New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-08
OUR Big SISTER CITY.
AFFAIRS I'M BROOKLYN.
,, o+ the Navy Yard-The Boston to Sail at Last-How
con+racts for an Armory Were Let-What Clubmen
Arc Doing-Items OF General Interest

vessel and the torpedo-boat Cushing were to
be put out Of commission so that 1t might De
possible to obtain more men for the new vessels
winch are soon - be put into commission.
The stationary steam derrick on the Long
Dock was being repaired yesterday. one oI
The wire ropes OF this broke few days ago, gust
as a heavy piece belonging to the Maine was about
10 he hOls'cd on that vessel The granite dry
dock is az present vacated, and there Is no
vessel in view now TO be put into IT, 1t Is SAID,
however, that possibly the monitor Nantucket VIII
be doclcd 10 have her bottom painted. Inc
job Of putting roof over the deck of the re-
cciyiEg-ship Minnesota and covering her sides Win
ciapbuards, which has been carried on for several
weeks. is now about finished. This makes me
big, old bulk more comfortable and habit1ble
for the officers and men who live on board her.
The RottOn Row of the Navy is soon to have
a new recruit. \ board Of survey has made a
thorough examination Of the Despatch, popularity
known as the Presidents yacht, and has csti-
mated that the nccdfu repairs upon her viii cost
more than 20 per cent of what new boat 0l
like dimensions and material would cost. his
is the limit Of the cost of repairs upon any Of
the vessels of the Navy declared by an act
of Congress, and unless some special act Is passed
she will be condemned and laid mp In ordinary
until she is appraised and sold to the highest
bidder. She will then he broken up, and the
wood be disposed of ircwood and the metal
be disposed of to the junk -shops.
The Despatch. could her timbers speak, would
record history more interesting than any other
Government vessel In times of peace. she was
originally the yacht Amcricus. and was built In
1s,4 by George Steers for Henry {. Smith, Il
Ncw-York broker Mr. Smith was at that time
very wealthy, and gave orders 10 Mr. Steers 10
build him tine biggest and best equipped yacht
in the world Financial reverscs obliged Mr.
smith 10 part with the yacht after she mad served
three years as a floating palace, and the Govern
ment bought her for $4,000, she having cost
nearly quarter Of a million. For some tlmc
alter She was purchased for the Navy she was
used on the home station, and was then sent
H. Europe as a dispatch steamer for the lhted
States Minister at Constantinople during the
Russo-lurkish war. She returned IN 1919 WIN
the invalid seamen and others of the American
squadron and was Dut out Of commission.
After undergoing considerable repair she was
put into commission on october Il, l7So, ana
became tie Prrsiden" 5 yacht she was me liist
Government vessel To- hoist the Distinguishing nag
cf tie President Of tine United states, blue nag
with the coat-of-arns OF the nited States en-
baIoncd upon II, Surinolhtcd ny crescent oI
thirteen stars since gong INTO 'ohlihASlOH tc bcs
match has carried every President on some Oulcal
occasion, Grover cleveland having c1Joycd TWO cA,
cur;ons upon her President llarrlSons hTSl 0ilcl'I
trlp upon her was at the time OF tie cecbratlOh
of tie nuc-.undredtn anniversary OF the ln'ueHIn-
zion Of President Washington, in April 80. IN
this citv She has carried more foreign celebrities
than any other vessel besides '1DlhcI o,n'cIS'
ARMY and NAVY officers. Senators and kcpIt-
S.gtltivcs IN Congress, and others. Among thS
most notable of foreign officials that nave "'Ikcu
her deck and diurd la Acr cabin nave u''h ION, '"Ii
p..Irr fine cN- Emperor of Bl1Zli: the lat" ME-
Kalakaua, Queen kapolani the 'ouhi ol l"ilH
and Lord Chief Jusilc" toirr!d-r. W neh ,I'
latter was going down the Potomac on Inc Dr'-
match L. remarked r. senator EvartS that A'
could un' believe the story told about President
Washinatou tiat Ac once threw "a dollar across
H.. river as the span was too great. Inc senator
with the promptncss of an adept VII IeplPu.
90 Nv Lord Won must remember that a dollar
went frthcr in those days than 1t would q"
The boats Of the Despatch are historic Her
,yhalnna' formerly belonged To the Ic'r anu
her cig belonged to the IhctiS when b9th NesSc's
were employed on tEr Arctic Keller iMPedltloh
In the ra,cHc Of General Greeley and MS CON-
r,pjnrs The zig bears the name Of Dorothy, Ia
lonor of X-Sccrctary Of the Navy whitney young
EST child The barge, or Presidents gig, Is
decorated on tie bows with the d'NIIe 81 w
Navy Department, and is named Queen h"pioIahi'
ir honor If the occasion oI Ter visit 10 inns
c,,ui,tr,. and the fact that she was tne Hrs'
o;r;,i to hc carried in the boat. and her nag was
,i, iirst +, nv from rs stan astcrn. Tho capIh
~ flo Dcspatch is the largest and iinest lur-
n,.IcJ in any other vessel of her size. Hhe Is
800 foot LONG. - - feet wide, and draws II -
feel Of water Her hull ani tmbcrS are oil hheN
.c,,nucd oak and logwood.
Iicr,tcnaut W. H. Capcrton. VIII" mas n'ch On On
snrci.l duty at the Navy Department. Is 10 w
~. rrird ~ Miss Gcoraia Baklock, a niece oi
priradirr-Gcucral Albert OrdwaE. LFu''I!'.iu
C.,nrtnn has obtained leave tor weddlnE, ZIP
+, Florida and when he rturns ne VIII
,.si.,r,I to duty on tie doubc-turrcted monitor
Mantonomah. - y II ,yl,or,o, has been
1.,.1Ird from duty nj the Quntard Iron WORKS
i'm connection with building the new machlH'lA
Tor tlr Iattlc,hip Maine and 'ruiser No; ~: anu
nr,rcr,d to special dutv connected Win tie "i.i'i-
,,t ,t the old wooden cruiser Lancaster II ~
,,.,,ol ,b3t the vessel Is destined Tor the ASiau'
S,u41rpu.