An Annapolis First Classman Read online

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  cover]

  _HE GLANCED AT THE WRITTEN ORDER_]

  AN ANNAPOLIS FIRST CLASSMAN

  _by_

  LT. COM. EDWARD L. BEACH

  U.S. NAVY

  Author of

  "AN ANNAPOLIS PLEBE" "AN ANNAPOLIS YOUNGSTER" "AN ANNAPOLIS SECOND CLASSMAN"

  Illustrated by Frank T. Merrill

  THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA

  MCMX

  Introduction

  This is the fourth and last book of the "Annapolis Series." It has beenthe purpose of the author faithfully to portray the conditions in whichour midshipmen live at the Naval Academy. The training given atAnnapolis is regulated by the needs of the Fleet, and the Naval Academyin all of its departments is entirely directed and controlled byseagoing naval officers. After the Fleet's world-encircling cruise, manyof the officers attached to it were sent to the Naval Academy toinstruct midshipmen in navigation and electricity and gunnery andseamanship.

  In the navy it is believed that the officer who is fresh from drilling atwelve-inch turret or a battery of broadside guns at record and battletarget practice, should be well qualified to initiate midshipmen in thebeginnings of naval gunnery. It is for this reason that the training atAnnapolis reflects the needs of the Fleet, and every officer on dutythere has either seen recent sea service or is looking forward to anearly sea assignment.

  Stonewell and Robert Drake by name never existed, but the same thoughtsand ambitions that animate them have animated many hundreds ofmidshipmen; and incidents similar to those described have happenedcountless times. From this point of view these stories are true stories.The names of their chief characters may be found in no navy list, butthe truth of the Annapolis books does not depend upon that. Stonewelland Robert Drake have actually lived many times, and to-day are livingat Annapolis.

  The author hopes he has presented in this book and its threepredecessors, "An Annapolis Plebe," "An Annapolis Youngster," and "AnAnnapolis Second Classman," a fair picture of the life of Americanmidshipmen; and not only of the naval atmosphere which surrounds them,but of that inner life which for the time dominates their relations toeach other and to the institution made famous as the alma mater of manynames illustrious in naval history.

  EDWARD L. BEACH,_Lieutenant-Commander, U.S. Navy_.

  Contents

  I. GLASSFELL, DRAKE AND STONEWELL 9 II. THE COMMANDANT OF MIDSHIPMEN 22 III. A HAPPY SURPRISE 36 IV. ACADEMY LIFE BEGINS 46 V. A MYSTERIOUS CRY 61 VI. THE GATES FORWARD PASS 77 VII. THE WEST POINT GAME 88 VIII. "THE MAN WORE A SLOUCH HAT" 101 IX. ROBERT GETS BAD NEWS 111 X. ROBERT GETS GOOD NEWS 124 XI. "THREE GROANS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT" 133 XII. ROBERT MAKES A DISCOVERY 142 XIII. HARRY BLUNT IS REBUFFED 155 XIV. A MYSTERY SOLVED 166 XV. STONEWELL RECEIVES A LETTER 181 XVI. BLIGH MAKES A FRIEND 194 XVII. AN ILL-FAVORED, RED-BEARDED ROGUE 205 XVIII. AN OLD COLORED MAN IS IN TROUBLE 217 XIX. THE KIDNAPPERS 227 XX. SIX-POUNDER TARGET PRACTICE 237 XXI. A GOOD SHOT WITH THE SIX-POUNDER 255 XXII. GRICE APPEARS AGAIN 265 XXIII. ROBERT RESIGNS 275 XXIV. IT WAS STONEWELL 287 XXV. JOHN 15:13 298 XXVI. COMMANDER DALTON BECOMES ANGRY 305 XXVII. ROBERT FINALLY ANSWERS 320 XXVIII. "BLIGH, BLIGH, BLIGH!" 334 XXIX. THE END OF A LONG DAY 343 XXX. GRADUATION 350

  Illustrations

  PAGE HE GLANCED AT THE WRITTEN ORDER _Frontispiece_ AROUND THE END 68 THE STRANGER THREW OFF HIS HAT 152 HE HALF AROSE FROM HIS SEAT 200 HE SAW TWO DARK FIGURES 272 "THAT WILL DO, GENTLEMEN" 296 IT MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY PRETTY SPEECH 355

  An Annapolis First Classman