Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-07-20
UNCLE SANS APPRENTICES

our rating was third-cass boy, pay
49, 30 per month. and $3.50 more a month in
government rations. We were soon rig
ged out in suits of blue, fitting us, to use
an old salts expression, like a purser's
shirt on roller -handspike' Besides the
uniforms we proudly put on, we were
each furnished an extra blue suit, a blue
pea jacket. two white duck working suits
two caps, blue flannel undertaking. and
jack-knife all slowed in a canvas bag
some three feet long and II inches in di-
ameter. For bedding we received O. cam
vas hammock containing a hair mattress
and pair of white flannel blankets; and
for crockery, a tin pan and quart cup
and n pewter spoon. Each BOY was as
signed a number. by which he would
thereafter be known to the paymaster and
on the ships books and another which
designated his stations in working tho
ship. My ships number assigned me to
the foretop, and soon learned that a
crew is divided into five parts, or work.
own part of the ship to attend to, under
the supervision of a petty officer.
THE day on training ship begins at )
O'Clock in the morning with the roll Of the
drum, the musical notes of the bugle.
and the shrill whistles of the boatswains'
mates, followed by their hoarse voices
crying: All hands, up all hammocks"
Hammocks are quickly dashed or rolled
up, and slowed snugly away in the net
tings. A drink of hot coffee. and the or
der is passed Turn to- which means, 20
to work. The decks are scrubbed. the
paint and brass-work cleaned. The boys
GO about barefooted, and with trousers
rolled up above their knees. BY O'Clock
everything has been washed and wiped
off, and all is thoroughly clean. At just
eight bells Is o'clock the flag is hoisted,
while the band plays The Star Spansled
Banner and the boys breakfast on
'scouse Ga combination of broken. water
soaked bareback and pork fat, coffee
without milk, and bareback and BUTTER.
About $50 work begins again. The
boys busy themselves preparing the guns,
the decks, and their own persons for in
spection, which occurs at $50. At the
roll OF the drum, every boy, man and Of
ficer in the ship takes his position at one
Of the guns, or ia the tops, the magazines,
engine rooms. or about the deck, and the
men and ship are inspected by the cap
tain. After Inspector the forenoon is
spent in various drills. The decks are
cleared. the great guns cast loose and
loaded. and all the manoeuvres of clear
ing ship for action practced. Or the boys
are instructed in torpedo firing, or hur-
ried on shore in the boats for battalion
drill. or arranged IN small groups about
decks for instruction in boxing the COM
These drills take up the remainder OF the
morning and a good share of the after
noon.
AT noon dinner is served The boys
sit about portable tables and feast or
salt horse (corned beeO, salt junk
pork). plum duff IA sort Of boiled pud
dng), beans, and hard-ta or. If in port
fresh meat, vegetables. and soft bread
are enjoyed about three times a week
The fare is clean and wholesome. anC
there is plenty of it, After supper. served
at O'Clock, the boys gather in groups
upon the spar-deck in warm weather. OF
below decks in cold and sing songs oil
/ listen to exciting stories told by old salts
some of whom can describe from memory
naval engagements Of the civil war. The
hours from 6 to s. the second watch
are the most delightful on ship-board
How we sang those old man-of-wa'
songs, vividly portraying the great nava
battles of our history. The exploits o
Paul Jones, the fight between the Corsti
! tuition and Guerrero. the sinking of th'
Cumberland, and many other naval tradi
tions We're made familiar to us In thos'
songs How nv boy-heart throbSed anC
sent the hot blood TO my very fnger-tip
as Joined Justify in those old sea- songs
About we were given our hammockS
might turn in II we chose; by all mus
be In their hammocks. Thus are the day
passed in anything but idleness, and thu
are the apprentices fitted to take tn,
places of men on the regular cruisers
The Rev. Charles L. Leonard In Leslie''
Weekly