New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-26
THE NAVY AT NETWORK.
THE METROPOLIS THE CENTRE OF INTER
EST.

THE SQUADRON OF EVOLUTION DETRAcrs Az
TENTIoN FROM THE NAVY YARD-THE IN
TEREsTING WORK BEING DONE THERE
rn. rrosonco in tho harbor Of the eight ships-the
Chicago Newark Boston, Atlanta, Yorktown, COncO"'
Remington and Vesuvus-Of the Squadron OF EVoiu-
ton has been the Naval attraction the last week.
consequently the Navy Yard has been negeceh oy te
usual crowds Of visitors. Nevertheless the sQuaoroi
of Evolution has attracted TO the city largo huoeI
of people from places outside Of the city, ana most Vi
them have embraced the opportunity To WISH inc navy
Yard finding much to interest them on the oil nls
Vermont and around the Maine and the Cincinnati potn
OF which are in course OF construction In TACT, ao"eh
the Navy Yard had had but commissioned VesSei-
tho new third class cruiser neutrality-suspicious. ouhs o
week past there is much of interest to visitors III co
necion with the building up and fitting out OF te 10"
Navy.
The une Of eight white painted steel vessels Of war
on the North River, nom Twenty third st. up ucse
vessels ranging in size displacement from the nag
ship Chicago of 800 tons to the dynamite cruiser
vesuvlus of 725 tons, has been Naval picture suoh
as New-Y York IIarSor possessed before Inc ITO
auent trips of the steam launches and cutters' WIN
their officers In the uniforms OF their several graors
and the sailors In their white suits, each boat Carrying
70 the ship or bringing to the shore the civilians who
vessels 10 visit friends board to satisfy CURIOSITY
odded animation 10 the marine display. Them too, II
was n pleasure and comfort TO hundreds OF strangers
TO the blue cloth, gilt braid and brass buttons 10 S'uS
the various devices Of grades OF Qhces, from thao vi
Rear Admiral John g. Walker. with the two stars IN
his shouldersap corresponding TO the grade Oh major
general OF the Army, that Of the cadet. whose rank
corresponds with that OF second lieutenant OF the Army
The monster efehtnch breech-loading guns and those
of smaller cabres down to re dotchlss rapd-fring
guns were also subjects of intense interest and study
10 the "landubber" the common term applied by sail
ors 10 those who pass their lives Oh shore.
Has the SQUADRON of Evolution. or rather have Its
officers been welcome visitors to this port This needs
no better confirmation than the reports published from
day TO day of the courteses that have been extended
TO them 80 overwhelming in number that not one-haf
couId be accented One of the most appreciative OF
the evening entertainments was that on Wednes-
day night at Pamer's Theatre, at the perform
ance of the "Tar and Tartar" No pains were
SHARED TO make this complimentary occasion one long
10 be remembered, the managers OF the theatre ana
Digby Bell and his company sparIng no pains to DO
all that could be done. There were forty seven
officers present some of whom brought ladies, and
detail of sailors and marines provided with seats
The fronts Of the boxes and other parts OF the audi
torum were handsomely decorated with flags, but the
one feature Of the evening at the Close when tne
national airs OF all naval Powers were sung. when
the officers in the six boxes to their feet in COM
pment of the OCCASION and at the close Of the sing
ing the audience responsively sent up tremendous
cheers which were repeated at each of the five recalls
The company became really exhausted. and Dlgby
Bell finally came forward and announced: "Pm not
going to take vacation, but will be here all sum-
mer."
The drills of the Naval Battalion Of New York will
be closed on Friday night and it will return to this
catu n
probably go from Fishers Island to Gardners Bay for
target practice and will then return to NewYork TO
take the Committee Naval Affairs TO inspect
the Navy Yards along the coast including the station
now being built at Port Royal and that at Newton
don. The latter is receiving considerable attention
in view of the fact that it is on the Thames River,
body of fresh water which is looked upon as OF in
calcuabe value for the protection Of the steel vessels
of the Navy when laid up for repairs. The committee
will meet at the Fifth Avenue Hotel on August to
lay out the programme for It's work. The cOmnittee
will visit the Navy Yard here also the works OF ~ F.
Palmer Co., where building the engines and boil
eps for the armored cruiser Maine also the shpbuldng
works at Ellzabethport, where is building the Naval
Academy practice ship. This latter vessel 1t is re-
| ported, is to be renamed the George Bancroft, In
honor of the founder of the Naval Academy in 1s4o
In the interval while waiting for the Naval Com
mltee there will be opportunities to visit the vessels
| OF the squadron again.
Now that the Squadron Of Evolution Is gone, the
attention of those who interested in naval affairs in
this neghbOrhoOd will be directed TO what Is being done
| at the Navy Yard But there will be only that which
APPLIES to building new vessels. Aside from the hulk
of the old h1gae Vermont the receiving ship for newly
enlisted men, and tho new cruiser Bennington being
fitted out there Is not commissioned vessel at the
| yard and this is what has not been known be
| fore in q long. long time. And the only other
| commissioned naval vessels In this port now are
| the traningshp Minnesota. lying at one OF the
| piers in the North River, and the old wood
on war vessel Yanuc lying In the East
River Off Twentysxthst 1t is still an open question
what IS TO be the disposition of this vessel AS The
| Tr,hune said on Monday would be the case, it was
mpossibe 10 get the Bennington ready to go with the
souadron OF Evolution to Fishers Island She is now
ordered 10 be ready for steam trial under the super
vision OF the Naval Board Of Inspection on August H.
The double -turreted monitor Mantonomoh has several
features of interest other than the act mat she is
sonnd to be put into commission for active service
II WAS reported few weeks ago that she was 10 De
detailed 10 engage i'm the summer manoeuvres OF the
! souadron OF Evolution but those who realized how
much there really to do on the vessel secuted te
! idea that she would be got ready In time. captain
Montgomery Sicard has been ordered to her command
| and Chief Engineer George W. Magee has been de-
tailed in charge OF the machinery department. and boh
Of these officers as well as the two or three Others
already ordered to her. have been exceedingly active
IN the last week 10 advance the finishing work upon
her. she is practically ready to be put into commits
SION or would be il the last Of her f,ur l0lnch guns
for the turrets was here II is expected TO be sent
from the Naval Proving Grounds at Annapolis within
the next few days. This vessel is really new except
in name She IS the Miantonomoh that went to Europe
soon after the close Of the and opened the eyes OF
John Bull and the Russians. and the Prussians, and
many others who had belitted the capabilities OF
Yankees to produce a war-weapon that could fight any
thing anoat and at the same time be an effective bul
wart against the solid shot from the guns OF the
enemy Aside from the there is little OF the old
vessel left. She originally of wooden frames and
hill. with q heavy outside Iron plating. To-day she
IS of the same FORM practically. built OF iron and stee
throughout; not built to fight and run away, but
| 20 fight and hold the enemy at bay
Even in course OF construction she Is weapon
commanding great study and Notwithstanding hei
form. her materials her machinery, her turrets and
her guns The mechanics and the tools they worl