New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-09
NIGHT IN THE NAVY YARD.
ANSWERING MANY sENrRIES HAIL.


Yard at night is place fraught with terrors. A
TRIBUNE reporter recently visited tho yard In the
evening to a friend an officer on ono of the
ships lying at the Cob Dock. As he entered the
fork-st gate q sentry who was quietly pacing up
and down In front of the guard house suddenly
wheeled around and presenting his bayonet to the
reporters breast, ferociOusly demanded: WHO
goes there ~ Restraining desire to give his full
name and place of residence tho reporter replied
Friend" speaking up promptly and trying to look
as if he was used to being abbed with bayonet
| and was not a bit scared blue
coated marine with a short cape over
his shoulders standing under the portico of the
guard-house. Friend, Corporal of the Guard"
| said the sentry in a tone as IL he rather
doubted it. at the same time removing his bayonet
from its dangerous proximity to the reporters
wastcoat and resuming his walk. The marine with
the short cape over his shoulders came forward and
| inquired what the reporter wanted. The reporter
explained that his mission was entirely one of
peace, that he was harmless citizen and did not
intend to capture the yard, assassinate the Commo
dore, or sink the TallapoOsa. The Corporal Of the
Guard was polite but suspicious Through open
window the reporter could SEQ the interior of the
guard-room. Marines in uniform were sitting about
on wooden chairs or stretched out asleep on little
iron cots. At table. busily writing, sat the Ser
corporal approached and said:
Sergeant of the Guard, gentleman wishes to
visit an officer on the -"
The Sergeant of tho Guard rose to his feet, tall
soldery and rcsplendent uniform. Turning to
corporal who was just dropping into quiet nap,
he said: Corporal Smith, pass this gentleman down
aboard the -" Corporal Smith did not appear
overjoyed at the distinction conferred upon hun,
but reserving his remarks the subject for some
more fitting time, he clasped his belt gave twitch
to his clothing and started with the reporter down
INTO the dark streets of the Yard. The great work
shops were silent and deserted the storehouse was
closed. No sound but the footballs of the reporter
and his guide broke the Stiffness AT the Lyceum
Building sentry suddenly sprang up out of the
earth and shouted. Who goes there!"
Corporal of the Guard and friend" was the re-
ply.
Halt, friend. Advance, Corporal of the Guard,
with the parole"
The friend" halted, and stood wondering if he
would be allowed time to write home before they
shot him, while the the corporal advanced boldly
to the savage sentry and held q whispered con-
versaton with him. The reporter felt sure they
were fixing the hour of his execution, but the recol
lection of the reckless manner In which the sentry
at the gate handled his rifle with its fixed bayOnet
prevented him from trying to escape in that di,
rection He was much relieved when the seniry said
ing close to the side of the venture
some Corporal, passed down to the river
front. The marble monument erected to the sailors
who fell in that long forgotten fight when the
American Navy demolished the Barrier forts on the
Canton River, cleaned like white ghost in the
oDscurity Masts and sparS and huge derricks
doomed vast and obscure all about. From the
ports of men-of-war ,moored to the shore lights
cleaned out into the darkness.
A curious covered little scow came rumbling and
Jerking across from the Cob Dock to the mainland.
hawser stretches from the Cob Dock to the shore,
passing through the vitals of the scow. On the
scow an engine grasps this rope and draws the
scOw to and fro the arm of the Walla-
Don't which makes in here Only one more sentry
had to he placated by the Corporal before the re-
porter allowed to pass on board tie scOw and
be ferred over to the Cob Dock. There is separ
OF popped out of little wooden house Just if the
clock had struck and he was going to say
cuckoo" and pop back again. He was a mild
the gentleman wished"
ITO visit an officer on the" SAID the porter.
and the sergeant; politely touching his hat, said
ma sted old fine of battle ship Vermont now n re-
ceivlng ship, doomed up through the darkness,
tho sound of a violin and snatches of sailors
songs. Up and down the brick walks sailors were
white in the regulation blue enjoying the spring
evening and gossiplng with each other. Under the
porch of long two story building lounged a num-
Der of mariners. In the story above prayer-meet-
ing was evidently being held for the sound of
hymns came from the lighted windows. Without
further adventure the reporter reached the ship to
which he was bound
All good things must como to an end aud the |
man mt length arrived where the hospitable ward |
must be left and the perilOus journey back to
the outer world begun
" am going over to the city" said one officer,
" and will pass you out. Let us go by way of the
barracks
Little knowing what he did the reporter con-
sented to ;" go by way of the Barracks The Cob
region of the brick walks and the tennis courts the
officer led down a narrow path which wound along |
the edge of the Cob Dock basin. The path was al
Al
of it lay huge barnace-eaten timbers, knees of
ships and pieces of decayng wood, if all this
flotsam and jetsam had been cast up by the river
ages ago and left there to rot. 1t was dark and
place when the wreckage scattered
about took strange shapes in the gloom. and sug-
gested all sorts Of ghostly and unearthly things
we were dredging there the other day."
said the officer. by way of enlivening the dreary
walk. and pointing as he did so to place near the
shore "aGd we fished mp sailor man in uniform
He must have been there some time" he added.
The reporter was enllvened at once and groaned.
The path ended in platform built on piles a sort
Of bqlkhead that completed the Enclosure
of tie Cob Dock basin. This part
Of it was Rotten Row." and here were
dIsmantled men-of-war quietly dropping TO pieces
I" Be careful here" said the officer. The panks
are rotten and the place full of holes. Don't stub
your toe over those hawsers.'
Oh. how much easier it was to give that advice
than TO follow it! The sweet little cherub who
looks out for the life Of poor Jack" must have mis-
taken the reporter in the dark for sailor belonging
to of the ships at the Yard, for he reached the
entrance of the pontOOn bridge in safety. Then,
without any warning a dim form APP
peared and voice demanded Who goes there n
"Oflicer and friend"
Halt friend Advance officer with the parole"
"rhe parole is correct. Advance, friend"
The sentry stood attention, the officer saluted and
the reporter and his guide went over the pontoon
bridge t. the main land. There spread all
around rusting machinery, condemned boilers, piles
If scrap iron, boats shores and boats lying bot
ON up. 1t was chaos OF useless and unused
hngs and from the midst of all this rubbish APP
Deared a sentry who demanded the parole and got
{ before he would let the wanderers pass.
81 answer up quick when they hail around here
laid the officer for the sentries In this part of the
rard carry pistols with ball cartridges in them and
nave orders to shoot after the third hail. That is
account of the river thieves who come up here in
heir boats sometimes and try to steal the old
rom"
From the scene of ruin out across the wide marsh