The record-union., 1891-05-09
THE NAVY-YARD.
Condition of Vessels at Mare Island
The Charleston's New Guns.

| The array Of naval vessels at the Mare
| Island Navy-yard would lead one to sup
| pose that great deal of work is being
| carried on in the way of repairs, but
| such is not the case, and during the next
| month, according to reports, the number
of vessels to be sent away will make a
great change in the yard. OF the service
| able vessels that are lying at safe anchor
| age may be mentioned the Charleston,
Mohican, Marion, Alert and Thetis. The
| former vessel has had placed on board
/ her cargo of coal and list of stores, and
tomorrow she will probably come to this
| city ON her way to sea, for the purpose of
testing the new S-inch guns and drilling
| the crew in target practice. She will
| then return to this city and await orders
| from the Navy Department. Where she
Will be ordered to is not definitely
| known. The Thetis will most likely
| leave the yard after the Charleston. The
| vessel is ready to depart and has been for
some time, but the delay in starting her
off is due to the fact that she lacks her
| complement of officers and ment How
soon the department at Washington will
| make the necessary order for the transfer
of men to the vessel is not known. The
Thetis on leaving the yard will proceed
| to the coast of Lower California and en-
gage in survey work.
On Saturday last change was made in
| the commander of the vessel, Captain
| Stockton being relieved by Captain Geo.
{. Relter, who was recently reinstated to
duty by Secretary of the Navy Tracy.
| Captain Stockton will return East, hav-
| ing been granted two months leave Of
absence.
The Marion and Mohican are both ready
| for cruise, but it is more than lik ely that
| the latter will get away first. No orders
| have been received as to what duty will
be assigned either vessel, but in all likeli-
| hood one of them will relieve the Ranger,
| which is now at San Jose de Guatemala.
With the departure of the above-named
vessels the only one remaining will be
| the Alert. This vessel has been made the
cause Of so much trouble lately that
| few persons care to say anything about
| her, and very little interest is taken by
yard officials or workmen in the service
she will be called upon the perform. The
| work of the members of the last Board
| of Survey on the vessel was completed
on Saturday last, and the report was i'm
| mediately forwarded to the Navy Depart
ment at Washington. What the contents
of the report were could not be learned
from any member of the board, but from
| other sources it was aScertained that the
career of the Alert at Mare Island will be
very short. In brief, the report of the
| Board of Survey is to the effect that the
vessel is in serviceable condition and can
be started off on three-year cruise at a
cost not exceeding 81, 200. 1t is under
stood that the repairs are not confined to
any one portion Of the vessel, and the diff
ferent departments will have a chance to
earn portion Of the nominal sum that it
| will cost to send her off,
| The stories recently given out that
holes could be punched in the hull of the
ship without any difficulty, and that poor
repair work was observable throughout
the vessel, are now declared to have
,ai,. tod 4
| ing the vessel for as long a time as posi-
BILE at the yard. The result was highly
successful, as four or five different Boards
of Survey were ordered to make a re-
port, and this work naturally consumed
a great deal of time. The last Board OF
Survey also reports that the hull of the
| vessel Is in excellent condition and she
can be started off on a three-years' cruise
in less than twelve days.
Yesterday the Alert was taken out OF
| the stone dock under the supervision OF
Master Shipwright Hilton and Quarter
man John Brady and hauled alongside
the quay wall. Outwardly the vessel
presents a splendid appearance, and in
! the judgment of many competent per-
sons is in every way fitted to start off on
a long cruise. 1t will be remembered
| that through alleged "carelessness OF
| work" performed on the Alert, Naval
! Constructor Feaster was recently re-
| lieved from duty at Mare Island, but at
| the present time everything points to-
! ward the eXoneration of that official and
! the upholding of the report made by him
some months ago that the Alert was in a
| serviceable condition. While in the
dock the vessel was thoroughly over
| hauled by the members of the Survey
| Board, and the report on the condition OF
the vessel just submitted to the depart
| ment Will be the final one, and the one
upon which orders will be issued con-
| corning the future movements of the
| ship.
Admiral Benham could give no in
| formation regarding what is to be done
| with the Swatara, Nipsic or Adams, and
stated that on the departure of the serv-
| lceable vessels now at the yard the out
| look for work in the matter Of repairs to
| other ships was not very encouraging.
| Tile Omaha is expected to arrive at the
yard from Mexico in a short time" he
| said, but | am unable to say what re-
| pairs she may need. The Ranger will
| undoubtedly follow her to the yard from
! Guatemala, and as she has been away for
| some time possibly she may require ex-
| tensive repairs also; this, however, will
| be determined on their arrival by Board
| of Survey. Generally speaking affairs
| are very quiet at the present time. There
| is not great deal of work to be per-
| formed, and unless the Navy Depart
ment determines to repair the Nipsic.
| Adams or Swatara, there will be little or
nothing TO do, outside of work on the
monitor Monadnock, for the next two
months"
From Captain Wilson it was also ascer-
tanned that during the past week, on ac-
| count of the slackneSs of work, the force
! Of workmen on the yard was cut down
! from 66S to 552, and further decrease in
the number employed was probable
! Bulletin.
| THE popularity which Hoods Sarsa-
| parilla has gained as spring medicine is
wonderful. 1t possesses just those ele-
ments of health-giving, blood-purifying