noon
As the port watch came over the side the following day , after its liberty ashore , they were met with the order `` Shift into working clothes at once and get those shells below . '' The red ammunition flag was flying at the foremast head , and all thoughts must be given up of the good times ashore . The starboard watch then went on liberty ashore and the port watch tackled the ammunition . From noon till after ten , we were kept busy storing thirteen-inch shells for the biggest guns in the navy . They weigh 1,100 pounds apiece and are dangerous things to handle , not only on account of their weight , but because of the charge of powder each carries . We also loaded eight , six , and five-inch shells into the after hold . We turned in at eleven o'clock , and were roused at 3:30 next morning to begin the same heavy work .