COURSE TWELVE ❦ AGAIN THE PRAIRIE Space has been economized for the chronicling of the next cruise, a trip on our old friend the Prairie to Hampton Roads. For several seasons the naval militiamen had prospered with running mates from the regulars, but for a reason to be made evident in the next sentence the pair-off system was not pursued this time. The Prairie had a skeleton crew of 145 and the battalion numbered about fifty above those figures. The start for the run down the coast was made by way of Montauk Point, rounding which the Prairie put her helm over for the first long leg on a course of S. 58 degrees W. Early in the evening the wind began rising and old hands watched the rookies for symptoms of internal disturbance. The journey down was a welcome innovation and the passing of Five-Fathom Bank Lightship and of Winter Quarter Lightship were events. When the Cape Charles Lightship came abeam the Prairie went on various courses until she dropped anchor off the Chamberlin Hotel at Old Point Comfort. During a part of the run soundings were made by the Thompson sounding machine, a method that had been studied in former cruises, but with less interest than on this. The Jamestown ter-centenary was in progress that summer and liberty to an unusual extent was allowed to the battalion. One afternoon about fifty members of the division visited the Connecticut building at the exposition. Most of them signed their names in the register, Boatswain’s Mate Perkins at first directing the writing class and, when he tired, another petty officer relieving him. It was with joy nearly equal to signing the pay roll that the sailors affixed their signatures. Manager Curtis greeted the men with a graceful courtesy rivalled only by Commissioner Barber’s graceful urbanity. Maps of the exposition grounds were served out. By using these and keeping the lead going and working their jaw tackle, the men made shift to reach proper destinations. [Illustration: LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE) CHARLES L. HOGAN ] The same afternoon the men gravitated to a military carnival on the parade. An impression prevailed in the division that the division’s tug-of-war team could have outpulled the team which won in the carnival. In years gone by cruise clubs had been launched, for instance the Ham-Bone Club at Fort Wright and the Fore-Top on the Hartford. In Jamestown the Kimona Club was organized with Lieutenant Hinckley at its head. It consisted of a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a chancellor of the exchequer, with an understudy for each. On another afternoon Commissioner Barber made his return call. He witnessed hammock and dunnage bag inspection, a “ceremony” which our men loved as cordially as the devil loves holy water. He saw, also, Underwood typewriters in the paymaster’s office and rejoiced at the use of a Hartford product.