After breakfast the midshipmen were divided into different sections for instruction. The first prescribed lesson in seamanship was: “How many anchors are there aboard? Tell the difference between bower, sheet, steam and kedge anchors. Tell what each anchor aboard weighs. Name the different parts of an anchor. How secure an anchor for sea; how secure for letting go?”
The prescribed lesson in steam engineering was: “What kind of boilers and engines are installed aboard this ship? What pipes and valves does the steam pass through in going from the boilers to the engines? What valves do you open and shut to pump water into a boiler?”
In electricity the lesson was: “Tell what you find on the switchboard, and the use of each.”
In gunnery: “Go into the turret, mention the different mechanisms you find, and tell how and for what purpose each is used.” These were for the third classmen. The first classmen had more advanced lessons, and were also given responsible duties with the navigator and chief engineer, and as officer of the deck.
“We’ll be busy this cruise,” remarked Ralph to Creelton, as the third classmen were copying their prescribed lessons in the various subjects from the bulletin-boards. “We work at our seamanship from eight-thirty until nine-thirty then study, and then at our gunnery from eleven until noon. Then from one until two we are in the engine and fire rooms, and from two until three in the dynamo room. Officers are to go around with us and explain things and answer questions, and we put things down in our note-books. Then each night we have to hand in our note-books with the answers to the prescribed lessons written out. By gracious! But this will keep us busy, and the officers, too. But we ought to learn a lot.”
The lessons were changed each day, and at different times the instruction periods were changed to practical drills; and whenever the ship was at anchor the midshipmen were always exercised at rowing and sailing. Whenever the Puritan was under way the midshipmen at all times were to be seen going about the different parts of the ship, asking questions of enlisted men and officers, jotting down notes and making sketches. Much knowledge was absorbed of the different mechanisms in the ship and their manipulation; all were being fitted to familiarity with them, which after long years of experience makes the competent officer.
In a few days the Puritan was anchored off the ship-building works at Newport News. Here parties of midshipmen were sent ashore on tours of inspection under charge of different officers.
Before starting ashore on Thursday morning, Ralph Osborn noticed a group of enlisted men on the quarter-deck. These men had made requests for extra leave, more than had been allowed them by the executive officer. The latter was Lieutenant-Commander Graham who was considered to be a very efficient officer but one especially severe with the enlisted men.
“You men can’t have forty-eight hours’ liberty,” Ralph heard him say. “We leave Saturday morning for the North and I’ll not have anybody out of the ship later than six o’clock to-morrow evening. Those of you who are on the first conduct grade and want that may give in your names to the ship’s writer. That’s all you’ll get and you needn’t ask for anything more. And if any of you are not on the first conduct grade you needn’t ask for that. Now clear out, all of you.”
All of the men but one touched their caps and moved forward. This one saluted and in a voice full of suppressed emotion said: “Sir, I request special permission to speak to you. My wife lives in this town and she is sick with typhoid fever. I haven’t had any liberty, I’m classed—but I’ve just received word she is very bad; could you, sir, could you let me go over to see her for just a couple of hours? I’ll promise you to be back on time, sir!”