New-York tribune., 1867-08-22
THE NAVAL APPRENTICE SYSTEM

THE NAVAL APPRENTICE SYSTEM
THE UNITED STATES FRIGATE SABINE-TIIE
NAVAL APPRENTICE sYSrEM-WHAT HAS
BEEN Observation-Disclosures or CANDI-
DATEs-RoUTINE OF DUTY, ETC, ETC.
The United States practice frigate Sabine is
now lying of the Battery and she is the pioneer vessel
introducing in this country and putting into successful
operation the plan OF enliStIng naval apprentices
count Of the ship and the sylem will undoubtedly be
found interesting TO large nxber Of readers The
vessels has worked such revolution IN nautical matters
that the supply Of sailors at the present time does not
equal the demand, and this Is the case h other countries
well as here. On every ocean steamer we hud large
numbers OF ooalhoavers remen. and engineers and hut
few soamen 10 is a Welsettled fact that to make
n good sailor II Is important that, as q boy
he should imbihe love for the sea and seafarng
pursuits; and with this view, Congress In 1851 enacted
That IL sha he lawful to enlist boys for the navy with
the consent Of their parents guardians not being under
at the age Of a years" The system thus inaugrated
tried with varied success until 1888. when 1t was
finally abandoned The need OF naval apprentice sys
tem however, became apparent az the commencement OF
the Rebclhon; Tor the scarcity OF haNa sahtn gave ie
department Huch ahhlety, anu c"ur'u tonSIu'IHn's
delay IN fitting out vessels which We absolutely needed
Gt that time.
Notwithstanding tho large bountcs which the Govern
then offered, II found that the fishermen did
enlist in the navy, ~ IL was expected they would.
other nations had experienced similar difficulty in OBJ
tanning scamcn IN time Of need, and had IN measure,
obvacd - by educating boys To be sailors and therefore,
~ lsoi the Government detehhed 10 maxi ,oti rll
OF the apprentice system This attempt was destined 10
kind of officers. The rgato Sabine was put IN commits
son IN July, 1865 as practice ship on which the np,
Iiout-C commander NOW ComniandcD II. Il. Lowry
WAS placed In command OF her. Owing to
the necessity ~ an armed cruiser our North Eastern
coi II not uniil the Fal Of that year that Com
maudcr Lowry was fairly able to begin The organization
uf a ,y-tem The following extract his ast report
60 the De partnont viii show the number ~ apprentices
who have enlisted since that time Enlisted ana re-
cri we'd from an reudcZy and stations, listed on
board the Sabine. transferred to cru 3TS
discnrg,d i.J deserted Ijl promoted 10 mid ,h pmen
I'D
cancelled died. remaining Oh board the Sabine 10
Total, ygd."
So successful IL tho system considered that the
Portsmouth and the Snraoga have both been htcd out
M school ships aud will shortly sail from this port
enter upon their duties Tho Portsmouth. Commander
sKcucti b. lying on the Battery. and viii shortly
sail The ac that the state OF Massachusetts otub-
l,hcd Nautical Reform School nt first haa bad effect
on the apprentice systen as many persons could not APP
ship To be reformed and sending them 20
"A schnol,hip to learn To be sailors.
