The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1901-09-27
For Uncle Sans Navy
Boys Who will Go the Training
School as Apprentice.
All Must Pass q Most Rigid
Physical Examination and
Tough Lads are Not
Wanted.


If life insurance companies are
seeking good risks>go to the naval
recruiting stations and there they
will find what they are looking for.
A boy in order to be admitted as
an apprentice in Uncle SAINTS navy
must pass most rigorous examina-
tious. The slightest ailment may
cause his rejection:
The writer sat in the naval re-
cruiting station in Masonic Temple,
Chicago, Tuesday, and saw job-lot
of young men as they clustered
about the recruiting officer, anxious
ly awaiting admission to the sur
geon's office, where they were to be
examined as to their physical con-
dition. When a boy emerged from
the physician den his countenance
would betray whether he passed
muster or was rejected. Out of a
bunch of thirty boys who passed
under the skillful eye of the physi-
clan but seven or eight were found
to be physically sound. In one case
a boy had caught cold while en-
route from Des Moines to Chicago.
Bronchial catarrh developed and
this caused him being dumped, "
as the boy himself expressed it to
the writer. The boy took his rejec-
ton philosophically and stated that
he would hunt up an osteOpath,
have the catarrh knocked out OF
him and go to New York where
there is another recruiting station.
Another youngster was found to
be suffering with heart trouble, al
though his local physician had in
formed him that he was as sound
as a dollar. Other boys were out of
''9whack" in one way or another,
and they were not permitted to take
the oath of allegiance.
The recruiting officer states tina
Minnesota boys are desirable, a
they are most generally healthy
lot. Three Minnesota boys are now
on their way :to wpor where
they will enter the trainineg school
designed by the government to fit
young men for the navy. Two of
these boys are from Mankato. They
are Willie Heinze and Willfred D.
Reynolds, who successfully passed
the requirements laid down at the
recruiting station. The third boy is
from St. Paul, son Of a. travelling
man, who had allowed another son
to enlist last July. The boys were
given special car which departed
from Chicago for the east yesterday
morning via the Pennsylvania route
Life at the training school is not
one: continual round of pleasure.
The boys are kept pretty busy every
day. They arise at $50 O'Clock
every morning. They roll up their
hammock, strip themselves to the
waist and take a sponge bath. An
inspection follows. and after an ex-
ercise lasting few minutes they en-
ioy a sea bath. One of the first
things they are forced to learn is
how to become excellent swimmers.
After the sea bath they go to their
quarters, tidy up and report for
breakfast. After breakfast another
inspection occurs. At 8:45 they
enter the school room and here they
remain until 11:3O. At oc lock
they fare taken aboard the ship and
given instruction until 4 o'clock
The work on the ship includes in
struction in everything pertaining
to the operation Of a craft, he guns,
how to handle a compass, how to take
soundings in the water and in fact
the boys are given a knowledge
of the. ship from a to By 80 o'clock
at night the boys are in bed.
On entering the training school
each apprentice is furnished with
four suits of clothes-three white
duck suits and one blue suit, under
clothing and, shoes, etc. The boys
do their own washing and ironing
ad woe be. to the Lad that does not
keep his clothes clean. The in
spection are rigid and the boys must
not allow speck of dirt to bespoil
his garments It goes against his
record. Cleanliness 'tabove every
thing else is demanded and the ap-
prentice that keeps himself clean and
his department is good has a ''pull"
with the officers.
The apprentices are not allowed
to leave the school grounds and are
not permitted to go into town with
out an officer ACCOMPANYING them.
When an apprentice reaches the first
class he is allowed certain privileges
not granted to those in the lower
grades. He may 60 into town un.
accompanied by an ofircer a half
day every other. Saturday. Re-
religious services are held at the
school and everything is done to