Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-09


States and placed in this yard, obiterated by
my order. In fact no such Obliteration has at
any time taken place. Exposure from weather
and time had somewhat Obliterated the In
seriptions placed thereon. but they were re-
newed by my order last June, and are now
plainly visible. Then followed a list OF the
guns and the inscriptions on them.
THE DOCK NOT DESTROYED.
2. The dry dock was never destroyed. 1t
was partially damaged by the United States
forces when they evacuated the yard In 1861,
and also by the Confederates when they eVac-
uated the yard in 1862, but in neither case did
the damage exceed the destruction OF the
caieson and the adjacent masonry. The
original structure remained intact as 1t ap-
pears to-day, and therefore the dry dock
never was rebuilt. The only inscription that
was ever authorized to be placed on the dry
dock. or ever was on the dry dock, is still
there. IG is as follows:
Commenced lst December, 1897:
John Quincy Adams, President Of the
: United States.
/: Samuel L. southard Secretary Of the
: Navy.
Authorized by ths 19th Congress.
Opened 18th June, 1881.
Andrew jackson. President of the United
States.
Levi Woodbury., Secretary Of the Navy. p:
,Leammi Baldwin, Engineer.
s.....-.
NO SUCH TABLET AS MENTIONED.
Therefore the tablet referred to by the reso-
fulton. never having been on the dry dock,
was not removed. On the pumping engine,
which is located IN the brick building, me
$50 feet distant from the dry dock, plate con-
tanning the inscription:
k.......--....s.....-.--. ....''e
Built by
Messrs. Woodruff & Beach,
MachiDists and Engineers,
Hartford, Conn.,,
*.....'..-'......'..--'
was removed, and in its place another was
substituted, inscribed thereon:
Destroyed by the Rebels in 1862,
: Rebuilt by the United States Government
in 1868
. J. W. Livingston, Commandant.
VIII Lyons, Superintendent OF Machinery
searched the records in this office in vain
for the authority for the removal # the orig
inal plate and the subs tuition of the other.
ana could not find that the change was made
BY sny authority whatever. / therefore had
removed.
WHO ERECTED IT.
Since the removal of the plate referred to,
sir. Lyons has applied for it., stating that as
he had erected 1t on his own responsibility.
and bought aud paid for 1t at his own expense,
therefore il was his private property.
3. Mr.. Lyons was not Superintendent Of
Machinery at the time OF the removal Of the
plate, he having been removed by me, for rea-
sons hereinafter stated, on the 25th day of
April, 1885, The pla was removed some time
after, in May, hence he was not removed by
me for protesting against the removal OF the
plate referred to. He was removed by me on
account Of his bitter partisanship.
DoMINEERING AND IMMORAL.
His absolute political sway for a number Of
years in the steam-engineerng department
al this yard, and hls antagonistic and over
bearing disposition to any one who differed
with him politically or otherwise, created a
feeling Of discomfort among the master
work men and wOrkmen to such an extent
that II was almost impossible to get good
work of any kind done in that department.
His personal character was Objectionable, he
having been previously held to bail by the
United STA es Commissioner, to answer be-
fore the United States grand Jury who found
a true bill against him for having smuggled
from the Spanish ship Payoro lel Oceano
cigars while that vessel was undergoing re-
pairs in the dry dock in this yard, | never
considered that Mr.. Lyons had faithfully
served the United States government for
many years as the resolutions allege.
HIS LOYALTY.
On the contrary, / always doubted his
loyalty TO his government at the time it was
In greatest need. He published the following
card 10 the citizens Of Norfolk in June, 1851
which appeared in the Ddy Book at that time:
To the Public: Il, Will I'm III. Lyons, haY-
Ing been charged with disloyalty to the SOUTH
srn Confederacy, proclaim myself as good
sOutherner as any man in the South, and am
doing as much to destroy the invaders as any
man in the field, and if auY one will come to
the Atlantic Iron Orks ] will show them nv
work, which are more than words, and will do
all in my power 70 promote the independence
.'WmLIAM H. LYONS,
Foreman Atlantic Iron Works."
The sentiment contained in the foregoing
lBtter does not show much faithfulneBs to the
United States government as the resolutions
allege.
LYONS SUCCESSOR.
Commodore Truxton then mentions
that board Of officers was selected by
Secretary Whitney 20 supervise and con-
duct an examination of candidates for the
position made vacant by the removal OF
Mr.. Lyons, that full notice Of the exam
lnaton was given, and that six mechanics
attended and were examined. The board
reported that Thomas b. carr, OF Balti
more, was the best man for the place, and
he was appointed 10 the position OF Master
Machanist by the Secretary OF the Navy.
The Commodore continues:
The efficiency aud superior work now turn
cd out Of that shop justi1es the change made.
A GENERAL DISCHARGE.
A short time after taking charge of this
fard "A general discharge was ordered by the
department 40 Washington as stated, by lack
Of appropriations which caused All the shops
o close with the exception OF the engineers
department, where the boilers OF the United
States steamer Alliance were be-
ing maze. At the commencement Of
the new fiscal year funds being
agailabie work was resumed. The impress
sion having gone abroad that this navy yard
was q political asylum for retired politicians,
I ordered a board OF officers TO examine all
applicants who claimed they were skilled
wOrkmen 20 as 10 ascertain their fitness for the
positiOns they sought Tue report OF that board
was conclusive as 10 the merits Of the appli-
can't who was employed or rejected, accord
ing % the report, as the records on file In this
gard prove.
THE EFFECT.
This manner Of ascertaining the qualifca-
fons OF applicants has had twofold effect.
Il has increa cd the efficiency OF the men, and
while bad wOrknanshp was the reputation
Of this yard by means Of the above examina-
tlon good work manship Is now ITS reputation
among naval officers.
Commodore Truxton then goes on TO
lay:
Out Of $50 men employed In tho yard at the
lne OF The adoption Of the resolution and the
be OF she report, a3a had been appointed by
torloug aumnittrati0ne, and that the ma
ritz OF the new force was too young to have