New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-10
TRAINING BOYS FOR THE NAVY.
IAN INCREASE OF APPLICATIONS.

IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTED IN THE METHODS
OF THE scHooLsHIP.
"whether the system for training boys to become
seamen in the Navy Will be solution of the problem
Americans for the American Navy 1 am not able
to say but do know that there is marked increafe
in the applications Of boys for places this vess,
and boys who Will, no doubt, improve thelr postidn
in life and be proud of themselves said Captain
@. G. wiltse, commander OF the trainng-ship Mime
sofa, low lying at West TweRty-sixth-st There
were on the gun deck at the time company Of
new sailor recruits going through the drill Of the
soldier under the supervision Of Lieutenant Commander
Joseph Marthon, and several other lads were walt
ing their turn to be physically examined by Surgeon
]. r. Waggener
Those under drill were about to be sent to the
ship New-Hampshire, at Newport, TO go through
professional training, besides being taught arith-
metic, geography, history, reading and writing,
swimming, boxing, fencing, rowing and sailing
boats They attractive lot OF boys,
with bright happy faces dressed In clean and neat
fitting sailor suits Their ages ranged from fourteen
to eighteen, tho limit for enlistment, and they had
evidently decided that the ship, with the duties
to perform and the strict discipline 10 be observed
was the comfortable and satisfactory home they
had ever known in the big city They were now
certain Of comfortable clothing substantial and sur
fcient meals, good place to sleep and 50 month In
addition with the privilege Of frequent leaves Of
also have in prospect increased pay until It reaches
ga month and II promoted TO the grade Of petty
officer, the pay would be from gao 10 $40 month
In the meantime the apprentice boy obtaining know
edge for lfo-profession besides having home.
Captain wlItse took command Of the Minnesota on
April ID, 1855 and for the twelve months ending
June 30 following, the nunber of sppll'
cants was 1,2l7. OF this number s71
were rejected because they were physically
disqualified there were 1876 who failed to report back
for enlistment and Oil did enlist OF the latter num-
Der 20 enlisted after Captain Wiltse took command
From July /, 1883, to February l. 1850. there have
been 241 enlisted and this notwithstanding the phys
zeal examinations have been most rigid and the closest
scrutiny has been observed 10 prevent The enhSmeht
of those whose moral characters were detective Ihe
are as many examinations in month now as there
were in three n year ago Captain wiltsc was first
interested in training boys for seamen when IN conn
msnd of the training ship Sabine, nearly thirty years
ago. and one Of those boys, Lieutenant Roller, no"
one Of the officers OF the Minnesota sPeanns Oh
the present system, Captain wiltse said
al believe that we have the material in New-Vorh
City 10 make seamen in Navy OF "hom inc oou"S
would be proud There thousands OF boys IN Vow
York who would be better of ana woud MANI 49,
men by coming into tho Navy. and many would come
II they could only know Of their opportunities have
succeeded in getting permission TO advertise ior
boys and believe the plan will be profitable lhen
too I have urged that We oher some incentive ior
boys who enlist and / hope Congress VIII appreciate
the proposition, for then We would soon SEQ inc
benefits by the enlistment of very desirable "a
First think that we should give them their orsaA
outfit of clothing SO that they need not have 10 ~
into debt and may be relieved Of the dscouraBo"'o"
Of being Obliged TO work II out before getting Leave o.
absence TO see their friends shore Next, u anh
that from these bogg there should be selee teu i've
wear 10 be appointed es cadets at the academy anu
become officers later IL, anutude
9Irue many OF the boys who show special sp nl
and become qualified are appointed warrant ~,
and this is an incentive for them 70 do the csrs
but should 20 little further ~ Wa uono Client
ago, and those who were qualified mane ga, a. cir
officers. True many OF the boys after serEi.he ' en
time become so proficient that they seeA 1si~
pI0yment Two know have become ciel t: , ner
others bookkeepers, some are ohcers IN III mon
chant marine and II the time comes 70 car o uRd
their services in emergency they can 90 ,P form
upon TO Our navy vessels. 80 you SEQ .,e' saw
a nucleus for an American Navy, ana Mom who
American include boys Of foreign parehlSee'
make substantial geamen"