Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-03
A SPECIMEN NAVALCRAFT
THE FROLIC AS A COAL CON-
SUMER AND MONEY SIEVE.

Naval Officers RecOnciled to the Change
in the Uniform-HOw Professor Bell
Launched his Invention and the
Princely Income he Reeeives-A Suit
for S25, 900.
Correspondence Of the lforning Ne,cs.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-One of the yes
sells recently sold by the Navy Depart
ment is named the Frolic. She is at
the navy yard here. She was never very
frolicsome. 1t took a great deal Of coal to
get up a sufficient amount of steam to
make her go even in her palmiest days.
She has an iron hull and sail power. The
latter alone would hardly move her. Her
last voyage was from New York TO Wash
ington. 1t took her over two weeks to make
the trip from Sandy Hook to within
the capes at the mouth of Chesapeake
Bay. What was thought to be plentiful
supply of coal was put into her for the
voyage. But she consumed so much fuel
and went so slow that the coal gave out
before she was anywhere near her Jour-
ney's end. Everything was utilized to
produce steam. Bulkheads were broken
up and burnt. | The foreyard went
to feed the furnace: also the MAIN
yard. When she finally arrived
at Hampton Roads, she looked as if she
had kept private cyclone inside of her.
and that the cyclone had been irving to
get out every hour of her long trip. 1t
was fortunate that her hull was of iron.
or perhaps the furnace might have de-
manded it also. When the FrOlic reached
Washington she was fitted up again and
started for New York. She did not get
very far. She ran aground, and it cost
$4,000 to get her off and make
the repairs necessary on account
of the damage she had received. She
was then brought back to Washington
and allowed to remain here. This oc-
Cured about years ago. Doubtless, the
histories OF other vessels which were sold
are not much more creditable. Similar
histories are also connected with some of
the naval vessels which were not sold.
NAVAL OFFICERS
are becoming more recOnciled to
the proposed changes in their UNI
form. Some notifications have been
made IN the proposed changes.
The cost to each officer which the
new uniforms would entail is from 800 to
Sl2O. The changes are by no means
wholesale. In fact the uniform will be
about as it is now, with the exception of
shoulder straps, slight change in the
cap and a modification of the cooked hat.
1t is very likely that the Secretary of the
Navy will adopt them. The officers do
not complain as much about the matter
as they did at first. They have most all
gone over to the other side, and would ac-
cept with pleasure an order from the Sec
retary of the Navy announcing that the
change must be made.
PROFESSOR A. GRAHAM BELL,
the inventor of the telephone, resides in
Washington. His income. so | am in
lNra
means for obtaining correct information on
the subject, is nearly 100000 year. Mr..
Bell relates some interesting incidents of
the difficulty he had in convincing others
to embark in the company, which has
made so many fortunes within the past
few years. After he had perfected his in
vention he concluded to start company
with capital stock of 100000 Fifty
five thousand dollars of this amount he
intended to have kept in his own
name, and to place the remainder on the
market. He applied to various parties
without success,a at last offered $40, 900
worth of stock for $25, 900. A capitalist of
this city was implored to advance the
money, but he only laughed at the in
ventor. Finally number of gentlemen
formed syndicate, and raised the amount.
Among those interested was Gen.
Thomas j. Brady, who advanced $4,000.
At the expiration of eight months the
stock had gone up to over $50 a share.
Mr.. Bell then received a call from the
capitalist who had refused to assist
him. The capitalist implored Mr.
Bell to sell him a block of the shares at
$3.50. Mr.. Bell says that the very fact that
this man had been forced to recognize
the value of his invention, and that he
realized how he had thrown away great
fortune, was enough revenge for him. He
complied with the request. Inside of
sixteen months from the date of the for
nation of the company, the stock, which
at first was backed by only $22, 800, was
paying dividend of over 1,100
per cent. on the capital stock of 100000
The telephone. company found that it
could not do business on such
small capital. The stock was watered to
$1,000,000. Mr.. Bell takes great interest
in the struggles of inventors. AS he says,
he has known what it is to want dollar.
Now that he has plenty and to spare, he
frequently aids young men with some
thing more than advice.
AN OBSCURE SUNDAY PAPER
here has been for long time attacking
the present administration in a most viru-
lent and disgraceful manner. The chief !
point of attack has been Secretary
Folger. Mr.. Folger has not noticed the
slurs and Scurrillous articles which have
been printed about him from time to time.
The paper, growing bolder, has attacked
the private characters OF members Of the |
Cabinet. ! am told that the President has
taken the matter in hand. 1t is said that
gentleman who represented President
Arthur called on the publisher of the
sheet and told him that he would not be |
permitted to continue much longer his |
style of attack without the adminstra-
ton taking the proper steps to protect |
itself.
JUDGE CARTIER,
Chief Justice of the District of |
Columbia, is being sued by con- /
stable for $4,000 for defamation of |
character. This reminds me of an Incl |
dent that occurred in the District Court |
here some years ago. Judge Humphreys, |
of Alabama, was then on the bench here. |
He was quick tempered and irritable. |
One day when the fall court was |
in session, Carter and Humphreys |
disagreed, and the former, who is very |
large man, made some severe remarks /
which the latter took as personal to him.
self. Quick as flash Humphreys jumped |
down off the bench. When the court adj
journed he went into Cartter's room.
Cartier looked up and saw that Hum
phreys had locked the door and put the |
key in his pocket. Then the offended |
Judge began to talk. He used vigorous
English, and told his associate exactly /
what he thought of him. Cartier had |
never heard case summed up better. At |
its conclusion he gave verdict for the |
plaintiff in the shape of a handsome |
apology.