The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-01


and with his station q all evolusions, the
boy nov takes his placs with other new
sss, Zine Of il. when suoush hs,s b bs n
en!isted TO make u m object to stat them
on. Me f'drafl" ID r~ailroadsd 70 New.
port with ~ tof1oss in~n charge. HsIs
ous younG tar goes Into barracks,
y Taught 70 scrub hinss!f and his clothes
i Sa's.; I al Il v b. va as.. Ss,', signal S''s eo I s'ni l.. !:
boxing end fencing Lessons. 10 taught to
Q and splice and wsavs and sew, and 10
rut through ths thousAnd and one exsr.
oiees and drills that turn ont the modern
Twice . year The Oldest and most prof
cruising training ships MononRahela and
Portsmouth. Thu old Jamestown, formerly
. crack sailor, Nv now used ~ . hospital
ship for the cities OF Norfolk. Portsmouth
and Newport News. Az she rides with her
top hamper down In sight Of tho magnt6-
many . gunner, coxswain or b~oatswAin's
mate points her ont TO the landsmen a. the
ship whore he learned "sailoriztng."
On the cruising training ships the eduoa-
ton begun at Newport 10 completed. Long
cruises arc made. and the boys learn what
rough weather and sea sickness mean. The
compliments are generally reduced after
she hrat United States ports are reached. ~
the present hardships and perils outweigh
the dreadful punishments suggested by the
articles OF war 40 applicable 10 desertefs.
and the boys run away and seek a less OK
least desirable Of the apprentices. and this
semi.annual dssertion IL really a good
wedding out process, avoiding much "red
type" incidental to other means of dismiss.
ing tho worthless element.
After a year in these ships the boys are
again ready for transfer, this time to the
regular cruising ships. whore thsy form an
important part Of the crow. They are de-
tailed TO duty in the signal corps, have
charge OF rapid firing guns, and II at all
bfiRhs soon take q prominent place in the
estimation OF their commanding and di-
visional officers.
The g.eonho,a who is Of age and who
staFss his naval career on board a receiving
ship with q speedy transfer to some new
cruiser has no such life. Beginning rs 4
landsman, nothing but sheer pluck and per-
severance will carry him to = higher place.
During his short stay on the recruiting ship
he must endeavor to acquire all the knowl-
edge an apprentice is granted a year TO
gather In. Once transferred to q cruising
ship, in times OF excitement, he may BE
called upon to perform things he has never
before heard of, and the officer who is
Watching the ships position in the squad
rom, her lights. those Of the leading vessel.
reading. . signal from tho flagship. listen
Ing to the soundings. ETC.. cannot stop 10
BE- patient with the landsman's failures.
Still he has daily instruction and drill and
Ia set at all kinds of work under the super
vision Of the captain of the forecnstle,"
and may In time rise to hold q warrant and
become an officer. TO much for his chance.
Whether he finds life OF board discourage
ing or hopeful there are leisure hours when
he can consort with his new friends and
form friendships for good or evil.
After the crew has had supper the various
cliques gather. Some talk over the events
of the day. while others lay plans for fu-
tute mischief. Often the trend Of a lands.
sailors he spends his earlier evenings with.
There are amusements and amusement
makers in every Grow. Harmless games
are played. often harmless because the men
who take part have rough hands and bodies
Injured to suffering. For every game has
It's p~enalty-lashes with q ropes end being
tho %favorite. Singers and banjo players
are always to be found in the crew, and
frequently the foreosstle of a man-of- war
resounds with the refrain of a popular song
before the newsboys Of New York have be-
gun to whistle it. II the steerage cook is a
Virginia darkey, he may play the fiddle.
and "Jaoky" selects his chum for a partner
and waltzes about with Il gravity that adds
interest to the scene.
1t is in such ways as this that the busy
life of the day Ia rendered more attractive.
and 1t 10 this good-natured humor and buzz
OF the crew between. supper and taps that
makes many an ex-man-of- wars man
homesick and brings him back to tey an
other cruise. H., ~ 49,
As a prominent feature of our crews, the
seamen INNER are worthy of notice. Any
ex-apprentioe or seaman who has completed
q course OF three years and re-enlisted may
apply for instruction to fit him for such a
rating. He is sent to Washington for pre-
llminary instruction in practical eunnery
and then TO Newport. whore electricity,
torpedo work and mechanism are taught.
The course 10 a severe one. but after passing
his examination the man is of great value
to the navy. A too great proportion, how
ever. leave 10 accept good positions in civil
life. 1t Is to be hoped that future legisla-
ton will make their naval position one
worth retaining.
No account of our sailors would be com.
pleto without reference to our marines.
While tho question as to the relative value
OF these seagoinR soldiers to an equal num-
Der OF blue jackets is an oven. question, and
. holly contested one. the fact remains thai
such work as they do ia tho, oughlv we'll
done. Az a body the marine corps has a
record to be proud of, md if they are ever
history must give them credit for
their work in active service and in times of
psacs.-Boston Sunday Herald.