The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-01
THE UNITED STATES SCHOOL SHIP SABINE.
SPECIAL Correspondence Of Tine HERALD.

The InauguratiOn Of the System of Naval
Apprenticeship, and its Marked Success
The Boys ON BOard-Their Daily studies ana
Duties-List of Omcers and Instrucfors-
Regulations for the Enlistment and Govern
msnt Of Apprentice Boys. &c.
NEW LONDON Conn, April 20, 1857.
The United States school ship Sabine stationed In this
harbor has .broke out Of her winter quarters. and
her able seamen, under the direction of her expert
enced officers have been busily engaged in putting the
gallant old vessel in trim for the active and prac'
tica duties Of the spring and Notwithstanding
her superior officers assured me the vessel was all ID
confusion consequent upon this procedure her decks
and multiplied paraphernaa miracle OF neatness
and regularity.
The apprentice system, auspiciousy inaugurated
and successfully carried board Of this ship, was
formally in obedience act Of Congress
dated March q 1887 but after many disappontments,
abandoned six years subsequent thereto and was
not revived until the year 1884 In May Of that
year the naval ship Sabine ordered to be put in
commission as practice aud school ship for naval ap
prentces under the command OF then Lieutenant Com
nander, R. B. Lowry, United States Navy, who was
especially selected by the Department at Washington
for the very important arduous and delicate duty Of
organizing and establishing firm basis the nucleus
from which the rank and file OF future naval force
was to emanate IN such not only to be re-
liable at all times but OF character which would place
shipe OF upon equal II not superior footing
to those OF any other naval power.
But the visits OF the Tallahassee and other piratical
craft of the Southern coniederacy to the waters Of the
caused the naval authorities to send the
Sabine there TO protect commerce and fishing in
erests valuable her services considered by
the people OF Portland vicinity that they induced
Mr. Wees to retain her at that port until the threatened
danger had fully passed, that not until October
of 1864 that Commander Lowry fairly enabled to
upon the organization of this important system
II was task fraught with many difficulties, at
first that seemed insnrmountable. but by degrees,
marked with patience and faith. aided by his humane
and capable subordinate officers and instructors, Com
mander Lowry brought order out OF chaotic mass OF
humanity aud eventually had the Incstmable satisfac-
ton and pleasure Of witnessing and experiencing the
perfect successtiha had crowned his ariuous labors.
Continual drafts being made upon the ship for the
experienced and advanced OF the boys 70 supply IN
a measure, the deficiencies that occur in the various
United States squadrons throughout the globe
at present but 279 board but these ad
vancng in their studies ut rate that promises the most
tons consisting of from eighteen twenty five boys
each these sections have irst second and third cap
tans who are selected from the most advanced boys
with O OF their superiority rs discipnarians and
assistant instructors. and these bear the honorary title
of Cadets" they have charge OF the residue Of their
sccton and are in measure responsible to tho officer
com manding them for Their conduct and cleanliness
These sections each daily drilled, alternating in a
manner that weekly ensures every boy In the ship
receiving instruction in all the minutD Of of war
details, including rigging and unrlgging mass and
yards bending and unbendin- sails, knoting,
splicing strapping blocks. heaving the lead. steer
ing, making signals, pointing, grating, weaving
mats, making gasSets, reeing, Turing, using
muskets, pistols and cutasses exercising grea. guns
target firing, pulling &c &c In addition thereto,
schoomasiers assigned to each school, agreeable to de-
partment orders instruct them the rodiments OF edu
cation, embracing reading. writing geography and
arth nec. Including navigation and other necessary
branshes that may suggest themselves to the expert
enced mind OF the commanding officer black board,
hung conspicuously the school deck every morning.
previous Quarters" noiaes each section of their
spective studies and duties for the day From morning
to afternoon these change alternate in tho
above referred TO. To-day they were as Follows