New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-08
MERCHANT SHIP CADETS
TRAINING BOYS ON THE s1TBs1DrzRn
LINERS FOR SEA sERy-rC,

LINERS FOR SEA SERVICE
4hose who have crossed the Atlantic IN tho
vessels Of the American Line have DrobabIv No
N-0'N < C1aSs OF young men on board whose du
lies seem 10 place them somewhere betwAar
the officers and the crew They are lx,o,- =
cadets and their position is somewhat sir,f1,r
20 that Of midshpmen or cadets in the Trri+,,
states Navy They are in training to become
oilcers OF the line, and any one of them. after
l"o years experience as a cadet, may il he IS
able to pass the necessary examination receive
certificate emitting him to serve as fourth
mate From this position he expects TO vvorl,
up gradually higher in the service and Derbans
asplres TO be one day the captain of a big liner
All these cadets are graduates Of one Of the
three training ships established by the Govern
meht TO educate boys for the American rner-
chant marine service-the St Mary's stationed
at New-York City; the Enterprise. at Boston mr.
the Saratoga, at Philadelphia The places
which the cadets hold on the ocean steamers
were created for them by the Postal Subsidy
bill passed a few years ago. This requires all
vessels which subsidized by the United
States Government for carrying the mails to be
Differed by Americans and to carry a cadet for
each one thousand tons burden Among the
subsidized companies included under this are
the American, Clyde, Ward and Pacific Mail
lines. Although some Of the boys who are
graduated each year from the training ships
enter the Army transport service as quarter
masters. while few others join sailing vessels
for long cruises, wishing to become regular deep
sea sailors, a large proportion Of those who
leave the senior class each year take service as
cadets on some Of the subsidized vessels
As class the graduates from the school
ships are very desirable assistants to the vari-
Gus lines They are never less than eighteen
years old, and they range from that up TO
twenty-five, for they must be between the ages
Of sixteen and twenty when they begin the two
years course on the training ship. This course,
during which they have studied all the commc&
school branches. well special nautical sub
jects. and have made two summer cruises with
practical work. has fitted them we'll for the
profession they intend to enter
With few exceptions. they are competent navi-
gators when they leave the schoolshp and enter
upon their cadet duties. They have a thorough
understanding Of dead reckoning and how TO
find the latitude and longitude by the sun.
moon. planets or stars. Besides this. they have
been taught the duties Of seamen, and have
learned how to manage a sailing vessel to
steer. 10 heave the lead to handle boats both
under oars and sails the rule OF the road"
and all the other minor duties of a thorough
going sailor The class which was graduated
from the st Mary's last October included forty
four young men all but four Of whom mmedi-
ately took places on vessels on their last
summers cruise the members ~ this class
navigated the ship almost all the time having.
been provided with seXtants and the other nee
essary Instruments by the commander
Upon assuming duty as a cadet the young
man engages To do whatever is required Of him
to take the lee wheel. carry messages for tho
captain look after the embarking OF disem-
barking of passengers or freight. and any other
Of the many duties on shipbnard. He may not
have as much practice in actual navigation as
he would like. but he viii have opportunity to
keep up his studies that subject and TO learn
much from observation, so that when his two
years service as I; cadet is ended he ought to
be and usually is able to pass his examination
! aualIfJ ing him for the position OF mate-