Patrick Lawrence Hogue's Blog (2)

NOW EACH OF US FROM TIME TO TIME, HAS GAZED UPON THE SEA,

AND WATCHED THE WARSHIPS PULLING OUT, TO KEEP THEIR COUNTRY FREE.

AND MOST OF US HAVE READ A BOOK; OR HEARD A LUSTY TALE,

ABOUT THE MEN WHO SAIL THESE SHIPS; THROUGH LIGHTING, WIND AND HAIL.



BUT THERE'S A PLACE WITHIN EACH SHIP, THAT LEGEND FAILS TO TELL

IT'S DOWN BELOW THE WATERLINE, IT TAKES A LIVING TOLL 

A HEATED METAL LIVING HELL THAT SAILORS CALL "THE HOLE".



IT HOUSES ENGINES RUN BY STEAM,…

In Medieval days up till the early 1800's there were no engines and no Snipes. Along about 1812 the Navy obtained their first paddle wheel steamer named the USS Fulton. To run the boiler and engine, men of steam were also acquired. They were not sailors but engineers from early land based steam engines.



From the beginning the sailors did not like or appreciate these landsmen and their foul smoky plants. They were treated with contempt and pretty much given the…