Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-19

pumping out tho great dry dock recently
built at the League Island navy-yard pre-
peratory TO an examination of the bottom
of the monitor Montauk was begun this
morning. This will consume two or three
days.
All day Saturday teieerams were passing
between League Island and Washington.
and "a a result to-day force OF men suffi-
cient 10 equip the vessel for sea IN less than
three weeks was put to work. his VIII
require. in addition TO the force OF me-
chaplcs already employed, fourteen ma
chnists. boIler-makers, and coppersrniths;
Six months ago the monitors Nahant and
Jason we're dry-dncked and their bottoms
scratched.
The orders from the Navy Department
requires that the Montauk engines be tried
after she had been thoroughly oyerhauled.
Captain Coughiln, the acting commandant
at League Island saws the monitor could
be equipped for sea in a week If necessity
required IT.
TIE BAITIMoaE 10 SAIL TOMORROW.
SAN FRANcIsoo. January 1S.--1be cal
this morning states that the cruiser Balti-
more. now at Mare-Island navy-yard, has
received orders 20 leave on Wednesday for
the south. She will go direct to Acapulco
or Callao without a stop. Nothing can be
learned to show that she will be Joined by
the Charleston or the San Francisco. now
at San Diego.
Captain Schley and all tho officers of the
Baltimore, whose cruise has expired, have
asked 10 be reassigned TO the ship on the
understanding that trouble wall occur
with Chile. Nearly all the time-expired
sailors of Tire cruiser have also re-enlisted
on "A similar understanding. 1t ~ also
stated that the Mohican. a wooden vessel,
has been ordered TO leave in day or two
for Panama The MOhican IS now at Mare
Island nearly ready for sea.
SIGNIFICANT FACT.
SAN Francesca. CAL. January lS:-lf ap-
pearances count for anything the Navy
Department is losing no time IN fitting out
the vessels at the Mare Island navy-yard
for immediate dispatch TO Chile. should
occasion require It, The steau-engine
worked all day Sunday and began this
morning. Attention is being paid TO the
work on the Baltimore, and not single
hour Is lost in preparing 10 get away.
She cannot possibly leave the yard under o
week. but Is in the stream and Is receiving
coal supplies A significant fact was learn
ed to-day. Shortly after the Baltimore ar
rived AT the navy-yard each gun was pro-
vided with sixty rounds OF ammunition.
This has been increased to 100. Workmen
are on board and her machinery is rapidly
receiving a thorough overhauling. Her
main battery Is beng carefully looked
after and her guns are being regulated Tor
concentration of fire.
THE Defence OF SAN FRANCISCO.
The Navy Department can also be Gre
dited with looking after the defence OF
the harbor of san Francisco. For the
first time in years workmen have taken
themselves to tho monitor COmanche, and
her machinery is being overhauled. Or-
dors 10 dock the monitor have been coun-
a .a Ill oh rrFfil 90.
into dock at the earliest practical mo-
ment. The orders are believed TO have
been countermauded OWING TO the ex-
pected arrival Of the Charleston from San
DienO. and with the idea that she Will re-
Ceive attention first.
The officers of the yard are displeased
with reports In regard TO the Baltimore
having been injured by gong aground.
She was not damaged in the least. and the
officers declare that the statement that she
ran on rocky bottom Is entirely without
foundation. The officials at the yard are
somewhat reticent about the matters per-
tanning TO the expected war. 1t IS not dis
puted that the drv-dOck II 10 be kept Tor
tho Charleston. which will arrive Wednes-
day. She will he flOated at once and her
wants attended 10.
THE ccMANoHE.
The general opinion here is that the
Government proposes 10 have every, vessei
made ready as quickly "a possible, and
there appears 10 be some foundation Tor
the statement that steam will be gotten up
on the monitor Comanche. If such proves
TO be the case, il will be the first time IN
nearly twenty years The opinion Is that
the department evidently means business.
| Forty-elght hours will be sufficient time
| to do all that is necessary On the
| Comauche. The latter is a slngle-turreted
monitor carrying two 15-inch smooth bore
guns.
THE MOHICAS.
The wooden war-ship Mohican is
astream, her repairs being completed, and
Is ready 20 put TO sea on short notice. IL
Is understood that orders have been issued
for the MOhican 90 proceed 10 Panama,
but this has not been confirmed. A state
ment published here this afternoon recites
that a number OF naval officers on this
coast have received orders by telegraph
To report to the admiral on the Pacific
station for special duty. A large force OF
men are fitting the wooden ships Adams
and Ranger for service.