The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-03
MARE ISLAND MATTERS.
The Cruisers to Remain on
This Coast.
WORK AT THE MAYNARD
Nsed Of Suitable Filling Houses-Ih Monitor
Comanche "A Divers Ex-
perience.
Correspondence of THE MORNING CALL

VALLEJO, Oct. 2.-It is now understood
that the San Francisco. as well AS the
Charleston and Yorktown, will remain on
this coast and not go East to take part In
the naval review next year.
Work has been commenced in making
temporary repairs at the magazine build
ings injured by the recent explosion. 1t Is
expected that at the next session OF Con-
gress an appropriation will be made for the
building of suitable filing houses, etc, the
expense of which will be from $4,000 to
$4,000.
The repairs now being made are for pro-
lection from the inclemency Of the winter
months.
As soon as the material is received work
will be commenced on the construction OF
brick building for use IN holding oil that Is
kept for issue 10 ships. This building viii
cost some 5000.
Plans are being prepared TO be submitted
to the department Tor the long-talked-O f
bridge across the river. In addition to these
plans others will be submitted for large
ferry boat to be run at Government ex-
pense 1t is of course not known which
plan will meet the approval OF those having
the matter in charge.
The hull of the monitor Comanche, now
In the stone dock, is being painted. and
when completed she will come out OF dock.
This little monitor is capable, if in action,
of doing great deal of damage. The guns
now in her are of the old DahlgTen type and,
though Of sn obsolete pattern. they could
do some effective work. II hit in vital
! part she is liable to 20 down with oil on
| board
Thomas Reed, a carpenter now at the
| yard. while on the Richmond at Mobile wit
messed one OF the most fearful and appalling
| of sights.
| A couple of weeks after the sinking of
! the ironclad Tecumseh, sunk by torpedo
| IN Mobile Bay August 5, 1864, he went down
| aboard Of her in diving suit.
What he saw there to this day makes him
sick at heart. Ranged alongside the iron
walls were scores of dead men standing,
some with their eyes wide open, apparently
staring at him; others with their heads and
arms partially eaten off by fishes and sharks
that were swimming around between decks.
The water was so clear he could readily
distinguish every movement they made.
The dead were lying about In every con-
eelvable shape.
1t Will be remembered that the gallant
captain of the Tecumseh, Commander +.
A. NJ Craven, United States navy. also
went down in her. At the moment of the
explosion OF the torpedo, Craven and the
pilot, John Collins, were in the iron tower
or plOt-hOuse directly over the turret, steer
ing the ship to attack the Confederate iron
risop, now captain of the Mare Island yard.
was in command of the Bieuville, q short
distance in the rear.
Seeing the inevitable fate Of the vessel,
Craven and the pilot started down into the
turret and met at the foot Of the iron ladder
leading to tie top of the turret through
narrow scuttle, the only exit now left for
escape from the doomed monitor.
At that point Commander Craven drew
back In characteristic way and i'd,
After you pilot"
There was nothing after me-" relates
Mr. Collins, who fortunately escaped to tell
the tale Of heroism. when l reached the
topmOst round of the ladder the vessel
seemed 10 drop under me-"
After an absence Of some two and half
months Lieutenant J. II. C. Coffin, Z. S. N,
returned to the hayward from Samoa
Thursday morning last The lieutenant
had been sent there by the department for
the purpose OF making soundings In the
harbor OF Page Pago preparatory to the
building Of an iron wharf TO be used as a
landing-place for coal.
The place selected was at a spot called
Swimming Point and is well adapted for all
requirements. He was highly successful in
his undertaking. Every facility was ac-
corded him and the natives were gratfed
10 know that at last something was to be
done by our Government.
As soon as the plans are made the depart
the building of the wharf, whica will be
placed on iron screw-piles. this being con-
sidered the most serviceable and less ex-
pensive in the end. The depth of water Is
not great, and the bottom of such nature
and character that the undertaking will not
be so difficult as might he supposed.
Mrs. Eliza LOWE McEwen Of Glasgow,
Scotland. has been visiting for few DAYS
Chaplain j. r. Lewis and his mother at the
navy-yard. She is wonderfully well-pre-
served lady Of 20 years Of age. and came out
from Glasgow TO San Francisco by herself.
She has had twelve children. nine of whom
are now living, and has thirty-two grand
children.
Lieutenant Stoney's family have moved
up 10 the island.
Admiral Irwin had pleasant visit from
his brother during the week.
Several boxes OF rare specimens were sent
from the Albatross to the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition at Washington last week. No orders
have yet been received as to when the work
TO be done on the vessel will be performed.