New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-25
THE CADET IMPOSTURE.
A SENSELESS AND DECEPTIVE SYSTEM
THE DIRECTORS OF THE PACIFIC MAIL COMPANY
MAINLY RESPONSIBLE.

A SENSELESS AND DECEPTIVE SYSTEM
THE DIRECTORS OF THE PACIFIC MAIL CoMPANf
MAINLY RESPONSIBLE.
To the Edttor Of The Tribune
SIR: / have been decidedly interested III read
ing your accounts OF the cadet imposure practced py
the Pacific Mail COmpanys officials from the iact tha'
had perceived how completely senseless ana oeeep'o
any system Of this kind from personal obsorvatoh'
while in the service Of that Company eight years ago
When the line from California to China was hrst put to
operaton it was decided have each OF the vessels
employed in that service young men as ca
diets or az officers embryo. On the vessel to winch
was attached the Great Republic, ono OF these young
men was stationed and 1t would be dinieut 10 con
ceive of a more disheartenmg experience thah tha'
through which this boy, for he was not more
than Is years OF age, passed. Not that he was
abused for the officers were uniformly kind In their
treatment OF him. but there was actually nothing 1or
him TO do and no one had the time the inclination TO
give him the least instruction. merchant steamer or
shin is widely different from traningschooi; tho
officers are on duty on alternate days either 10 or Ia
hours and it would DO asking more than coud wen DC
expected to them take time from their watch Deiow
in which to play the role OF schOomaster Nor are they
fitted by education experience for service OF This char
acter With hardly exception the line officers theh
and now in the employ the Pacific Mall are men VINO
bcgan life in tho forecastle. Their knowledge OF the
science Of navigation Is confined to the application Oh
certain known rules to certain published logar1thms
To ATTEMPT to instruct would merely be to exhibit
their own ignorance scamanship per L" cannot
be taught but has to be gained by waiting and watch
ing and here let lie say that as thorough Kho"ease
OF this could be acquired on canaio0at as on snd
steamers OF the Pacific Mall where the little sail carried
ia only put III use when the wind Is far Inc proper
school for the life Of sailor Is SAILING vessel ihe
study OF marine engineering can best be begun Dy enter
mo thc draughtlng-rOOm OF an establishments IKE Mr
Roachs on The Delaware; and thus all that Is left Tor
thc officers in the Pacific Mail to teach cadets IS tne
method of slowing cargo. polishing brassw0k ana coll
ing rope-yery good things in their way, but uSatsiac
tory when combined with nothing else. -. A.,
officers of the Pacific Mall whom think some OF your
correspond.flts take to task unjustiy. Inc IauIt
lies with the directors managers OF the Inc
and moi with their employees These latter are PAID ther
wa grs FOR sailing loading and dischargng tho vessels
Nv some freak their employers seven or egt young
men with full dress uniforms" and white duck SUITS
are placed on the various vessels Tor whom empoynch
10 aay that these ntruders considered In the ght OF
nm infOerae nuisance for which any means OF radiance
ia good one is stating the truth mildly As they nave
no Experience there nothing that they can Dc empoye
To do while as said above. those III conln1ild nave
neither time ability inclination to instruct them
The cadets are thus allowed either Ia spend their tInc IN
counting SRA guls the old familiar sea Trick OF roast
ing them out" il put into operation. That IL was sue
cessful i'm the present instance seems only TOO eVdet
and while can sympathize heartily in the disappoin-
ment OF these youthful asrants and can JON WIN yOn
in condemnation OF the Board OF Directors am Inclined
To think that best for all concerned that inns lafce
sLould have come to 30 sudden and public an end
'"' ResDectfnlly yours, OSBORNE HOwEs, JR
Chester Sylare Boston, May 10. 1873.