The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-15
SCHOOLSHIP OF SPAIN.
S0wIy PORT on HER LONG CEUiSE
ROUND YHE WORLD.
she Has Thirtv-two Midshipmen and
Fifty-four Naval Apprentices on
Observation-Disclosures.

follows: Nine officers and 80 midship-
men, including two Chileans. The seamen
are of two classes. ordinary seamsn and
naval apprentices. The seamen are all
young men, none of them beng more
than twenty-four years old. The Nau-
titus has gross tonnage of loo, ana
net of 1000 tons. She was built by
John Elder Il Co., Of Glasgow, ana is
full-rigged ship of the clipper type-a
composite vessel. The hull below water
is OF wood, the beams of iron, and the
hull above water line of iron. She
mounts five guns, all in the stern-two
rapid-nre six-pounders, Nordenfeldts.
made in Spain; two Hotchkss guns made
I'm France, and one mitraileuse, made IN
Spain.
The ship is essentially a training or
school ship. The chart room is well aft.
There are three hatch or gangways on
the main deck. one leads down to the
wardroom, or the officers quarters. which
IS a comfortable apartment. 1t Is the
messroom of the officers below the rank
of Captain, and above the rank of mid
shipman. Off the wardroom are the
staterooms of the eight officers in that
mess. The staterooms are roomy, well
ventilated. and well lighted. They are
very comfortable, and rich in curios Sc
cured in the many ports visited by the
ship. bulkhead separates that part
of the ship from the next apartment
forward. Ii means going on deck again
to descend another ladder TO the gun
room mess-the home of the thirty-two
"middies." The son OF an Italian Prince
Is a junior officer. a second gangWay
leads to a deck below, where the appren-
tees who number ffty-four. sleep.
The gunroom mess is a living and mess
room by day and a sleeping room at
night Certain white canvas coverings,
secured to the upper deck. are taken
down al night. They contain iron sup
ports that make up into berths. two in
each frame. One MILDLY" has a lower
and another an upper berth. They are
up at O'Clock punctually. and by 2
p. NJ, the ship is quiet, when all the
juniors" have turned in.
Again. a bulkhead separates the gum
room mess from the next compartment.
mp a ladder and down another. to the
forward part Of the vessel. This room
is divided into two by a collision bulk
head, specially fitted a the Royal Dock
yard, at Ferrol. 1t is one Of Captain
Vilamis devising.
The Nautilus can have her bows crushed
in, but. like her namesake. she will still
| float. The bows inside the bulkhead
make mess-room for petty officers. Near
| the gangway Is a huge ships galley or
range. It's function is purely peaceful
| the elaboration of food a la Espagnol
for the crew. Part Of the port side on
! that deck is occupied by the ships
&c
| blueiackets and stores. Below both is
the hold proper, used for stores, maya
/ zines. &c.
Spain has an immense littOral. both on
her Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.
! Service in her navy is compulsory; so
! is service in her army. Spain. wisely.
| gets her naval apprentices in her sea
| ports, and as a class, they are sons Of
sailors and fishermen-youths brought up
| on and by the water, a class the world
over furnishing the very best material
for making sailors. At the age Of twen-
| ~ they are Obliged to enter the navy.
In a few exceptional cases service may
be committed by paying the Government
| a sum Of money. once entered, they
serve four years anoat. After 1t, they
return to Spain, and enter the Naval
Reserve. They remain in the latter
eight years Following the twelve years,
| they are at liberty to do as they please
| in times Of peace. in time OF war all
men capable Of service up TO the age OF
| fifty are liable for service. either in
the army or navy. Any observer who
will closely inspect the crew Of the
Nautilus will admit that smarter or bet
ter sailors cannot be found.
Spain has two first-class belted cruis-
ers OF 9.S02 tons each. ~ iirst C.ss
ordinary cruisers she has twelve. with
an average tonnage Of 1000. She also
| has, two ironclad frigates Of 1000 tons
| each. monitor fourteen unprotected cruis-
| ers Of 5000 tons each. two large dock
yard hoolships-formerly frigates 5000
tons each-one at the Royal Dockyard In
| Ferrol and the other at the Royal Dock
! ward at Cadz-ten torpedo gunboats,
| one torpedo destroyer built in England,
| fourteen ordinary torpedo boats forty
gunboats for home and colonial services,
and four troop ships. At her dockyards
she has training ships for gunnery and
| torpedo instruction. Three ships are
specially devoted 10 training sailors, all
three sailing vessels; one ship for naval
, apprentices. and three ships specially de-
voted to photographic work. &c.
The navy consists Of l26 steam vessels
including seven modern iron-clads and
! about 2ZUlD men, I1tI lew ~ ui9-iS ''''''ii
| Is knots by natural and % knots an hour
bv forced draueht. The speed OF her
older cruisers vary from u 10 1871 knots
| an hour The caravel Santa Maria, pre-
scented by Spain 10 the United States.
has honorable mention in the last naval
list as being the type of vessel used IN
discovering America.
The officers OF the Nautilus are as
follows: Captaan-Fernando Vilamil;
| mmander-Joaauin ;}arriere; First
Lieutenant-Claudio Anangonzales; Lieu
| tenants-Manuel Sonora, Mateo Garcia
| lose Miranda, Alnano Guibian: Surgeon
| Salvador Guinea: Paymaster-Joaquin
! Coello: Chaplain--Jose Gonzales, ana
! thirty-two midshipmen.
| The daily routine at sea is duty. duty
| duty, the usual watches and usual turn
of duty for everybody. from the Captain
| 10 the Youngest lad on board. The mid
| dies" and naval apprentices are carefully
| instructed theoretically and practically
| While cruising. the Captains tour OF
| night duty is from u 10 \. NJ, wher
he occupies the chart-room. His own
quarters astern are most comtortapie
| His rooms arc four in number-reception
room. mess room. stateroom, and dress
ing room-and large, handsomely-ap
nointed office At a. NJ. the flrs'
| lieutenant relieves the Captain and taxes
| command.
when in harbor. the decks present AT
| animated scene. Glasses OF midshlpmen
NAV be seen at temporary tables: all ull'
| der direct official instruction. the frs
Lieutenant is in active charge OF ai