{"id":"01KG8AKV4ZBAVRVX50FC4ECVYM","cid":"bafkreidagr7p5arfw2vorrantyew5c4li43422lcpk7bfgmhehpbzjqrhy","type":"section","properties":{"description":"# Sheet-Anchor-men\n\n## Overview\nThis section, titled \"Sheet-Anchor-men,\" is part of Chapter III of a larger work. It describes a specific group of experienced sailors on a man-of-war. The text focuses on their roles, characteristics, and the respect they command.\n\n## Context\nThis section is extracted from the file `white_jacket.txt`, which is part of the `Melville Complete Works` collection. It follows an \"Introduction\" section and precedes \"The After-guard\" section within Chapter III, titled \"CHAPTER III. A GLANCE AT THE PRINCIPAL DIVISIONS, INTO WHICH A MAN-OF-WAR’S CREW IS DIVIDED.\"\n\n## Contents\nThe \"Sheet-Anchor-men\" are characterized as old, active sailors whose responsibilities include the forecastle, fore-yard, anchors, and sails on the bowsprit. They are described as weather-beaten veterans, often singing sea shanties and recounting tales of naval heroes like Decatur, Hull, and Bainbridge. The text emphasizes their resilience and experience, noting that even officers show them a degree of deference. They are depicted as \"grim sea grenadiers\" and \"hearty old members of the Old Guard,\" whose seamanship is admired and learned from by younger midshipmen.","description_generated_at":"2026-01-30T20:49:47.372Z","description_model":"gemini-2.5-flash-lite","description_title":"Sheet-Anchor-men","end_line":396,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:16.646Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Sheet-Anchor-men","source_file":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","start_line":375,"text":"Besides these topmen, who are always made up of active sailors, there\r\nare Sheet-Anchor-men—old veterans all—whose place is on the forecastle;\r\nthe fore-yard, anchors, and all the sails on the bowsprit being under\r\ntheir care.\r\n\r\nThey are an old weather-beaten set, culled from the most experienced\r\nseamen on board. These are the fellows that sing you “_The Bay of\r\nBiscay Oh!_” and “_Here a sheer hulk lies poor Torn Bowling!_” “_Cease,\r\nrude Boreas, blustering railer!_” who, when ashore, at an eating-house,\r\ncall for a bowl of tar and a biscuit. These are the fellows who spin\r\ninterminable yarns about Decatur, Hull, and Bainbridge; and carry about\r\ntheir persons bits of “Old Ironsides,” as Catholics do the wood of the\r\ntrue cross. These are the fellows that some officers never pretend to\r\ndamn, however much they may anathematize others. These are the fellows\r\nthat it does your soul good to look at;—hearty old members of the Old\r\nGuard; grim sea grenadiers, who, in tempest time, have lost many a\r\ntarpaulin overboard. These are the fellows whose society some of the\r\nyoungster midshipmen much affect; from whom they learn their best\r\nseamanship; and to whom they look up as veterans; if so be, that they\r\nhave any reverence in their souls, which is not the case with all\r\nmidshipmen.\r\n\r","title":"Sheet-Anchor-men"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJPBDD8KW998HV70PRFQT","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J19NC56FFGBCM2SWEZZY","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKV4VCBBXXSEKEQ433MFY","peer_type":"intro","predicate":"prev"},{"peer":"01KG8AKV4ZTYYZ2T51MDJ7FAJ4","peer_type":"section","predicate":"next"}],"ver":3,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:17.567Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:49:47.665Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF5C36SQEVDHC9CBNZZJH9K"}}