The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-11-09
THE ADMIRll,s GIG.
Illustrating = a slnguiarIy Mixed Up STATE
UfAffairs az n Navy Yard.


lhustratipg singuiariy Mixed Up State
ofAnairs at n Navy Yard.
ASiyacious correspondent oi the Gin.
cinnati Gazette tells 4 story connected
with m attempted reception OF Secre.
tary Robesui, NJ the Portsmouth IN.
H. Navy Yard year ago, which he
says was current at Rye Beach the past
summer. m
The secretary, who has apartments
each season in Of the cottages OF
Rye, had sent word To the admiral
commanding the yard that he would
visit Portsmouth on q certain day and
inspect the station. Great preparations
we're made TO receive him. When the
time for his arrival drew near, the ad.
miral with all his officers in full uni.
form, four companies Of marines, and
the band, stood on the wharf ready to
greet the headlof nil our marine forces,
while the crew Of 0 national frigate
stood to their guns all ready to utter q
little thunder in the. secretary's be.
half.
Therewere two waysfor.the secretary
to reach the yard fiom Portsmouth. he
could cross the river by boat or drive
around by the bridge. The boat.land.
ing at the yard and the entrance from
the csrliage.way are upon opposite
sides OF the grounds, and quite con.
cealed one from the other.
The admiral, wishing to show all
possible attention To the secretary. sent
over to the Portsmouth side, frat his
gig gayly decorated and manned with
eight expert oarsmen, q steam.launch,
in case he should prefer to cross in
that, and, lastly, his carriage and horses
to convey the party around by the
bridge, should they desire 10 60 that
way. A messenger was In waiting to
ascertain which OF these modes Of con-,
veyance the secretary selected, and To-
cross in advance and give the admiral
notice, so that II the secretary chose
the carriage, the officers md marines
might be marched over 10 the gate 10
receive him. OF the secretary's party
was Master -, who was always
prominent on occasions Of this kind.
When the party hrriyed at the Ports.
mouth wharf IN officer explained 10 the
secretary that several modes Of convey
ance awaited his choice. He could be
rowed across in the admiral's gig, or
take the steam.launch, or drive around
with The carriage. Master - listened
intently while the secretary was con.
Bulting the members OF the party and
making up his mind.
Atlength Mr.. Robeson informed the
officer in waiting that he would 60 over
. in the gig. Master -, hearing this,
concluded that he would jump on the
ferry.boat which was Just pushing Of,
and be the first TO inform the admiral
Of the secretary's intention.
The ferry-boat passed the officers
boat on tho same errand, and arrived OF
the dock far in advance Of him. Un.
fortunately, Master --- is not great
sailor, and as q landsman lie had been
educated to suppose that gig was
something that went on wheels and was
drawn by horsepower So the moment
the boat reached the wharf ho jumped
ashore, ran up TO the admiral, and
said, "The secretary will drive
around" Then there was hurrying in
hot haste. The marines started at
double.quick for the gate on the other
side, quite around and behind the great
ship buildings, and wholly hidden from
the river. The admiral and all his
officers followed as fast rs possible, and
in three minutes the forces Of oil kinds
and the crowd of,yisitors had passed
behind oil the buildings, and the river
front Of the yard was left without o
sign OF life, except an officer WHO hap.
pened to be OF duty and opportunely
came along o few minutes after the ad.
n,iral and his forces had disappeared.
Meantime the secretary's party,
minus Master 80, had disposed them.
selves in tie admirai's eig and were
being rowed rapidly to the deserted
wharf. The stiffness Of things seemed
unaccountable 10 Mr.. Robeson and the
visitors he had brought up from Rye
TO see howa Secretary Of the Navy was
received OF yard where there was
full force to do him honor. There was
no thunder OF cannon, rattle OF drums,
or music oil bands. Andthe secretary,
noticing the absence Of the expected
concourse Of sound, cast his eye along
the wharf and around the visible por.
tions Of the yard, and was thunder.
struck at the general stiffness and
desolation. His wonder grew as the
gig pulled up at the wharf, and no
human being appeared TO greet him, or
even hand him q message. The situa-
tion was fast becoming embarrassing.
However, the partya all ctawled out OF
the gig aa best they could and gathered
ina knot on the wharf. Here they at
tracted the attention OF the atrolling
officer, and as he came near and recog-
nizOd the secretary, the whole situa-
tion flashed upon him. He was in
fatigue uniform and not in any sense
ready to 'ireceiven the head Of the
navy, but, walking up and saluting the
secretary, he offered to escort him 10
thp ndmiral's quarters. AT the same
time he managed to inform the officer
In command Of the irigate in the next
slip that the secretary had landed, and
ly the time the party had fairly start
ed on It's walk, the big guns began TO
thunder, md on one side Of the yard
The embarrassment Of the situation was
considerably relieved.
a . 4