The morning call., 1891-04-06
NAVAL JOTTINGS.
The Charleston May After All Be
Sent to Chile.

The overhauling of the Thetis in the dry
dock Mt Mare Island was made necessary by
the work of the teredo, and it was found on
docking the vessel that the insects had at
tackled the hull below the sheathing, and
had their labors not been arrested in time
the bottom would have been badly eaten.
A good thick coating of pitch and tar, coy
cred by marine felt, is being put on, which
in turn will be covered by the pine sheath
ing. AS the ThetiS is held together with
iron fastenings the use of sheet copper had
to be dispensed with. The principal work
is the sheathing of the hull with Oregon
pine, two inches thick.
The Thetis is not likely to take up the
survey work commenced by the Ranger. as
was first intended. Congress appropriated
$4,000 for the purpose of taking soundings
between this port and the Sandwich Islands
in connection with the laying OF the pro-
posed trans Pacific cable, and there is a be-
lief that the Thetis will be detailed to make
them. Five months will be necessary to
carry out the work.
Tie Marion assigned to the Asiatic squad
ron has been ordered to be ready for sea by
the 18th. Her crew is al present on the hide
pendence and will take up quarters as soon
as the mechanics are out of the way. The
principal delay in the Marion was owing TO
shaft, and it was finally found necessary to
remove the one from the Swatara.
Work on the monitor MonaGlnock at Mare
Island is progressing slowly owing to the
failure OF IL large quantity OF berth-deck
plating to reach the ward portion has
been received. but what has become of the
remainder is not known. The armor mOldS
for the-armor plating have been completed
and are awaiting transportation East to the
Bethlehem Pa Iron Works.
The Mon0ngahela is expected at Newport
this month to receive her draft of apprentice
boys for their summer cruise. She VIII take
$50 boys and these, with forty already Sc
lected for the Lancaster, flagship OF the
Asiatlc station, viii reduce the number of
boys at the station to less than 100.
IL Is now report that il theirs should be
need for another vessel in Chilean waters,
the Charleston will follow the San Fran
cisco within fortnight. When Admiral
Brown of the San Francisco reaches Chile
he will relieve Admiral Mccain, who Will
rejOin his flagship, the Pensacola.
The Board of Survey and Appraisal has
finished its labOrs at Mare Island in connec-
ticn with the condemned stores at the yard,
aud in few weeks there will be sold large
quantities of shot, rope. cooking utensils,
ETC., and number of gins and boats.
The career of the Nipsic is conceded by
the majority of naval officers to be at al
end, and she keeps company with the Hart
ford in the stream at the upper end of the
yard at Mare Island.
Captain w. S. Muse of the Marine Corps,
in command of the guard of the San Fran
cisco, exchanged with First Lieutenant G. A
Doyen, who took his place on the Charles
ton.
Lieutenant A. G. Rogers, detached from
the Gedney and temporarily on duty on the
Independence, has received orders to hold
himself in readiness for duty or the Marion.
There will be no cadet appointments TO
the Revenue Marine this year. IL is pro-
posed to renew next year the effort to have
that service transferred to the navy.
Passed Assistant Paymaster Frank II.
Clark has been ordered to hold himself for
orders 10 the Fish Commission steamer Al
batrOSs.
Third Lieutenant F. A. Dimmick has been
detached from the Bear and placed on wait
ing orders on account OF sickness.
The Tallapoosa, at last accounts at BuenoS
Ayres, has been condemned, and will be
sold without being brought home.
The third payment has been made on
Cruiser 6, building at the Union Iron
Works.
The Mohican will be put out of commits
sion on arrival from Honolulu.
The years supply of tobacco for the navy
is 120,O00 pounds.
At present over 600 men are employed at
Mare Island.