The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-02-13
Mhol, 0e Melp YORK Saa,

Peoples Expense.
Fioaa the Neio York Saa.
Tho brisk northerlies and vesterlies
that have prevailed since the United
States sloop-of-war Richmond Quilted the
Navy Yard sevsral weeks ago, have, In
the opinion Of naval officers, given che
veteran Capt. Benham, commanding, an
opportunity to fly all his kites. Tho
mission upon which his vessel is bound,
it is clear, smells rank in tie nostrils of
the majority of his brother officers.
The Richmond, Brooklyn and Hart
ford, they say, are tho most seaworthy
Of cur decrepit feet, and why, therefore,
should one Of these be assigned to q pri.
vate citizen as pleasure yacht9"
From December 81, when the Rich.
mond arrived from the Charlestown
Navy Yard, M 4e fast to the Farewell
buoy, and saluted the Admirui's flag, up
TO the time she swung gracefully or. into
the stream from the Long Dock, she was
regarded with curiosity by the yard off,
GERS. Over $140, 900 has been expended
on the. ship in the past aix months in
new machinery, boilers and planking.
Part of this sum went toward altering
and sumptuously furnishing her cabin to
receive ex-President Grant and wife, Col.
Fred Grant and others of his cutie.
Some of tho long list Of officers that have
been assigned to the Richmond have, it
is said, long been accustomed to what is
known as fancy duty. Owing, however,
20 the number Of these young gentlemen
aboard, the wardroom was found to be
too small for them, and part of the num-
Der are compelled to bunk in the steer
age with the midshipmen and petty
officers.
The Richmonds cabin has been thor
| oughly oyerhauled. What was good
enough 70: plain John Rodgers, rear ad-
miral United States navy, was not, in
the opinion of the department, suitable
for the ex-President. Naval Constructor
Pook Of the Charlestown yard was given
| carte blanche in the embellishments of
be magnificent, Mr.. Pook was successful.
AS o cabin it is regal. The main en-
trance to the ship when at anchor is ON
the starboard side, whence broad and
elegantly fitted companionway leads to q
| sort Of grand saloon on the main deck.
The saloon is divided into three suites of
apartments-drawing, dining and recep-
ton rooms. On state occasions these
may be thrown into one spacious apart
ment. Beside these there are large state
rooms abutting upon the forward and
| after bulkhead. The painting and deco
ration of all are essentially bright; the
woodwork being of light colors, having
panels and stiles picked out with orange
f. anu grecn. Ihe Corniccs aui piiasters
are Of delicate lue. Sage green silk
5..;;idss end Lace curtains e;nhei;sh The
ports and headlights. The sides Of the
ship and the bulkheads forming the
drawing and reception rooms, are hung
with mirrors framec in oak and gold, the
wooden fittings in some cases being of
polished mahogany. When in the
tropics the temperature of these apart
ments will be cooled by means of clay
punkahs or monkeys. which, filled with
water, will depend from the interior of
the poop-deck.
In the bedrooms-for they are TOO
large to be called taterooms-full-sized
feather beds rest on brass bedsteads, sus-
pended by gimbals. These work in
upright standards. In 9. 5eaway the mo-
tion of the bed il like that of q compass,
being disturbed slightly by either the
rolling or the pitching Of the ship. The
dining-roon il surrounded by ruoe tran.
SONS covered with silk. There are four
bathrooms, with pipes leading to wells in
the waist, which are kept filled with
water by the crew. When hot oath ia
desired, another pipe, leading to the tabs
from the engine, heats the water by
steam.
The reception room contains a large
library, and the walls are covered with
choice pictures.
The two stern chasers that were wont
t. look mowningly from the after porte
have been removed altogether from the
ship. On the gun-deck proper are twelve
8.inch broadsiae guns, ak on each side.
In the waist are q long 9.inch Yifed pivo!
gun and two Gatling guns, and 2GG-
FOUNDER Parrot adorns the to'gallant
fo'castle.
I Beside the FIVE boats that belong to the
Richmond-one launch, three cnttere
and gig-the 45-foot steam launch be.
longing to the Brooklyn, after thor.
| ough overhauling, has been suspended
| from her dayits. A large brass canopy
has been built over it, which in very
warm weather may be covered with can
vass.
/ Although merchant ships of the same
tonnage are handled in q mastery man
ner by fifty men, the Richmond has {
crew of $50.
i Nearly all the ship's rigging, chains
, and anchors are new. Ofthe latter there
are FIVE, each weighing near 7,00t
pounds, beside unnumbered Hedges and
/ graphing irons.
The Richmond carries fofty-five off
GERS, line, staff and warrant, and the pettl
officers are unusually numerous,
Naval officers say t'nat such an excur
| sion cslty as this never before quilted al
| American port in Government ship
r except the late expedition or Capt. Shu
! feldt with o rowing commission ia tn
. Ticonderoga, directing him "to open nj
, trade generally
n The ex-President at first expected :
4 board the Richmond ct either Spezin O
, Marseilles, in the Mediterranean. TIL
r route first chosen for Gen. Grants excur
n sion was said to have been from the Med
r iterranean to Bombay. Thence he wa
|. to travel through the Western Ghauts {
{ Ahmedabad. Again joining the ship q
a would sail down the Malabar Coast, yisi
q Beypoor, and proceed across 20 Madras
4 passing Counbatoor, and Seringapatan
: From Madras he was to visit Ceylon, an
n thence to Calcutta. His course theme
/. was to be northwestePly, through BE
q mares, Patna, Cawnpore, Agra, Dell
+: and Lahore. From Lahore, the capit.
O of the Punjaub, he proposed visiting th
v Maharajah of Cashmefe al summoo.
! SnchSE9ns the programme ARRANGED fc
q Gen. Grant by the men in this LountT
n who are understood to be coaching hiI
o for the next Republican nomination, an
i to be paying the expenses CT his foreig
4 tour with that object in view. But yhe