The New York herald., 1879-10-15
DRILLING THE TARS.
Secretary Thompson Inspecting the North At
lantc and framing Squadrons
FIRST DAYS PROGRAMME.
Target and Torpedo Practice-The Art
OF Leaving Sinking Ship.
[Dx TELEGRAPH TO THE HEnALp.l


Fort MoHnoE. Va. Oct. IA. 1879.
The United States steamer Talapoosa arrived
here ut nine o'clock this morning. bringing
the Secretary OF the Navy aud stat for
the review Of the vessels of the North At
lantic and training squadrons now assembled here
for that purpose. The Secretary accompanied
by Commodores Earl. English and II. L. Law. chiefs
of the bureaus Of equipment and recruiting and
yards and docks. Surgeon General p. S. Wales. Pay
master General G. +. Cutter. Lieutenant Com
mander B. P. Lambcrton. aldo. and Messrs. Harry
Thompson and W. W. s. Dyre. secretaries. on
rival the Secretary was saluted by nineteen guns
from the flagship Powhatan. and soon
as the Tallapoosa to. tho commander-in-chief.
Rear Admiral Robert H..Wyman. and staff. followed
by all the captains OF the fleet. boarded her to pay
their respects to the Secretary AS the visit
Of ceremony made the captains returned to
their vessels and the Secretary and party. accom-
panied by the ecommander-in- chief and staff, COM
mcnced their tour Of inspection.
TARGET PRACTICE ON THE SARATOGA
1t was decided devote to-day to inspection Of
the armament and gunnery OF the vessels. and the
Saratoga. Commander II. d. Evans. the frst
visited. AS soon rs the Secretary had been
ceived board this vessel the Admiral
directed the captain to prepare for action. The
cali to general quarters was beaten. the bat
A0oSc ~se"Sn
imaginary enemy. While tho Secretary was in
specting the drill at great guns a target towed
9c0 yards off the port beam. and as soon it was
in position fire opened upon 1t with shell. shot
and grape. The shooting was excellent. the target
being struck three times, and almost every shot
being effective. The Secretary having expressed
himself pleased by this marksmanship. the order
given to ''cease firing ana secure" after which
the party left for the Portsmouth. Lieutenant Com
mander Crowninshied.
ABANDON SHIP
Here the same inspection Of the at general
quarters made, omitting the target firing. and
substituting 'all hands abandon ship" in which,
the vessel being supposed sinking condition. all
hands take the boats and life RATS and desert her.
From the Portsmouth the Secretarys party returned
to the Tallapoosa for lunch and rest.
REpELLINa AN ENEMY.
At half-past one O'Clock the Secretary boarded tho
frigate Minnesota. Captain s. u. Luce On board
this vessel. in addition to general quarters.
specially was made Of repelng an attack by torpedo
boats, by Gatling guns and rihemen. composed OF
both sailors and marines The frgate has about $50
boys ON board. many Of whom from the West.
The drill and examination of the boys to decide
who should wear number of handsome medals that
had been presented by friends prizes. The
first prize for soamanship, handsome silver medal.
0l. johnston,
two others. A beautiful medal, presented by Mrs.
Admiral Dahlgren. awarded to d. J. Donovan.
The Secretary was highly pleased and addressed the
boys with few words of encouragement The in.
spection Of the Minnesota finished at three
o'clock. and the secretary's departure he
again saluted by her with nineteen guns.
BOARD ''oLD IRoSsIDEs.'
The Constitution, Commander o. +. Stanton, SO
we'll known in history as "Old Ironsides." next
hoisted the Socretarys broad pennant at the main.
She Is the last OF the four vessels OF the training
squadron. but rs she has only been III commission
few days, and as her officers and crew have
scarcely had time to look about them. her inspection
was confined to look at the famous old ship.
Though she has been often repaired she is still
Of the model and rig. and. in fact. has still
some of the Same timbers in her she had when she
carried nag to victory in the war Of 1912.
ExERcrsEs ON THE KEARsARGE AND MARION.
Tho Kearssrge. Commander II. +. Picking, was
noxt visited. and from her torpedo was fred,
throwing immense column of water into the air
and showing how effective this weapon is at close
quarters. From her the party went to tho Marion.
Commander +. N. Bunce; thence to the flagship.
where the party were entertained by Admiral Wy
man.
THE sEcRErARY's PARTY.
In addition to his Official staff the Secretary has
among whom several members of his family.
There are his daughters. the Misses Thompson; his
son, Mr.. Charles Thompson; his nieces. Mrs. West
and Miss West; Miss Mics. of Washington; Mr..
McKeon and daughter. of Tcrre Haute, Ind; Rear
Admiral Gustsvus II. Scott. Captain Clark H. Wells.
Chief of the Signal Once Of the Navy; Lieutenant
L. L. seamy, and others.
The excursion steamers George Leary and Lady of
tho Lake brought large number of washingtonians
down, who, with excursionists from Norfolk. Ports
mouth aud other neighboring towns, crowded the
wharves and beach. aud together with the feet in
the roads, brought back forcbly the days OF the
whom this the headquarters OF busy army and
navy.
In honor OF tho Secretary's visit hop is to be
given tonight in the pavilion of the Hygea Hotel
PROGRAMMES WEDNESDAY THURSDAY.
Tomorrow the inspection will be continued by
exercises aloft. in boats and on shore as q naval
brigade. Probably the following day the fleet
will get under way. run out to sea. and their
turn to their anchorages the whole will wind up
with boat race In which zach ship Will DO allowed