The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-21
ENGINEERS
sssst
Patriotic Stevens Boys on
Board the Old Cruiser
Portsmouth.
PLAN OF THE NEW CORPS
Valuable Practical Professional
Work-Daty to State and
ia Nation.

IN response to q circular issued by
Messrs. 3. Franklin Hart. Jr., of No. $40
Sloomfieid street, Hoboken. and Everett
". Frazer. OF Orange. this State, gradu-
ates OF Stevens Institute, to the students
OF Inc institute who desired to join an
enslneer1ng and torpedo division of the
naval Reserve. about forty students met
the officers of the Battalion of the East
on the U. s. s. Portsmouth last night,
ana had explained to them the object of
the new division. The meeting was held
pelow decks in the engine room, and the
ceiiins was 80 low that the tall boys were
compelled Amos to walk on their hands
and Knees. Four or five rickety old
penches were placed around in q circle
ana the prospective sailor lads sat upon
those while their chairman. Mr.. Hart, and
Commander Irving had to stand UP against
q post.
The meeting was called to order at
half-past eight o'clock by Commander
Irving. Mr.. Hart was elected Chairman
and Mr.. Frazer. Secretary. Upon taking
the chair, or more properly speaking, the
post, Mr.. Hart introduced Commander
Irving. who. he said. would fully xpiain
the object Of the meeting.
Mr.. irving spoke at great length, but
the students did not seem to grow weary
of listening to the wonderful development
OF the naval force of the country. and es-
peciaiy the engineering department.
Mr.. Irving said there were thirteen
States in the Union which had a naval
reserve, of which but one. Massachusetts,
had an engineering and torpedo division.
He told the boys that they would be oilers
n tenders which caused some of them to
smile, but when he told them that oilers
ana tenders ranked as petty. officers, and
nat q common seaman could not make q
flrst-class oiler they dropped their smiles.
some OF the students said they saw
themselves already q heaving coal. bui
never be the case, as they would hire
coal beavers and fremen when the time
came for active. service. The active ser.
yros rsmlna betwe elm t # the bew grssen ana con r.
dwelt uDon the duties of a naval reserve,
their allegiance both to the State and
Federal Government. and the object Of
As regards the new division, he said
the member would first learn the work.
boats and locomotives. and finally WORK
modern man-of.war. They Would alse
s sltsay fss i Tun general # d t15SS51lsy f ia dy ane
mite and other powerful explosives. and
In fact study everything thai might b
also study the telegraph signals of the
army and navy and take trips upon al
kinds of steamboats, in squads command.
them that It was a civil organization
also and that everything was going t.
be fitted up on board the Portsmouth
as comfortably as at home, SO that wher
they went to sea or a cruise next sum
mer they would enjoy it.
Mr.. Hart. then said that Colonel p. A
Reserve Association, had offered to do.
nate a tugboat to the division as soon
as it was mustered in, and that the In
stitute. had promised them $1,000 a year
A number of question: were then asked
and answered and the meeting adjourned
to meet a week from tonight, Janu-