Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-08-03
THE DARATOGA.
Hhe way Affairs are Carried on In this and
Other ships OF the Navy

The Saratoga recently at Bath. is recruiting
ship of the Z. s. Naval Service She is an
Old vessel, having been built in 1910, but has
been altered so many times, and so MANY
times refurnished that she now looks cam.
parativelv new. She was used during the
rebellion as recruiting ship. She carries
upon her gun deck twelve guns, her compile
ment of crew and officers is 265 at present
which is increased or diminished according
as she enllsts men or transfers them to other
vessels. Boys are taken from IA to Is years
OF age. Enlisting as third class, thev mass
on through second and first classes to ord;-
nary seamen, as fast as they are capable of
performing the duties. They are first ex
ahmed mentally, being required to possess
knowledge Of reading and writing; physical
iy they are examined, to see if they come up
to the required height. weight, etc, and to as
certain thatthey have no inherited or chronic
disease which shall incapacitate them
for the service, or from which
they may draw a pension hereafter.
Letters Of the alphabet of certain size, are
placed before them, to ascertain at what dis
tances they can distinguish them if at 90 feet
their vision is normal, and is recorded as 20 =
~; II at 10 feet at 1870; if at 80 feet as 30
20; in this way the vision can be exactly
graduated. The consents of the parents or
guardian is necessary in ali cases After en-
llstment they go through a stated course of
instruction, which differs on different DAYS
they are taught to sew, making their own
clothes as they need them. They are taught
the different parts of the ship, the different
ropes, the working of the great guns and
! howitzers; the duties under fire, the militia
sword
the method of steering. the working of the
running rigging, heaving the lead. the sail
drill, the code of signals, and the manage
ment of boats, a complete knowledge of which
duties Is essential to becoming an ordinary
seaman. They have no cooking to do, cooks
are provided for each mess; IA BOYS consti-
tuting a mess. The rations consists of salt
beef and pork, hard tack, fresh canned beef,
| canned vegetables, -four bread, dried apples.
rice, raisins, pickles, potatoes, butter. tea,
coffee and cocoa, when at sea- in port all
kinds of vegetables and fresh meat every day
in addition. All these are furnished from the
ships if the mess wishes to have anything
else, they go without some of these mention
ed and have the money furnished for what
ever they wish. The needles and thread
cloth, knives and all necessary articles are
kept on the ship and sold to the boys at their
actual cost. The discipline is strict, all the
boys are obliged to turn out at a stated hour
in the morning, and perform their duties reg
ularly. They are not allowed to swear or
use tobacco in any way while on board the
ship; any infringement of these regulations
constitutes petty offence for which they are
punished by extra duty, that is to say. by duty
that must be performed by some one, but
which otherwise he would not be obliged to per-
form. They are inspected every morning to
see whether their faces are clean, their hair
combed, and their clothes neat and clean;
unfulfllment of these duties are punished by
extra duty. or taking away their privilege of
going ashore when in port.
They are allowed Wednesday and Saturday
afternoons and Sundays for extra sewing.
writing letters, etc. There are classes in be-
havior, three in number; the first go ashore
when in port whenever not on duty; the sec
ond not so often. and the third still less
often. After these classes comes the black
list, which is usually small, these are allowed
to go ashore but once in three months. Dis
obedience of orders, stealing from mess
mates, getting drunk while on shore, or de-
stroying the ships property, brings
them before Court Martial, which
decides their punishment, putting in
irons, ETC., no fogging is allowed.
The calling of an ordinary seaman is an
honest one, and the pay is advanced as fast
as the boys are capable of doing the required
work. At first the pay is $3.50 and ration,
that of ordinary seamen is $3.50 and ration
per month. As fast as they are capable of
occupying the position of warrant or petty
officers the pay is advanced to $500 per year,
that is the maximum sum paid When the
boys arrive at the age of q they have a com
nj etc naval education and could command
good pay in the merchant servlce.-Bah
Times.