Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-10-08

|
where three hundred boys were daily exercis-
ed in seamanship. Another cruise was made
| by the mdshipmen, in the iConstitution, in
| 1860. under commander Il. Il. Craven. His
report to the secretary states tlatthe midship-
| men became so familiar with their duties that.
| in the short space of four weeks, he 0could
| call upon any one of the class to take Observa-
| tons for latitude or longitude by the sun,
moon, or stars, and to feel the most perfect
confidence in the correctness of the work -
On the previous cruise so accurate were these
observations that when the last course bore
upon Cape Henry light in the last chart, the
light was discovered exactly ahead OF the YES
sci. 'ln all my experience" says command
err Craven, 81 have never made or known Il
more perfect land-iall."
The Macedonian arrived here few DAYS
since after her European cruise. Her ''mid-
dies" are on leave, but will report on the 10th
of October. Capt. Fairfax, Of San Jacinto
fame, reached this city yesterday having been
ordered to command that corvette The San
tee and Constitution are at anchor in the har-
Abor. The Marion is undergoing repairs, and
will come mere when they are effected. The
exercises on board their vessels are as fol-
lows The pupils are divided into two watch
es, and three guns crews. During the day,
at sea. whole watch at night and also when
III port, quarter watch is required to be con-
stantly on deck. The guns crews are sue.
ceSSlNely stationed in the masters and pow
der divisions, when assembled at quarters for
general exercise, TO tamiliarize each crew
with the duties appertainng to the divisions.
AT nine O'Clock A. NJ, Sundays eXccptedD
when at sea, and when the weather permits,
the members of the second class are placed
alternately in charge of the deck, and re-
CURED to reef, make and reduce sail and per-
form evulutiOns for one hour and half-the
ship being worked by the students assisted hv
the crew. From 1870 \. NJ. to $50 2. VI. the
watch below attend school for the purpose of
Studying navigation, and the watch on deck
are employed In knOtting, splicing, Strapping
blocks, fitting shroudS, collars of stays, &c.
At o'clock p. NJ. they are either exercised at
target firing, division or general quarters, or
general quarters, or with the boat howitzers,
md receive instructions in practical gunnery'
In addition to these regular duties. the watch
on deck assist to work the ship, and one of
the most efficient members OF the second
class generally performs the evolutuns re-
CURED TO sail the ship.
The proficiency in navigation attained by
these is sufficient to warrant majority of the
acting midShipmen competent 10 navigate a
ship. The target practice and frequent di-
vlSional and general exercise at quarters have
tamiliarized them with the arrangements and
dIties of the different divisiuuS---ihe man
agement Of guns in sea-way, the manner OF
mounting, dismOunting and Transporting them
from post to post, and the use of all the inn
plements required for their service. The
only target practice they have had with the
great guns has been at sea- at distances vary
ing from one to three hundred yards, where
they have upon all occasions exhibited de-
gree of skill and judgment in pointing and
firing that not more than one shot out Of eight
fired would have missed a ship.
Appointments to the naval academy are
made by members OF congress, every mem
Der having one appointment yearly at his dis
poSal The youth who is so fortunate ne to
receive an appointment reports himself at the
academy at the proper time (the opening OF Il
new term), and is at once subjected to two
examinations. The first by the medical board
is q rigid one, and If he have not good con-
stituti0n, and we-formed and we'll devel-
opcd body, or if there be any indications Of
weakness or apparent tendency To disease, he
caunot pass. The result is, all who do pass
are sound, healthy, robust boys, whose frames
soon become more fully developed by the
gymnasium and practical exercises, which at
all seasons OF the year are part of the dis
cpline Of the academy. From the medical
board, if accepted: he passes 10 the academic
board, where the examination is light for Il
boy who has had any training at all before
presenting himself for admission.
After the June examination the cadets of
the fourth class eujoy the privilege and the
excitement of the ''practice cruise" from
June Is to Sept. So At sea they learn prac-
tically much they will have 10 study the fol-
u
are most advantageous to the cadet. The
last cruises Of the Marion and Macedonian
the first abroad and the latter on our own
coast-have been very beneficial, both in
mind and body, to the student.-Ne0 York
Times