Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-01-25
UNCLESAM S NAVY
HOW ONE CAN RISE BY ATTEN-
TON TO BUSINESS.
AN OMAHA BOYS EXPERIENCE
Good Treatment That Government
Gives to lite Naval Recruits and the
Opportunities They Have to Ae-
qure knowledge and Promotion.

An interesting account OF tne lle
of an apprentice in the new navy APP
pears In recent issue of the Omaha
Bee. 1t is from the pen of Il. Il.
Benson, an Omaha boy, who enlisted
about FIVE years ago, and who rose
during his first four years to the rank
of chief Quartermaster, which post he
now holds on the United States ship
Illinois His letter indicates the OPP
portunities for a young man of ambi-
ton and industry in the new navy:
At the time of his enlistment he
was accompanied to the west by sixty
four young men, who, like himself,
proposed to serve their country in
the naval branch of service.
"Journeying overland" says the
correspondent, 1--WE finally brought up
at Goat Island, our first future home
and training quarters. Our quarters
were the old ship Pensacola, where
hammocks were served to the recruits
In addition to two nice white blank
cts and a hair mattress for each man.
Each received a station billet, tell
ing of duties at fire quarters, collision
| drill, the division to which attached,
watch, number, etc. In the evening
before taps and lights out the boys
danced to the music of the naval
bond, and all enjoyed the new life
and duties upon which they had en-
tered.
cat 1880 breakfast call went, and
much to our surprise ham and eggs
was the meal. 1t now began to dawn
on us that the old navy was no longer
In existence. We were now among
good young Americans and all Of us
decided to appreciate the kind treat
ment and food we were getting. Be-
fore we enlisted everybody seemed to
know all about the navy and said:
"You mark my words, you'll get starv-
ed and bullied and mistreated,' ETC.,
and now we saw that people who were
never in the service were in no posi-
ton to Judge at all and that their
advice was the result of a deep-set
prejudice fastened by untruthful
stories and books describing the mer-
chant marine and not our manly blue
jacket or his career.
Our naval careers really commence
ed next morning, as we were provided
with uniforms, white and blue, and
were detailed to divisions for drills
and instructions. Those who had
former military training such as high
school cadets, private school boys
and other soldiers, were chosen by
the officers to command the various
divisions.
each day we received instructions
in physical culture, fencing, artillery
and rifle practice, infantry drill, set
ting sail, furling sail, making knots
also instructions in signals, ordinance
and gunnery; how a ship is built, It's
many decks, masts, holds, etc. Row
ing was our chief exercise and amuse
ment and each day we would visi
some new part of the bay and har
Dor.
after a few months under shore
training we boarded the United State!
ship Mohican, with three rousinl
cheers for those who were unfortun
ate enough to remain on the old Pen
sacola Only $50 could go aboard fol
the eleven months cruise, and | was
one of the chosen ones. IN fact, al
the Omaha draft was taken, as Il
was their turn to go for further in
struction and training before board
ing a battleship Of the line, as real
true, -o-warsmen."
After giving an account OF thu
eleven months cruise covering thou
sands of miles, and the sights anC
scenes attending the trip, the CORE
spondent touches upon the matter o
advancement in the navy. how 1t II
earned, etc. He says:
an the eight months interval grea
events TRANSFERRED. We were urged b.
the officers to take the examination
for seamen and many of us passe,
with honors. A few of the boys woul
not study at all, some developed ba
traits of character and these wer
discharged as undesirable" by ou
captain.
II liked to steer the snip, tax
soundings, make signals, keep tn
weather report and have charge c
the man at the wheel, so | put m
best endeavors forward and studio
so that I might be able when tn
) time came to hold a quartermaster
position. At Bremerton, Wash, on
. of our quartermasters was paid OF
80 was examined for and given a
actual appointment as a third-clas
quartermaster, and received $50
month
"Six of we boys decided to stay c
; the old Mohican. and we stayed; wei
q all put in petty officers positions
trust inside of ten months after cor
ing on the ship. This was the thiI
epoch Of my seafaring career, and IL