Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-18
A School Shin at Sea.

There are on board of the New York
School Ship Mercury, now on trip up
the Mediterranean, 261 boys, most OF
whomhave been convicted by the Police
Courts of the City of petty offenses.
The majority of these boys are drawn
from the industrial school. Besides
these, there are many who have been
sent on beard, at the request of theil
parents, to be reformed. This is almest
invariably the result, because they must
work while on board, and work hard al
that, and, except they have strong
fancy for going to sea, one or two cruises
are sufficient to quell the most turbulent
spirit. As a correctional institution the
ship has met with unbounded success,
Tor many bSys, who would otherwise
have grown up rogues, but who are now
engaged in honorable business in New
York and other cities, have been gradu-
ates of this ship. No less successful
has been the practical workings of the
ship regarding the education and pro-
dUction of able seamen.
The ship carries but few seamen, saws
one of the boys writing to an exchange,
only enough to lead the boys and point
out to them their duties, and conse-
quently they do the bulk of the work.
There are always enough old hands kept
ON board to instruct the newcomers,
and, as they all work together, they soon
become equally proficient. The morale
OF these boys must not be mistaken.
No one convicted of actual crime is
taken on board, so that, for the most
part, our crew is composed of boys
whose only ohense is their friendless-
ness and poverty, and only these when
they are physically and mentally with
out blemish. All the petty officers of
the ship are appointed from among the
boys, and as they are all anxious for
promotion they, in most cases, do their
best to succeed These petty officers
are paid a regular stipend, so that there
is every reason for them to use every
exertion, and this they do, and are as
attentive to their duties as could be ex-
pected. By singular coincidence on
this cruise, the smallest boys are the
smartest, and they make the most dim
inuative officers that it is possible to
imagine. Their small stature, howev-
er, abates nothing of their dignity, and
though it is nothing unusual to see a
small boy of thirteen ordering about q
gang of tall fellows of eighteen or twen-
ty years, the small boy is readily obey
ed, for such is the discipline of the ship
that the small boy would not hold his
position unless he was able to fulfill it.
The Importance of this institution to
the City of New York cannot be over
estimated, for through its medium there
will grow up grade of competent sea-
men, which cannot fail but reflect credit
upon the City whose munifcence pre-
.vided them with the means of gaining
their education. 1t is true that the
condition of our commerce to-day Gre
ates but limited demand for sailors,
which is readily satisfied by the seamen
of other nations. But with wise laws
our commerce will revive, and then,
when we have American ships, we will
have American seamen to sail them.
There is another and even more impor-
tant consideration. Our navy is at pres
ent manned almost entirely by foreign
ers, and this must continue to be the
case until that time when, through
scholarships, that almost extinct race,
the American sailor. is revived.
The Mercury has already given to the
navy, where its graduates are readily
taken, about 100 boys, and they are es-
teemed by the naval authorities very
highly. About 200 boys have been en-.
tered in the merchant service, and the
prediudices with which they were first
met having faded away, they are readily
sought for. Besides these, many boys
who have left the ship for other occupa
tions, have again taken to the seq, anc
thus the ship has been the means o.
making competent sailors of persons
who never dreamed of such career.
On our voyage across, the effisacy O.
the ships discipline was well demon
strated, for, though the winds were ia
vorable and the passage remarkabl,
short, the weather was at times severe
and such as would be trying to able sea
men. The boys went through it all
however, without faltering. On tn
evening of the 25th of November tn
wind increased to perfect gale, the Sc
ran very high, and the rain came dow
in torrents. The vessel rolled an
pitched terribly, but, in no wise daunt
ed, ou' boys handled the ship with a.
the heroism of veterans, and brough
her out in safety. When the orde
was given to shorten sail, the boy
ran up the rigging like so many cats
and were soon lost in the rain and darl
ness. Each fash of lightning woul
show them clinging to the yard an
working with will. The sails were 500
taken in, and descending to the decl
wet through, they seemed to regard the.
accomplishment with unconcern, an
were fresh and ready for another elm
Immediately. For few successive day
the weather was very stormy, and "
had very heavy sea but no ma
ter how the sea rolled the boys stuck
the ropes, and covered themselves wit
glory. Finding, from talk about IL
ship, the very remarkable passage "
were making, each boy individual
seemed to become Interested; and it ma
be said, with truth, that they did all
their power to accelerate her speet
Their action during this voyage alor
fully established the efficacy of the pr
sent system of practical instruction
From that one night the boys game
more experience and knowledge of Sc
manship than they could have acquire
in whole year in drilling, with the sh
anchored in the smooth waters of Lor
Island Sound.