The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-26
AT MARE ISLAND.
The Holidays at the Navy
Yard.
AN ANCIENT HORSE STORY.
Progress of Work on the Vessels
Now in Course of Repair.
Personal Notes.
AN ANCIENT HORSE STORY.
correspondence OF THE MORNING CALI

ployes. At the barracks and on board OF
the ships an extra dinner will be served to
the messes. Christmas trees sdOrn the
trucks of the men-of-war. In the evening
the sail loft will present scene OF life and
merriment. All of the residents will join
in having Christmas tree with yerltsble
Santa Claus. The otherwise barren loft
will be transformed into bower of beauty.
The young people look forward in the an
ticIpation of having a world OF delight.
Mrs. Admiral Irwin is giving her personal
supervision to the affair, which will end in
being one of long and happy remembrance.
The Mohican is fast nearing completion.
Quarters for the admiral have been neatly
fitted up and made as comfortable as elf
cumstances will allow, SO that by the time
Admiral Skerrett arrives nothing OF im-
portRnce will have TO be done to make them
babitable The chances are that she will
not long remain flagship II flying rumors
are true. The rumors arc to the effect, and
not without some foundation. that the San
Francisco will be coming back from the
South 10 once more take her place as the
flagship of the Pacific squadron.
Ii this should be the fact, 1t is something
that will meet the approval OF the people
of the coast, as they would then know they
commander-in-chief worthy of his rank.
The same rumOr couples the name OF the
Charleston as another one OF the ships not
likely TO take the TIN through the strait.
II so the fee: of the Pacific squadron. if as
sembled at one place, would make very
respectable appearance. and one that the
admiral could in no wise feel ashamed of.
The Adams arrived at the yard last Sat-
urday, and after lying at the wharf day
or two was hauled Out into the stream and
foated into the drydock, where she now
quietly rests upon the blocks after her
recent trip from the north Considerable
work will be done to her machinery and
running rigging and sails. Orders have
been received TO fit her out for six
months cruise. The destination TO which
she will be sent has not yet been an
nOuneed. AS she has been in commission
for some time, upon her return she may,
like many OF the other old relies, be sent
up into rotten row.
The canvas covering on the old Hartford
causes her TO look like q battle SCARED
veteran. She is housed over with canvas
painted a dark red. Owing TO age and the
iuclemency of the weather ii had become
worn and torn in many places. The patches
put on recently being white, causes her to
look as above Hopes are ex-
pressed that Congress may appropriate
money enough TO place her 10 seaworihy
condition and that she will be fitted for
home service. Money has already been set
apart, il is said, sufficient in amount TO
meet the wants OF the construction sde-
ii CDOlHu DC dpplO-
priated for steam engineering and equip
mrnt purposes 1t would not take long 10 lit
her out.
The Ranger is about ready for sea. The
crew have been engaged during the past
few days In ooaling her up. After this is
done sea stores will be put on board.
Had it not been for the rains of the past
few days the work Of farming the island
would have commenced. AS 1t is now
blowing will be delayed for while. The
farming lands on Mare Island are excellent.
and have been ever since ii was given its
name. peculiar as IL is, by General Vallejo,
once the p0ssessor Of the land upon which
the city of Vallejo Is located, and for
leagues about Tradition tells US that
many years ago General Vallejo had band
of horses al Martinez that he was DESTROYS
of bringing TO Vallejo. No schooners or
lot Of casks from whaler that had gone up
to Martinez for the purpose of allowing the
action of the fresh water 10 clean hcr hall.
With the aid Of the casks a raft was built
ana foored over win logs, railing was
built bout the sides of the raft and on this
tire band Of horses was driven. Among
the number was favoIite white
mare belonging 10 the general, that
he priced highly. A rude sail was
improyised, and, with the aid OF oars bor-
rowed for the time being from the whaler
the hetders started down the Straits Of Car
ouineZ. A sQuall came up, as so frequently
occurs, Just as they were about 10 round the
point abreast OF the end of the island. 1t
Was impossible TO guide the rude raft, the
horses became unmanageable, being half
wild. they stampeded from one Side TO the
other, which. with the ehoppng of the sea.
overturned the raft, sending the men and
animals into the water. The most Of the
horses were drowned, others, with the men,
made their way 10 the Vallejo side OF the
banks, the raft went pitching and tossing
down into San Pablo Bay. General Vallejo,
who was on one of the high hills AT South
Vallejo, saw his favorite swimming down
the straits, and. as he thought, founder and
sink from view. He grieved more over the
loss OF bis favorite than for the remainder
of the band. Several weeks after he had
an occasion to cross the river to the island,
at that time almost unlnhabited. On going
to the rear of the island, at a spot where the
Old pesthOuse is now located, what was his
surprise and Joy to see the white mare. hale.
Tat and hearty. The general called her 10y
! name and she ran whinnying to his side.
We regret we have not the descriptive
powers of Miss Russell. otherwise a pretty
story would be told of the meeting between
the old general and his pretty white mare,
suffice TO say, he took her from the island to
his home Oh the rolling hills of Vallejo. and
some OF the oldest Inhabitants to this day
speak OF the affection that ever after existed
between the General and his fayOrite white
male.
GtOtu iItdl udy W tUiS, tic Isid1lu has DeeD
known as and called Mare Islaud.
Friday evening OF the coming week, the
officers OF the Coast Survey steamer Hass-
Ter, and Fish Commission steamer Alba
tross, will tender joint reception to the
residents OF the station. The same to be
held in the sail loft. The regular hop held
last week. was success In each and every
particular.
Lieutenant Charles z. Fox, U.S.N., has
been ordered to the Mohiean to report on
the 10th of January.
Lieutenant G. j. Caikings, executive
officer of the Albatross, has received his
detachment from the 7th of January and
granted three months leave OF absence.
Passed Asslstant-Surgeon j. +. Keeny
will come out from New York to the United
States ship Ranger on January g.
Lieutenant a. +. Fechtelu. U.SN., of the
Mohican. is to be transferred to the Alba.
tross January as executive officer.
Admiral Brown and number OF the
officers who were on board of the Monterey
while she was undergoing her preliminary
trial have returned to the yard. They ex.
I press themselves as being highly pleased
with her Initial performances.
Ihe wind Tor day or two past has been
| blowing hard enough TO meet tie wishes of
the veriest old salt" Extra precautions
| having been made toward securing every.
thing movable but little damage wa, done
outside OF one OF the steam launches being
| stove in.
The Christmas festival services at the
Island to-day were of high order. Much
| interest had been manifested in the prepa.
rations for the chapel services. The CHI apel,
which is In the Office building, was deco.
| rated In an elaborate and appropriate man.
ner, heavy wreaths adjoining the castings OF
all the windows and the arch above the
ehaneel. Several set forms, circlets, stars
and crosses adorned the walls. The altar,
prayer and reading desks were covered with
white hangiDgs appropriate to the season.
The music was especially prepared under
the direction OF Miss Lulu Moore, daughter
| OF Chief Engineer John w. Moore. She
had to assist her Mrs. e. +. Pond. Mrs. +,
| O. Mason, Mrs. DIR. Z. K. Moore. Miss
Elsie Moore. Ensign w. c. Cole, Paymaster
II. X. Shedding, and others. Chaplain j.
4. Lewis OF the United States navy deliy.
cred an eloquent sermon. taking his text
1 from ST T.uka vi IN. .sEnad ffd;,os =;