Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1896-07-17
TRAINING NAVAL CADETS,
THEY co TO SEA ON THE REVENUE
BARK CHASE
She Is to Spend the Summer on the Baltic.
Work and Play OF the Cadets While on a
Cruise.


Somewhat similar to the English
method of training midshipmen Is that
by which Uncle Sam educates his Of
ficers for the revenue service. In each
case says the Detroit Free Press, the
effort is to teach by practical work.
The English youths are spread
throughout the British navy. The rev.
enue cutter cadets are taught on board
the bark Chase, sailing vessel.
The Shase, while being fitted In
Baltimore for a trip to the Mediter-
ranean, was visited by the writer a
few days ago. She is rather small,
but being painted white, looks the
prettier for it. Her length is 150 feet.
breadth 26 feet, depth 20 feet. But
each cadet has plenty Of space for
his goods. The English MILDLY, on the
contrary, practically Lives in his
chest" Few ships have pleasanter
steerage than the Chase. The panel
lings Of quartered oak, with the blue
and white Of the ceiling, give the room
most cheerful air. The cadets rooms
are in white, with ceilings covered by
canvas painted dainty blue. -;
At present there are twenty four
cadets on the Chase. though the ten
that compose the senior class will soon
receive their commissions as third lieu
tenants, and be replaced by new ca
dets. The Chase has quarters. for but
twenty-four cadets. They live In the
twelve rooms that line the neat little
steerage.
But first we must visit the genial
Captain Hamlet in his cabin. The
commanding officers quarters consist
of reception room, dining room, Of
fee, two staterooms and bath room.
They are finished in cherry, the ceii-
ing being Of lighter color. Plenty OF
easy sofas and number Of plants
made the writer quite forget that ships
have habit Of rolling at sea- The
ships library, well supplied with
books, technical and Instructive, as
well as the dispensary are between
the cabin and wardroom. How so
small ship contains so large ward
robe puzzles the writer. Beside the
office of the executive officer there are
Eve state rooms to the wardroom.
The wardroom proper is finished In
cherry. the whole effect being cheer
full and light.
Occupying the body Of the ship, the
steerage extends from wardroom to
fo'castle. One descends the compan-
ionway to find himself in the center of
a room lighted by skylights over two
long tables, and tianked on either side
by six state rooms. A. the after end
Of the steerage is an ornamental
mantle over a fireplace in which nc
fire Is ever lighted. Against the for
ward bulkhead is piano in quartered
oak to match the finishings. Several
cadets have assured me that the piano
is easily worth a million dollars, If Its
value be measured by the pleasure II
has given.
Cozy Is the best word to describe the
rooms. All are alike, each accommo
dating two cadets. The cadets have
each a bunk, luxury by the way
that some of the junior officers OF tho
navy that sleep in hammocks might
appreciate. Every bit of space, ovel
the hunks, under them, the ends OF the
rooms, the corners, all is utilized ant
turned into ingenious lockers and
drawers and clothes closets.
The steerage is for two years thu
home of each class of cadets. Herr
they sleep, eat, work and play. Owe
these long tables they recite their les
sons. From the half-darkened steer
age, with its one swinging lantern
they creep out unwillingly to stans
their night watches at sea. And int
the same steerage they tumble noisi
Iy after good time ashore or a hol
In some foreign port. Here, too. the!
scribble for commissions during tn
dreaded final oceans" that end tn
course on the Chase.
Forward of the steerage Is the 70
castle In which live the petty officer
and seamen, thirty-three in number
Below this are the chain lockers am
continuing aft, come main hold, waite
tanks, store rooms and sail rooms.
For main battery the Chase has fou
Hotchkiss three-inch breech-loadin
rified guns Of the old pattern. Th
secondary battery consists OF one ;
! FOUNDER rapid fire Driggs-SchroedeI
on the top gallant forecaste and al
! are two one-pounders Of the sam
. make. The cadets are drilled quit
regularly at these guns. Also durin
: pleasant weather at sea and In por
the junior cadets are taught the sc
ting up drill and infantry manual.
Being constantly exercised in the dl
ties of q sailor during the first yea
and having charge Of the deck at il
; tervals during the second year, the cl
1 dets acquire practical knowledge I
, seamanship that is not to be had /
, any other method Of instruction.
I sea, all the cadets are on watch
! the day from 8 to 8, and they star
! quarter watches at night. The o.
4 saw, practice makes perfect"
!. well illustrated by the profcien'
4 shown In seamanship.