The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-11-09
FIRST TIME SINCE THE WAR
WOrkmen Busy at the Nayy-Yards All
Sunday Putting War Ships in Order.
Not Since the Days Of the Rebellion Has There
Been Such Bustle-Rumored Sinking Of
the Baltimore By Chilians Denied.

NEW YORK. Nov. S.-The Brooklyn navy
yard presented an appearance of activity
witnessed for the first time since the excit-
ing times of the rebellion to-day. The
hum and din of busy workmen on the war
vessels Miantonomah and Atlantic dis
turbed the Sabbath stiffness as q body Of
four hundred blue jackets marched across
the yard to divine service. Workmen have
been busily engaged day and night for the
past week III preparing the two vessels for
speedy service at sea. Yesterday the work
of preparation was continued, 1t being the
first Sunday since the late war that such o
thing has occurred. There were eighty
men at work on the two vessels. ana all ex-
pedition will be used until they are ready
for service ut sea.
The navy-yard authorities denied the
rumored sinking OF the United States war
vessel Baltimore at Valparaiso. 1t was
said that the officers and crew of the Balti-
more exercise the same vigilance as in war
times, and the torpedo nets about the ves-
sci would save her from sudden attack.
The unusual hustle and activity at the
navy-yard is said not to be due to the re-
ported sinking Of the Baltimore, but it is
conceded that the strained relations be-
tween this country and Chill has caused
the government much anxiety to get all its
war vessels ready for any possible contin-
gency.
Great Activity Mt Mare Island Yard.
VALLEJO. Cal. Nov. S.-There Is great
activity in the navy-yard kere. Maohinists
Ill c. ~
and will work again tonight. kilograms
have been received in the yard urging the
putting of the vessels in readiness for sea
ut once. All the available workmen on the
lists have been sent for, and O thousand
men will be at work in few days.
There are now six wooden vessels at Mare
Island, all of which could be ready for
action within five weeks. Each vessel has
one elRht-inch converted muzzle-loading z
rifle and one sixry-pounder breech-loading
rifle. The rest of the main battery con-
sists of the nine-inch smooth bores; Of
these the Omaha has ten. the Swatara and
Mobican eight. Adams and Nipsic six and
the Ranger four. Besides these is themonitor
Comanche, with two fifteen-inch smooth
bores. now ready for sea. All the vessels
have Hotchkiss revolving cannon and q
secondary battery. There are also at the
island six eight-inch converted rifles. four
sixty FOUNDERS and q large number OF
surplus nine-inch smooth bores.
San Francisco Uneasy.
SAN FRANCISCO. Nov. S.-The fact that
the work at the navy-yards at Brooklyn
and Mare Island is being pushed. both on
Sunday and at night. has created some
excitement here The defenses of San
Francisco against an attack from sea
are not especially good. There is not o
single modern rifle here. Fort Point,
at the entrance to the Golden Gate, has
about fifty eight-inch muzzle-loading rifles.
converted from ten-inch smooth bores. On
the Alcatraz there are eight or nine more;
there are also large number
of ten and ffteen-inch smooth h-bores.
The harbor is ILL protected by tor
pedoes, of which there are six or seven hun
dred in position or ready to be placed.
There are no automobile tOrpedoes In the
city. Two modern rifles have been prom.
ised to San Francisco next year and two
the year after.