Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-02-26
What the mIdshIpmen are Taught.

think 1 told W u, at the begin
nlng' that all things that can make
good sailor are taught at the Acad-
emy. Old forecastle hands at one
time, secretly looked down 1pon ma,
val officers, and complained that
they knew nothing of the harder du-
ties of sea-life. If there was auy
truth in this once, there is none now.
As we crossed the grounds, we met
detachment of midshipmen, dress
ed in common canvas suits, bound
for the practice-ship. Here they are
instructed in all things that fall to
the lot of the poorest sailor.
Once year, they are also sent out
OH a cruise, and are required to ham
die light sails, yards, and masts, en-
tirely by themselves. The instruc-
tions given them at sea are purely
practical, and are such as a lad
could only learn on board an ordi-
nary vessel in many years of expert,
ence. They are taught what to do
in fair and foul weather, in times of
peace and times of war, and how to
do it. Contemporaries and torpe-
do-practice are included in the high
er branches of seamanship and naVi-
cation. In short, each midshipman
is given an opportunity 70 see all
the workings of a ship and to study
them, and afterwards describe them
in log-book to be examined by his
superior officer.
The instructions in seamanship
given on the voyage, however, are
only supplementary to those given
ashore.
Among the buildings of the Acad-
emy is one called the seamanship-
room. lis not a bit like common
school-room, with maps, charts and
globes, and illuminated texts for OF,
naments. We should think thst any
one who has a real taste foI the sea
would find abundant pleasure in it.
There are beautiful models of near
ly every kind of vessel afoSt, from 3
simple sloop to a modern turret ship.
Shelf after shelf is filed with the
smaller ones, and in the center of the
room are others with masts reaching
almost to the ceiling. On the walls
there are also some curious old prints
and oil paintings of famous sea fights.
One of the good qualities of the mod
els Is that they all will work, Just as
though the were full-sized.
The gunnery-room is scarcely less
interesting than the seamanship-
room. Here the gradual improve.
ment in small arms is shown by many
specimens of each kind, from the
old-fashioned matchbox to the nee
die and Remington guns. Among
other curiosities is bronze cannon,
brought over by Cortez in the con-
quest of Mexico. The breech-loader
was supposed to be a new invention,
but the principle exists in this old
relic of earlier centuries. Side by side
with it is the mitrailleuse, the latest
weapon invented, about which you
may have read in accounts of the
Franco-Prussian war. 1t has a great
number of barrels, which reYolYe and
pour out showers of bullets. Else
where IN the room, which is over
| crowded, are models of all sorts of
nautical artillery, including shells,
hand-grenades and torpedees. At
every t1rn the visitor takes be is
confronted by some death-dealing in
strument. A collection of old tro-
ply flags, bioOd,stained, singed with
gunpowder, rent and riven, are fes-
tooned on the wall at one end.
Among them are the British colors
captured during the war OF 1912, in
cluding those of the "Guerriere," !"
captured by the Constitution" and
the famous flag that Lawrence few
in the battle between the "Chesa-
peake" and shannon beariUg
nothing but the brave words: EEDon't
give up the ship"
st. Nicholas for March