The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-12-01
Life on the sehoo, ship.

The Committee on crime recently
went out into the Sound, up Eas
River, New York, where the school
ship Mercury lies at anchor, of hart,
Island. The members Of the com.
mittee and their counsel were met by
the officers of the ship, aud were
shown through every part of the YES
sci, from stem to stern. The boys
had all been drawn up in line on tbs
main deck, and as they had all beer
cleaned up for the occasion. they
z1aGv very good appearance. The
committee went down into the very
hold of the, ship, looked into the store
room and the dispeusary, and went
through the berth deck, where sever
al of the boys were called in to show
the mode of suspending their ham
mocks and getting in and out o.
them. Coming up TO the main deck
again the order was given to Lau
the yards, and, in obedience to the
boatswain's whistle, the lads ran up
the three rope ladders past the tops,
and some of them away up to the
topgallants. At another command
they ran out upon the yards. where
Tor few moments they stood along
in line as if ready 10 throw out or
reef the great square sails. After
this very interesting exhibition of the
sAlli of the young lads, the committee
Went into the officers private room,
where the investigation was held.
LIFE on THE SCHOOL SHIP.
Captain Francis T. Gregory. who
is in command Of the seip, testified
as follows:
| have been in command of the
Scholarship a little more than year;
| had never been in command of any
vessel before, but had been an officer
on the Mercury for five years; there
are 1T3 boys on the ship now; when
the boys arrive here they are put in
to ships clothes and numbered: their
religion is taken; we have a school
teacher on board; nothing is asked a
boy about his previous experience;
be is sent to the school-teacher; the
boy generally goes by the ships num-
Der; each boy is washed every morn
ing; whom the weather viii permit,
they strip to the waist and wash
themselves on deck; the boys are
divided into two watches; they are
instructed in everything that per-
tains to seamanshiF, ald nothing elEei
some of them after leaving here go
into the navy: about 120 have gone
into the navy since | have been in
command; the reports about them
have been very good; of course they
have not the best of physique, but
they make good ordinary seamen;
every day is the same with the boys
except Sunday; on that day the Cap
tain goes through the ship from stem
to stern and makes an inspection; af-
ter that the religious services are
held; there is a Protestant service
and Catholic service; all the Catho-
lie boys are obliged to attend Catholic
service, and all the Protestant boys
are obliged to attend the Protestant
service; they would not be allowed
to change from one to another if they
requested it; if the parents came and
said boy had been entered wrong
and they wanted him to attend the
other service, their request would be
complied with; we have great va
riety of punishments; the most severe
punishment is putting boy in the
stocks; this is only for the most seri-
offenses; for ordinary offenses we use
the ropes end, giving them three,
four or FIVE cuts; no boy is ever pun
ished by being suspended; the boys
are fed on regular naval rations, but
they have fresh meat three times a
week; we use a good deal of 'spoon"
food, such as hominy and oatmeal;
| think we ought to have more vag-
rant boys sent here; we can accom-
modate 250 boys; we want the boys
sent here who have no homes; such
boys would be sure to remain here
until they were thoroughly educated,
and would go away into the mer-
chant marine or navy; the number Of
boys discharged before they have
been fully instructed amounts to
about 40 per cent. some of the boys
learn the business thoroughly in one
year and half, and others take two
years, it all depends on the capabili-
ty of the boy; there have been nc
assertions from the ship during the
past year; in former times some oi
them jumped overboBrd and swan
ashore; profanity is not allowed; if a
boy use profane language be is pun.
ished; the officers do not use it; have
beard them at times, but l have in.
variably called them to account; we
make long crise each year, and are
gone from four to five months; gen.
orally leave about the 18th of the
month; our requisitiOn is in nowi fol
a permit to start; the first year that
the ship was put in this service l.;
expenses emounted to $50, 900; the
next year it was S51 900, the next
s3s, 900, and this year it will not be
more than $4,000; | think that S35,'
year is quite sufficient to run the
ship, including everything; the sala-
ries Of the officers are as follows:
Captain, $175 a month; first officer,
Sl00; second officer, SO; third officer
$50; instructor, $3.50; doctor, $50;
clerk, SIS; masters mate, $50; engi'
neer, $50; steward, S45, carpenter
$50; seamen, s25 each.