New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-07

has been the custom TO rivet the upper part of
a ship to the armor deck but If new method
Can he devised delays caused hy the non-arriva
OF armor plating might he Obviated. II a method
can be devised soon enough, it will probably lie
used on the Maine. The departure Of the flagship
Pensacola for a cruise in the South Atlantic Il
week ago recalls an interesting bit of history of
that vessel which has not before found it's way
into print
HE GOT HIS COMMAND.
In the summer of 1861 the late Rear Admiral.
then Licutcnant j. W. A. Nicholson was executive
officer of the Pensacola. then lying in the Potomac
River, near Washington. President Lincoln
visited the vessel and had long talk with Lieu
tenant Nicholson about affairs in general con-
nectcd with the work OF the Navy in the war jus,
Lcsun, and then said to the middle-aged lieu.
tenant : Would YOU not like TO command a
vessel - and was answered with emphatic
Affirmative. The President said Leuteilant go
to the Secretary of the Navy and tell him that |
sav to give you a command I.irGtcrant Nicl,ol-
SON went to the then Acting Secretary, Fox, and de-
hvercd the message. but the latter said You are
too Young e. have n command President Lincoln
Wits informed Of this. ana In day or two Nicholson
received command Of the Isaac Sin III, and he
was sent to join Duponts Port Royal expedition.
The vessel encountered a tcrrihc gal" on thr
North Carolina coast. and in his report Adnlira:
Dupont said In reference TO the men of the Isaac
smith, a most efficient and wei Harmed veseel, but
which was not intended for such violent went her
found necessary 10 uUTOW ntT Dal1crN over
board She then went to the assistance of the
Governor which in sinking condition., and
whose crew were rescued lH the sabine The
Admiral then oppressed the highest admiral on of
later report said During the battle of Port
ROYAL Lentenant- Commander Nicholson cviucrd
two Of his characteristic traits-roo'ne>s and
courasc When sone oi the vessels came 10 Oicr
aid his ship bcing then rnvcloped in cloud, OF
steam. Nicholson thanked them and said he would
take care of himself. and told them TO keep 10
their own hnc of battle. ana continued hghtlng
until the battle was over.
There tontinucs "a he more or less difficulty in
obtaining seamen sufficient for the complement
of tie new ships and although two or three very
able suggestions have been sent 10 Secretary
Tracy, the problem is still nnsolvrd BIT III"
tire Navy Department has awnkentd 10 realizing
Of seamen.
FOR FINDING RECRUITS.
The regular reports sent TO the Navy Depart
nent by commanders of ships ALL in eTcrt,
agreed that the native American sailors in the
service are all that can h' desired. but the in
discriminate mixing up Of all uationalities
board of ship is the root of nearly all the trouble
like that on the Enterprise a few months aao
ard the drS,r,onS from some Of the other ships.
There are fewer sailors the receiving ships al
the Navy Yards today than before for many years
Commodore Ramsay, Chief Of the Bureau Of Navi?a-
ton. who was IN this city on thursday. has
gone to Newport to inspect the training squadron.
hut even this does not furnish nearly enough
men for the vacancies on the ships in colnnlls-
sion.
The proposition Of Commodore llcnry Erhrn If
receiving considerable attention., and il Is tie
opinion of man; navy officers. VIII" have hr!
asked. that he should be ordered 10 TAX" charge
of his proposed plan and 10 test lis efficiency.
which they believe would he successful. He
suggests that q vessel might he detailed 10 cruise
alous the New-England coasts aud ny the rivers
and bays to search ort and gather up recruits
end take them 10 receiving ships Two addit onal
ship. should he s,atoncd-o:e al Por'snou;i. and
the Other nj New -l.undUn-to receive the recruits
and keep them until thrv were needed for
cruising shin. This recruiting field w"nld com
PASSPORT, Ne. and The Delaware and Hudson
Rivers. In q letter to Secretary Tracy. onim"d"~
Erlen yNs that the records showed thai there
are under the American flag l6.4l sailing vrs>'.
with crews OF 6'.e44 men, ana ''""" steam 'rI"'
with crews If $4,000 men, most OF whom
arr Americans Then there are a large nun'"'
Of watcrIncn along the coast. r'anl OF whom cay
not get work for more than five months III III"
year From among thcS' number OF young
men could lie induced IN join the Navy if The
terms could M made favorable. ha' some
thna must be done. and that soon. tlric IS 10
doubt.
Proposals for furnishing "a the Navy N.rd a
quantity OF tools. consisting Of shenring machines,
planning machines. boring and drilling machine,
lathes. drills. testing machines. etc.. are I" h
opcncd on September H.
Third l.lrnf .ouYr Disri,'. with hta'I"nai'"l> -
To.nphinsvl,. will relieve Captain Robot +.
Esa.wS.1 of Il n' cpS ii nF r" IN
charge Of the photographic Bureau a, "aslir@-
ton, will take the place OF Captain R"d-cia IN the
1.igh>holse Department. The ciI'rninsAip II
he's ieen vacant since Tie 'ca'h Of Captain l!oh.
crt Boyd, a few weeks ago. is to be hlird ~
Captain A. y Cooke. commandment 81 thn Receive
ing ship Frouklin Al Tie Norfolk Navy Yard.