The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-17
A SCHOOL FOR SAILORS
CULVER MILITARY ACADEMY WILL
HAVE NAVAL DEPARTMENT.
Young HoOsiers, Though Far from the
Sea, May Have Nautical Training
Full Equipment.
correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.


CULVER, Ind, June 16.-There is no long
er any reason why the boys of the interior
should not have an equal knowledge of
things nautical with their brothers of the
seaboard States. A naval school is TO be
established in Indiana. The Culver Military
Academy at Culver. on Lake Maxinkuckee,
has, through the Indiana delegation in Con-
gress. secured from Uncle Sam regular
man-of-war cutters and all the equipment
necessary to teach the young Hoosiers and
the boys from the neighboring States all
that is to be learned about boat drills and
elementary naval science in general The
course, say the officials, is to be practical
and complete, and when he finishes it a
Culver naval cadet ought to be able to go
on board a ship wherever he may find her
and take her safely to port.
With the recent growth of immense and
prosperous shipyards on both coasts and
on the lakes, and the recent rapid strides
of the United States toward the CONNER
cial as well as the industrial supremacy of
the world, and the consequent increasing
Importance of naval and maritime matters
in general naval instruction for these
youngsters is by no means without prac-
teal value. This innovation is another sign
of new era in the country's history
Flat cars bearing these big twenty-eight-
foot cutters from the Boston navy ward
were backed in on the academy track a
few days ago. These are the counter
parts of the boats used by Uncle Sans
cadets at Annapolis, and In them they
learn everyt thing from the handling of an
oar to the evolutions Of a squadron. These
boats are fitted with two masts and ac-
companying sails. The government has
built them well. They are strong steady
and safe and are just the sort of craft in
which to teach boys the handling and
maneuvering of larger vessels.
Boat drill under sail is an interesting
thing, and when the breeze is fresh it has
in IL the spice OF excitement dear to a
boys heart. 1t is harder work but no
less pretty sight to see the crews at the
oars, the rhythmic dip of the blades and
click of the rowlocks, and the precise and
clOcklike movements of the cadets to the
command of the captain of the crew are a
revelation to the ordinary landlubberly
oarsman. Lake Maxinkuckee will present
a unique and attractive appearance dur
ing the boat-drill hours. The trim cutters
with their graceful lines and spotIess
woodwork, the cadets in their white can
vas suits and black neckerchiefs and the
instructors launch-the fiagboat it is called
signaling orders to the crews will all
combine TO make a picture interesting
enough for any one. and especially so to
people of the interior
Not every one perhaps knows that at
tached TO the end of that snowy white cord
that is worn by every jack tar is not a time
piece. bul a huge jack knife. The Culver
naval cadet when in his working suit will
also wear this lanyard and knife for IL
plays an important part In a phase of his
nautical training termed marlin spike sea-
manship, and which consists Of instruction
in the handling and preserving of ropes and
of the making of the many knots and
spices used in the sailors vocation The
use of the compass, the lead line and the
log will also be included in his nautical edu-
cation.
The wigwag semaphore and night signals
used in the navy will become plain English
10 him before his course is finished. and the
fundamental Of
navigation and the use of the sextant and
chronometer will have become as simple
as the working of sums and the telling of
the time by the clock. The laws of storms
or, in less technical terms, 'how 10 spot a
hurricane" and learn its intentions and
itinerary in time to give IL a wide berth
will. together with the rules of the road"
for avoiding collisions at sea. be other es-
sential features of his instruction.
Ship nomenclature and the principles in
volved in the construction of wooden and
iron ships must these youngsters also
learn. And cOurtesies and customs of the
United States naval service they will have
at their fingers ends. so that they will
know in every detail how to conduct them
selves OH shipboard from the time they
salute the quarter deck on going over the
side until they uncover TO it on leaving the
vessel.
A distinguished graduate of the United
States Naval Academy. and an officer who
trod the quarter deck in the West Indian
campaign in our recent war with Spain.
will conduct the instruction at Culver
strictly in accordance with the way il is
done at Annapolis. The Culver Summer
Naval School is. as its name implies to be
a vacation school. Light coaching for bows
who are backward In studies or preparing
for college is to be the only academic fea-
ture and is TO be run only during July and
August. the months best suited for boat
drill Visitors to Maxinkuckee during these
months. therefore. viii find the lake with
quite a nautical appearance, the only fea-
ture lacking being the smell OF the salt sea