Smyrna times., 1913-02-05
EIGHT BELLS SOUNDED
FOR THE SCHOOL SHIP
NEWPORT is DOOMED BY EDU-
CATION BOARDS ORDER

New York Is Tired of Paying 100000
Year Fer Benefit of Less Than a
Hundred Students--Tillman's Strong
Plea For Its continuanee-Was Start
ed Forty Years Ago.
New York.-If the order of the board
of education discontinuing the New
York Nautical school Is final 1t means
that the final chapter has been written
In the history of almost the sole re-
naming link between the present day
and the vanished age of the American
merchant service that has been the
model for similar institutions abroad
and was almost unique in this country
Before the school can be finally re-
garded as abolished. however, the ac-
ton Of the board must be confirmed
by vote Of the legislature.
The reasons given by the board for
its action can be summed up in the
statement that the school was not Civ
ing the city sufficient return for the
money expended 1t is said that the
school has been costing the city up
ward Of $4,000 a year for the benefit
of less than hundred students.
1t has been said that out Of several
hundred pupils graduated records can
be found of only a hundred or so who
are following the sea. To this Com
mander L Il. Tinman. e. S. y. super
intendent Of the school, retorts that
there is no. method provided Of keeping
track of the students after graduation.
and that therefore the records do not
prove anything In his annual report
TO the board CT education tue super
intendent made strong plea for the
continuance Of the school.
The New York Nautical school was
instituted in 1873, its 'biect being, in
the words Of the statute establishing
II, fer tie INSTRUCTION. Ul sUu.ns a..
navigation, seamanship. marine engi-
neering ana all matters pertaining to
the construction, equipment and sail
ing Of vessels or any particular branch
thereof" For many years the schools
training ship was the old frigate st.
Mary's. \ few years ago she was re-
placed by the gunbOat Newport, fur
nished by the navy department
While the school is under the con-
trol of the board of education, the su-
perintendent. an officer of the line of
the navy. selects its own assistants,
usually retired naval officers or at
least graduates of the Naval academy.
The boys are quartered on board ship
during the winter term, but she re-
mains snug alongside the pier, which
is fitted up with class rooms, a gym
nasium and rigging loft. Their whole
life is regulated with a view to pre-
pairing them Tor ship discipline.
: About April 1 each year the winter
term ends and the youngsters are sent
away on vacation. The Newport is
then sent to the Brooklyn navy yard
TO be Overhauled for her summer cruise.
The cruise lasts from May until
nearly October. The boys are divided
into watches, and VRder the supervi-
sion of the officers and the crew of old
experienced seamen they do the bulk
OF the actual work of the ship. As soon
as the Newport reaches the open sea
the engines are dispensed with, and
from then until the end of the cruise
the young mariners handle, reef and
steer learn to tack, wear and box haul. i.
send up and cross light yards, make
and take In sail. heave the lead and
perform every part of a seamans du-
ties, not forgetting the holystoning
Of the decks in the morning.
The cruise usually takes in Stock.
holm. Christiania. Copenhagen and the
other famous seapOrts of northern Eu
rope and sometimes also Madeira. the
Azores and nearly every other port on
the Atlantic that has bred stout sea
men in the past On their return home
In the autumn the boys undergo in
spectiOn by the board of education. and
those deserving of It who have com
pleted their two years course with
credit receive the diplomas setting
forth that they are genuine sailormen.
every hair a rope yarn and blood
Stockholm tar"