Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-29
LIFE IN TIE NAVY-YARD.
a Little world by EtseIf-Business
Scenes During she Greater Pars Of
the Day-OEssers' Relaxation
New York Tribun

The Brooklyn navy yard, like most
military and naval posts and reserva-
tons, Is little world of itself. When
one passes through the squalid part of
the city that lies about It's walls and
enters the great gates, where the sol
enn marines with cleaning bayonets
keep guard night and day, he is in
another atmosphere. The hum of
traffic from the twin cities sounds far
away. Before him is broad street
stretching down TO the river, here
men -of-war are lying. There are trees
and green grass, ships being repaired
and ships being demolished, marines
walking past and sailors moving
about with the peculiar rolling gait
which distinguishes the seafaring
man. A driveway leads up little
hill to the left, to the commandments
house. Before the house stands an
orderly Ia white gloves, and above
lais head floats flag from the top of a
lofty pole. About half way down the
MAIN street, IN building of yellow
brick, is the efficc of the commandant,
where all the headquarters business of
the naval station of New York is
transacted, Here also is the Office of
the captain of tke yard and one or two
other fun ctionaries. Other buildings
mostly Of brick, scattered about the
yard are mschine-shops, sail lofts,
storehouses, etc. There are two ina-
naense wooden structures, under one
of which is the unfinished frigate
New York, and under the other the
cid Colossus, now being demolished.
In this, the chief naval station Of
the United States, there is always
plenty of work to be done, for ships
of-war are ways being fitted out for
sea, or come In to go out of commits
sion or to be repaired. For each par
ticular work there is q department.
There are the departments of steam
engineering, provisions and clothing,
navigation, ordnance, etc. At an
early hour In the morning the sound
of the hammer and the saw begins to
be heard, the machinery starts up, the
workHen and clerks arrive, the Off
GERS in charge OF the different depart
ments enter their Offices, and until 4
o'clock Ia the afternoon the business
of the yard is in full blast. Imagine
the BUSINESS of great shipyard com
! hined with the supply of provisions,
and manufacturing and supply of
clothing for several thousand p1en
and officers, the making of sails,
ropes, sPars, engines, flags and sig
pals, the supplying of ordnance, and
the thousand and one things that are
used aboard a man -of-war from a
piIleW-case to a carpet or knife and
fork. Add to this the work of the
paymaster's department, where the
accounts Of all the receipts and dis
bursements consequent on such q
varied business, ana the separate ae-
! counts Of officers and men and civil
employees arc kept, and we will get
some idea of the work at the navy
yard.
Tken there is the care of millions of
dollars worth Of government property
and the sale of condemned property
TO be taxed into consideration. Over
at the Cob dock the old line-of- battle
ship Vermont Is moored. She is the
receiving ship, where men are enlisted
and kept until they are transferred to
some sea going ship. The officers
stationed on the Vermont are general
j ~ those who have just come back
! from some long cruise, and are sent
here TO get little rest and recuperate.
From early in the morning until noen
the officers are kept busy with the
routine work Of the ship, with drill
ing the man, shipping re cruits, etc.
from l o'clock until the dinner hour;
at $50 o'clock, the wardroom is
deserted and the cuI taips are drawn
before the doors Of the officers state
rooms. Some are studying for exam
inatien for promotion; the sound of q
guitar pr0clalms that enc is cultiyat-
ing his musical abilities; another may
! be attending to his correspondent or
/ INDUCING IL general literature. a
/ portion of this time, too, is consumed
! by the officers IN reading up on mat
ters pertaining to their profession, for
American naval officers are justly
proud Of their reputa tioa as the best
informed set of naval officers LIZ the
world in matters pertaining to their
profession, and strive honestly to
deserve it. l. is possible that some of
4 the officers may have their afternoon
/ broken In epen by an order 10 take a
draft of men to Norfolk, Newport, or
Boston, or by an order to attend a
general mar ial.
At $50 the officers all meet at the
dining-table in the ward roem.
/ Olher officers from some ship lying at
the yard CT civilian friend or two
may be present at this time, and when
the smoke of post praadlal cigarettes
mipgle with the aroma Of black coffee
what stories are told of strange
adventures happened by land and
seaw Then the thunders of Meeile
bay awake anew. The Corean tiger
fsg goes down ia defeat once more.
and all the storms that blow on Hat
teras and the Horn are loosened.again.
There are stories Of Arctic explera-
ton, too, and the rehearsing of many
an old legend handed down from the
time of Hull. Paul Jones. Or Decatur,
and I heard nowhere except on q
man Of war. The stranger at the
board, SEEING the spirit which ami
mates bis hosts, will 60 away satisfied