The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-07-28
j. S. SEAMAN
a. N. Devers who Enlisted il
the q. s., Navy Writes of the
Life as an Apprentice.

S3&3M
the q. s. Navy Writes OF the
Life as an Apprentice.
T'hlA following extracts from letters
which ". Z. NJ. Devers has written
home will he OF interest to his many
friends especially Of the high school
and militia boys. Mr.. Deyers enlist
ed inglhe y. s. navy last spring as an
apprentice seaman, and during his
short service he has risen to the posi-
tion of apprentice quarter master,
which speaks we'll of the young a
who has rendered his services for
the protection of the stars and
Stripes:
war College, Coasters Island:
Newport, r. I.
Our division is or duty this week
but i have less to do than when |
am not on duty. I go on watch at
IS :l5 a. M. and get of at 7:45 p. m.
Part of the time l AM relieved to
take n bath. go on again az 2 p.
m. and get Oft at 4 p. m. and that is
all I have to do all day.
While | am on watch / have one
foolnsto watch. { have to see that
no one blacks their shoes on the floor
81 that they do not walk across a GER
tain point of the floor with their
shoes on.
10 would surprise you to know how
much we have tie learn here. We
have to learn to send messages A
different ways, The wig-wag, zini-
phone {English SYSTEM, flash light
an different coioIed flags. Then we
have to earn about the compass, lead
and log time, tie knots. splice rope,
artillery drill how guns are made
and how to patahem together, in
fact everything about guns and
INSTRUMENTATION.
We had Target practice the other
day in the shooting gallery. [ scored.
8 out OF .aspossiUle 100. | qualified.
IN the irststrlal 50 did not 90 back
IN the afternoon One of the officers
asked the ma in charge how we
we're doing and he recommended two
out of the bunch, both from Mitchell.
aQuist was recommended for rapid
shooting and myself for GOOD shoot
ing.
All the fellows that are dese.ting
are buns and would not stay any
where. have all the freedom I
Want. can 60 up town twice a
week IL ! want. I gained 81 pounds
since came. That doesn't sound as
though were not getting fed good.
! never work more than 5 hours a
day, then go to studying. They
soonstind out what asfellow is and If
he wants to be tough they give him
the dirty work, while the fellow who
does what IS right gets the easy work
or zone at all.
Cur mail is brought over by chief
yeoman, and there is a little office
for a post Office. The names of all
the mel that have mail are put on
the bulletin board once a day.
Then those whose names appear on
the board lire up in single file. and
when the Office opens get their mail.
There is always q jam when the
nail list goes up. Everybody wants
10 be the first to see If he has any
mail. They usually do mor showing
than seeing. / have often been with
ina few feet Of the post window
when q Gull would blow for my divis.
ION and would have to 90 or stand a
chance to re put down for a pea coat
hsotIler words, on report.
wish you would ask me about
soIlesof the '%sunearthly things, that
are everyday occurrences i'm the navy.
. haze told you just how things are
ipsbha barracks. and the boys who
sseomes hack from a cruise are anxious
to gossbacks The officer who had us
sOat rowing today said IL. we could
keep off report while on the island,
We could eusily keep off report on
hoard tl1eisifip.
Newport, r. T., July rs.
! am on hoard the U. $. s.. Hist.
We will he here till 8 O'Clock to-
morrow morning. Then [ think we
will go I New York hut am not
IRE No III knows but the skipper.
There Is a whole fleet here. in the
BAY and we all pull out at the same
time. 1t is the North Atlantic
squadron. Admiral Evans is in com.
mind Of the feet.
Is fine on this ship, We have q
good crew and good officers. The
gruel is better than in the barracks
3 and Isllaye told you what that il.
But have the snap of the bunch.
am quartermaster, that is seaman
apprentice Qurartemaster. i am on
~ hOIfS and Otf5l6. pO5tO he'd when