTER IV. Ship Ahoy - Sea Sickness -William and his Chinese Cook - Sunday at Sea - The Azores - The Bay and the City of Fayal - A Lively Scene - Native Life - Ancient Churches and Monasteries - From the Mount- ains Side, . . 61 CHAPTER V. The Rock of Gibraltar - Wonders of the Rock - An Impregnable Fortress - My First Visit Ashore - 7 8 CONTENTS. Spanish Town - Domingo, the Spanish Guide - A Fete Day of Southern Spain - The Fair Grounds - A Bewildering Scene, . 79 CHAPTER VI. The Bull Fight, . 93CHAPTER VII. A Sailors Plight - Along the African Coast - Target Practice - Palerrno from Shipboard - An Inexpen- sive Meal - The Cathedral - The Tomb of Kings- Within the Catacombs - The Sicilian Vespers - An Unexpected Hello - The Captain Sees Justice Done - A Focsle Concert - Attractions of Messina - An Evening at the Opera - Off for Port Said - Inde- pendence Day at Sea, . . IOI CHAPTER V1 11...