The evening times., 1896-08-03
WRITER'S on sH|PB0lRD'
How Uncle Sans Naval Book
keepers Are Employed.
THEIR FREE-AND-EASY LIFE
Young Men Seek the Position. as 1t
Gives Them Chance to Travel
Free Writer'S Divided Into Three
ciasses-They Are Members of the
Fighting Crew.

least. the ships writer. This last posi-
tiop is regarded as clerical in character,
though the incumbent is expected TO do all
kinds OF work.
This post OF duty is easy to fill. In fact
there is always standing list OF men ready
to be assigned to the ships to perform It's
clerical work and do the writing for the
captain and bookkeeping for the ycoman.
The ships writer is, however, an enlisted
man, as much SO as the seaman, 4 nd in addi-
ton TO his other duties, he is expected at
times to take part in the general work OF
the tar.
There are three classes of writer's, di-
vided according TO pay, Just as are clerks in
any business office. At first he is en-
listed as landsman, one who is perfectly
ignorant Of the water and the ways of sea
life. He closely resembles in this respect
tile tenderfoot in the wild and wolly West.
His pay to begin with is but $50 per
month, and he is under the watchful eye
of the captain. Should he prove an eff
cient workman the commanding officer
can recommend him for promotion to $50,
and during the third and last year he
may receive $40, but this is the highest
financial attainment of the clerk.
AXE MAN
| The duties of the ships writer are too
numerous 10 mention. He must chronicle
the details of the voyage, make out in
a book record OF each man on board,
and when each quarter rolls around he
must transcribe from the book On printed
| blanks such record and forward it to the
| Navy Department at Washington.
He keeps an account of the ships stores
and performs the clerical work for the
yeoman who has charge OF the distribu-
ton Of the stores. In fact, every detail
of this must be looked after.
The expense account requires minute at
tention, aud the bookkeeping involves as
much work as does an ordinary merchant
house. The ships writer is ordinarily in
| his. office from sunrise to sunset. All the
letters of the commanding officer are writ
ten by the clerk, and stenography and type
writing must form the accomplishment
| of that individual. This was not SO in
| former years, when the ships writer was
regarded as u privileged person and strutted
the decks in grand style and frowncd
! upon the man before the mast.
Today that is all changed. There was q
time when lie wore the ''cheesecut a
distinct uniform, but the actions of some of
the writers caused The department to strip
them of this garb OF authority and clothe
them in the ordinary habiliments Of
sailor. The majority Of the writers re-
belled at this and sought to have the order
resciDded but their efforts were in vain.
Not only did the department put them on
a level In attire, but they also put upon
them seaman duties. The ships writer
I fo RI nf 4 f;pl,f No hos IA
fighting staten on the vessel, and during
an engagement will smell as much po WIDER
as the powder monkr.. When it comes
to mopping decks he is obliged to take his
turn, and more than once does he lay
| down the pen to holy stone the wood
work ard polish the brass.
There arepo washerwomen on board ship
and the ships writer must keep himself
looking like a dandy. His linen must be
spotless, and clothes perfectly clean. To
do this he is required to wash his Own at
tire, and when the time comes around he
must scrub his hammock until 1t shines
like piece OF white shceting.
FREE AND EASY LIFE.
Should the occasion demand he must take
a hand at the rope and assist in lowering
the boat from the dayit, and sometimes also
pull an oar. The captains cabin is his cspe-
cial charge, and he must see that everything
is in apple-pie order. Papers are never left
scattered aboout on board ship. Everything
has its proper place, and books and reports
must be in their rarrangedracksan a nd drawers.
But there is bright side to the life OF
clerk. Many young men regard the life
as free and easy. 1t affords them an excel
lent chance to traye! without cost. other
than their own work. At the close of every
voyage they come home withmoney in their
pockets. There is no need OF spending it.
lie is furnished his board, together.wit
his salary, and only those who are spend
thrirts lind it hard to live upon the allow
ance. Few clerks in the large cities get
more than $40 week, and with that they
are obliged to pay board and purchase
clothes. When the end of the week rolls
around he h as hardly copper, andit is stint
and squeeze from one week 10 the other
On board ship, sailing from port to port all
over the world, the ships writer pockets
his salary, and his only chance for expendi
ture is at the various ports touched.
There is room for advancement 1t 1!
true, net very far, but the position Of
yeoman at $50 per month is considered
much better than years In city Office
at the same sum.
There has been no trouble in securing
ships writers,'' said Lieut.. Commando
Wood OF the Navigation Bureau, recently
to a Times representative. 81 have plenty
of applications, and always keep severa
names on the list ready for an emergency
At the present time there are several ol
the roll, but should any applicant pre-
sent himself he will be examined, ant
should he pass muster, will be enlisted
for the three years required by law.
, His qualifications must consist of abil
ity to carry on q correspondence in {
plain, legible hand, to keep set of book
and do ordinary sums in arithmetic. Alge
bra and the higher rudiments are not re
quired. The physical examination is a
rigid as that for seaman, and preference il
always accorded single men,
. mo, do not think there will be an in
crease in the salary of ships writer unles
the salary Of seamen, gunners and officer
is also Increased" )" concluded the officer
FOB HIRE.
FOR HIRE-New private carriage an