The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-24
THE RUSSIAN FLEET.

THE RUSSIAN CORVETTE BoGATYR-DEscRIP-
TIoN OF THE SHIP AND LIST OF oFFIcERs-
INTERCHANGE OF SOCIAL ATTENTIONS BY
THE OFFICERS OF THE TWO NAvIEs-NEw
YEARS DAY ON SHORE.
PoRr ROYAL, s. c.. JAM 1s 1871.
Our usually quiet harbor has been enlvened for the
past days by presence OF the fine Russian cor
vette Bogatyr. Captain Schairo ono of HIS Imperial
Najesty's Mediterranean fleet, which Is to winter and
perhaps spend a longer time in American waters
The other vessels composing the squadron will doubt
less rendezvous Hampton Roads. where tho flagship
Syetlana, Captain the Grand Duke Alexis, has
already arrived The corvette Askold is daily expected
on this coast together with the despatch
boat Cruiser, which compose the fleet All
tho vessels except the flagship, flying Rear Adj
miral Bontakons 1ag sailed for Cathagena, Spain,
under sealed orders Charleston bar which were not
be opened vessels had passed the Straits OF
Gibraltar aud entered the Atlantic Ocean. None OF the
officers had the slightest suspicion OF tho precise point
OF destination until the sealed orders opened and
the ships put upon their course, and very general
feeling OF satisfaction pervaded their minds AS well as
the crews when known that America was 10 DO
the OF their ie ut least until tho mpend-
ing between Russia ana Turkey, and perhaps
England, over, until peaceful staius had been
thoroughly assured. The iron-clads OF the RUSSIAN
feet have distributed IN the various Italian ports
us they give greater and ore satisfactory promise Of
remaining neutral in OF hostilitics
than those OF any otter European nation
In tho coming conflict tho Rnssnn navy
will little part vessels OF the IN
the Hack Soa--and they number among them TWO or
three circular ironc lads built ON tho Popoh system
will doubtless enact important part IN the war on
the Danube. they are designed expressly Tor river
nnd harbor service and with SPECIAL view 10 opera:
lions Oh the Danube. Besides TINS force IA special
corps ot officers and Sailors organized Cronstldt,
has been TO the Danube To manage small fleet Of
steam launches, sent by rail over and 10 the Black
Sea which are to be employed IL towing the boats
used by the army TO eject a crossing OF the rlver.
These launches are armed with brcech-loading rifle
guns recently adopted Ia the naval service, and Will
prove very effective In patroIng the river and In
covering tho landings and lines of supplies. Thirty
eight arc now ready Tor service on the left bank Of the
Danube.
VESSELS AT SAN FRANCISCO.
As you already informed, tho powerful Russian
ncet in Asiac wntors has been withdrawn and is al
ready assembling in tho friendly harbor OF San Fran
cisco to ride on: there political storm gathering
about the Bos phorus Eleven vessels rem
devious Mission Bay, and add lie and gayety TO
the social condition CT the festive ''Friscans" This
step taken by the imperial government simply
because It haa not s0tary harbor IN the Pacific
condition OF defence. Vladoscck IS held by small
military force, but It's dcfences are not at all capable
Of sustaining an encounter with OF the
British iron clads IN Chinese waters. The naval
ton in the AmoOr River is of little or no Importance
and scarcely worth attacking. so our country Is
selected Us the most agreeable, convenient and sale
asylum Tor the Czars fleets while he Is settling his
AFFAIRS the European Continent, anu no doubt they
Will remain In our waters until next summer II not
Tor longer period, ana Will be heartily welcomed
Tho corvette Bogatyr Is the first Russian -ol-war
that ever visited this grand old harbor. Indeed,
doubt whether the flag ever seen hore before. even
ON the merchant ships that come here Tor lumber and
phosphates from oil parts vi The globe The comfort
ubIe anu safe anchorage, the deep channel leading
from the sen and the facilities for obtaining supplies
and make tho harbor very attractive TO tho Rus
sans who prefer II the rough and stormy anchor
upe IN HAMPTON Roads which in the winter season IS
exceedingly cold and Indictment and rigorous and too
harsh even for the taste OF our friends who come from
the banks OF the Neva. They would prefer Ia remain
hero until warmer weather, but must leave this week
Tor Hampton Roads.
