The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-10-13


butcher baker and candle-stick maker;
electricians are stringing wires, testing
lamps and olng up dynamos; warrant
officers are showing the boys this, that
and the other detail in htting out a
ship; Commander Hawley and Lieu
tenant Commander Alexander sharp,
jr. are kept busy all day directing the
operations,
A constant stream Of white-clad boys
goes up and down the gang planks.
The mails come on. clothes-bags 80 on.
Boxes OF provisions, soap, oil, hardware
and a thousand and one other things
ny, apparently in great confusion. to
the niche assigned for them, Carpen-
ters and ioiners litter the decks with
shavings and planks while they put
the finishing touches ON some part Of
the superstructure. Painters are every
where. trapping the unwary visitor
with his new coat. Sail-makers ply
the needle, machinists scan the engines
and boilermakers so down into the ca
pacious bowels and riggers so aloft.
To the unpracticed eve confusion seems
to reign supreme The task OF getting
things shipshape seems insurmount-
able. Int all the heavy work has been
done. The hustle on deck now is only
the fuss Of feathers-the pruning and
primping that belong to femininity;
and sailors say supersutiously, that 1t
is no idle custom that designates a ship
as she" a few days later and the
Hartford will be clean AMI fresh from
stem to stern, with rot a speck Of paint
amiSs nor a stitch loose. With maga-
zines, bunkers, lockers and bins full,
she Will sail away with a glorious past
behind and honor galore, it is hoped,
ahead
L think have as fine a crew as was
ever transferred to man-of-war,' said
Commander Hawley. as he glanced at
the scenes Of activity along the deck.
"The crew proper are picked men, and
the recruits, numbering 800 young men,
are chosen from the best that applied
in the Western cities and towns. The
recent glorious history OF the navy has
inspired many young men to enter the
service, and so the class Of applicants
has greatly improved. We have in our
ranks some Of th> finest kinds Of ma
terial-just as good material as famous
soilors were made Of. The boys are
splendid specimens Of manhood, and
our training will improve their build
and carriage. DR.. Stftt, our surgeon.
says the training is better than that Of
a gymnasium.
The Hartford, as a training ship,
will take American born boys between
the ages Of IS and 25 and make seamen
Of them, to work in the navy. 1t is the
theory of all old navy officers, and I
agree With it, that there is no better
on earth for a man-of-wars-
man than to serve on a sailing ship,
getting full instruction in everything
pertaining to nautical affairs after the
old school Self-reliance, quick and
sound judgment courage and obedi-
ence are among the good qualities in
culcated. This is aside from the prac-
teal value Of the knowledge acquired.
So W. shall take these 500 boys and
land them in New York experienced
scanen, able to take care of them
selves and a ship. Why, in q few
months or even less, they can do any
thing they like with this ship-they can
handle her with perfect ease and
skill.
Naturally continued Commander
Hawley, Il am pleased to command the
Did Hartford. 1t is a proud position and
an agreeable one. have taken great
interest in the work of turning out
good seamen for the navy. I suppose
the famous old ship, with her crew Of
handsome young Americans, will be the
recipient Of much honor along the At
antic coast-as she should be. There
is as big crew on board the Hartford
as is carried by battleshlp. 1t Is
command to be proud Of"
Captain Cotton, commanding the re-
ceiving ship Independence, where the
recruits have made their home for over
three months, says he never saw a bet
ter behaved set Of young men. They
are Of the best blood Of the country.
One is the son Of the mayor of large
Western city. Others have been grad
uated from highschools, ETC., and all,