The morning call., 1891-04-01
AT MARE ISLAND.
The San Francisco Ready to
Leave for Chile.
Transfer Of the Admiraps Flag-Eight-Inch
Guns of the Charleston-Vessels ct the
Yard-The Mohican Coming.

The navy-yard at Mare Island has been
the scene of busy operations during the
month, with an unusual number of Uncle
Sans vessels. both of the new and the old
navy, either in the stream or at the quay.
The busy operations were consequent up
on the fitting out of the cruisers and the
steamer Marion for sea duty. Work upon
the cruisers commenced with a rush, the
department desiring the San Francisco dis
patched at the earliest possible date to
Chile, and to comply the employees of the
Steam Engineering Department had to work
four Sundays. to say nothing of the over
time on each week dav. The time allotted
for lunch was even cut down to half an hour,
but all this will be compensated for on pay
day.
There are at the yard the San Francisco,
the Alert and the survey steamer Patterson
in the stream; the Charleston and Swatara
at the quay wharf, and also under construction
the doube-lurreted monitor MOnadn0ck; the
Thetis In the dry-dock, the Independence high
aud dry In the mud as the quaint receiving ship,
ana further up in tile estuary and out OF commits
sion the single-turret monitor Comanche, in
charge only OF a keeper; the Adams and Marion
interlocked, the Nlpslc of Samoan hurricane ex-
perence, aud lastly the covered bulk of the old
Hartford, mutely protesting against the fate
which Is permitting her TO rot and tali into decay
at her moorings.
Gently returned from the Asiatic squadron, and
meanwhile the apprentices are having great fun
10 catching the rodents which II Is said swarm In
her hold. work on the Monadnock Is progress
lug very slowly though In the bOllef-W0fkS are
completed the boilers Intended for her, ana said
TO be the finest as also the largest ever con-
structed at the yard The Thetis is having her
bottom double plauked aud receiving II gener al
overhaullng before departure ON her cruise TO
the Arctic.
READY TO GO TO CHILE.
The San Francisco II is now understood. Will
not come down until Thursday. and will leave for
Chile, conveying also large quantity Of stores
for the vessels on that sta ion, as they are unable
TO touch at Chilean ports Tor what they require.
She Will make IN this port only such stay as
VII! permit her to take on some additional stores,
otherwise she would at once put to While
here, there FORE she Will not be opened To inSpec
ton by the public.
r ar-Admral Brown hoIsted his flag on Mon
day aud the following transfer of his personal
staff has been made from the Charleston: Flag
Lieutenant, George L. Dyer; Secretary, George
Paynaster, Arthur Burtls; Fleet Marine Officer,
Captain Meuse; Fleet Pay Clerk, Lieutenant
Bowley; Aid. Naval Cadet Alonzo Galley.
Chief Engineer f. A.WilsGn has been transferred
TO the Charle lesion and Passed Assistant Surgeon
Stephen 5. Wine detached from the naval rem
devious and ordered to take passage 10 Chile for
duty on the Baltimore. The Inspection Board
also visited the snOw-whte cruiser on Monday
on tour, after which the organization OF the
crew was effected. For Few hours the u ue-
jackets did some lively WORK, especially when
ire quarters were sounded, and the order WAS
given to abandon ship.
Tho transfer OF the Admlrafs flag from the
Charleston was acknowledged by salute OF
nineteen guns from the cruisers battery. The
change made the San francisco the flagship OF
the Pacific squadron, the command OF the
Charleston passing TO Captain Remey. The San
Francisco is well down Ill the water, having been
coaed and provisOued aud provided with the
necessary ordnance stores. Sue Is short. how
ever, some eighteen tons of coal, which, with the
barge alongside Of her, sank to the bottom Of
the estuary on thursday night, and are now
marked by a buoy for recovery hereafter. The
st0res, which Will be taken on here, are chiefly
provisions.
THE CHARLEsToN's GUNS.
The Charleston VIII not remain long at the
yard, but where she Will be sent TO is not known.
The principal work which has been done on her
and The other cruiser has been tbe removal of
four OF the San Franclseo's six-lnch gus from
the Charleston aGd putting lh-m IN place on the
vessel Tor which they were first Intended, while
the G!at lesion had mounted fore and ait her TWO
eIght-nch guns 10 replace The ones taken off.
The work was both Intricate and tedious, and
would not permit of an increased force OF work
men. the wants OF the San Francisco were
first attended 10, and alter leaving the quay wall
she was hOated into the stone dry dock, where
she was also painted. Yet alter This painting
coaing was begun. neeessitaiing more painting,
even on Sunday. Ammunition mas also been
lowered into the Char lesion, and In another week
she will be ready for the visit OF the Inspection
Board.
The substitution OF the four slx-inch guns by
the two eght-iuch guns has made a marked diff
ference III the aspect OF the first cruiser built IN
San Francisco, as well as In other respects. The
combined weight OF the -FOUR siX-luch guns was
over $4,000 pounds, while The TWO eightinch
guns In weight amount To nearly $4,000 pounds
10000 pounds additional weight. The eight
inch guns will carry a proIecl!e weighing $50
pounds, and at each discharge liz pounds OF
powder Will be consumed.
THE MICHIGAN COMING.
The steamer Mohcan lett Honolulu on the 22d
mir. and IL Tho pPctpQ arrival The ward.
She ls one of the last OF the wooden vessels Of
the old navy, aud upon arrival 1t is expected that
Commander Shepard Will be detached. John b.
finnery a sailor of the MOhtcan, was killed on
the 10Th ult. by a foreyard falling on hun.