The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-09-27
TRAINING FOR THE NAVY.
The Life that Apprentice Boys Lead on the
United states school shirs.

OAAAANn 'ANANNa s1NAA"NA NAAsA'Nf
The United States training ship
Minnesota returned to New York
from Newport, where she had been
for the last fifteen months, and
where the recruits received were
few in number Boys entering
the service are required to be over
fourteen years of age and under eight
cen, and must agree to serve until they
are twenty-one. They have to under
go a searching medical examination,
and must be free from all physical de
fects. The minimum standard is as
follows: Age, fourteen to fifteen
years; height, four feet nine inches;
weight, seventy pounds; chest meas
urement, twenty-six inches; fifteen
to sixteen--four feet and eleven inches,
eighty pounds, twenty-seven inches;
sixteen to seventeen--five feet one
inch, ninety pounds, twenty-eight
inches; seventeen to eighteen--fve feet
two inches, 100 pounds, twenty-nine
inches. On entering, recruit, what
ever his age, is rated third-class boy,
with a salary Of $3.50 per month. On
attaining the rating of seamen-appren-
tice his pay is increased from $3.50 to
$3.50. BY the time the apprentices
reach the age Of eighteen they are con-
sidered fit to be sent abroad in prac-
tice vessel, finishing their term Of SER
vice in a regular man-of-war. The
Portsmouth and Saratoga, at present
in Naples, have 800 such boys on board.
In no case are they discharged in
foreign port. When twenty-one years
of age they receive discharge stating
their qualifications. The course of in
struction they have received generally
fits them to pass an examination for
second mate in the merchant service,
though the object of the system is
specially that of educating superior
class of men for the navy. If they re-
enlist in the navy within ninety days
from the date of their discharge they
are granted bonus of three months
full pay. At twenty-four an appren-
tice may, by passing an examination,
become seaman gunner, from which
position he may rise to the rank Of
warrant officer, becoming boatswain or
gunner at salary of $1,000 to S1,8OO
year.
The boys receive instruction in all
the branches of plain English educa-
tion and are in addition taught the
different subjects necessary to a sea-
man, such as seamanship, great gun
and small arms drill, rowing, sailing,
swimming, fencing and boxing. They
may also join volunteer class Of nav
igation, held during the winter. They
are not required to stand watch, men
being specially retained for that pur-
pose, but are for the sake Of conven-
ience nominally divided into two
watches. The reveille sounds at A.
NJ, when they turn out and receive hot
coffee and biscuit. Clearing decks
generally occupies them till six bells,
when they go to breakfast. They re-
turn to duty at 9 o'clock, at which
time all hands are mustered at quar-
ters. Their studies engage their atten-
tion during the remainder of the day.
Dinner is served at noon and supper at
5P.M NJ. The boys are allowed full
ration of provisions, but this they gen.
orally commute when in harbor for its
money value-thirty cents for each
ration-with which they purchase food
themselves. AT sundown all the boys
are sent to the masthead, to afford
healthy exercise to accustom them to
going aloft.
Pensions are allowed in the case of
those disabled by illness or injuries con-
tracted while on duty. The boys are al
lowed a reasonable amount of liberty
and to draw from their pay a certain
amount of pocket money. If not alb
sent on foreign cruises the boys are
permitted to visit their homes twice {
year if their conduct and the state OF
their accounts warrant it. Theil
parents may also visit them on boart
the vessels. New York is considered
a good place for recruits, five OF six +;
day sometimes making application. A
number Of applicants are constantly
rejected because of physical or mora
disability.
There are at present on board tn,
Minnesota Ala boys, eighty men ant
thirty officers and a sergeant's guarC
of twenty marines. Captain j. H
Gillis is in command. The Minnesot
is wooden steam frigate of 800,
| tons. She is pierced for sixty-fou
guns, but at present mounts onl
: twenty-four. She was first used as
| training ship in 1875, and has bee
3 stationed in different places since tina
time.