Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-01
THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.
Vessels In Commission and in Ordinary
The intrepid Ram to be Lengthened.

NessNAs III commission and in ordinary
The intrepid Ram to be Lengthened.
From Me Nelo York Telegram
The navy yard generally was wrapped
In the silence of the tomb. Nothing is
going on in the construction department,
and only about 100 men are employed in
doing odd jobs, such as painting boilers
which are exposed TO the air and exc
cutting light repairs on the vessels which
from time repair to the yard. At the
Lyceum the examination of candidates
for fOremen are still going on, and when
these positions is filled, it is believed that
the various workshops Will once more re-
sound with the hum of busy industry in
building up what the country so much
needs-a tirst-class navy.
The Omaha ts lying OH the Cob dock
completing preparations for a cruise on
the Asiat1c station.
Among the other vessels in commission
and now at the yard are the Despatch,
PoWhatan, and Alliance.
LAID UP.
Various hulls are laid up in ordinary
| among which are the frigates Ticondero-
ga, Thetis, Richmond, aud the ir0nclads
Miantonomah and Nantucket. The for
mer will soon be fitted with steel turrets,
the plates for which are lying on the dock /,
ready for adjustment as soon as work 10
resumed. The Nantucket saw service at
| Charleston during the war, and bears the
impriuts Of several shots which struck
her turret and side. She carries 16-inch
guns, and would do good service in de-
fenee of a harbOr.
The ram Intrepid is on the small dry
dock, and will be heightened.
The TallanOOqa Uaa Outatda tho Eaaov
Her side, which was crushed by collision
with the low, raking Yankee schooner,
has been repaired, and she appears fit tor
good service yet.
The Essex will need extensive repairs
IL the tact that her topsides are rotten as
punk is any criterion. IL may be said
right here that there is a great absence
Of preservatiYe paint from the wood and
iron work on the laid up vessels and
throughout the yard.
''THE BROoKLYN.v
The Brooklyn is almost ready to be
placed IN commission, nothing remaining
undone except some joiner work. The
engine OF this vessel is kept we'll oiled
and cleaned by an Old-tlme man-Of-war's-
man called "POrtugee Joe," who has
been IN the service since 1859. "Joe" re-
grets the present peaceful condition Of the
country, and says that nothing but con-
tinual war viii ever keep the people con-
tented and rich. When pressed for his
reasons for his opinion he acknowledged
that the prospect Of prize money
might possibly have biased bim
somewhat. He was one Of the
crew Of the TlcoDderoga at Ft.
Fisher, and describes that fight in very
vivid colOrs-in fact, his hearers are
startled to see him still living after mis-
heroic experiences on that occasion. He
admits, however, that Gen. Buffers posi-
tion in that engagement was somewhat
more prominent than his own. But In
any event "JOe" Is evidently a reliable
man, and be was undoubtedly not spared
to his adopted country In vain.
The only unfinished vessel on the stocks
is the New York. Her live oak timbers
are said TO be sound, and perhaps Secre-
tary Whitney may determine 20 complete
her construction.
THE MARINES.
The marines who went TO Aspinwall
are signing for a similar trip, If only, as
they say, TO enable them 70 got something
20 eat. At sea their ration is 40c. a day,
while In barracks 10 Is only lSc. The rea-
son tor this reduction no one has ever
been able TO ind out.
There have been great many desor-
tiOns lntely from the barracks, aud the
reason is said 10 be the Unsatisfactory
nature of the commlssary department,
Notwithstanding II 10 under the personal
management OF the commander Of the