SOCIAL corRTEsEs
Since the Bogatyr completed The exchange OF COM
plmcnts to lag and the broad peunant OF Com
modorc j. d. b. Clliz, by means OF her heavy guns,
which the battery OF the New Hampshire responded TO
gun for gun, the officers OF our squadron have shown
every attention 10 our Russian guests Tho short stay
they arc to make prevents our officers here showing
such attentions and extending such hosptalitl0s
. they could desire, but III u quiet social way, they
doing all they can to make their soJourn pleasant
Very agreeable visits are being exchanged by The
commanding and subordinate officers OF boih navies
ana many old friendships have been renewed, much
10 the qualification Of all concerned Many OF the
officers in America with The Grand Dukc Alexis
In 1871. and look forward with peculiar delight
a renewal OF old associations in New York and othor
Northern cities, which evidently lett deep and last
ing impressions upon them. Tho Bogatyr Is n
handsome corvette OF about =, 600 tons. inc model
and very beautifully and oftily spared She looks
distance like one OF the old time clippers and
under sail she said to be worry fast. She Is pro-
makes nine knots under steam alone
She is fine boat. and carries her
heavy battery with great Her arament
OF eight sixnch brecch-loading rifle guns and tour boat
howiizcYs OF the model constructed in Russia
an Improvement oil the famous krupp model they
mounted on pivot carriages and when not IN action
pvotcd fore and ait, great deal Of room
deck, which would be taken up by the oldashioned
carriages and style OF securing guns Her quarters
Tor officers and men very aud well ventilated
and the health OF tie seems to be all that could
be desired notwithstanding the long ana stormy pas
sage they have just come oil oi-iorty days from
Gibraltar Her crew consists OF 3l5 men.
or OFFcERs.
The following correct list OF the officers Of tho
Captaia--Shanrof.
Commanding Cdptain-Lang.
Lieutenants-Uieron, Tshirikol, Brcstroup, Euquist
Niedermiiler
Sub-Lieutenants-Ptsch (paymaster). Baron
ungcrn Steruberg.
ISurgeon-Korschavin
Mdster-GolovleE
Engneer-.lvaL0i.
Gagarin, Janonschcilsky Berstresscr, Koptcn,
Snarsky Frisch
The Bogatyr Ia coaling or Port Royal docks,
but will hardly be ready to sail before Wednesday
next Last Saturday New Years Day with the
Russians, and they had jolly time. The crow, u
large portion oil them, were gwen liberty ashore und
had quiet time In the dminutivc city Of Port Royal!
II any OF thom underesiimaed the strength OF Amer
whiskey, such fluid as is sold HI Port Royal I'M
der that nane the result have surprised the gen.
erous potators. Russian vouka isn't circumstance
In genuine power and far-reachng effects to the mys-
geres about this place IL will Tell the hardest headed
TAR that reeicd sail, he from
the Ncva, the Thames the Hudson; and the
amount Of hard nghtng in earlier and dcrium
trcmens In its later ELECTS perfectly marvellous.
Our Muscovite friends, however, displayed no bel
gerept moods ut all, but returned quietly to their
ships without broil disturbance OF any kind Their
behavior very creditaDle them and satisfactory
to the inhabitants, not unaccustomed to Jacks noisy
sports.
Tho United States corvcttcs Adams, Commander
J. w. Philip, and Huron, Commander George T.. Ryan,
arc stu here, busily drilling and improving the OPP
portuniiy Afforded TO get rst class form and cond
lion but OF thcsc ana pcria naval news shall have
something ~ sd! al aIDlncr tc. Ali are well in tho
squadron.