The New York herald., 1873-11-28
NAVAL PREPARATIONS.
Philade1phia Navy Yard-At Work Yes
terday-Men Discharged Because an
Appropriation wns Expended.

Philade1phia Navy Yard-At Work Yes
terday-Men Discharged Because an
Appropriation wns Expended.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 27, 1873.
Work continued as usual to-day at the Navy Yard.
A large number OF men who have been engaged
In dredging the docks were discharged because
the money appropriated for that object had been
spent. This discharge gave rise to rum0rs that
work on the war vessels was to be suspended, but
Commander Mullaney positively denied that he had
received any such orders.
The Delaware Breakwater-A Gale Out
sidc-Thc Pinta at Anchor-The MAN.
haitian Suffers from the Weather at
Sea and Puts Back.
DELAWARE BREAKwATER,
Via LEwEs, DEL, Nov. q, 1873.
The United States steam tug Pinta arrived here
on Wednesday evening and anchored inside the
Breakwater. The United States steamer Pow
hatan, towing the United States monitor Man.
haitian passed the Breakwater light at ten p M.
on Wednesday evening, bound out.
At daylight this morning 1t was blowing gale
from the southwark and as pilot boat, bound in,
reported very heavy sea outside, the United
States tug Pinta remained at her anchorage all
day. At five p. NJ. this afternoon the Powhattan
returned, towing the Manhattan, and anchored
suffered considerably from the heavy weather.
The sea broke clean over her turret and wet them
fore and aft, not leaving dry stitch on board.
They report over two feet OF water In her hold.
The Pinta went out this evening, intending to 90
to sea, but on advice OF Captain Beaumont OF the
Powhatan, returned to her anchorage, and will
leave at daylight In the morning for Key West,
weather permitting. a
"Reminiscences OF n Spanish Out..~. ~
Fighting Chaplain.
The day was passed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard
In Q noisy manner In the workshops, where the
ring Of metal the crashing OF the saw and sounds
OF mechanical activity grated upon the ear on
the Colorado, Minnesota, Swatara Roanoke.
Florida and Dictator workmen were as busy az
though 1t were not national holiday but in other
departments there was q falling or in the number
OF employees The Tigress was discharging her
cargo at the dock with ali despatch, her conf
mander, Captain Greer, being exceedingly anxious
to get rid OF the responsibility Of the vessel in
order to return to his home that he may enjoy a
few days respite from duty, which bids fair to soon
become exceedingly active for all our naval on
GERS
his rambIes through the Navy Yard, and entering
into conversation with the parson, who ranks with
making te the sna' for ne sssyn was
ment to one of the frgates fitting out. said the
chaplain, ~ am for war with Spain. 1t was my lot
to be attached three years ago to the flagship OF
Admiral Horf, and remember repeated instances
OF ndgnity to which our flag was subjected by the
rascay Spanards. On one occasion an American
merchant ship was seized on suspicion Of attempt
ing to run the blockade, and so men, her passen-
gers and crew. were tried by court martial as
pirates and sentenced to be shot, as the
virginius people were. The Admiral, who had
the Albany sloop-of-war at Havana, was appriscd
OF the case, and at once interceded for
the release OF the prisoners, threatening the
Governor General with the dire consequences OF
the barbarous act, should the bloodthirsty SEN
tence OF the court be carried into effect After
much persuasion the lives OF the prisoners were
spared, ana later on, the Captain General came on
board the Albany and sincerely thanked the Amer,
lean sailor, saying:-"l cannot express my ndebt-
edness to you for what you have done. You have
saved Spain from war with the United States, as
but for your intervention the Cuban volunteers,
in their desire for vengeance, would have certainly
shot the prisoners and hostiities between the two
nations would have resulted.n Had there been
man-ofwar at Santiago de Cuba" continued the
parson when the virginius was taken by the
Tornaio, not one OF the prisoners would have been
executed. i have seen service as line onicer
curing tnc war. and purpose rendering my ser.
vices 60 take hghting command just as soon as
am assigned as CHAPLAIN