The morning call., 1892-01-21
AT MARE ISLAND.
Admiral Irwin Explains the Work at the
NaVy-Yard.

Admiral Irwin Explains the Work at the
Navy-Yard.
VALLEJO, Jan. 2O.-The navy-yard is
very animated nowadays. The force Of
men al work is much larger than it has
been tor years Work no longer ceases at
sundOwn, but is continued by the aid Of
electric lights until 10 O'clock at night,
while the distinction between Sundays and
week days has been lost sight Of for weeks.
The most important work in progress is
that on the Baltimore. She is lying in the
stream with coal barges on each side, from
which her bunkers are being rapidly filed,
This las been going on for three days now
and Will soon be finished. When she has
taken on her fun capacity Of 100 tons she
viii be able - steam 1000 miles without Te-
pleniSh hment.
INTERVIEW WITH ADMIRAL IRWIN.
IN an interview this morning Admiral
Irwin said: "Al the BatimOre's repairs
are now finished except those TO the en-
gines, and these are receiving a thorough
OVeThauling and will not be completed for
ten days or more. She cannot 90 TO sea in
less than two weeks. Many Of her officers
have been granted short leaves OF absence,
with instructions, however, to keep me in
formed Of their whereabouts, SO that they
can be quickly summoned If necessary.
These orders, which are customary in such
=
lately circulated to the effect that all the
naval officers have been Instructed TO re-
main close TO their stations.
THE CHARLESTON TO BE DOCKED.
q have received instructions to prepare
the dry-dock for the Charleston and put
her IN as soon as she arrives. l DO not
know, however, Just when she will get
here. II may be tomorrow morning The
dock is ready for her whenever she does
arrive. lido not know what repairs will be
needed On her. She eft here five months
ago and has since been to China and back.
As soon as the Charleston can leave the
dry-dock the monitor COmanche will take
her place there and have her bottom thor
Cughiy cleaned. In every other respect the
COmanch6 is IN frst-class condition. / do
not believe that she VIII be sent 20 sea, but
viii be retained for harb0r defense No
steps have been taken, as was reported, to
replace her two 1J-nch smOOth-bOres by
rifles Of smaller caliber.
WORK on OTHER VESSELS.
The Mohican, a wooden vessel, carrying
eight Smo0lh-bOres aud two rifles, has been
in perfect order for six weeks and could 20
To- sea any day. She has so far received no
orders 20 leave The yard. Work is also be-
ing done on the Ranger and the ADAMS,
hut they can be Of little service. The
Omaha and the Swatara are laid up and
viii probably never 60 TO sea again. The
dOuble-tuIreted monitor MOnadDOck is lying
alongside tie dock and some work is being
done on her, but her engines are not in and
none Of her armOr is ready. She is practi-
caIly out OF the question as a fighting ma
chine for many months yet"
FRsT-CLAsS FIGHTING TRIM
TIE Admiral said in conclusion: Il know
no more about the probability Of war than
any one who reads the papers, but | am
sure our Government intends to maintain
the honor If the country and TO insist on
satisfactory answer from Chile. We have
not received any unusual amount of ammu-
milton or war material Of late, but you may
say that every vessel in this yard, or that
comes here, will be put in irst-class cond-
ton just as quickly as possible. War
could not well begin for few weeks any
how, and | am confident all the vessels here
Will be ready when thev are needed