The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-29
IS FIRST TO ENLIST
Continued from First Page.


door, when it was opened, were two
soldiers from Fort Smelling. They told
Boatswain Pierce that they wanted to
exchange garrison life for life aboard
ship. They preferred to fight on sea
rather than on land. The boatswain told
them that they would first have to re-
ceive their discharge from the army
before they could enlist in the navy.
The men went away looking very much
creStfallen.
What They Have to Know.
Engineer Denning put all applicants
for positions as machinists through a
thorough quizzing. He asked them all
about engines, the different parts and
how to regulate them. They were
obliged to tell him what they would
do in certain emergencies and If their
answers showed that they were not
to be trusted to act with wisdom at
critical moment they were rejected.
Those who wanted to be firemen were
also examined closely, and unless an
applicant proved familiar with the
duties he was not accepted.
The first question that Boatswain
Pierce asked an applicant for sailors
berth was about the compass. He was
required to box it correctly and to tell
how to steer a ship. He was then asked
to make all kinds of knots with a rope.
He was next told to name the several
masts Of ship, the different sails and
their order, and all about the steering
gear.
A young man applied to the boats
vain to enlist as a sailor.
Have you ever been to sea?" asked
Boatswain Pierce.
mo, sir" was the reply.
DO you know anything about the
lead?"
mo, SIR
Boatswain Pierce shook his head and
told the youth he would not do. The
young man walked reluctantly out.
A young man had passed the exami-
nation for machinist and was talking
to Lieut.. Cook when he exposed his
right hand, and Lieut.. Cook noticed
that the two first fingers were missing.
You can't pass said Lieut.. Cook.
Did Engineer Denning see your
hand ?'
YES said the man. HE saw it.
My hand is all right. I've got as good
a grip as ever
Lieut. Cook asked Mr. Denning if he
knew the mans hand was mutilated.
end he replied that he did not
He Was Rejected.
you are rejected" said Lieut. Cook,
and the man was forthwith dismissed.
Another young man wanted to be
seaman at once, but he had never been
to sea, and Boatswain Pierce told. him
seamen were selected only from men
who had been to sea and understood
| everything about the briny. The ap-
plicant had been on the lakes and had
had some experience at the tiller and
was accepted.
Just as the doors were about to close
two woodchoppers appeared They
fr1 ft@
cutter costume. They told Boatswain
Pierce they wanted to be sailors.
Have you ever been to sea?' he
asked.
I'VE never saw the sea-" they replied
DO you know anything about the
compass?'
mo, but we could learn"
81 fear there Is no place for you In
the navy" said the boatswain And
| thus the services Of two valuable men
| were lost to Uncle Sam.
The members of the board expect to
| remain in st. Paul at least a week and
| perhaps ten days. From appearances
| there will be flood Of applications for
| duty in the navy, and enough men will
be recruited from this city alone to
man one battlesfip.
| A number of applications have been
| received from former sailors. but sew
eral have passed the age limit and they
cannot be accepted.
No boys applied yesterday for en-
| listment. Boys between the ages Of
fourteen and seventeen years may en-
list If their parents or guardians con-
sent, but no one under fourteen will be
accepted. They must be Of good con-
stitution and intelligent, and they must
sign to remain in the service until they
are twenty-one years of age. They
are educated to fill the positions Of sea-
men and petty officers, but they cannot
| become commissioned officers.