The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-06
AMERICAN NAVY SCANDALS.
Sal1maker Steals Because Others Did
DisciulinA NJ Whffa Snuadrnn

Sallmaker Steals Because Others Did
Discipline of White Squadron.
VALLEJO, Aug 5.-In accordance with orders
prsesously issued by Secretary Tracy, . court
martial Was convened stthe United States navy
yard at Mare island yesterday, for the trial Of
saillnaker William Ridstone, United states
Navy. on charge of scandalous conduct Rid
stone. II Is claimed got together lot OF govern
ment property. securely packed it in two large
boxos, addressed them TO himself on tags to
North Vallejo, and had one OF the deckhands
put the boxes on board the Monterey on the
afternoon previous to her departure for San
Francisco. Ridstone has since told his friends
that others higher up in rank than himself have
sfo}en from the government, aud that If he is
convicted and discharged from the service he
viii make it lively for Others.
NEW York. Aug. 5--A story has Just leaked
ou4 at the navy yard to the effect that while
the white squadron was anchored at Rio
ana Junior Lieutenant William Z. r. Rush we're
subjected to courtmartial for being ON shore
over night, and that for this both were sentenced
to suspension from duty for two years. The
reopon for the heavy sentence, a. given by 3
pfuminent Oflicer, was that Rio Janeir0 was ct
thm time infected with yellow lever. The
fever. % 10 well known, il an infections dis
ease. and much more likely 70 be contracted ct
night than by day, and for this reason the navy
regulations provide very stringent rules IN rela-
ton TO shore leaves in injected ports, the order
being that no member of the ships company
shall remain on shore after dusk Disobedf-
ence Of this ruie means likelihood Of infection
TO the whole ships crew.
There ara rumors OF other troubles having oc-
ash1ed on board the ships. one Of the cases be-
Ing well known, namely. the suspension Of
Commander Howell on the ground Of dis0bedi-
ence of orders in having sailed his ship out Of
the harbor OF TOulon without permissi0n. This
case still remains to be eetsled.
NEWPORT, r. 1, Aug. 1.-The desertion OF
twenty-four British sailors yesterday was from
the flagship Beller0phon. The men left In one
of the vessels boats while two steamers were
landing visitors on the outside of the ship
They were discovered and the ships cutter gave
chase. The deserters were fired upon a. they
landed on Goat island. All bat three were
captured on the island and returned to the
ship. One was struck by cutlass while being
arrested Three who escaped are supposed to
have swan across the harbor to the city. They
have not been taken.
WASHINGTON CITY, Aug. 6-Naval officers,
especially engineers. are much pleased with the
reports from San Francisco, giving the results
of the preliminary trial OF the new cruiser San
Francisco, and are now more confident than
ever that she viii exceed contract requirements
on her official trial, which will take
place on the 10th and 11th inst. It IL fully
expected she viii develop at least
twenty knots, being one knot in excess of her
contract, which, If made, will net her contract
ors 10000 premium. Naval engineers are
naturally anxious TO see the record of nineteen
ana one-third knots made by the Philadelphia
on her Official trial beaten for the reason that
the former is the first new cruiser having ma
chinery designed by the bureau OF engineering.
Naval Constructor Hichborn has returned to
Washington from an official inspection of the
new ship-building yard OF the Bath Iron Com
pany, Maine, contractors for gunboats No.
and No. g. He says everything is favorable for
rapid progress on these two government yes
sells.