The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-17
COMMANDER GRAHAM TALKS,
70 Thinks That The Monitor Fleet Should
DO Moved.
ABUSIVE LANGUAGE TO HIS OFFICERS
A"TImes" Representative Visited the Vessels.
lie Says Richmond People AFRO Insult
ing and Have uooted His Men.

Tnssmuch as the newspaper discussion re-
r,rdiug the proposition TO remove the moni-
,or aect from its present anchorage to City
Point has contained only one side OF the cues
ton. statement from Commander Graham.
of the acet. will he interesting as well as in
sructye.
The commander was called upon by q
Tnrs representative on board The monitors
Yesterday, and was favored with his side Of
the dsrussion IN detail.
The reporter was received with great COM
tesy ~ ths naval officer. and has friendly
greeting hospitality gnd genial welcome ln-
dressed tho newspaper representative as beng
M direct variance with some OF the published
reports regarding this matter And from ms
Ce.r falule statements below the people
AZ Nrlmond who are not personally con-
cenej n the matter. may he constrained TO
look upon 70 IN aditierent and clearer light.
When the reporter was presented 10 the
commander by that prince of good fellows.
Iaymaster John q. Lowell. the Captain replied
3, Ae gave the vistora warm grasp ofthc hand.
81 am glad to see YOU. sir; yoo newspaper
fellows have been giving mo down the
country and aIu glad of the opportunity TO
give you the real facts IN the matter
In answer to questions Captain Graham
made the following statements He spoke
rapidly and unhesitatnely, showing clearly
that his utterancos were actuatod purely
through Just and honest motives
In the first place said the Commander,
81 have nothing whatever TO DO with the
origin IF the effort g.. foot 10 remove the
monitors from tins pace. Ny first lntmotlon
OFF u was o letter which received Jew days
since from Mr. Burke, informing me that
such WAS tho move ON the part of the Peters
lee. 1f.t ~ for
o. which / replied that ! thought II inccm-
pGti0le with the discipline OF the service 20 in-
teriere M the matter but If tho Depar ment
wished my opinion ON tine subject. Of course
J would comply With their instructions.
"ln my opinion" continued the Com
mander this is very bad berth for the
monitors. not only on account OF the filing
lp by the frc,het- bat also on account Of me
narrow width of the river 40 this point, which
causes the wash from the paddles Of the
steamers coming up and down the ryor 10
force the ships 90 surge 0n their moCrings TO
such an extent that II carries away tho ultts.
c.ocks aDd insts. so tLat ] have hard trouble
toheep the moorngs IN their place.
SUBJECTED 10 INSULTS.
Furthermore. the good people Of Richmond
iCreu0 idea OF the indlgnlties insults and other
uroEances the oincers and men on board the
monitors are sub ected to. particularly on
Sundays and holidays People come down
tls uyer in boats, black and white made
and female and though they have the
whole length Of the distance between
faeu0ult0r, ana Richmond for their peculiar
methods .i enjoyment. they insist up 1n com
ing directly anleast the monitors and using the
m.-t p.e and dirty language, shouting at the
fnu- NJ THEN voices. leeung at the men aboard
tIIu some Ot them both mon and women. dl-
Vesurg themselves of their entire suits OF
wearing apparel and gOlu. INTO Jle water IN q
nude condition within speaking distance OF
tie SEES
Attls ncture thereporter's attention WIS
GA Ial to and witnessed an exhibition of the
last complaint. Men have come down IN
b0sts continued the Commanded and pull
ing within twenty etOl the ships have called
out of.cer- ly name and used most vile and
Dlt ge9usy abusive language TO them, when
is unit for publication.
Inc passengers on the night excursion
Dar-e5 from tho city % Warwick PARK have
when they arrived opposite the monitors.
amused themselves by ho0ting and yelling 40
the people on board this feet IL erring and
insulting tones gong 20 far as 20 call me out
Boy name and making insulting remarks 10 me.
In fact the annOynces were SO yu.garand
the uulsances 50 unOeaIaole that have
been compelled to send nay family u the
North not 10 return.
As regards the statements of a prominent
citizen IN your paper tins morning. IN which
he accuses me of acting indiscreetly ia allow
ing parties aboard tho fleet, and also
articles N other papers saying that the
members Of the James River Improve
meut Committee have no love for
me- 1 merely wish to state that / am sorry
90 learn that there Is any III feeling against
me by the committee. If such be the case that
know but two members Of that committee,
one Mr.. Crenshaw and the other Mr..
Burgwyn. that ! have always enter
tanned the kindest feeling towards
those gentlemen and have always treated
them with courtesy and attention whenever
they have given me the pleasure OF their
presence aboard the monitors. AS | have
uercr met the other members OF the commit
tee cannot understand why they should en-
terrain any i'll feeling for me
Il think that the foundation for whatever
feeling there may be adverse to me amongst a
certain portion of tie citizens of Richmond IS
simply owing 10 the fact that l have never
considered II commensurate with my duty TO
permit the monitors TO be used IS public
museum or sort Of C0ney Island pleasure
resort.