The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-04-09
LEARNING TO BE SAILORS.

LEARNING TO BE SAILORS.
How Every Boy Must Show Ills Nerve
When lie Enlists-Somc of the
Queer Penalties inflicted for
infringement Of Rules
Not Much Fun.
A group of bright, widc-awakc lads,
dressed in sailor suits of dark blue,
with jaunty little flat-crowned hats to
match, gathered about an old gunner
aboard the United States steamer Min
nesota yesterday and listened with ad-
miration to tales of battles on the seas.
Tho old man was costumed in all re-
spects as they were, save for device
in white cotton on the sleeve of his
jacket, which might have represented
an eagle. dragon, or butterfly. He
reclined easily against the rotund belly
of a big twclve-pound howitzer which
stuck Its ugly nose through q square,
cut port-holc in the vessels side, and
his unkempt gray beard wagged with
every word he rolle,l from his ready
tongue. His audience were newly-re-
cruitcd naval apprentices who will
shortly be removed to the United States
training ship New Hampshisc, at New
port.
'Cast your eyes on the gun yonder
on our port side" the old fellow was
saying as he nodded across an open
hatch to the butt of huge engine of
war. ''That, and many o the others
hcreabouts, too. for that matter, did
some good loud talkin' during the
fights with the johnny rcbs. There's a
hole gouged out of 'cr iron side big
enough for anyone of you young 'uns to
put your fist in, and the second sight is
knocked all askcw. That were done in
a lively little engagement of Port Jsov-
al by u rebel shell which burst when it
struck, and moved down a crew of the
bravcst men that ever smclt powder.
They re awkward thingsto have droppin'
about you-those same shells, and, as old
Farragut used to say, there no dodgin'
the pieces when they bust. Away back
in 81 or thercabouts,-'
''All hands up with the awnings"
interrupted a boatswain's mate, in a
hoarsc voice of command. us he pro-
jected his head and shoulders through
an adjacent hatch. "Look alive, there,
lads Ito the rccruits), and give us a
hand"
Instantly there was scampcr for the
hatch-ways, in which the amateurs
mingled with the ships crew, and "A
very few moments later the sailors re-
turned Juggling ~ couple of huge rolls
OF canvas. They were laid out on the
deck. and Il trio of blue jackets jumped
lightly into the rigging, passed the
sheets through swivcls, and dropped
the ends down again to the deck. Their
companions seized hold of them as if
their lives depended OH it, and with
"Yah, HEAVIER chorus pulled the heavy
tarpaulins into place Then the lower
edges We're fastened tamt to the vessels
side, and the men found themselves
beneath waterproof roof.
''How do you like being sailor?"
the writer asked of one manly little
fellow. "a jolly time of it you must
have together in this great old Ship
"We did not exactly come out for
fun" said the lad, half seriously, "and
they don't allow much skylarking on
board, anyway, but it's great fun to
help the sailors as we're doing Just now,
and cam tie s;,ilor's knot already as
well as any old SALT
''DoI't you ever Use the bowling galley
downstairs? questioned the reporter,
innoccntly.
THAT amt bowling alley. You
mean the shot-rack down below on the
gun deck. Ayoung fellow named Cut
lie came here and the crew haven't got
over il yet. thought the old g,,nner's S
mate would a died laughing at him.
'What do we have to do to be en-
listed? Well, 1 came here about a
week ago with my father. We saw the
captain, and he asked if could read
and write and went through all sorts of
questions to see if I'd ever been Il very
bad boy. Then he sent me in to the
surgeon. The scrgcon wanted TO know
if I'd ever been sick and l told him
was sick now-of being lubbcr-and
that had had the whooping cough and
measles when was q baby. He asked
whether | smoked or drank, or had fits,
and told him used cigarettes once in
q while. After that he held up q
printed card to see if could read it
across the room and | did it without
any trouble. was told to strip of
my clothes, and the surgeon felt of my
limbs, just as Il jockey goes over a
horse, tapped my chest and looked at
my teeth. thought he wanted to tell
how old was, but lie said it was only
to see if they were sound, because four
bad teeth won't be taken in one boy.
When had been thoroughly examined
they took my weight and height and
the measurement Of my chest, and said
l was all right. thought | was ready
at last to sign my articles, but they next
made me go over the top us the sail
ors call it, which is to climb the lower
rigging ON one side of the mast and
come down on the other side. It's a
high climb, but if boy don't have the
nerve to 90 over they won't take him.
got over all right, and then they took
me down below to the berth deck and
picked out my sailor clothes.
Besides clothes they give each
of us a hammock, mattress, and
two blankets and few other little
things, such IS brushes, soap, and
combs. Each of us has jack knife
and lanyard, too. The lanyard is this
cord that goes around the neck, and it's
fastened to the knife so that if we drop
it when we're up in the rigging it won't
fall on anybody.
Eight BELLS" mused the lad, as the
solemn notes of a deep toned gong
were waited upon an otlor OF boiling
coffee from below. ''Another hour and
we'll have supper"
"You have supper at nine bells, do
you?" vcnturcd the reporter, trying to
appear familiar with the sailor dialect.
Wed have to wait for it good