The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-20
NIyY rsRD pREPlRlrIoNs.
Taking Aboard Powder. shot, and shell
VIM Goxernmenl EmplONe.s say.

What Government EMPLOYEES say.
"Powderl What are they gong to do
with powder when the ships are at the dock2"
said an Old sailor at the BROOKLYN Navy Yard
on SATURDAY. "No, sirl they amt going to nre
any salute when they are tied up. YOU bet. be-
sides amt the saluiing battery just quilt for 70
salute FOREIGN vessels? have been around this
yard going on twelve yenrs, and | never seen
vessel taking her ordnance from the dock 1t
won't do; they are at the same game they are
playing In South Carolina-they are Just soaring
the people. when one Of the ships comes to
the ynrd she discharges her powder and shell at
the Battery or at the buoy In front OF the yard,
and II goes to ELISA island. On Thursday and
Yesterday two lighters. not alone with powder,
but with shell. grape and canister, came here,
and II was divided between the schoolship Min
nesota. the receiving ship Colorado, ana the
Swatara and one Of the men told me he was
kept at slowing It away until o'clock a. night.
since that man Roheson took command ~ navy
matters ~ Washington of course YOU can't tel
what will come next, f7r bless vou he dou't
know a seventy-four from W gon load Of hay.
| tell you. when the Democratic House cut
down the appropri ltion they Jnst .ut deep mo
the Ring The election before this last one, moro
than 1900 men were employed during e'ectl m
and throw their votes. but this time they didn't
have the money to scoop more than ahout threo
hundred votes And there Hes the Java on her
tlle oopper md iron that's in her. Preparation
Why, IN course they are preparing for some'h hing.
1hev have been looking ~ the Rrooklrn ana the
other hulks tied up IN Rotten W these two
dave, ana his morning th"V tried to lower the
screw I'm on board tue Colorado, but IL wouldn't
work. so they sent down divers to see what
could ba done. and theV reported that some
thing Ike d grown IN tne gr9nve' ana me
be moved. Why, we amt got no navy and here
amt men enough on any OF them hut the swa-
| tara to 90 into = hght with. The Colorado has
| cot anout one hundred men. and she nghts with
| nothing less tn u three hundred and hftv. The
| Minnesotl has not hing hut boys on board,
| though must say that the the likeliest,
smartesi looking sailor lads We ever had "a tie
navy. In scrimmsge guess they would do
Noticing i've howitzers shining on the wharf
In "A half circle around tine Ninnc-ot and seeing
IN old sailor, at short dist nee looking Il the
graceful curves OF the frigate and attire howi-
xers pointing toward he yard, the reporter ask
| ed him whether they had been there since he
| election. We'll no % he RESPONDED II been
a reading In the 'pers as how things over here
WAS preparine for war. and you know We old
sailors are just like war-horses. when they near
| the bugle they prick M their ears and kick like
| thunder and II you don't hold on to them smart
| they're of. Well, when | heard OF shell and
| shrapnel. aud sicn like Just prck-d up my
to hold me, Just scooted like II Young steam
boat; and I've been looking at the vessel l
ssv soi 10 aSere 20 the yrd
seen slch thing before; II aln't custumery: no
how. and heard they we're wnseled out on Fri
day. Even In war times q pn't remember see
ing any such thing. One Of my old messmstes
iust been telling me rs now the signal battery
he wouldn't Give II 10 me wrong. IL they ye.
II won't 10 them much good, for the guns there
point up the Est river AMI don't command the
city at nll he orders must nave come from
Wash,ngton.for Commodore nicholson wouldn't
| do any such thing on his own hook"
In answer to inquiries. the officers said that
the navy yard was ALWAYS k-pt prepared Tor
any emOrgencies, arr that the wariiKe prep
| aration which was Inored about town could
/ be attributed only l., the hustle occAsioned ny
| the orders received from Washington TO com
pete the new irigate Trenton, now building tt
the ward. ami ordered TO he read, Tor service
! with the European fleet. The Trenton u rom
| Of 900 tons actual measurement, and when
| comp will he, u Is raid. one OF the best a.
| well the most powerful unarnored war
vessel In the world. Aoout the ammunition
| landed on Ihursdav and FRIDAY. the Officers say
| IL was only the tgular allowance. and that 900
rounds Of pail cartridges had been sent to the
| Minne sofa and Colorado In place Of that guam
| tty they had, which was damaged. since the
| Cuban excitement, when the spanish vessel
| which wrs det dned last wear at the rd 10y the
coal barge that sank directly IN front of the dry
| do X, the orders of the secretary of the Navy
| had been 20 ke-p the vessels in commission al
| the yard ready for sea At "A moments notice.
| About ths men beng discnatgeu III small
| batches every night, SO "a TO let down on them
| easy. know TO he true said Mr.. Fred Williams
| OF 24o YORK street. BROOKLYN. " NV house In tue
| first one from the gate Of the navy yard. and
| watch the men g0iug out every evening besides,
| know wOrkingnen now In the yard who have
not received pay for the Litter u ri OF May last.
| fat, healthy looking Waterman, VINO was
| armed with club ana u heayy navy revolver,
| was next asked about the two loads OF ordnance
| divided among the vessels. lie replied Just
| little apiece, you know; and IT'S nothing but
| right tn I tley should have sou ething Oh board
| In case II any trOuLe. The papers make sucn a
| big fuss about little thing like tnat, wnon
| they oughtn't TO mention II at all
| he ammunition SID to have been given 10
| each vessel IL twenty-five rounus for each gun.