of 10 and L. 10 serve until they are n years Of ago. aud
they cannot De enlisted without their own consent and
that Of their parents aso An officer enising naval
apprentice s directed 10 require from him written tcst
monn of good character and assurances that the candi
date has never been convicted oi any crime nor guilty on
any moral delinquency. lie Is not 10 receive the boy ul-
less he b satisfied that hc s willing and desrous OF enter
INK HE haYa service Tor profession ana that neither
threats force have been used by parents guardians
10 make him consent 10 enlist as "nayal appren-
ucc." No candidate Il 10 be received or
accepted who cannot spell correctly words o three
four syllablcs; read with comparative correctness
and ease; write cgby answer qucstonS nom The mdi,
tplcaon table, aud cipher In addition, subtraction. and
division OF whole numbers Great care j. also taken 10
prevent tho acceptance oi weak OF slcky boysaN u is o
Intention OF the Government 10 educate only such
boy as T make stout h.Hy r SIlggs rs}g Ihe So pay M
$40 a month. Boys may be enlisted at The Naval
Rendezvous at New-I0rk, Philadelphia, Bos-
ton, Baltimore. Portsmouth, Washington,
the L. :. steamer Michigan the Receiving ship 10 Nor
folk, Va or the Apprentice ship sabine 10 is generally
found that las bad oiect on boys TO send them Ia a
rcccyngfhp. and II Is therefore desirable as r pos
hblc. to enlist them the Sabine. During the Winter
the Sabine Is stationed on london ana IN The sum
she goes cruise between Portland ana the capcs
OF the Delaware. Commander Lowry takes great per
sunll Interest In the boys under him. and although firm
aud decided. is not too severe.
For the first few days after boy Is received board
the ship he Is allowed considerable latitude IN order that
he may gradually become accustomed To his new mode OF
life On the fourth day, however, he II assigned To sec
uon ad II placed under the care OF It's captain school
masters assigned 10 each ship who teach the boys
the rudimcnts Of AN English education including navga
tiUn. The boys also carefully and systematically IN
sncted under the commanding officer OF the schOdslp
n the various duties pertaining 10 seaman on board
man-Ofwar: In rigging aud uuriggug masts aud yards
bending and unbending sails knotiing, splicing srappng
making Jackets, whipping. pointing gufting, weaving
mats rocing furlng, using muskcs, pistols ana cut
lasses exercising great guns, afgehrng pulling oars
aud other boat duty, etc. etc A permanent board Of
is also instituted, with the Executive Ohccr as
President the purpose Of ascertanng the relative
merits OF the boys as they present themselves,
and associatlng them In classes for lnstrue-
fitness 10 advancement for higher rating.
Every apprentice Is required to wash his face ana hanus
every morning TO attend the barber twice month, to
keep his skin and clothes clean, his hair and teeth
brushed his shoes blacked and to cultivate all habits OF
ceanliness Each boy has u hammock which Is regis
tered with his number, and which he swings each night
in certain place assigned to him. tailor is allowed 10
boys he number or apprentices on the Sabine
VARYING 3OO whose duty 10 Is To instruct them
In cutting, hitting, and repairing their own clothes,
each apprentice is required to learn sew, and every
boy who been the ship sN months is required TO
keen his own clothes In order. There Is chaplain
duty with the Sabine, who attends To the moral and
religious instruction OF the boys, having short prayer
after inspection each morning, and divine services on
Sunday.
The following is the usual routine Of daily duty At
daylight all the apprentices turned out OF their ham
mOcks which stored In the nettngs. The decks
washed down. and at o'clock the boys sent the
mast head 10 faiuiliarize them with that duty. At "a
breakfast served; 20 minutes allowed for tho meal
AT o'clock all hands ready 10 begin the exercises
OF the day At u all hands go TO quarters for inspection,
after which the usual exercises carried OF till lot
Al III o'clock drill ceases, and at noon dinner is
served. At o'clock the boys again sent the
mast heads This occupies about quarter Of an hour in
all Its details. At u school begins aud dismissed
At supper is served the boys begin To over the
mast heads From q te they exercised In boating,
battalion drills In reeiug, furlng and loOsng sail.
After these exercises, recreation is dulged In at the
signal IN given TO return TO their hammocks and at "
D. M. g silence" Is ordered.
The boys not allowed 10 quarrel fight pro-
Iane language Each apprentice required 10 write To
his parents or friends at least month, and every
facility IL extended TO persons desiring 10 visit the ship
on the regular visiting day-fuesdays and Fridays
III boy In disposed 10 apply himself the apprentice
system offers him good chance OF promotion, each
one has chance 10 compete for the annual appointments
which are made from the ship TO The Naval Academy.
Two or three thousand apprentices needed by the
Government while at the same time opportunity IN
their boys ar determined 10 follow the sea.
Within the past year six daily newspapers i'm