The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-01-25

''What has become of the Yankee sail
or that used to man the clipper ships Wa
read Of?"
"He doesn't grow any more. Why
should he' What is there to induce
boy to go to sea? Is it the SIS q month
that he can earn, b not always get,
when he has sailed long enough to learn
his trade? Is it the salt horse and hard
tack that he lives on? Is it the per-
suasive fist of tie mate when that gen
tleman is afflicted with a sour temper?
an you think of one reason why a
young man should 90 to sea-
Cant he get promoted if he is ener-
geti" and capable?"
Yes. The law will allow American
ships to take only American citizens as
officers. Ii the lad is energetic ard ca
pable, as you say, he can, after five or
six years, get p Omoted to a second
mates berth. That means IS month
more than the men before the mast.
Here, look at this list"
The shipping list of the iron schooner
Josephine was spread be ore the ques-
toner. The mate had signed for $40
month. the second mate ut S25, one
seaman at $50, four at SlS, the cook at
S35, and an ordinary seaman ct Sl4.
That mate is first-class man; he
has been to sea for years. The be lrd
and lodging he gets on board are about
equal to what he'd get for $50 month
on shore. So he ranks the Eechan cs
who get 1925 day, with this differ
ence: The mate works twelve hours a
day, seven days in the week, and the
mechanic doesn't. Is that enticing to
the energet C and capable young man
YOU told aDOut?"
But this is a coaster"
"Yes. The men before the mast or
the FRS clippers get $40 instead of
SlS month. That recalls another
thing. AS soon as a vessel touches the
dock the men are called down below
and are paid off. One may be kept
for ship-keeper, but his pay does not
run on; he only gets his board. BE-
tween the advance pay system, which
fattenS the boarding-i OuseS, and the
time he is idle, the sailor does not ham
die as much money as a tailor's APP
p entice. The Yankee does not 90 to
sea because he can do better on shore "
where do the mates and captains come
from?"
MANY of them are naturalized for
eigners. The Americans come from !:
certain class of coasters and fishermen,
who ship their crews among the neigh
bors of the owners in the small ports
where thes belong. Some of the cap
tains do not know tar from putty when
they first 90 to sea. The Captain must
have the money to buy an interest in
the vessel before he can get command
of her, sailor or not. Ii he has enough
money and wants to sail he can buy
nto ship. His first mate is then at
once commander and schoolmaster to
the Captain until the Captain leIrns
how"
A bl'ck and white sign in front of
South street hotel read: Wanted, men
for the U. S. Navy. Seamen, s2l.a0:
ordinary seamen, $3.50; firemeD,
-3l.oO." Mr.. Edwin C. Provost had
hare of the naval shipping office.
1--WE want able seamen and ordinary
seamen," he said. There are plenty
of applicants at those wages, but they
are not men that we can accept. They
are not seamen as the term is under
stood in the navy. An ordinary sea-
man who would be accepted n the navy
would be an able seaman in the mer-
chant service. The ordinary seaman in
he navy must have had at least three
years sea experience; the able seamen
six to eight years. Exactly six out OF
seven applicants are rejected by the
medical e aminers. The chief causes
are poor eyes and poor teeth
How many of them are Americans"
Il guess 1 haven't had one. 1t
toesn't pay them to 60 to sea. They
are too Independent to stand the discip-
line?"
"Is the food as good in the merchant
ervi as in the navy"
Better. That is, the quality no bet
ter, but the variety is greater"
what chance has boy to enter the
navy?"
..All he wants The training ships
are open to him. After New Years.
able seamen will get Sz4 in the navy
i he chief officer of the United States
steamer Yantic was discussing W tn
some reporters the conduct OF the sail !
ors at the time the Proteus sank in tn
ce. .'Do you have any trouble in get
tirg good seamen in the navy?" was !
askei of the officer. He answered.:
.',se do. There is no trouJie in get
ting men WHO can haul on rope. but
able seam n whom We can promote tC
petty officers are not to be had" He |
would express no opinion on the cause
of this condition of affairs.
Another naval officer said: 1.-The ap-
prentices are doing well. They will |!
nave the first chance in the promot ons |
to the warrant Offices. but tha. is not |
nance enough to fill the navy with able !
seamen. Naval officers will not often |
admit it. but if the cadets ut the Naval |
Academy were all chosen from among
the apprentices who could pass rigid |
examination after three years service, !
there would be something to induce !
bows of energy and ability to go TO
sea-"
Wouldn't the failure of the many !
who didn't get promoted drive them
from the navy"
mo. They would get accustomed to |
the manner of life. and the sailors in |
stinct. with the new pay raises, void !
keep them. ~. Y Sun.
At intervals. dating back over hall
a century, strange parties have m de /
aor.hn- ~ tho hnI of Mood l.