Page images
PDF
EPUB

suitable condition for return voyage. No evidence of structural damage resulting from the loss of the propeller being noticeable.

Difficulty was experienced in obtaining necessary provisions and stores for the return voyage, lengthened through the necessity of sail propulsion and a change of route incident to the

same.

The ship was detained by unfavorable winds until October 7, 1916 when departure was then undertaken from Fayal, beating out of the straits in a light breeze, which determined the capabilities of the Newport in her altered condition. A favorable run of twenty-four days was made to Hamilton, Bermuda, via the trade wind belt.

On the passage it became evident that the hurricane weather was prevailing; it was confirmed by wireless advices. The ship was hove to for a period of forty hours, during which no material damage was sustained, though the hard riding given the ship to make speed and the laboring in heavy seas necessitated some overhauling of the rigging on arriving in port. The Newport escaped the path of the storms which were then prevailing and which were evident by the ruins of buildings noticed at Bermuda. The Newport left Bermuda on November 22, 1916, arriving at New York on December 2, 1916, after a stormy passage during which the ship was blown off shore in attempting to beat up the Atlantic coast. As in previous circumstances the cadets of the school rose to the occasion and handled the ship in a creditable manner, under trying conditions. On arrival at New York the cadets prepared the schoolroom on the pier of East 24th street for the annual graduation exercises and for future use during the coming term, going to their homes or to sea after the exercises, which were held on December 13, 1916.

Dr. John H. Finley, State Commissioner of Education and member of the Board of the Nautical School presented the diplomas of forty graduates and other suitable ceremonies took place, which were attended by the parents, guardians and friends of the cadets of the school. It is gratifying to report that nearly the entire graduating class were promptly employed in various capacities on board American steamships operating out of the port of New York, and constant demands were made for more

cadets than we can supply. The inadequate size and accommodation of the Newport prevents an increase in the output of the school, in the face of an urgent need for young men of the type and training furnished, not only as an economic measure but as a necessity of the war.

The attention of the Board is respectfully called to the necessity of increasing the compensation for employees of the Nautical School, to the end that suitable men of good character may be employed, whereby other than mere physical strength can be applied to the handling of the ship, her machinery, rigging and equipment in time of stress and to secure competent instructors for the cadets in manual branches of marine engineering and seamanship.

The wages of seamen out of New York are at this time from 50 to 200 per cent greater than the pay for similar duties on the Newport and the additional necessity for men for instruction purposes has reached an acute stage.

The winter term of 1917 opened on January 2nd, with an enrollment of seventy-eight cadets. Every effort has been made to compensate for the loss of time caused by the later return of the ship from previous cruise. School sessions were continued until March 10, 1917 when the ship was ordered by the Navy Department to be docked for examination at the New York Navy Yard in connection with urgent repairs. A further survey was ordered to determine the necessity for repairs and alterations to fit the ship for general naval service.

On May 7, 1917, the cadets returned from leave to duty in connection with fitting out the ship for practice cruise. The Newport was coaled and provisioned, returning to the pier at East 24th street, New York City, on May 17, 1917, to complete the latter and to make final preparations for departure. The schoolroom on the pier, which has been used by the Nautical School through courtesy of the Department of Docks and Ferries of the city of New York, has been turned over to the Navy with the entire pier for war purposes. While the Newport remained berthed at the pier, the cadets of the school policed the pier and government property thereon, for the Navy Department, also stripping the pier of Nautical School property for storage.

The Newport left New York on June 21, 1917, proceeding under steam to Glen Cove, L. I. where preparations for cruise preliminary drills, etc., are now going on. Due to the absence

of a crew, practically the entire work of fitting out the ship and her operation falls upon the cadets who are undergoing their initial experience aboard.

As an instance of the valuable service of the Nautical Schoolship I report the appointment of Cadet Herbert Gregg from the Newport to the SS. Usona at Bermuda, as Third Officer at the request of the Captain of the Usona while the Newport lay at that port. He is now reported to be Chief Officer of an American vessel at a salary of $300 per month, giving excellent service since his graduation from the Nautical School in November 1916. Reports from heads of departments in the Nautical School are submitted herewith, giving detailed information of the work done in each toward the upkeep of the ship and the progress of instruction in the school.

Respectfully,

F. S. MCMURRAY.

APPENDIX B

Report of the Superintendent, New York State Nautical School, Schoolship Newport, June 30, 1917, to November 30, 1917

SIR. In accordance with the regulations for the government of the New York State Nautical School, I have the honor to submit the following report of the activities of the school from July 1, 1917 up to December 1, 1917.

The following is the itinerary which was carried out; drills and studies being constantly carried forward during this period:

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

1.

6.

[ocr errors]

7...

8.

Aug. 17 to Aug.

Aug. 18 to Aug.

Aug. 19 to Aug.
Aug. 21 to Aug.

Aug. 23 to Aug.

Aug. 27 to Aug.

Aug. 31 to Sept.

Sept. 1 to Sept.

Sept. 6 to Sept.

Sept. 7 to Sept.

9.

Sept. 8 to Sept.
Sept. 9 to Sept. 10...
Sept. 10 to Sept. 13...
Sept. 13 to Sept. 14...

[ocr errors]

Anchored off New Haven, Conn.

Anchored off New London, Conn.

Anchored Gardner's Bay.

Anchored off Greenport, Long Island, N. Y.
Anchored Shelter Island Sound, N. Y.

Anchored off Greenport, Long Island, N. Y.
Anchored off Newport, R. I.
Anchored off Block Island.

Sept. 14 to Sept. 15.. Anchored off New Haven, Conn.

[ocr errors]

Sept. 15 to Sept. 17.
Sept. 17 to Sept. 18......
Sept. 18 to Sept. 19...
Sept. 19 to Sept. 21...

Anchored off Glen Cove, Long Island, N. Y.
Anchored off East river, N. Y., 26th street.
Moored, Navy yard, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Anchored off North river, N. Y., 129th street.

Sept. 21 to Sept. 24.. Anchored off Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

Sept. 24 to Sept. 26.

Sept. 26 to Sept. 28.

Sept. 28 to Sept. 29...

Sept. 29 to Oct.

[ocr errors]

Oct. 1 to Dec.

1....
1.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

On August 1, 1917, the following changes in the personnel of the school took place:

Capt. F. S. McMurray, Class of '96, resigned; relieved by Capt. Felix Riesenberg, Class of '97.

Mr. C. E. Littlefield, Executive Officer, resigned; Mr. C. E. Morgan, appointed Executive Officer.

Mr. Thos. W. Sheridan, Class of '06, Navigating Officer, resigned; Mr. Gershom Bradford, 2d, appointed Navigating Officer. Mr. E. R. Glosten, Class of '08, appointed Junior Officer August 29, 1917.

On October 15, 1917, the following class was graduated from the school. Those over nineteen years of age being examined by the United States Local Inspectors and granted their licenses as Third Officers and Third Assistant Engineers:

Graduates with licenses as Third Officers, Deck (19 years or over):

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]

Graduates with licenses, Engineers (19 years or over):

[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Graduates without licenses, Deck (under 19 years):

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
« PreviousContinue »