The Portland daily press., 1891-08-28
RANK pIsoBEpIENcE
Manifested by Acting Rear-AdnnIraI
walker at Bar harbor.

BAR HARBoR, Me-, August 26.-lf any
doubt exists in the mind Of the Assistant
Secretary Of the Navy that the conduct Of
Acting Rear Admiral j. q. Walker while at
Port au Prince was insubordlnate and disre-
spectful to Rear Admiral Bancroft GherafdI,
the doings OF the 'man with pull" on ar
irving In Bar Harbor should entirely dlspel
1t, says the correspondent here OF the New
York Times.
On learning that the Squadron OF EVolu-
tion was coming to Bar Harb0r, Rear-Admi-
raj Gherardi shifted his flagship, the Phlla-
delphia, In shore, In order TO give the white
squadron plenty OF swing room. In due
time the fleet Of white ships made its ap
pearance, this time even larger than at Port
au Prince, the whole force bearing down in
magnificent style. In the lead was the big
Chicago, and behind her stretched the line Of
white hulls following In single file. On the
wide afterbridge OF the Chicago. conspicuous
by his tall and impressive bearing, stood
Acting Admiral Walker, surrounded by his
stat. His glasses were TO his eyes. and II
could be seen that he was quietly scanning
the harbor In front OF him. Occasionally he
gave an order In an undertone to his flag
lieutenant In the distance could be seen
the Philadelphia, the Petrol and the Enter
prise, all vessels Of the North Atlantic fleet.
On the Philadelphia's poop stood the second
ranking admiral OF the navy, Bancroft Che
rardl, and about him his personal staff.
"Its high time the admiral was asking
permission to anchor" whispered q lleuten-
ant on board the Chicago to several officers
stationed near him.
Queer" remarked another. "You don't
suppose the old man will dare run In and
anchor without permission after that Port
an Prince affair. and the Secretary OF the
Navy is there. too
phia." suddenly exclaimed staff officer, hi:
glasses held intently to his eyes.
"Read II, was the curt remark from thu
acting admiral. "and keep that pennan
down." he shouted almost In the mex
| breath to midshipman who was just a6o U
to hoist the answering pennant, In reco z
milton that the signal was seen.
The signal reads, sir, Anchor at your dis
cretion." said the staff officer.
Acting Admiral Walker deliberately ex
nearing OF all those gathered about his pO-
siti0n, both officers and men, "NOw, who In
- asked to anchor, anyway
Not another word was uttered. There
was at once a painfully enforced silence.
Even those who knew the acting admiral
best were dumbfOunded. In steamed the
white squadron, and In few minutes, right
| In the very face OF Rear Admiral Gherarii,
Acting Admiral Walker flew, as he flew at
Port au Priuce, the signal TO anchor" nd
| as the bowers Of the cruisers with their
chains went rattling out of the hawses,
some 1900 blue1ackets In the white fleet
grlnntd at the manner In which "Old Wnis-
kers," as they dub Admiral Walker, had ig-
nored the flagship OF the "h0me" station.
/ No boat went from the Chicago to the
Philadelphia, and none came from the Phil.
/ adelphia to the Chicago. The same Omi-
nous silence between the two fleets existed
as at Port au Prince, and save for the red
4 pennant at the ChicagO's mizzen truck no
| other recognition that senior admiral was
| in port could have been noticed In the
/ squadron OF evolution.
| On the following morning II came on to
| blow, at first moderate, then fresh, until
| finally it began tU assume the proportions Of
| a gale. As precautionary measure Ad-
| miral Gherardi flew the signal to all ships Of
the two fleets to send down light yards and
| topgallant masts. The signals was prompt
/ ly 0beyed In the North Atlantic feet, but
aboard the vessels OF the white squadron
| was below the rails. No one save the
| quartermasters on the bridges were In sight.
ln the evening. It continuing TO blow hard, a
| signal from Acting Admiral Walker to send
down light yards and mastS suddenly aD-
| peared aloft on the Chicago. In twinkle
the order was being executed among the
| white ships, and a few seconds later the
same previous silence resigned, but this
| time with each ship In the squadron pre-
pared to ride out storm.
Such, In brief, Is the condition OF affairs In
this port, and this condition exists. 1t should
be known. while the secretary Of the navy
himself Is present and aboard the Despatch.
| Never In tue history of the American navy
has such effrontery been heard Of, and never
In the history Of the service has one man so
recklessly Ignored rank, discipline and
| respect due to senior as has Acting Rear
Admiral j. q. Walker.