Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-08-29
NYe Visits the Navy.

in the New York World, that few
days ago decided to visit the Brook
lyn Navy Yard for the purpose of as
certaining, if possible, how much cause
there might be for this light and airy
manner of treating the navy, and, if
necessary, to take immediate steps to-
wards purifying the system.
found that the matter had been
grossly misrePresented, and our navy,
so far as l was able to discover, is self
sustaining. 1t has been thoroughly
reftted and refurnished throughout,
and is as pleasant navy as one would
see in days journey.
l had the pleasure of boarding the
man-of-war Richmond under flag
Of truce and the Atlantic under sus-
pension of the rules. remained some
time on board each of these war ships,
and any man who speaks lightly of
the United States Navy in my pres
ence hereafter will receive a stnging
rebuke.
The Brooklyn navy-yard was in
augurated by the purchase of forty
acres of ground in 1901. 1t has a
pleasant waterfront, which is at all
times dotted here and there with new
war vessels undergoing repairs. Since
the original purchase others have been
made and the land side of the yard is
enclosed by means of large brick
wall, so that in case there should be a
local disturbance in Brooklyn the RI
oters could not break through and bite
the navy. In this way man on
board the Atlanta while at anchor in
Brooklyn is just as safe as he would be
at home. In order to enter and ex-
plore the navy yard it is necessary
that one should have pass. This is
safeguard, wisely adopted by the
Commandant, in order to keep out
strangers who might get in under the
pretext Of wishing to view the yard
and afterwards attack one of the new
vessels.
On the day l visited the navy-yard
just ahead of me plain but dignifed |
person in citizens dress passed through |
the gate. He had the bearing of an
officer, l thought, and kept his eyes
on some object about 9i miles ahead
as he walked past the guard. He was
told to halt, but, of course, he did not
do so. He was above it. Then the
guard everhauled him, and even felt
in his pockets, for his pass, as l sup
posed. Concealed en- his person the
guard found four pint bottles filled
with the essence of crime. They pour
ed the poor mans rum on the grass
and then fired him out, accompanied
by rebuke which will make him
more deliberate about sitting down
for week or two.
The feeling against arduous spirits
in the United States navy is certainly
on the increase, and the day is not far
distant when alcohol in a free state
will only be used in the arts, sciences,
music, literature and the drama. {
The Richmond is large but buoy
ant vessel painted black. 1t has
front stairway hanging over the bal
cony, and the latchstring to the front
door was hanging cheerily out as we
drew alongside. During an engage
ment, however, on the approach of an
enemy, the front stairs are hauled up
and the latch-string is pulled in, while
the commanding officer makes the
April Fool" through
speaking-trumpet to the chagrined
and infuriated foe. The guns of the
Richmond are muzzle leaders, j. e.,
the load or charge of ammunition is
put into the other or outer end Of the I
gun instead of the inner extremity {
of the gun, as is the case with breech- \
leaders. The breech- loader is greta |
on the old style of gun, I
making warfare a constant source of j
delirious JOY now, whereas in former ,
Times in case of a naval combat dur i
ing severe storm, the man who went I
outside the ship to load the gun, while !
It was raining, frequently contracted 8
pneumonia. Modern guns are made |
with breeches, which may be easily I
removed during a fight and replaced l
when visitors come on board. A sort I
Of grim bumor prevades the above re-
mark. q
| must here say that / would rather
be cap tured by our naval officers than
by any other naval officers ] have {
ever seen. The older officers were
calm and self-possessed during my
visit on board both the Richmond and e
Atlanta, and the young fellows are as i
handsome as a steel egraving. While
gazing on them as they proudly trod a
he quarterback or any other deck b
hat needed it, ! was proud of my sex i
Ind could not help thinking that
,ad been an unprotected but beau 6
,iful girl, hostile to the United States.
could have picked out FIVE or six e