April - Model Ship Builder

Tidbits from the Past by Gene Bodnar
In George Jones‘s ―Sketches
of Naval Life,‖ a book written
in 1829, he records the
cheering given to Lafayette
as he departed from the
U.S.S. Brandywine as he
went ashore in France after
his last visit to the United
States. In the same book,
Jones records the three
cheers given when Captain
Patterson received command
of the U.S.S. Constitution.
4
“Hip, Hip, Hooray!”
Not long afterwards, the
cheering became a command
called ―Manning the
Yards and Cheering.‖ It
consisted of three separate orders. At the order, ―Lay aloft,‖ all hands would spring up the
rigging, gather round the tops, crosstrees, and topgallant masthead. At the second command,
―Lay out upon the yards,‖ the men would support themselves by means of life lines
that were fastened to the lifts and masts. Finally, the order ―Cheer‖ is issued. The men
would then take off their hats and wave them while shouting three cheers.
Manning the rail and cheering is a very old custom recorded as early as 1596. At the
sounding of the master‘s whistle, men would give ―a marvelous shout, with as much mirth
and rejoicing as they can.‖
On the other hand, the U.S. Navy Regulations of 1920 state that ―Cheering shall not be
given any officer.‖ Instead, officers are saluted.
Today, national salutes are based upon the equality of sovereign states, but in times gone
by, the weaker saluted the stronger, and the stronger usually saluted the country which
claimed jurisdiction over the waters he entered.
The old English Navy demanded respect from foreigners and English merchantmen. In
1638, the captain of the H.M.S. Nicodemus was given severe punishment for not having
enforced a French ship of war to salute him. In another instance, an English merchant ship
was fined 500 pounds for now lowering its topsails to Charles‘ fleet.
Cheering and saluting have long been a maritime customs of respect.
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