The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-02-20

RIGOROUS ROUTINE TO WHICH THE
"LANDsMENp ARE SUBJECTED.


Are Prepared for Naval forvico-Prob-
lens which the Omcers Have 90 Face.
Given a Farmland, a clerk, boy OF
the streets, an idle son, q plainsman,
and a North Carolina mountaineer TO
produce six sailor men Of the first class,
proud Of themselves. their ship, and
their service, Is the problem put be-
fore certain officers of the United
States navy. The problem is presented
to them In bulk instead Of in detail;
In place Of six, six hundred.
Persons ashore had an opportunity TO
observe the progress the officers In
trusted with the problem are making
when the cruiser Prairie came into
this port last week with $50 lubbers
Grated landsmen) aboard, after a six
months cruise of instruction and train
ing through the West Indies and the
Caribbean sea. The work has been
thorough, and the results have justified
the pains. Out of raw Jumps Of human
ity absolutely undisciplined, for the
most part as ignorant of its first prin-
ciple as human being may well be,
the alert harrassed officers Of the
Prairie have developed quick, smart
youngsters. lively On their feet, with
keen minds that jump at the curtly
spoken word of command.
Under the old laws governing the
enlistment Of men in the United States
navy, a "landsman' 1.-THE lowest grade
Of enlisted mani could only be employ
ed in the galley. The regulations
specifically provided that landspan
must be a cook. Under these conditions
the service did not offer many attrac-
lions to the man who had no sea train
ing. His chance for becoming a petty
officer was practically nil. 1t frequently
happened that landsman during the
term of his enlistment never touched
a rope. or learned his way about the
ship. He never got on deck except
when he was ordered up from his pots
and crooks for breath Of fresh air.
Since the war with Spain, there has
been instant and pressing need Of men
to man the ships in commission. The
system of scholarships has not been
able to turn out apprentice-boys in suf-
ficient numbers to fulfil the needs Of
the service. II was these conditions
that brought about the present method
Of increasing the quota of enlisted men
by taking in healthy young men, with
certain physical qualifications, shipping
them to sea, and making sailors Of
them by the force Of precept and OK
ample. The theory of instruction is like
the theory of musketry-fre-direct and
ricochet.
The days routine on training ship
is a thing to strike terror to the heart
of a boy who goes to sea to loaf at
his ease on clean white decks. Yet the
clear-eyed boys on the Prairie have
thriven on the work, and are ten
pounds heavier to the man than they
were on the day, six months back,
when the ship steam5d out of Hampton
Roads.
After turning out, slowing ham
mocks, and brealdasting, the days real
work begins at eight o'clock, when all
hands are piped to 'scrubbing routine.
On Mondays the lads have a soapsuds
and hot water battle with their clothes.
On Tuesdays they add the grace OF
cleanliness to their hammocks, mat
tress covers, and bags. Windsails
screens, boat covers, and all other cans
vas gear get an overhauling on each
Wednesday in the month. Clean boats
scrub all gear and patchwork, is the
order of the day on Thursday. Clothes
get another douse on Fridays, and Sat
urdays are general cleaning days,
though it is hard for shore going
man to understand what is left to clear
after the weeks work. After inspection
at $50 o'clock comes setting-up exer'
cises, or over the masthead; the lat
ter to familiarize the boys with the rig
ging. and to enable them to find theil
way about aloft. The rest of the day
is devoted to infantry and artillery
drill, boat and sail drill, aiming drill
seamanship, lead, logwheel, and com
pass instruction, arm and away boats
collision drill, fire quarters, sigma
might and day., and gunnery instruc
ton. At least once every three months
the boys are exercised at night quar-
ters, night fire quarters, and mar
overheard"
The days in port were all the same
On a day when the wind had died out
and the fat CLASSY waters of the an
chorage off Tompkinsville gave bacl
the sides of the ship in steely SHIN