Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-24
The Disaster az the Washington Navy
Yard.

Washington Cor. Courier-Journa.
All aboard The anchor was drawn up, and
amid the envious looks of those on shore the
beautiful craft started of. Two lengths only,
and then lurch, and the startling fact was an.
nounced that the Namouna was aground, stuck
in the Washington Navy Yard mud The INTEL
ligent sailors threw out four hawsers and pulled
at the four points Of the compass, all pulling to-
gether, and this seamanlike maneuver only
more firmly imbedded the yacht In the sacred
soil. The proprietor, it is said, grew purple
with the heat Of the day and vexation. The
President and his Secretary Of the Navy. both
made nautical suggestions and naughty ex-
CARNATIONS. MIR. Chandler, as head Of the
navy, issued orders, gave directions, and in
structions as to the course to be pursued by
vessel when overtaken by such disaster. 1t Is
said that it was by the order of the Secretary Of
the Navy that hawsers were thrown out In four
directions, and a strong pull, and pull alto
gether failed to get the yacht out of the mud.
There was nothing to do but to retire to the
cabin and enjoy the banquet There was dead
calm and burning sun, very different from the
cooling breezes which were anticipated when
the vessel was in motion. The new Secretary
OF the Navy had never supposed that he would
SO soon be called upon TO show how well quail
fed he was to be intrusted with the manage
ment OF the navy We now have and that which
is to come Not anticipating disaster, he had
left his sea legs in his handsome ONCE. and
found himself as helpless as Commodore Ben
nett and his foreign crew. The jig was up.
and the attempt to create icebergs with only
two and half tons Of Ice aboard proved AZ
futile as the efforts Of the Jeanette 10 solve
the Arctic problem. Like Mark Tapley, the
company attempted to be cheerful and hilarious
under their adverse circumstances. In order
to do this the banquet was prolonged until the
heat Of the cabin became intolerable. Then
all repaired on deck to see how many knots
they were making, and learned that not one
was recorded. Is really appeared as though
the greenhorns, who talk 80 knowingly about
increasing our rayy, supposed it could be done
yards Point was well adapted to raising
(or sinkIng) ships, and the Namouns
was good seed to SOW. Secretary Chandler
appeared to be impressed with this idea,
and greatly surprised the English captain
and Scotch sailors by his learned discourse
tary become with his theme that he was not for
some time aware Of the fact that the sun was
coloring his nose, and that when he should re-
appear among his clerks at the department they
might maliciously attribute the redness to cham
payne. After six hours Of tugging to get the
EamounA on the effort was abandoned, and the
administration was rescued by "tug" and
returned to their country, which had been %
nearly orphaned. Commodore Bennett man.
fully stood by his ship. and waited until o'clock
Am. to be fioated OF by the incoming TIDE, ana
then proceeded on his voyage; he s1d he n
aud disaster ct Richmond and Norfolk. t
would appear to be advisable for Mr.. Bennett -
swap his Engllsh captain and Scotch sailors 6oe
intelligent Yankees before he and the Ne0OuDa
stast on their voyage around the world H =
Fer Osher News 81 de Day 80 - Rnaos