The Elbert County tribune., 1906-09-13


In the eight months interval great
events transpired. We were urged by
the officers to take the examination
for seaman. and many of us passed
with honors. A few of the boys would
not study at all. some developed bad
traits of character and these were dis
charged as undesirable" by our cap
tain.
| liked to steer the ship, take sound
ings. make signals. keep the weather
report and have charge of the man at
the wheel. So | put my best endeav-
ors forward and studied so that
might be able when the time came to
hold a quartermaster's position. At
Bremerton, Washington, one of our
quartermaster's was paid off, so | was
examined for and given an acting ap-
pointment as third-class quartermas-
ter, and received $50 month.
Six Of we boys decided to remain on
the old Mohican, and we stayed; were
all put in petty officers positions of
trust inside of ten months after COM
ing on the ship. This was the third
epoch of my seafaring career, and the
fourth came after l had served as
quartermaster third-class one year,
when | received an appointment as
quartermaster, second-class.
Shortly after this I was placed in
the position of the chief quartermas-
ter. who received an honorable dis
| charge, and which position held until
the ship sailed for the Philippines.
AFTER serving six months more vas
given an appointment as a first-class
qua- termaster and sent to the Naval
School of Gunnery at Washington, d.
c., and Newport, Rhode Island.
Help from Officers.
I, Eternal vigilance is the price OF
| success" and coupled with this was
the kindness and consideration of my
| superior officers, one of whom was
Lieutenant Matt H. Signor, now at the
Omaha recruiting station, with whom
l was personally associated in the line
of duty for two years. It was he who
pushed my application through for the
gunnery school,
On the way to Washington I was
given twenty days in which to report,
but could spend only two at home.
Less than three years in the service
ana homeward bound. "Hurrah for
Omaha again,"
| My friend, Bressman, another
Omaha boy, was sent to the gunnery
school through Mr.. Signors influence.
|
ing, we were faithful to our duty and
each other. In the school we studied
and experimental on electricity in all
its physics, torpedoes, submarine
mines, explosives, stream diving, the
| manufacture of smokeless powder,
| guncotton, illuminate of mercury and
other high explosives; also the manu-
facture of large and small guns. sights,
targets and submerged torpedo dis
charge tubes. We did practical cop
persmith and forge work, learned to
work on lathes, shapers, drills and
milling machines, as we made small
guns, mounts and tools for same. We
studied every type of gun and mount,
| turret and construction of which is
used in the service; spent week at
the Indian Head proving ground, firing
at and testing armour plate, shells and
| powder, obtaining velocities, etc.
| While at the school l received the
appointment as chief quartermaster
and was paid off at the end of my
four years with sum of money bor-
dering on the 1000 mark.
Discharge and Re-EnIistment.
| On receiving my honorable dis
charge | was furnished a first-class
ticket to my home, also dining car
meal tickets. Uncle Sammy takes
good care of his boys and they know it.
Rather than wait four months at
home, then re-enlist and get my four
months pay, decided to re-enlist the
next day. get my money and take a
thirty-day furlough.
| had just the very best time at
home, then came to Boston, Massa-
chusetts, where l Joined the U. S. S.
Illinois, in the same rating as chief
quartermaster ana took immediate
charge OF all signal equipment, flags,
bridges, stores. coming tower, steam
steering engine, etc.
While on board | have endeavored
to win the confidence of officers and
crew by steady attention to duties and
have been treated with the greatest
respect and consideration both aft"
and forward"
Now. boys, the United States naval
service is not what people paint 1t in
their vivid imaginations, but 1t is just
what you yourselves make it. Be sober,
quick and attentive to duties and your
future will be assured.
| / am sure that had | devoted my
time to working for private corpora
tion I would not have. received the
salary | now command, even had |
stayed there ten years.
This, you see, is the thought which
comes TO my mind: Can you do as
well in private firms as you can do in
the United States navy? Can you
study and rise as your own abilities
advance?" Think this over. Then de-
eide.
Another thing to be thought of is:
Where will you get such an oppor-
tunity to see the world?" Boys, bestir
yourselves and "get together" Bring
your natural intelligence to bear on
this subject Gas you should do in
everything that you do), and decide
now and remember through life