The New York herald., 1877-11-16
YOUNG JACK TARS.
GRADUATING EXERCISES ON BOARD THE
scHooLsHIP ST. MARY's-FoRTY TRAINED

GRADUATING ExERcIsEs ON BOARD THE
scHooLsHIP ST. MARY's-FoRTY TRAINED
LADS ADDED TO THE MERCHANT SERVICE.
Upon the polished berth deck OF the schooIship ST.
Mary's forty young lads in blue Jackets squatted in
circle yesterday and piled mariingspikes and sail
needles II their lives depended upon their efforts
These were the graduating class Of this year. tho
work they were doing was part OF the examination to
which they subjected throughout the day by tho
committee OF the Chamber Of Commerce. consisting Of
Mr. John s. Barnes and Mr.. Thomas r. Ball The
former gentleman was not long since a lieutenant
commander IN the United States Navy, and Is consc-
quenty an expert IN matters relating to seananshin
Ropes ends, pieces of and iron eye rings were
supplied the boys, and they proceeded to mako all
OF knots, spices, bitches, bends and other
coniormations of rope known only to those who "a
down to tho in ships. Those to whom
pieces OF canvas were given proceeded TO patch holes
repair and fit them with cringes, just they
were portions OF the ships sails The 'herringbono
s.round and other stitches employed In the WORK cx.
cited the admiration Of tho lady visitors who looked
them later in the day. This work being concluded
in satisfactory mannor the lads wore submitted to a
detailed examination as 10 their knowledge Of naviga-
tion and under Mr.. Barnes eye worked out examples
in dead reckoning and questions OF The variations Of
tho compass aud calculated meridian attitudes and
time sights. Then the boys stood up In a row while
the committee Captain Phy thian Lieutenant De Long
officers nrcd at Them uslade oil question:
about all OF matters relating daily lie ship
board, including their knowledge OF standing aud
running rigging. Mr.. David Wetmoro Of The Board
Education's Committee on Nautical School, was on
board and he with tho instructors, questioned the
lads in grammar arithmetic and the otner elementary
branches ln which the boys are schooled
Tue result OF all these Investigations was emnently
satisfactory, boys ullo 4 recess pend
ing arrival visitors invited by the Chamber of
Commerce to witness the drill IN seamanship. About
the sunny deck and on Tho wharf the boys lounred
n o AN
which the graduating class had 60 successfully passed
and the entertainment TO be given by all the boys to
their friends this afternoon board.
THE LADS "Ar HoME"
From their talk tappears that Captain Phythiap will
to-day give the vessel up TO tnem entirety The lads
have invited about two hundred OF their friends ana
relatives OF both sexes to attend Gllmore's band Will
furnish music from three in the afternoon until six.
when supper will be served and alter that orches-
tra will furnish strains TO which the young Jack Tars
and their partners viii dance away the evening Tho
affair entirely managed by the boys, and they anci-
Al tnree o'clock q Custom House steamer with tho
guests of the Chamber Of Commerce. arrived and The
boys were Obliged to cease their gossip and assemble
ut Their posts. Among those VINO arrived on the
steamer were many reprcseut tatvc merchants aud
hpownersthe class winch tho ironds Of tho school
most wish 10 interest in the work. Noticeable were
Royal Phelps, Robert Mackic, agent OF the English
Loyds; Captain Samuel Harding, agent OF the French
Lloyds; Shipping Commissioner .. =. Duncan. R. r.
Buck /. NJ Hoffman, w. H. Guion, OF Williams &
Guon; Port Warden John Sherry, W. W. Goruon,
Captain Staples OF the packet ship Emerald sle Cap
tain Martn, OF The ship Washington who served three
years tho St Mary's during the American war);
". H. Miller, ex-Mayor W. H. Wickham, Henry wentz,
John BOsr'on Gsosgo %son ss%sss,ay o.
