New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22
BROOKLYN U1NTS THE NJ USECM.
! PROTEST SENT TO SECRETARY TRACY AGAINST
RETAINING THE NAVY YARD COLLECTION
OLE RELICS AT TILE NANAI. ACADEMY.

against the removal wear ago 10 the Naval Academy
at Annapolis of the large collection of relies curos
portraits and library which was so long one Of the most
Interesting objects to visitors at the Navy Yard. The
museum which this collection was called. the
top floor Of the Lyceum, the commandments building
II Is one of the most tereting and important collec
tons in the Navy: and II had been many years at
the Navy Yard that visitors had come TO look upon
as iminovable part of the station and belonging
distinctly to Brooklyn. Tire collection not
tensive as other may have, but it contains
number Of valuable and relies, and many interest
ing and valuable hours Of instruction enjoyed by
the visitors, to whom the museum was always open.
The collection is the property OF the United states
Naval Lyceum organization founded by officers of
the Navy In SIS, and chartered in 1s40.
The collection almost wholly of contributions
officers OF the Navy. who, in their travels
the world. incidentally pick up the most quaint and
Oldest relics OF civilization. well as Of barbasm
The not only occupied the entire third floor Of
tho Lyceum building but there was also wide gallery
around It's four sides that filed with cirios There
mummcS from the banks Of the Nilc-thosc
strange Vrlnked. dry, swarhy objects that once lived
ana breathed there also relics from Nepjunc's
doninons, well relics from the batcfclds of the
Civil War; the Revolution. the Mexican wars and the
Tripoan fights
The Egyptian relics were presented for the most part
by the late Surgeon Gnillon Of the Navy and by
George r. Gddon. United States Consul at Cairo in
1910. Tue principal relic from Egypt WAS the mummy
which stood upright in glass case in one of the
alcoveS. 1t about five feet high, and. without
proof TO the contrary, may AT one time have been sct
the First. the tyrant who forth the commandment
10 put TO death all OF the male children OF the IIGIpws
he TO whom human beings were only rs worms But
Il mummy that came forth in the discovery at Dcirel.
Bahari in June 1856, and, after being 'unroled at
Cairo. WAS identified as Seti /. seems TO dismiss the
possibility that this of the Navy was IT, How
haVe bnep ir,,,,
as RameSes ii. The white. painted cloth or exterior
covering Of The mummy is figured with hcroglyphcs
in dark cOloS. bur was partially cut away 10 expose
some of the features OF the head and body The right
hand rests upon the left arm just above the elbow.
That part Of the body exposed by cutting away the
cloth is of dark, btumnous like hue and the eeh has
very much shrunken. which makes the bones stand
forth hdeousy black cavity takes the place of m
eve and the lower jaw is sharply drawn and appears
In a constant grin.
Another Egyptian relic is piece Of stone that
once formed part of column of the Temple of the
sun, in the ancient Iclopols. and this relic
piece of a shattered sanctuary in Of the pyramids
of Dashour. slip Of paper pasted upon il by the
donor says: This probably is old piece Of
sculpture any in Egypt These pyramids stood
in the centre OF the metropolis Of Memphis and
the piece Of sculpture in the naval collection OBJ
tanned from the largest one. which was supposed
have been the tomb Of King Asvchis. Of the Twcfh
Egypt in this collection and these in themselves are
sufficient TO create covctonsnesS with those people
In Brooklyn who have found much Interest IN them
in the past.
There arc many mummies OF animals and birds
in the collection, but they show plainly that there
not much given to the cmbalming process
rs there with the human beings. An his
brought from the buryinc ground Of Memphis and
which doubt at one time received III" homage Of
human beings. is among the collection Of birds.
There are also mumnics of dogs. cats and othcr
animals.
Perhaps n, interesting as any Of The things In this
collection and something which has much 10 do with
the desire that they should be brought back TO
Brooklyn is the collection Of portraits. Hanging on
a velvet cushion I'm the museum miniature OF the
American hero John Paul Jones. one OF the first
officers Of the Navy. who made Old AlbiOn's Nils
resound With the OF the cannon Of the Bon
Uomme Richard. 1t Is said tina. this aud another
miniature like 1t the only paintings Of the old
commander that exist, and that all OF the sketches
and prints OF him merely copies from one or the
other of these miniatures His gorgeous blue military
coat Is freed with bright red. aud costly gold cpaulcts
droop at TIL shoulders. Near hung the oil paintings
of PEBBLE Dale, Terry and other heroes whose names
are down in history as having carried the American
flag 10 victory Near to these hung the wa,c@-color
portrait Of General WOlic Commander inChlei of the
English expedition against the French ut Quebec III
1883 In an alcovc In the gallery hung two finely
finished portraits Of Queen Victoria ana the Irlhce
Consort Albert. They are in single frame "hI'h
hear, the English crest Another picture. Il steel
engraving is that Of Lord Nelson. aud the commanding
figure and brilliant eyes OF The old naval nero are
shown to fine advantage.
An Interesting specimen Of the possibilities Oi the
ocean is an immense piece Of coral, shaped like a
goblet and called Vas Neptune" Neptuhc's punch
bowl II stands than three feet high, and meas
urcs about foot and half In diameter 1t was
fshed from the Bay Of bengal, In seventy feet Of
water A pinnacle lantern which once belonged TO the
United States figae Mcrrimac secured by Tie Con-
fcdcrates n, the burning Of the Norfolk Navy Yard
and transformed into the Virginia. is another relic
and n curiosity. II l. like skull with the lights Ont,
and could 1t speak could tell Of many bowling wnd
and raging scs Near this. In case. were several
Jumps Of coal brought from the frozen regions rcar the
North Pole by the United States Alliance, IN
ISL. after her unsuccessful search Tor the ifltcd
Jeanette.
What was always Interesting 10 BrO0klynes is
map of New York and Brooklyn, cmbOs ed and III
coIors and looking much like lot Of postage stamps
pasted in regular order Ii was made In Paris great
many years ago, and Is an excellent piece Of WORK.
,,oycrnors Island is marked "Nuttcn Island ana
Other peculiar names given TO DINER places. An
other map Is Of New-lOrh or a. II Is inscribed, A
plan OF tue City Of Ncw-fork. from an actual survey
iins Mayora There were six warns outlined The
map the metropolis then reaching only To- where INC
Iidll now "s -'ViH, l>da''
Nest Dock and Montgomery.
A Chinese junk, II model Of the native vessel Tor
t,avcrsuy all seas. and reminding Of section OF
a walnut shell lieltened Of it, contents, and win
couple of msshapcn leaves for sails and chip behind
tor "A Iudder, l. one Of the curious things. IL was
hrought over hy officer Of ferrys expedition. A
nuuIicr OF terra Gotta vases Of quaint snaps ana
curiOusly marked always attract ait"n ION They ulc
inrlryInaoIce or tear vessels, Brought f0m Persia
The sp of paper pasted upon each one tells OF thcr
n.cs Among the present PersiaS IL Is usual In some
~ their mounful a>semblagcs for the priest to 90
about 10 each person at the height OF ms grief WIN
,ncc of cot on in his hand. with which he collects
carefully the falling tears and which he then sque,hes
irtn -. Hottie preserving them with the greatest eau
ION some of the Pcrsians assert that, In the agony
Of death when all medicines have failed, a drop OF
- en- collected to enter the mouth Of the dying
Sns bccn known to revive him immediately, and 1t Is
for such that they are cQliccea' .,, 1871,
'' ,n",her rclic Is rich piece Of silk which
blayoned in gilt and other bright c9ors The royal nrn
~ En",and This Il a standard which taken by