Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-07-29
GOOD ATHLETIC MATERIAL
MIDSHIPMEN OF CLASS ro1r
SHOW FINE SPIRIT
Ambitious TO Acquire Instruction Nosi-
ces in Seamanship
YOUNGEST ADEMY SET
KEEPING THE RATES

The class Of 1911 At the Naval Acad-
emy has anspicious athletic auguries-
It's origin, by admission Of is initial
member, was in May. His entrances
was significant. The meet between the
Carlisle Indians and the Navy was 1t
hand. There was a iO0-yard dash 10
| be run, and the man TO win il was out
side the Academy. lie was mentally
qualified, and hasty, special physi-
cal examination Was given a day or
SO before the meet. and the first
member Of the class Of 1911 entered
at the Academy won the l00-yard
dash and was victor in the 220- yard
run.
The athletic spirit Of the class
moves it to prepare for another track
meet in September, when the whole
class will be together and when prac-
tice will make perfect what physical
prowess Is in its membership. This
class has not only shown q fine class
an athletic spirit, but ii has fnaugu-
rated a pleasant practice in its print
ed program OF events with the names
Of the participants in the events, their
initials and the states from which
they come. This arouges state pride
for the winners and show that each
section has its athletic heroes.
The class has q working day in
every one of the six Of the working
days Of the week. The reveiIlc gun
sounds at $50 a. M, when the mid
shipman rises and prepares for roll
call and breakfast. When the chaplain
has read the morning prayers. imme-
diateIy after the FIRST meal. the new
midshipman goes to his room. makes
up his bed, puts his house in order for
inspection and goes OF for the fore
Moons drill. This has its regular or
der. On Mondays, Wednesday and
Thursdays the midshipmen 20 to the
armory for the ''setting-up" drill to
take all nnmiiitary aiignmcnts out u
their physiques and 10 give them a
martial bearing. Then fencing and
subtarget practice follow AT fI.30.
Recess Is from 1875 to > p. n. Then
the boat drills take place in steam
launches, when the 'plebes' have
the opportunity Of showing how we'll
they can heaye coal and stoke = fire.
On Tuesdays and Fridays they 90
TO the sail loft to learn how 10 tic
knots and splice ropes. They have
turn IN the gymnasium and boat
drill under oars, when the Dew mid
of pulling one of tine i0-fo0t oars IN the
great cutters that form the Academy
flotiiIa. He has = haif-h0liday on
Saturday and 4 full one or sunday.
lie is required 10 70 10 church once
on Sunday or keep 10 quarters il he
has good reason for absence from di-
vine services.
The noyices IN seananship.. 6Dd i
hard work At first TO get accustomed
to the routine " duties, but this soon
wears of, and the midshipmau likes
his new life, its surrounding ard it,
grand opportunities. One 0f the
difficulties " the situation Is Learning
the naval nomenclature. The attempt
of some to swallow the dictionary
too soon results ~ breaks ln lingo
that excites the disabilities ~ their
fellows. F0F pull on the bailiardsf
someone will call out: 'sPpgf On this
here rope, = and when on ship some
landsman will designate tbe bow -
this end 81 err and the stern ~
that end Of 'sf."
The class Of 1911 - ambitious - ae-
4nire the best IN their rudiWeofary
education. ID their drills their in
structoTs, cO05posfug the officers tie
civilian instructors and t5e second
cIassmen now on duty at tire Academy.
are dfligent, II not severes IN requff-
ing the very rest work ~ the class.
IN addition to The Iaud aud water
drills. physical exercises and instFue.
ti0ns are given tie midsbipmen. and
defaehmcnts " the class take alter.
nate cruises Or the r. =. =. Severn IN
tho Chesapeake Day. The ship leaves
the Academy and anchors IN the an
nap0lis Roads for several days while
fgsc class Is taught 10 handle the ropes.
make and unmake sail. and when this
| ~ learned sufficiently the severn sails
down to soi0uon's Island, distance
of forty-fse miles. the new sailors
doing all the eeamen's work excepi
scrubbiDg decks and like chores. The
stay Al SoIomonss Island Is pleasant.
| The midshipmen enjoy the long walks
on the beach and tlIe cooling ice cream
| ID the confectionery saloons.
The midslIipmen on these short voy-
ages are.drigied A. boat crews. and
row the captain ashore when hs
goes, and bring tlge ships stores q
| her from the shore. One of ti1e pleas.
urcs Of the ernise IS tbe daily baths
| in the Chesapeake. some ~ the class
are nne swimmers. and Show grsal
proficiency in diving, taking daring
| leaps into the Lay from tbs l0wsprii
of the ship.
several instances ~ close calls f0i
entrance into the Academy occurred
| In the class. One member Was 80
near TO 20, the maximum age Of ad-
mission, that he had 20 haze an early.
specIaI examination to get IN before
the fatefvi birthday. Another mid