Brooklyn John W. Aun.er, NJ. Hunter,
James ?; Wallace, 5. =, Kennedy, OF the Board
graham, Ira rhurber. W. H. Miller, Isaac H. Reed
and many o.hors. When the visitors had all taken
places upon the spar deck tho young sailors
called to quarters, and under direction OF Mr.. De
Long were sent IKE monkeys into tue rigging. In
or urled spread to the breeze from courses
up to the royals Then the lads shortened sail and
seconded the deck. Three loud strokes the shp'a
bell indicating an alarm OF hre, sent them scamper
ing 70 and fro covering hatches stretching nose and
An mprovsed boat race between two crews Of the
boys followed
When these exercises were all concluded the lads
looking flushed and tired, but enthusiastic gathered
anidshps where three medals-one OF SILVER aud two
OF bronze-were presented TO the three lads graduate
ing at head OF tho class. These medals pro-
pared by the Chamber of Commerce under a resolution
passed some months ago and similar ones will be-
Awarded every year hereafter The medals are about
two and half inches IN diameter. Upon ono side i5
alto relicvo figure OF Mercury. seated upon bale Of
| goods while behind him argosy under sail
In hand the god holds his caduceus and The Other
rests upon cornucopIa Around tue nguro Is tho
legend "Nautlcal School OF the Port oil New YORK.
1871" The reverse side bears the simple inscription
| ADvICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
Mr. Royal Phelps was the first speaker, and he gave
the boys solid advice as to their future course,
Ing them particularly against the dangers Of The
shop. MI. Barnes drew from his own twenty-five
years Of lie on the wave some lessons for the benefit
/
Hunter, Of Brooklyn: Captain Duncan and President
Wood OF the Board OF Education followed with brief,
simple and pointed addresses, calculated TO arouse the
ambition and enthusiasm OF the young Sailors The
medal presented to Elmer H. Mattix and
bronze James J. Keey and William +. Wilson,
respectively SO excellent Was the standing OF many
Of the lads that It found difficult TO decide upon
the recipients OF the medals and the Board Of Educa.
ton mad therefore decided to make honorable men.
OF the following, TO each OF whom It also pre-
sented copy OF tho 'Scaman's Manunl:'-W. j.
Bryant f. W. Bakor, John G. Zsrny q. r. Kelly John
i Met i C.. M. l., y I'm
Bols. Certificates will be presented to the graduates
| by President Wood to. day.
fell from tho maintopsail yard TO tho DECK
tance OF sxtyivo ieet, just tho vessel coming
skull iractured hts right shoulder dslocated aud
one OF his knecpans knocked of II was feared he
ship, deck when the accident occurred and bad
the unfortunate lad at carried below and placed
under treatment and he now has almost completely
recovered.
i PROSPECTS OF THE SCHOOL.
i The exodus OF these forty boys will leave but fity
five IN The class; but as applications are numerous
Is expected that II will number 150-the ful omple-
ment-oy the LIST OF January. When the vessel Lett
city her annual cruise June last she carried
l30 lads: but on her return in August after visiting
Lisbon and Madeira, thirty oil them-audng that ifa
on shipboard was not the romantic existence they
| had imagined 1t 10 be-withdrew from the school,
few Dong very homcsick did not wait to do this for.
may, out incontinen!ly ran away the moment tns
vessel struck the land. the school has its In
ing boys Of q ianced love for the sea, we'll as in
making good sailors Of those who really are
adapted to It. As IS generally known the institution
has been in existence but short time, having been
created by act OF Congress In 1875. Last tty-
five boys graiuated they with the present graduates
making an alumni OF nearly one hundred All oi last
years class obtained positions without dilicuty-tho
Older ones as ordinary seamen and the younger ones
boys. Three OF the number already hold the rank
| OF third matc--one on London packet, one in the
Liverpool trade and the third in tho China trade. Tne
! ply. The course occupies eighteen months and ap-
| pcants must be between the ages OF fifteen and
twenty