The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-05


a yeomau and also to suggest the nature
of the life lived bv a Young man who Is
fortunate enough TO obtain an appoint
ment in This rank Lieutenant Commanders
Hawley said: Il do not wonder that this
question ia asked for the publie's lack OF
information is only exceeded by the popu-
lar interest. And in Chicago there seems
20 have been a general discussion of the
matter. / suppose IL would be an easy
task to enlist several thousand yeomen
right IN Chicago particularly when the
average young man comes to know how
desirable a berth as yeoman really Is
There are four grades of yeomen-first,
second. third and chief All who enlist
in this department of the service must
come IN as third-grade men. Opportuni-
ties for promotion are excellent as all
grades above third must be filled from
the ranks of the former. From the view
point OF the ordinary seamTn the pay OF
the ycoman is little short OF munifcent.
And certainly he does fare wen when il IS
considered that he Is in position 10 save
nearly all his wages IL he is so inclined.
The third class yeon mn gets $50 a month,
the second $50. and the first $40, and the
chleI yeoman $6O.
NOW as to the duties of the position. AZ
yooman Is a ships writer This is the
clearest manner m which the service can
De stated. But. of course, there are various
KINDS OF writing 10 De done aboard a war
assigned 10 the task of writing up the
smooth log, as the naval men say This
means that he engrosses in a large book an
accurate and consecutive nautical narra-
tive OF the ships movements and happen-
ings each day. This Is done from rough
notes furnished by the navigat0rs. Most OF
the latter have professional pride In the
appearance Of their log books and newly
recruited yeomen whose writing is grace
full, whose manners are pleasing and who
possess goodly degree of intelligence and
education find no difficulty In winning the
favor of the navigator Writing the log
h. the main duty OF the navigatOrs yeo-
man. This task, however. Is a light one.
The rule is that a log for one day must be
finished by o'clock the following morn
ing. The young scribe who is energetic
will write the notes for the forenoon in the
afternoon of the same day. But there Is
always time in the morning, before
o'clock, TO enter the notes OF an entire day.
This rs due to the fact thai an shipboard
all hands turn out very early Ia the morn4
ing and work begins in good earnest imme-
diately after coffee and bread are served.
Every warship hasa technical library
OF considerable extent for the use OF the
officers. These books are cared for by the
young yoeman. Other trifling service Is
also required Of him, but in the main ths
tasks are light and of a pleasant char
acter. The yeoman of the second class
cal and accounting tasks, and must be
really bright and intelligent fellows. In
fact, yeoman of first or second grads
may occupy relationship 10 the executive
officer of the ship not unlike that which
the confidential man bears to the mana-
ger Of a great firm or corporation In COM
merclal lifo. He Is the officers private
secretary and attends to details which
come within the duties of his superior.
There Is little difference in the character
of the tasks which fan TO the second and
first class yeomen, but the latter are gem
orally stationed on the large battleships.
Nearly every war vessel has a second
class yeoman aboard, but only the larger
members of q squadron carry yeomen OF
tho first class.
still greater authority and Importance
attaches TO the position of chief, yeoman.
The executive officer of the ship, the pay
master and the chief engineer have their
chief yeomeu who are practically store
keepers of the departments In which they
are stationed. The chief yeoman stands
high among the petty officers and wears
a neat sack coat in the place of the blue
shirt, and messes and associates with the
lesser officers generally"
What risk reIa tivelv does the woman
run OF being killed in an engagement2's
was asked OF Lieut. Commander Hawley
"a very slim chance indeed" was tha
! quick reply every man on board a bait
~
| place which he IS 10 occupy in an engage
| ment This applies to all below The captain
who Is. of course. at liberty to 20 wherever
| he chooses al any time The yeoman ars
ASSIGNED 10 the ammunition department.
| This brings them down below. where the
| armor Of the vessel must be pierced clean
! through in order to get az them The plates
| must be riddled the ship disabled to tho
sinking point or some internal explosion
| must occur 10 bring death to them in the,
| ordinary fortunes Of am engagement In
| fact. thew are quite snugly and safely
| slowed away.
"Of course their position during bat
| tie affords them opportunfty to hear plen-
| ty Of noise The tumult which assaults
| their ears is nothing short Of terrific when
| the vessel is being hit by the enemy's
| shots and Is at the same time pouring out
o continuous FIRE from its own guns, The
| woman. however. Is about as safely stow
| ed away as the chaplain. In times of peace
| he Is able nv good conduct and a genaraiIv
! pleasing manner to have MANY highly
| urized privileges In fact II he Is an ex-
| empiarv fellow he has perbaps greater
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