The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-10
A GEORGIA BOY's RISE.
His Advancement From an Appren-
tice Boy to BOatswain.

HIS Advancement from an Appreu-
tice Boy to BOatswain.
Washington, Aug. 9.-Lee r. Boland of
Columbus, Ga, has just passed a very
creditable examination for appointment
as boatswain in the United States navy.
There is an interesting story connected
with the Georgia lads rapid advancement
in the service which is we'll worth repeat
ing at this period, in view of the recent
development of the. naval spirit in the
southern states, as evinced by the activ-
ity in the naval militia service.
Less than eight years ago Lee Boland
was a 16-year-old lad, visiting relatives
in New Orleans While there several Bra
lillian cruisers came into port, and, boy
like, young Boland was attracted to the
water front by the warshipS, and he was
seized with a desire to be a sailor. Soon
afterward he returned home TO Columbus,
his mind still filled with a desire to en-
ter the navy About that time a friend
who ran away from home to enter the
navy sent home a letter, telling of the
advantages of a sailors life aboard one
of Uncle Sans warships.
Lee Boland was and still is a dutlful
son. He finally obtained the consent Of
his mother to enlist in the navy. He
came to Washington and shipped for three
wears as a LnlTQ-cIdSS dppItnllC6 DOy.
at a salary of 50 per month and ration,
which is worth about 50. Being a bright,
intelligent boy, he soon attracted the at
tention and won the respect of his SUI
perior officers, and he was soon advanced
to the grade of seaman apprentice, jump
two grades. He was assigned to
class in seamanship and gunnery,
and allowed a salary of S19 per month,
with a ration. The ration goes to every
man in the naval service. Before he had
completed his first enlistment he had
reached the grade of seaman apprentice
of the first class, with a salary of $24 per
month In the meantime he had devoted
considerable attention to the subject OF
gunnery. with the ambition of eventually
applying for the position OF gunner
which is worth s1,6O0 a year for
life. The officers with whom he served
soon discovered that he was strictly tenn
perate intelligent, ambitious and thor
oughly reliable, and. they frequently whis-
Dered words of encOura cement to the
young Georgian.
After serving three years, he enlisted
again as full seaman and was rated petty
officer. as coXswain of the whaleboat,
which is the life boat aboard man-of-
war. This position gave him $50 month.
He was aboard the Yorktown, with Capt.
Robley d. Evans, Qknown in the service
as Fighting Bob, when that vessel was
cleared for action in the harbor of Val
paradise, Chile to resent an insult put
upon the crew of the Yorktown by some
of the citizens 1t will be recalled that
some Of the ChiIeans stoned a boats crew
from the Yorktown, who had gone ashore
10 demand indemnity for the lives of two
sailors. belonging to the ship Baltimore,
who had been killed. Then 1t was that
"Fighting Bob" declared that unless the
chilean government made immediate re-
narration he would fire on the city of Val
noraiso. I'VE were all ready to stand by
our captain" said young Boland, "for we
loved and respected him. besides, a ma
ioritv Of the crew of the Yorktown are
true blue Americans. and our national
pride was thoroughly aroused" He then
went on 10 state how important II IS 10
encourage American lads TO enter the
service, so that all Of our great warships
shall be Ia tbs hands Of our own coun-