Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-10
NO TIME BEING LOST
In Preparing the Government YES
sells in the Brooklyn Yard
TO GO TOSEA WHENEVER ORDERED.
No Instructions Other Than Those to
Surely Hasten the Work
HAVE BEEN SENT FROM WASHINGTON
ESPECIAL rELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

NEW YORK, Nov. 9-The Brooklyn
Navy Yard presented a scene of unusual
activity to-day. Although the navy Off
cials asserted that they had received nc
news from w ashington, it was evident that
unusual efforts were making to prepare the
cruisers now in the yard for sea- Rumor;
were thick and very wild 1t was reported
for instance, that the Bennington would
sail for Chile this afternoon. 1t is hardly
necessary to say that this rumor was with.
out the slightest foundation.
The Bennington is nearly ready for sea,
however, and could get away at very short
notice. She has finished her fitting out,
and only awaits the arriyal of her steam
cutter from Portland. 1t was found neces-
sary some three weeks ago to order q new
steam-cutter for the Bennington, as the one
originally made for her did not give salts
faction. Pending the arrival of the new
cutter, Captain Bradford ordered the en-
gines taken from the old one. As soon as
the cutter does come the engines will be
put in place, and then the Bennington will
be ready to 60 to sea. It is not known,
however, when she will be ordered away OF
what her destination will be.
Desertions Becoming Less Frequent.
Captain Bradford was anxious to learn
whether he was to be sent to foreign port,
and letter was sent to Washington asking
for information on that point. No answer
has yet been received from Secretary Tracy.
Captain Bradford reports that the deser-
tions from the Bennington, so prevalent
two months ago, have ceased entirely. This
he attributes to the constant drilling of the
men and the fact that the winter Is at hand.
The cruiser Atlanta is still in the dry
dock, but it is said she will get out by to-
morrow afternoon. The work on her Is be-
ing pushed with great rapidity.
A large force was busily engaged this
morning repairing her damaged decks and
wood work. It was stated on good authority
that the magazines and coal bunkers of the
Atlanta are being enlarged. This report
less true, as the same sort Of work is being
done on the other cruisers.
The Concord and Chicago are both nearly
ready for sea- The Concord's bunkers were
being filed this morning, and the work of
coaling the Chicago is progressing rapidly.
1t was said at the yard that if the occa-
sion should demand it the Bennington, the
Chicago, the Concord and the Atlanta
could be got ready for sea by next Sunday.
Rapid Work on All the Vessels.
The Miantonomah is being fitted more
rapidly than any of the other vessels. A
double crew Is employed on her, and the
work will be continued day and night until
she is ready for sea She has been in the
Navy Yard since 1883. when she came from
her makers. She has never been in COM
mission since her guns were first tested,
soon after she left the ship yard at Chester.
She is formidable looking craft, with
regular battering ram. She carries two ten
inch guns in each turret Captain Sicard,
her commander, says he has not received
any instructions from Washington, but he
believes that the orders to push the work
on his vessel are significant.
While there is some doubt expressed at
headquarters regarding the time when the
can be made ready for sea,
the men at work on her claim that in eight
days they will be through with her, and
that she can then put to sea- That no time
is being lost is evident from the fact that
gang of men was at work coaling her this
The work of the new armored cruiser
Maine is also being pushed Her boilers
were being put in this morning. No time
has been set for her completion. 1t is as
serted, however, that in case of emergency
the Maine could put to sea IN two months.
First Sunday Work for Many Years.
Orders were issued this morning to work
night and day until work on the vessels is
finished. The men now go to work at in
the morning and stop at 9 at night. Work
on the Atlanta was continued until
o'clock on Sunday morning and resumed
again at g. 1t was the first time the men
were obliged to work on Sunday since
1865.
This morning Commandsnt Erben arrived
at his Office very early and had long con-
with Captain Kane, captain of the
yard, Chief Engineer Leach and other Off
GERS At the conclusion of the conference
the officers sent their orderlies in all direc-
tions. A telegram which was received
from Washington this morning, the con-
tents of which could not be learned resulted
in orders to the ordnance department to
hurry work on certain guns. It was ordered
to have the guns ready by Friday, even if
it were necessary to work overtime to ac-
complish it.