The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-04
MORNING. OCTOBER A., 1908.

to one of the navy yards and instructed in
the rudiments of navy life, the hanging of
his hammock. the brushing and folding OF
his clothes, etc. The applying for trade
positions are instructed to that end. When
a fair knowledge of the life is gained
the recruit is transferred to cruising
man-of-war and becomes in truth a sailor
of the navy. Here he is open TO advance
ment. ii he shows himself mt and attends
TO his duty. In the morning he is up at
reveille, lashes his hammock and has his
breakfast. About . o'clock all hands go
TO muster and drills. The drills of the
navy do not become so monotonous as they
are of many varieties. They have the
management of boats under sail and oar,
great gun drills. fire drills, infantry drills,
artillery drills, fencing, pistol practice,
clearing ship for action and many other
maneuvers. Besides these drills. the crews
engage in amusements of an athletic
nature Each ship has her racing boat,
baseball nine and football team, for there
are many months spent ashore. A certain
rivalry exists between the crews of the
different ships. and when possible they
meet in baseball, football and racing con-
tests good many of the ships also have
minstrel troupes, which are a great pleas
ure to the crews. The first-class war
ships carry bands of sixteen pieces and
have band concerts every night except
Sunday.
But the life of the sailor is not all pleas
ure by any means, for there Is plenty OF
good hard work and many privations. He
must learn to adapt himself to new condi-
tons and sometimes hard ones. He must
have a certain amount of nerve to with
stand the hardships Of sea-going life.
The life is healthful one and one term
of enlistment has added many years to the
age of more than one youth Even though
one does not intend to make 1t his voca-
ton. the term of an enlistment Is not time
wasted.
NAVAL TRAINING STATION.
There is one branch of the navy that
offers opportunities to younger boys-boys
between the ages of fifteen and eighteen.
That is the naval training station at New
port, r. 1. The boys are taken as ap-
prentices and instructed In all branches OF
seamanship. These boys have the best
opportunities for advancement. as they are
given preference in appointments as petty
officers. A boy serves at the station about
a year and is then transferred to train
ing ship, on which his nautical education is
completed. Later he is transferred to a
regular man-of-war. The training ships
usually take a cruise to the West Indies.
and the sailors are given opportunity to
visit the points of interest.
The character Of the boy has good zeal
to do with his enlistment. az those Of bad
habits arc promptly dismissed. Once
aboard a man-of-war, the boy can soon
attain the rate of first-class apprentice,
and IL intelligent is promoted to coxswain.
The recruiting station in Indianapolis
will be opened on Oct 12 and will recruit
young ment until the Ath, when they will
move to Terre Haute. Among the party
which will be here are several interesting
old salts that can rattle off tales OF the
briny deep far into the night. The follow
ing will be here: Lieut.. w. M. Falcomer
Sergt B. Chapman, ]. Dole, boatswain; H
Beadle, chief yeoman; Clearance Young
blood, yeoman; third class: ]. +. Wester-
burg, apprentice, first class; w. c. Baker
seaman, and c. Ross, seaman.