Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-09
Scandal at Mare Island Navy
Yard.
Three Government Officials Lose
Their Jobs.
Shoddy Work Done in the Repairs on
the Steamer Alert.
The Treaty with Newfoundland Which
Was to Be-Congress of Inventors.
Washington Notes.
Associated Press Dispatches.

WASHINGTON, April 8.-About six
months ago repairs were completed upon
the United States steamer Alert at Mare
Island navy yard, and the vessel put in
commission, which means that she re.
ceived full complement of officers and
men, and was ready to go to sea; but the
vessel did not sail, and she is today at
her berth waiting orders. 1t was re-
ported that the repairs were so unsub-
stantial in character that it would be
dangerous for the vessel to go to sea.
On the other hand there were disagree
able rumors that certain officers did not
want to sail in the vessel, as they pre-
ferred newer cruisers and were trying to
cause a seaworthy vessel to be con-
demned. Boards of survey were ordered
there. It is said in all their reports
they indicated that the repairs had been
scajped: that the inner skin of the ves-
sci had not been properly renewed that
serious defects in it had been covered
over with paint, and that the boilers
were liable to sink through it. This
state of affairs led the department to
order an investigation on the following
lines.
.sHas there been any neglect of duty
or carelessness on the part of any officer
of the navy or employee of the navy
ward at Mare Island in preparing the
Alert for sea? If so, state the name or
names of such officer or officers, or en-
ployee or employees, and the particulars
or carelessness in each case"
Tho hoo vi of ipO11irv r,ada rnnort
which was made public today. The re-
port says:
Naval Constructor Feaster has been
careless in the supervision of the re-
pairs upon the Alert, and neglectful in
his examinations of the work as it pro-
gressed, which resulted in seri Gus
defects in the ship being passed over
without repairs, and in unsatisfactory
workmanship in the repairs made.
Master Shipwright' Williamson was
negligent in the performance of the duty
entrusted to him, in the immediate di-
rection of the first repairs prior to No
vember "a, 1890, which was the imme-
diate cause of serious defects in the ship
being passed over without repair, and in
Omitting the important work of scaling
the corroded surface before painting.
Master ship-ftter Artemas Webster
was neglectfuI in the performance of his
duty in not exacting proper workman
ship in tie repairs made upon the
double-bottom of the Alert, subsequent
to November 26, 1880, and in properly
carrying out the recommendations of
the board of survey by failing to remedy
defects which were specially men
toned.
These findings have been approved by
the navy department, and Naval Con-
structor Feaster has been relieved from
duty at Mare Island; Master Ship-futer
Webster has been discharged, as was
Master Shipwright Williamson.
A board composed of Commodore
Irwin, Commander Bartlett, Constructor
Femald, Assistant Constructor Stahl and
Chief Engineer Kutz, has been ordered
to survey the Alert again and report
what repairs are necessary, while Con-
structor Femald has been ordered to
assume charge of these repairs.