The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-12
A L A SIX A A HOY!
Ho for the Mediterranean Station-Ths Charms
Of Serving in the European Squadron
The officers of tho Alaska-Other
Vessels Fitting Out for Sea.

Vessels Fitting Out for Sea.
On Tuesday last the United States sloop-oE-war
Alaska was formally placed in commission at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard. AS early as the month OF
March 1t leaked out among "well informed naval
circles" that the Alaska was the first on the
list at the Navy Department OF cruisers destined
for European waters Rumor once abroad travelled
with the speed OF electricity until there was not
an officer amenable to the rules and regulations
OF the service of Uncle Sans wooden walls So
journing temporarily on terra Trina, that was not
familiar with the fact. Then there poured into
the federal naval bureau such an avalanche of
applications for assignment to
THE FAVORED SHIP
destined for that Eden OF all stations, the Medi-
terranean, that the worthy Barnaces of the saline
warlike buwark OF our liberties were sorey
puzzled what to do in the matter OF making selec-
tons. "FrOm my earliest recOectlons," ex-
claimed the venerable detachment and assignment
clerk, 'ft has been ever thus Let ship be
ORDERED TO THE MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON
and we receive applications from commissioned
officers in sufficient numbers to man the vessel
fore ana aft without having recourse to the SER
vices Of seamen at all; but" he continued, in
solemn Tone "when we have occasion to find a
complement of Officers for ship known to be
bound for the West Indies it is uphill work to find
them.n
Never more truly spake the magnate of the
bureau. IL has been SO IRON time memorial and
will so continue, doubtless until time shall be
more. The West Indies is the Slough OF Despond
among navy stations; none ever seek duty in the
waters OF that climate, and if an officer or seaman
can evade the vigilance of the Department glass
when scanning the horizon for the purpose OF "mak
ing' out ships company Tor that section Of the
globe he will do so. Not SO with the festive Euro
pean station, however; as above told the rush is
immense for assignment in the attractive ATTITUDES
of Europe. There is life to be learned from contact
with the people OF the Old World there is instruc
ton to be CLEANED by contact with the relics and
traditions OF antiquity; there is the polish and
gloss of aristocracy to be impaired. and, all things
considered from an enlightened standpoint, 1t Is
not to be wondered that the c0ntaglon of the Med
terranean fever should be so vrulent as to infest
the entire line and stan. "horse, foot and dra-
goons," OF the navy, even though 1t be that Of a
Republic.
which goes out to protect the interests OF Ameri.
can commerce and uphold the dignity Of the Stars
and Stripes IN Europe, is worthy representative
OF our naval marine. She made her last
cruise in the Asiatic squadron, and during her
three years. absence performed prodigies OF sail
ing. She Is full rugged ship u very gem IN this
respect, in the eye of the ancient mariner OF the
steam screw sIoop, and is OF l,l22 tons burden.
She carries an armament OF twelve guns, ten
broadslde ana two pivot guns on the spar deck.
who have reported for duty on the Alaska are as
subjOlned:--
Captain-Samuel p. Carter
Lieutenant Con.ntande'S-Charles W. Tracey lex
ecat d ocer) Felix McSarty John 9. Kenneth
AdSter-B II. buckingham.
SlrgeOn-Michael Bradley.
Passed Assistant SuiyeOit-RObert A. Marmion.
IanyrnGSter-R. p. Leslie.
Captain OF MdrifeS-W. r. Brown.
Chdplatn-John b. Van Meter.
Esl0ineers-Chief Robert Potts; First Assistant,
John Bosthwick; Second Assistant, Charles L.
Howell.
G. B. Moore, w. F. Hasey, S. +. Nicholson, S. ".
b. Diehl L. TOwney, W. II. Schultz, Henry Morrel,
g. Fowler, 7. B: Howard, 9. W. Deering, A. S.
iS1iln10ker-A. w. CasSel
observation-disclosures Bennett. 1.tH
CdTDenter-Wiliam II. Slekands. rcr
Gunner-Thomas p Movable.
The above gives list OF thirty-three officers to
the ship all told. Ofthis number it will be observed
that fourteen are midshipmen, and one Is chap
lain. The latter official is regarded, In the ward
roon steerage, and on the forecastle as occupying
a-p0sition commonly known in point OF utility as
relatively aprOximatiDg to "the NTH wheel OF
coach.' In the language OF q veteran man-owars-
Doay,s watch" Nevertheless these chapans know
sT S snip than sad the
of chaplains OF our navy is remarkably level.
The "middies," or a majority of them, are des.
now in European waters. In order to accommo.
date these future 'admirals OF the Red, White and
Blue" the captain OF the Alaska has ordered that
the bulkheads or partitions which separate two Of
forward wardrOom apartments from the steerage
shall be cut away. TINS arrangement, while it
facilitates matters for the mldsnipmen deprives
one OF the surgeons OF the ship and engineer Of
a room and compes them to "sling their cots' In
open saloons not an agreeable billet by any means
as they are cut Off from the privacy or o sleeping
apartment This circumstance naturally leads to
unpleasant feeling.
and and crew On thursday next. The crew CONSIST Of
2l0 men, including guard OF marines. She will
proceed to Newport X. l., where she will take on q
quantity Of torpcdoes and shells about the 25th
OF the present month"; and Will shortly after sail for
Europe.
Her engines, which underwent so favorable q
trial at the dock the other day, will he again tested
THE NoNoNGAHELA
second rate screw steam sloOp-Of-war, eleven guns
Is now undergoing preparation for cruise at the
Portsmouth, n. H., yard. She too, II Is whis-
pered con6dentally jabout Washington, is bound
for the European station. This vessel and the
Alaska will take the place recently vacated by the
Plymouth and Brooklyn, both OF which vessels have
returned home. The Department Is bound to keep
as Dan Bryant is wont TO sayiwhen referring to his
dilapidated raglan" in the burlesque.
THE OSsIPEE
third rate, screw sloop eight guns lately returned
from the Pacific, Is fitting out at the Brooklyn
Nayv YARD for the South Atlantic station.
The Zaragzza Spanish frigate) Ii on the dry
dock undergoing needed repairs, and her officers
and men are inspecting "Yankee" naval handicraft
about this station.
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
The United States steamer Powhattan left Nor