The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-12-03
THE SHIPS APPRENTICE.

The young son OF one OF my English
friends is apprentice boy on a large
merchant vessel, and the other day when
1t wa in our harbor | went 20 visit it.
Bobbic was very glad to see me and tell
me all about his life aboard ship. He
had as companions four other apprcn-
tlce boys. who shared a comfortable cab
in together
When | first came upon them two Of
them. in their bare feet, were "tidying
up the decks as they said and the
Others were in the cabin dressing TO 90
on shore for an hour or two. They had
not set foot on land for several month.
Tor the vessel had just arrived from
Calcutta, and the boy whom l knew the
best was delighted at the prospect OF
visiting a great city.
While we were on shipboard / asked
him few questions about his lie as an
apprentice
"Of course I'll be delighted to tell
you he said. You see our time is
divided into two watches when we are
at sea From s to l. p. NJ is port
watch, from l. to 4 starboard watch.
Then from noon to 4 p. m. port watch
from 4 to O p. m. dog watch or star
board and from to 8 p m. dog watch
for port"
How can you remember it all?" I
asked
"Oh, its easy enough" he answered
with a smile.
Il suppose you have some special
duty for each watch -
Yes We begin at 9 in the morning.
and after dressing wash the decks and
get ready for work From 8 to o.I5 we
have breakfast and then we have some
kind of manual work. painting or mend
ing parts of the wood work Dinner is
from I to ?, and after dinner we take the
wheel or hold the yards round or square
them up or brace them in. Each of us
does something OF this kind. and at $50
We have a chance to tidy up. and at @
we have tea.
Do you get rather tired;"
Sometimes. You see. we are on deck
part OF the night. just like the sailors.
We have four hours above and then six
hours below. During the dog watches
we usually sing. and this changes the
watches about"
From what Bobbie told me could
see that the ships apprentices learn not
only the little things that make the
practical work about a vessel. but they
have some time each day for study.
Oh one of the superior officers
.cache, us the theory of navigation" me
answered, when ] asked him what the,
studied
We have TO make pretty good Use OF
our time he added. for we can't GET
to the second mates without passing an
examination, and before every promo
ton we've got to- be examined
Some boys are apprcnticed a. fourteen
but the average age is a little Older.
The term end, only when the appren
ucc twcnty-cnc. In an his year. of
apprenticeship a boy has no chance ta
visit his home and family Unless the
hp happens To- enter port near Obs
home When boz por. hc {, closely
watched lt IS very seldom that hi, Ia
.hcr can secure his release before mi.
term of apprentice has expired.
Mos. boys, however. arc apprentices
because they really love the Sea- and
they are willing to take ,hc rough with
tle moo'H Their position on the v,-
ci above That o' cabin boy and below
t1a. of officer The atm OFF The app-ee
ucc IS t9 become an officer r the
m.-.Hau. mar.u. of England lie o.
ec'ves n' wages during h term and
ns father ray for hi Clothes agreed
*'h b111.c .ha. only Boy w.. H
very fond of Che sea c..I enjoy rc
DID. oi 91 apprentice CtHle9 K.r.rf
Hero'd.